Philips Hue, the smart lighting brand under Signify, announced the new Hue Bridge Pro control hub and several new light strips and clusters at IFA 2025. It also debuted the Essential smart bulb series, targeting the entry-level market. With its relatively affordable pricing, it directly competes with rapidly rising budget brands like Govee and Aqara. Philips Hue also launched its first video doorbell, Hue Secure, officially entering the home security market.
The Essential series of lamps focuses on affordable prices
The Essential series products focus on being "affordable but not cheap" and offer common lighting options such as A19 bulbs, GU10 spotlights, light strips, etc., and are also available in single-color and full-color versions.
Compared to existing Hue lamps, the functionality trade-offs are minor, including a slightly narrower dimming range, a reduced white light color temperature range of 2200K-6500K (compared to the Hue version, which can reach 1000K-20000K), and slightly lower color accuracy. These differences may be magnified for users who prioritize TV synchronization or consistent color across multiple lamps, but for most general consumers, the core smart control functionality remains unchanged.
In terms of price, the Essential series is more competitive than previous Hue products. A single A19 bulb is priced at $25, while a four-bulb set is $60. The light strip products are expected to be available in December this year, with a 12-meter version priced at $5 and a 60-meter version priced at $10.
In addition, starter kits are also available for new users, including 2 or 4 Essential series bulbs and Hue Bridge V2 controllers, priced at US$80 and US$100 respectively.
New controller Hue Bridge Pro
In addition to the light bulbs, Hue also released the Hue Bridge Pro at the same event, which adopts a more stable black design. The hardware performance is about 10 times that of the Hue Bridge V2 5 years ago, and the memory has increased by 15 times, which can control more smart lamps. In addition, the newly added Hue Motion Aware motion sensing function allows 95% of the existing Hue series lamps to directly have motion sensing capabilities, which can automatically trigger light turning on or security reminders in response to moving objects.
Signify also plans to open up integrated management of multiple Hue Bridges and the newly launched Hue Bridge Pro before the end of the year to further solve the problem of multi-device control. As for the Hue Bridge Pro, it will be available in North America in September this year and will be priced at US$9.
New Hue lamps
Regarding the light strip product line, the updated flagship OmniGlow light strip utilizes CSP chip-level packaging technology, making it thinner and more uniform in brightness while also producing a better halo effect. Pricing starts at $140 USD, depending on the length, and is expected to be available in November of this year. The new Flux series light strips include indoor and outdoor versions, high-brightness versions, and neon designs. Lengths up to 11 meters are available, with prices starting at $10 USD, targeting diverse applications from home ambiance to architectural exteriors.
For festivals and outdoor scenes, the updated Festavia string lights are available in 7-meter and 9-meter lengths, with a suggested retail price starting at US$120. Long-term use versions that can be installed permanently on eaves, balconies or courtyards are also available.
The new A19 full-spectrum bulb simulates the changing light conditions of natural daylight throughout the day and uses approximately 40% less energy than the previous generation. Signify also announced a partnership with Sonos to enable intuitive integration of light and sound, further expanding the immersive Philips Hue smart home experience.
Secure Video Doorbell
As for the simultaneous launch of the Secure video doorbell, which combines lighting automation and security protection, it represents Signify's plan to enter the smart home protection market and differentiate itself from brands like Nest and Ring.
The Hue Secure video doorbell is equipped with a 2K resolution fisheye lens, which has a higher resolution than Google Nest or some Ring models, and can provide more detailed monitoring images. Users can save video records for free for 24 hours. If only short-term playback is needed, there is no need to subscribe to the service, thereby lowering the threshold for use.
In terms of smart home compatibility, the Secure Video Doorbell can be integrated with Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and its own Hue App platform, and plans to support Apple HomeKit and Matter standards in the future to ensure interoperability with more platforms.
Unlike typical Wi-Fi-only designs, the Secure Video Doorbell features a built-in Zigbee radio module, allowing it to connect directly to Hue smart bulbs. For example, if someone approaches the door, the entryway or exterior lights can automatically illuminate, enhancing both safety and convenience. However, for audible notifications, the $60 Hue Smart Chime must be purchased separately.
The Secure video doorbell is expected to be launched in North America, Europe and the UK in October with a suggested retail price of US$10. A 170K wired camera will also be launched at the same time, with a suggested retail price starting at €2 in Europe and €180 with a dedicated base.
