Philips Hue Line Gains Bridge Pro, New Bulbs, Updated Outdoor Lights and More

[MacRumors]

Signify today announced a range of new products that are coming out this fall, including an updated bridge, new light strips and bulbs, updated outdoor light options, and some new Hue Secure devices.

The Hue Bridge Pro is an updated version of the Hue Bridge that enables support for up to 150 lights and 50 accessories, expanding the 50 light limit from the prior-generation Bridge. The Hue Bridge Pro has a processor that's five times more powerful and has 15 times more memory, so it also supports faster response times and up to 500 custom lighting scenes.

Most notably, it enables Motion Aware, a feature that turns Hue Lights into motion sensors. Motion Aware is able to activate lights in a room when motion is detected, and the feature works by detecting changes in the Zigbee signal between bulbs. Three Hue lights in a room are required, and the feature works with bulbs and fixtures manufactured after 2014 (excluding portable devices and the Hue smart plugs). Hue customers who have an existing bridge can upgrade to the new model with just a few clicks, according to Signify.

As for lights, there are multiple new options. The Philips Hue Essential line includes A19 and BR30 bulbs that are available at a more affordable price point for those new to the Hue ecosystem. The bulbs run on the same software as the main Hue line and can be controlled via Bluetooth, with extra functionality enabled through the Hue Bridge. Essential lights do not dim as low, support a lower spectrum of white colors, and do not offer "Chromasync" technology for premium color quality and accurate matching.

Updated A19 bulbs are available with better daylight replication, updated dimming, and 40 percent better efficiency. The latest Essential and A19 bulbs offer native Matter over Thread connectivity along with Zigbee and Bluetooth.

New OmniGlow LED light strips are coming in the future, featuring a spot-free design with diffused light and up to 4500 lumens of brightness. The light strip does not need to be located underneath furniture or cabinetry due to the diffusion.

The Philips Hue Festavia outdoor lighting lineup is gaining permanent string lights that can be attached to a home and used all year long, along with lightguide-style globe string lights for patios, balconies, and more. Both of the new outdoor lighting options are IP65 and can be left up.

Hue Secure is getting a video doorbell option that can alert users when someone is at the door, while also turning on Hue lights automatically. There's also a Hue Smart Chime that provides sound alerts when someone presses the doorbell. While Hue lights and accessories are HomeKit compatible, the Hue Secure line is not. Hue Secure products can only be controlled with the Hue app.

Signify is updating Hue Secure with additional software features. 24-hour video history will be free for all users starting later this year, and it will no longer require a Secure subscription. Cameras are able to recognize smoke alarm signals and respond with lights, and in 2026, an AI-powered facial recognition feature will reduce false alerts.

Finally, Hue is partnering with Sonos for integrated light and sound experiences. Sonos Voice Control users will be able to operate Philips Hue lights with voice commands.

The Hue Bridge Pro is available starting now, and it is priced at $98.99. The Essential range bulbs are also available and are priced starting at $24.99, with a light strip option coming in December. Signify is launching new Hue White, White Ambiance and White and Color Ambiance bulbs ranging from 60W to 100W, with availability starting today at prices starting at $54.99.

The OmniGlow strip lights are priced at $139.99 for 40 meters, and will launch in October, while the Festavia Permanent String Lights and Globe String lights are available now. The Permanent lights are priced starting at $399.99 for 27 meters, and the Globe lights start at $175.99 for a 7 meter length.

The Hue Secure Video Doorbell is priced at $169.99, while the Hue Secure Smart Chime is priced at $60. Both devices are launching in September 2025.

More information on the new Hue devices can be found on the Philips Hue website.

Article Link: Philips Hue Line Gains Bridge Pro, New Bulbs, Updated Outdoor Lights and More

 

[MrRom92]

very cool. I’d consider upgrading the hue bridge, but I only have one room with more than 3 hue lights. it IS the room that would probably benefit most from motion detection. But for the cost I could probably get a few proper presence detectors and use them around the house.

Shame the doorbell does not support HomeKit. I see no reason to choose this over Ring when it’s missing the one strength it could currently have over Ring.

 

[ManWithAPlan]

I'm confused - love the new hardware talk, but does this make Philips Hue more "directly integrated" into the Apple ecosystem? like does HomeKit work with these things? Thanks for the help in understanding.

 

[NightFox]

I don't get Hue's outdoor lights (despite having bought 4 myself before the realisation dawned). They don't have physical bulbs in them, the LEDs are part of the lamp circuitry so if one 'light' stops working (mine have a light at each end), the whole unit is scrap and if you can't still buy an identical replacement, you're probably going to need to replace the other perfectly working ones too so you've not got a mismatch.

The obvious solution is to buy a traditional outdoor light and put Hue bulbs in it. Maybe I'm overlooking something, but I struggle to see what possible sense there can be in buying Hue units rather than doing this, especially as you can link multiple bulbs to control as one.

 

[CarletonTorpin]

very cool. I’d consider upgrading the hue bridge, but I only have one room with more than 3 hue lights. it IS the room that would probably benefit most from motion detection. But for the cost I could probably get a few proper presence detectors and use them around the house.

Shame the doorbell does not support HomeKit. I see no reason to choose this over Ring when it’s missing the one strength it could currently have over Ring.

It's possible that this doorbell system would have less-invasive privacy policy, compared to Ring cameras.

 

[aorr]

It’s too bad their products are outrageously expensive (thinking the outdoor light strips mostly). Their indoor bulbs are fun to program for cool coloring but they also are damn near unaffordable.

 

[ChrisA]

I'm confused - love the new hardware talk, but does this make Philips Hue more "directly integrated" into the Apple ecosystem? like does HomeKit work with these things? Thanks for the help in understanding.

Apple is a bit player in this field. I would NEVER install an Apple-based home automation system in a client's home. My phone would ring for the rest of my life.

But I can install "Hue" is and it just works. Hue and Lutron Casita are the only system that "just work" for YEARS with no futzing.

If this is in your own home and you are a technology geek and enjoy messing with this kind of stuff, then yes use Apple and Siri.

So, here is the key. Set up a Hue system. Get it working. Then use Apple HomeKit as a control interface. All the logic and control are in the Hue hub. Siri is used as a light switch. Then, when Apple's software craps out, you can still turn the light on using the Hue controls if you need to use the toilet at night.

When the lights don't work and you have to use a flashlight, then the installer gets a phone call at 2:00am "Can you be here in 15 minutes?"

 

[ChrisA]

very cool. I’d consider upgrading the hue bridge, but I only have one room with more than 3 hue lights. it IS the room that would probably benefit most from motion detection. But for the cost I could probably get a few proper presence detectors and use them around the house.

Shame the doorbell does not support HomeKit. I see no reason to choose this over Ring when it’s missing the one strength it could currently have over Ring.

Buy more lights. This would be much better thrn buying a motion detector. Assuming that this system works. Motion sensing is always the weak link. Hue does have the best sensor on the market, but still it is not perect.

I'm going to experiment wwith this ASAP. I have several experiments in my house now, the radar looks good but still some reliability issues. Hue works the best but if the person stops moving, he becomes invisible to it. This might work

 

[ChrisA]

This new kind of room occupancy detection seems like it could solve a big problem. With home automation, I find occupancy detection to be the hardest problem to solve. I think I will try it out.

But I already see a problem: In a bedroom, you want the light to go on when a person walks into the room, or gets out of bed at night. But you want the light to remain off if a person turns over in their sleep. So the motion detection has to be aimed at ONLY the floor space and not the bed. I doubt this Zigbee-based system can be aimed like that.

The only thing I find that works is some kind of multi-sensor tried together with "if, then, or, and ,else" logic. We will have to see if the Hue system allows this.

 

[zorinlynx]

Another video doorbell that doesn't work with HomeKit. It's almost as if companies want to be able to sell our footage to the cops and other entities without our consent, which HomeKit Secure Video prevents.

 

[firstcitazen]

worth it to me to have the sensor, but waiting for it be available for sale on the usual sites (Amazon, Best Buy, etc.)

 

[ChrisA]

I'm confused - love the new hardware talk, but does this make Philips Hue more "directly integrated" into the Apple ecosystem? like does HomeKit work with these things? Thanks for the help in understanding.

Yes, the new bulb can do "matter over thread: and connect to an Aple thred border router like the ATV or the mini-speaker. so you do not need the Hue Hub.

But THINK. do you trust Siri to run your lights. It's pain in a brear to have to have to power-cycle a router at 2::00 am so you can use the bathroom lights. Better, I think to use the Hub and have a less direct integration to Apple Homekit.

 

[btrach144]

Important to note that the new Pro bridge is not expected to provide native HomeKit connectivity. Instead users will need to use matter, which is typically slower than native HK integration

Edit: adding proof below

 

[CarletonTorpin]

Another video doorbell that doesn't work with HomeKit. It's almost as if companies want to be able to sell our footage to the cops and other entities without our consent, which HomeKit Secure Video prevents.

You said it well.

 

[Jaro65]

FINALLY. The Bridge Pro release was so overdue for those of us who have more than 50 Hue lights deployed and have had to use multiple bridges to circumvent that limit.

 

[alexandr]

Important to note that the new Pro bridge is not expected to provide native HomeKit connectivity. Instead users will need to use matter, which is typically slower than native HK integration

Wait, where does it say that the new Pro bridge won't have native HK connectivity?.. That's very odd, considering Hue's long pioneering history with HK support.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

What an absurd top photo for this product placement.

 

[alexandr]

So I love the idea of lights coming on when I walk into a room, but will they go off when I leave too? Or is it a one way kind of situation?

 

[Yvan256]

I removed Hue from my list after being forced to make an account to control the lights in my own home. Once my other Hue bulbs die, I'm replacing them with another brand.

 

[Jaro65]

I don't get Hue's outdoor lights (despite having bought 4 myself before the realisation dawned). They don't have physical bulbs in them, the LEDs are part of the lamp circuitry so if one 'light' stops working (mine have a light at each end), the whole unit is scrap and if you can't still buy an identical replacement, you're probably going to need to replace the other perfectly working ones too so you've not got a mismatch.

The obvious solution is to buy a traditional outdoor light and put Hue bulbs in it. Maybe I'm overlooking something, but I struggle to see what possible sense there can be in buying Hue units rather than doing this especially as you can link multiple bulbs to control as one.

The Hue Outdoors product line uses low-voltage power supplies, which are preferable for outdoor deployments. If using their regular light bulbs, you'd have to run the 110/220 power outside. I'm unaware that Signify is offering low-voltage light bulbs you could use in outdoor light fixtures.

 

[ManWithAPlan]

Yes, the new bulb can do "matter over thread: and connect to an Aple thred border router like the ATV or the mini-speaker. so you do not need the Hue Hub.

But THINK. do you trust Siri to run your lights. It's pain in a brear to have to have to power-cycle a router at 2::00 am so you can use the bathroom lights. Better, I think to use the Hub and have a less direct integration to Apple Homekit.

I know all about Homekit's limitations, but this would be for my own home, and I'm a geek about this stuff, so I'm only impacting myself. That said, glad to know I don't need to use the Philips "hub" and can just piggyback on my existing border routers/AppleTV's/etc.

 

[alexandr]

Important to note that the new Pro bridge is not expected to provide native HomeKit connectivity. Instead users will need to use matter, which is typically slower than native HK integration

 

[sos47]

on the actual bridge you cannot backup your settings (to a usb stick etc) and you cannot copy the settings from one bridge to another. in the case of failure this could be a desaster.

i hope they fixed these issues with the new version.

 

[lazyrighteye]

The neighbors across the street from the house in the OP must be thrilled. They get to enjoy all the illuminating power of a $20k Phillips setup without dropping a dime. Gross.

 

[tennisproha]

I'm confused - love the new hardware talk, but does this make Philips Hue more "directly integrated" into the Apple ecosystem? like does HomeKit work with these things? Thanks for the help in understanding.

No because most Hue products don't support Matter over Thread or HomeKit for setup and require their Hue proprietary hub