The Hue Bridge may seem superfluous considering rival Lifx connects its bulbs straight to your Wi-Fi, but if you think about how many gadgets are already trying to ping your router, there's some sense in creating a separate network. It plugs directly into your router via an Ethernet cable, and then creates its own Zigbee-compatible wireless network to communicate with up to 50 different bulbs. There's also now a growing range of Philips Hue Outdoor lights, which we also have a handy buying guide for.Īs we've already intimated, the Hue Bridge is the centre of your Hue world. A good start is one of the aptly named Starter Kits, kits which come with a selection of bulbs and a Hue Bridge to connect to your router. Part of the appeal of the Philips Hue range is the sheer number of products to pick from.
#PHILIPS HUE LIGHTS BLUETOOTH#
Signify says more Bluetooth bulbs will be added and become available in more regions through 20. That means for the first time you've got a Hue bulb that doesn't need a Hue Bridge to work (though the Bridge does give access to extra features, like plugging in third-party apps and controlling your lights while you're away from home.įor the time being, only the A19 traditional bulb and BR30 downlight are available in Bluetooth-ready form, and only in the US. We've discussed the bulbs that make up the main Philips Hue range below, but the most recent lights released under the brand name are different from all the ones that have gone before: they can be accessed via Bluetooth as well as Wi-Fi.