Signify Launches New Philips Hue Lighting Options

[MacRumors]

Alongside new Philips Hue-branded Secure Cameras, Signify today announced the upcoming launch of new Hue lighting options. There's a new generation of Philips Hue Festavia string lights that can be used indoors or outdoors.

There are three varieties, including 100 LEDs on an 8-meter cord, 250 LEDs on a 20-meter cord, and 500 LEDs on a 40-meter cord. There are three new lighting effects designed for the Festavia lights in the Hue app, including Prism, Glisten, and Opal. The effects can also be used with the first-generation Festavia lights, and the Prism effect can be used on all Hue color lights.

A new MR16 Philips Hue bulb adds smart lighting to conventional spotlights. It works on the same 12V voltage as standard MR16 bulbs, so the bulb should fit into most existing fixtures.

The Philips Hue Centris is a combination ceiling spotlight that pairs a diffused main light with 350-degree adjustable spotlights that can be angled to highlight parts of the room. Each light can be set and controlled individually with the Hue app.

The last new lighting announcement is the Perifo track lighting that is composed of individual rails and lights that can be paired together to make a customizable track. Customers can choose layout, track length, and light fixtures, with the track able to be attached to the wall or the ceiling. As with the Centris, each light can be controlled individually with the Hue app.

Starting in September 2023, Signify is updating the Hue Bridge with Matter support. When the update launches, the Hue system will be able to more easily integrate with Matter-compatible smart home devices and apps.

The new lighting options will be available starting in September. The Festavia lights will be priced starting at $120, while the MR16 bulbs are priced at $100 for a two-pack. The Perifo track lighting system is priced at $20 to $300, while the Hue Centris is priced at $310 for a two-spot set and $490 for a 4-spot set.

More information on the new lights can be found on the Hue website.

Article Link: Signify Launches New Philips Hue Lighting Options

 

[DMG35]

I really love their lighting options but my god they are expensive.

 

[PeteBurgh]

I really love their lighting options but my god they are expensive.

Basically this.

I was a fairly early adopter with the Hue stuff, and I've loved how reliable the connectivity has been. A welcome contrast to the more general flakiness of all sorts of other smart home stuff I've tried. The quality and durability seem excellent too - I've yet to have a single bulb or product fail.

But it's a really expensive world to live in, even waiting for sales, Amazon Warehouse discounts, etc.

Perhaps part of the reason costs have remained high is related to chip shortages - availability on lots of Hue stuff was pretty patchy 2020-2022. But I fear this is their intended price point and I'm not holding my breath for a price drop!

 

[bLackjackj]

I really love their lighting options but my god they are expensive.

I know right, unlike any Apple product 🙄🤦‍♂️. You get what you pay for or risk a knock off with aweful quality lighting and non responsive voice control.

 

[slplss]

I guess it depends on manufacturer. I wanted to save once, bought half a dozen multicolor Yeelight bulbs v2. The difference in quality next to Hue was instantly noticeable. They were flashing visibly at low brightness, turned off/on on instant like a regular bulb (Hue auto dims/lights gradually). The wifi disconnections were the worst. I use them in garage as a dumb bulbs now.

 

[Htsi]

Hue is my favourite. The first reason for sticking to hue was how they fade during on and off. Everything else that followed cemented the high cost.
Bedroom is all hue, rest of the areas are wiz with homebridge. I intend to do hue everything as per income lol

I guess it depends on manufacturer. I wanted to save once, bought half a dozen multicolor Yeelight bulbs v2. The difference in quality next to Hue was instantly noticeable. They were flashing visibly at low brightness, turned off/on on instant like a regular bulb (Hue auto dims on itself before going to 0). The wifi disconnections were the worst. I use them in garage as a dumb bulbs now.

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

Basically this.

I was a fairly early adopter with the Hue stuff, and I've loved how reliable the connectivity has been. A welcome contrast to the more general flakiness of all sorts of other smart home stuff I've tried. The quality and durability seem excellent too - I've yet to have a single bulb or product fail.

But it's a really expensive world to live in, even waiting for sales, Amazon Warehouse discounts, etc.

Perhaps part of the reason costs have remained high is related to chip shortages - availability on lots of Hue stuff was pretty patchy 2020-2022. But I fear this is their intended price point and I'm not holding my breath for a price drop!

Totally agree, Hue's hardware and software has been consistently excellent. I have quite a mix of different manufacturers (IKEA, Lifx, Nanoleaf, Govee) and they've definitely had the best experience. Lifx hardware is excellent, but the software and setup experiences have been inconsistent and downright faulty to the point of having to do resets on out the box items. Once they're running though it's all good. I really like IKEA's shortcut buttons, cheap and easy to set up and work great in HomeKit.

Govee provide the best value in my opinion, good connectivity and hardware quality but don't always have HomeKit support. I extend it with Homebridge though, so can get them visible and working in HomeKit.

 

[Bonte]

I hope Apple buys Hue, Philips putting the Hue brand as a separate 'Signify' does make this possible.

 

[Jay-Jacob]

I hope Apple buys Hue, Philips putting the Hue brand as a separate 'Signify' does make this possible.

Why?

I hope Apple never buy them. If Apple buy them they might discontinue some of products and make it less etc. I hope it stays at Philips.

 

[dannys1]

The Philips Hue Centris isn't new, i've had one in my living room for two years. The track lighting also isn't new.

 

[pmb_12]

Says “preorder now” for the festavia lights at the provided link… but there’s no way to preorder. Amd I missing something?

 

[NightFox]

Much as I like my Hue lights, I've got to question the sense of buying some of their light fittings which frequently seem to have non-replaceable bulbs (at least not replaceable by design). For example, I've for 4 outdoor up/down lighters. Each is a sealed unit with 2 GU10 bulbs (one points up, one down), but they're not just standard Hue bulbs as the 2 bulbs aren't individually addressable - you can only set the state/colour/brightness per light, not bulb, so there must be a shared controller within each light.

It only occurred to me after buying and installing them that I could have just bought 4 good quality generic light fittings and 8 Hue GU10 colour bulbs for cheaper, had control of individual bulbs, and been able to replace any bulbs that died. Instead, when a single bulb dies I'm potentially going to have to replace all 4 fittings.

I've also got a rather nice Hue light fitting in my home office which is a diffused box light and 3 spotlights. Unfortunately the box light is a sealed unit so it can't readily be opened, but not sealed well enough to stop a couple of flies getting in there and dying, which I can't now remove.

 

[NightFox]

The Philips Hue Centris isn't new, i've had one in my living room for two years. The track lighting also isn't new.

Yeah, I've also had a Centris for several years. Maybe this is an official US launch?

 

[DMG35]

I guess it depends on manufacturer. I wanted to save once, bought half a dozen multicolor Yeelight bulbs v2. The difference in quality next to Hue was instantly noticeable. They were flashing visibly at low brightness, turned off/on on instant like a regular bulb (Hue auto dims on itself before going to 0). The wifi disconnections were the worst. I use them in garage as a dumb bulbs now.

No one is saying they aren't quality. They are, I know because I use them. That doesn't mean they can't be classified as expensive, because they are.

 

[QuarterSwede]

I've also got a rather nice Hue light fitting in my home office which is a diffused box light and 3 spotlights. Unfortunately the box light is a sealed unit so it can't readily be opened, but not sealed well enough to stop a couple of flies getting in there and dying, which I can't now remove.

Lol, those pesky insects, they know how to get into anything. Good news is they seem to be back out west. We haven’t had many for years.

 

[McWetty]

I love Hue products (50 and counting). They are so well made and the app/HK is top tier. And I can even stomach the prices (on sale). But I prefer Twinkly Festoon for outdoor string lights. I would absolutely buy Festiva if Twinkly didn’t exist, but the individually addressable lights makes for some cool effects.

 

[fwmireault]

I wish they will offer Thread compatible lights at some point

 

[dominiongamma]

I hope Apple buys Hue, Philips putting the Hue brand as a separate 'Signify' does make this possible.

Na HomeKit is a mess I gave up on it

 

[spazzcat]

Basically this.

I was a fairly early adopter with the Hue stuff, and I've loved how reliable the connectivity has been. A welcome contrast to the more general flakiness of all sorts of other smart home stuff I've tried. The quality and durability seem excellent too - I've yet to have a single bulb or product fail.

But it's a really expensive world to live in, even waiting for sales, Amazon Warehouse discounts, etc.

Perhaps part of the reason costs have remained high is related to chip shortages - availability on lots of Hue stuff was pretty patchy 2020-2022. But I fear this is their intended price point and I'm not holding my breath for a price drop!

After about three years, I had the floodlight fail; they replaced it, no questions asked.

 

[spazzcat]

Na HomeKit is a mess I gave up on it

HK got almost everything right; I have used several managed systems. They all have been replaced with just HK. I have over 50 lights, several smart locks, a smart thermostat, and surveillance cameras. I have several automations, like turning lights on and off when you walk into a room or turning lights on and off at sunrise/sunset.

 

[dlondon]

The Philips Hue Centris isn't new, i've had one in my living room for two years. The track lighting also isn't new.

I bought the Centris a couple of years ago too. Even the Festavia were released in limited quantities last year.

Yeah, I've also had a Centris for several years. Maybe this is an official US launch?

You might be right about US launch. Most of the lights are definitely not new.

 

[dlondon]

Hue is my favourite. The first reason for sticking to hue was how they fade during on and off. Everything else that followed cemented the high cost.
Bedroom is all hue, rest of the areas are wiz with homebridge. I intend to do hue everything as per income lol

I was reaching the limit on the number of Hue bulbs in my home and decided to try IKEA. The on/off is so abrupt – even the increments feel basic. The fading of the Hue bulbs is so much better.

 

[coffeemilktea]

The Festavia lights will be priced starting at $120, while the MR16 bulbs are priced at $100 for a two-pack. The Perifo track lighting system is priced at $20 to $300, while the Hue Centris is priced at $310 for a two-spot set and $490 for a 4-spot set.

So these are what... the Mercedes Benz S-Class of Christmas lights?

 

[Godspeed8230]

I have Philips SceneSwitch light bulbs, they are absolutely amazing and they are a great, inexpensive work-around when it comes to dimming and setting the mood.
It's a shame that they seem to have discontinued it.

 

[MegaBlue]

No HomeKit support on the cameras? Not even basic app support let alone HKSV?

I love Hue, but I’ll pass on the cameras until they’re HK-compatible.