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Apr 12, 2001
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The Philips Hue line has long been focused on lighting products, but this year, Hue parent company Signify expanded the lineup with a set of Philips Hue Secure cameras and sensors designed for home security.

hue-secure-camera-1.jpg

I was able to test out the $200 Hue Secure Wired Camera to see how it measures up to some of the other smart camera options on the market. Hue's cameras can be used indoors or out, and the Hue Secure has 1080p video recording with night vision and motion trigger alerts, which at this point I'd expect from any security camera.

hue-camera-design.jpg

The camera itself has a base that mounts to the wall with a screw, but if you want to sit it on a table or another flat surface, you need to pay an extra $30 for the "Desktop" version. You can also buy the desktop stand after buying the camera, but it is $50, which I feel is unreasonable for a plastic stand that should have come with the camera at no extra cost to begin with. I didn't want to use or test the camera mounted, so I did purchase the stand. You could probably rig something up, but the placement of the cord on the bottom of the camera prevents it from laying flat without the stand, and it's angled too high to use that way.

hue-camera-front.jpg

To allow for interchangeable wall mounting and desktop use, magnets are used for base attachment. The magnets are super strong, so while the camera is meant to be mounted to the wall, I'm not worried that it's going to become detached. You can take it off the mount, and attach the mount to either the top or the bottom to optimize the view regardless of where you're mounting it. The field of view is wide enough that you're able to see an entire room if the camera is indoors, or a good section of your yard if it is outdoors.

hue-camera-magnetic-components.jpg

The Hue Secure has a white plastic casing and a standard camera lens inside, and there is no mistaking it for a security camera. I was surprised at how long it is (a little over 3.5 inches), which means if you wall mount it, it's going to protrude a decent amount. The battery version of this camera is even longer in length at five inches, so it will protrude even further when mounted. I like the clean design and the magnetic attachment system, especially since the magnets allow it to be positioned in a range of ways that might not be possible with just a swivel mount.

hue-camera-standard-base.jpg
This is the standard base the camera comes with. The other base is one I purchased for $50 to allow it to be placed on a desk.​

The video quality was totally fine for a 1080p indoor/outdoor camera, and on par with the HomeKit-enabled cameras that I've tested. So, speaking of HomeKit, these don't have it. Those with a lot of Philips Hue lights know they all work with HomeKit, but that is not the case with the cameras. No HomeKit support is likely going to be a dealbreaker for those in Apple's ecosystem who want everything to be controllable through a central app.

hue-camera-live-view.jpg

Hue cameras do not require a Hue Bridge to function, but the Bridge is needed to integrate the cameras with other Hue products such as lights, contact sensors, and motion sensors. It also enables remote control functionality for when you are away from home, and allows the camera to serve as a motion sensor to activate lights when motion is detected. For full functionality, you will need to have a bridge, which is priced at $60 if you don't have one already for Hue lights.

hue-camera-cord.jpg

It was easy to add the camera to the app, and it can be viewed through the new Hue Secure section of the app. In my testing, it never once went offline, and it was a more reliable than the Eve HomeKit Secure Video camera I have outside, which is off more than it is on and has been a total headache these last few months.

I've had similar problems with other HomeKit cameras, and I just don't find them to be the most reliable option. Compared to Ring, though, I don't think Hue has much of an edge. My Ring cameras rarely go offline or have connectivity issues, so Hue is about on par.

hue-camera-side-view.jpg

The cameras can be paired to Hue lights with automations to activate the lights when motion is detected, to alert you and scare off intruders. According to Signify, there is end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to keep video clips and snapshots private, along with software that helps prevent hacking. Video data is stored in the Hue Cloud if you opt for that, and content is deleted after 30 or 60 days. With E2EE, video and audio recordings cannot be viewed if the Hue Cloud were hacked because a multi-word auto-generated passcode you have is required. On that note, you need to keep the passcode somewhere safe, and you also need to hold on to the Hue Secure "Ownership Card" that's required for setup.

hue-camera-timeline.jpg

Like other smart cameras, the Hue Secure can recognize people, pets, and packages to send tailored alerts, and there are options to set up Activity and Package zones. There is a mimic presence function that can turn on Hue lights to make it seem like you're home when you're not, and the cameras support two-way talk so you can interface with someone if you need, but these are all functions that are available on other smart security cameras.

Up to 10 cameras can be linked to a Hue Bridge, and a Hue account is required to use them. While the cameras can be used without a subscription, some of the functionality does require a monthly payment. Live streaming, video snapshots, light and sound alarms, and notifications are accessible for free.

hue-camera-paid-plans.jpg

Recording requires a Basic or Plus plan, priced starting at $39.99 per year after a 90-day trial period that comes with the purchase. Othe... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: Review: The Philips Hue Line Now Has Security Cameras, But There's No HomeKit Support
 
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yanksfan114

macrumors 6502
Jul 30, 2011
385
1,136
No HomeKit secure video means it’s an absolute nonstarter. I returned my Arlo system because of the nickel and diming they did for features I could have if they just supported HSV. I understand these companies have a business purpose for it, but it’s directly making the products worse and completely turns off customers who are knowledgeable about the smart home ecosystem.

Eufy is still my go to for now. I don’t have any cameras inside so I’m indifferent about their scandal with the public links able to be leaked out. They’re way more reliable than my Logitech cameras (circle 2 and circle view) and let me still have access to a separate app if I want to use it. Unfortunately it seems like they’re moving away from supporting HomeKit in their newer cameras, which I hope doesn’t mean they’re stopping future support.
 

xizdun

macrumors 6502
Nov 13, 2011
281
505
Instant buy when Hue adds HomeKit support.

Just looking for an excuse to trash all my non-working Logitech Circle View cameras.
 

7thson

macrumors 65816
May 13, 2012
1,398
1,550
Six Rivers, CA
There is an obstacle/problem with HomeKit that manufacturers are opting to not support HomeKit. Just upgraded my Eufy homebase to the 3 from the 2. They, Eufy, incentivized it by discounting it for me.
Didn’t even occur to me that it wouldn’t support HomeKit, but it doesn’t. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ seems dumb from my perspective but Eufy says they don’t plan to integrate it in the future. I wouldn’t be surprised if Hue doesn’t either.
Coincidentally the shortcut for my hue lights stopped working in ios17. The lights still show up in Homekit but no shortcut. Integration is still a struggle apparently.
 

nutmac

macrumors 603
Mar 30, 2004
6,171
7,748
No HomeKit = no interest. Bye.
Many companies (e.g., Ecobee, Eufy/Anker, Philips) see HomeKit (Secure Video) as a barrier to monetize and sell their own subscription package.

I am patiently waiting for HomeKit-friendly companies to offer more choices (e.g., Eve, Logitech).
 
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windywalks

macrumors 6502a
Mar 12, 2004
606
635
And still every other poster goes on about no matter support being a dealbreaker.
Matter doesn't support cameras yet!
 

alexandr

macrumors 603
Nov 11, 2005
5,764
10,484
11201-121099
This is so sad — Hue was like the first product to support HomeKit — now they want $200 for a camera that doesn't even do that?.. :(
 

Jason2000

macrumors 6502
Jul 19, 2019
373
794
Planet Earth
The HomeKit eco system is not really going anywhere. I hope Matter is going to fix that.
I disagree. I am seeing more and more HomeKit stuff every day whether it's HomeKit compatible or Matter compatible. HomeKit is a much better system than either Google Home or Alexa. I have all 3 systems at home and it's a struggle to get Google Home to work right. Alexa is not bad but their app is absolutely horrible and full of ads.
 

Jason2000

macrumors 6502
Jul 19, 2019
373
794
Planet Earth
That's a ridiculous price even compared to the UniFi Protect cameras I use in my home. No thanks, I'll stick with my local recording with no subscription fees ever.
Me too. Love the UniFi Protect system. And I am using HomeBridge to bring the cameras into HomeKit.
 

MrkJensen

macrumors member
Sep 29, 2009
94
51
Would never use HomeKit anyway only use Home Assistant and UniFi Protect system is good.

For the price there is always some cheap China cameras, making a cheap solution.
 

Rigby

macrumors 603
Aug 5, 2008
6,257
10,215
San Jose, CA
The HomeKit eco system is not really going anywhere. I hope Matter is going to fix that.
So far Matter cannot meet the promise of cross vendor compatibility, since some big vendors are actively trying to prevent that because they want to keep their walled gardens. It remains to be seen if it can eventually be resolved. Thread still has massive issues when you deploy border routers from different vendors.

Why Hue doesn't support Homekit Secure Video becomes immediately clear when you look at the pricing of their plans. For a single camera you pay $40/year at Hue, while you can get that from iCloud+ for $12/year. For 2 cameras you pay $80/year for Hue, and $36/year for iCloud+. For 5 cameras you pay $100/year for Hue and still $36/year for iCloud+. And that doesn't even consider the other benefits you get from iCloud+ ...
 
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