FabianLast year, Philips Hue launched its first Festavia string lights at the last minute, with sales at the time limited to the company's own online shop. This year, they have a little more time for preparations – and it will be exciting in more ways than one.
We already clarified a few weeks ago that there will be three versions. In addition to the well-known Festavia string lights with a length of 20 metres and 250 LEDs, there will also be a 40-metre version with 500 LEDs. I also expect a third, shorter string.
A retailer in Austria briefly had the first official product photos of the new Festavia generation in his shop at the weekend. What is particularly striking here is that the manufacturer is saying goodbye to the focus on “Christmas” and is also showing other possibilities of use. On the newly shaped packaging for the longest version, there is the first exciting hint: “Indoor + Outdoor”. As already suspected, the light chain is now officially approved for outdoor use.
- order the Hue Festavia now at your local Philips Hue Online-Store
Philips Hue Festavia gets a more compact power supply unit
What is even more exciting, however, is that Philips Hue is launching a new power supply unit. In contrast to the previously used outdoor power supply, which resembled a small brick, the new outdoor plug-in power supply has a much more compact design. Thanks to the universal connection, it should also be possible to supply other outdoor products from Philips Hue with power.
The new power supply is certainly a great thing for indoors, too; last year, you had to hide the big block under the tree somehow. On the other hand, the thick plug could also lead to problems, for example when using a power strip.
There is bad news about the prices of the Festavia string lights. Philips Hue will actually charge 359.99 euros for the 40-metre version. The string with 250 LEDs will cost 219.99 euros, after being sold for 159.99 euros last year. Even the price competition in the open market is unlikely to bring us back to this level. By the way, sales will not start in November this year, but probably already in the 38th calendar week – that is in mid-September.
Finally, a quick look at the competition outside the Hue cosmos. At Twinkly, you pay only 139.99 euros for comparable technology with 250 LEDs, and for 294.99 euros you get string lights with 600 LEDs.
Philips Hue Festavia String Lights
from $219.99 / €119.99 / £109.99
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Great development! I bought my festavia lights last year. Does this mean that these lights from last year also support outdoor use?
Officially they are indoors only. But I used mine three months outside without any issues.
The thick power brick is awful for outdoor use, though. It won’t fit into an outdoor waterproof outlet. At least the normal ‘brick’ version allows for this.