FabianPhilips Hue has invited guests to a major media event in Berlin on September 3. Numerous tech journalists will be in town during the IFA trade show and will find out what new products Philips Hue is bringing to market away from the exhibition. I have summarized all the rumors for you and venture a small preview of what could be coming in September.
New Hue Bridge: Finally more devices?
Back in May, I speculated that Philips Hue might launch a new bridge. The focus is on more devices, and a direct WiFi connection is also possible. Philips Hue itself recently fueled my rumors: The packaging of the new Hue Devote already features an icon of a new Hue Bridge.
Using lamps as motion sensors
The first rumors about this topic emerged back in 2023, and sister brand WiZ has been using similar technology for some time now. In January, the Connectivity Standards Alliance demonstrated that motion detection via light bulbs is also possible via Zigbee. There is a good chance that Philips Hue will also adopt this technology.
Light bulbs with Matter: Direct connection?
Philips Hue has been compatible with the smart home standard since Matter was launched. However, this is only possible via the bridge. In April, several Hue light bulbs with a Matter code appeared at the US regulatory authority FCC. This would mean that a direct connection to a Matter border router without a Hue bridge would be possible. The problem: Zigbee and Bluetooth, the two wireless standards used by previous Hue light bulbs, are not yet part of the Matter standard.
Does the Philips Hue doorbell come with a chime?
Will Philips Hue release new cameras two years after the launch of Hue Secure? The Philips Hue Secure doorbell is highly anticipated, as it already appeared in the Hue app with an official icon in March. According to my information, the smart doorbell with video function could be accompanied by a digital door chime that simply plugs into a power outlet.
New light strips with COB technology?
One of the newer rumors from the Philips Hue world: light strips with COB technology. COB stands for chip on board, which means that the light-emitting diodes are integrated directly into the circuit board. In addition to significantly smaller spacing, this has other advantages, such as higher brightness, lower light attenuation, and a longer service life. The Lightstrip Plus is now really getting on in years, and the Hue Solo Lightstrip is technically identical. Apart from the Ambiance Gradient Lightstrip, it’s time for Philips Hue to come up with something new.
Hue Essential: Are affordable light bulbs coming?
Speaking of the Hue Solo Lightstrip, it was originally planned as the Hue Essential Lightstrip. Under the name “Hue Essential,” Philips Hue is reportedly planning an entire product line of affordable light bulbs, which could be released in September…
Is the long-awaited backup function finally coming?
Back in early 2024, I reported that Philips Hue was working on a backup function. Together with a new bridge, now could be the time to introduce this very feature. After all, the data has to be transferred from the old bridge to the new one. In any case, the backup feature is long overdue.
What else is coming? Will there be any other surprises? We’ll find out in September at the latest, when Philips Hue will unveil its new products for 2025.
I have been wondering how Philips might increase the device limit of Hue system.
Given that the recommended limit of 50 lights is determined by the bulbs ability to reliably repeat Zigbee commands* and not the Bridge resources, then I can only think of two ways a new Bridge might work
1. it might run multiple Zigbee mesh networks, each of which can still support 50 or so devices
2. It might contain a single Zigbee mesh as it does currently for legacy bulbs, but also have a built-in Thread Border Router that works with a new generation bulbs that are Matter-over-Thread (or ZigBee plus Bluetooth for legacy Bridges). Using Thread would probably expand the device limit to around 256 devices, perhaps more.
My bet is option 2.
*George Yianni the co-founder and head of tech at Philips Hue, gave an interview 4 years ago where he describes why there is a recommended device limit of 50 devices
Take a loo here at time index 6:35
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nyrvy2HfnmA&t=446s
> Matter border router
There is no such thing as a “Matter border router”. You either mean a “Matter controller” or a “Thread border router” (or a device that has both of these features, e.g. Google’s Nest Hub Max or an Apple Homepod Mini).
> Zigbee and Bluetooth, the two wireless standards used by previous Hue light bulbs, are not yet part of the Matter standard.
Not completely true, Bluetooth (BLE) is used for Matter commissioning. It’s not used past that, though, and likely never will.
Zigbee is a legacy protocol and will never be part of Matter. However, Zigbee hardware, if designed properly, can often be upgraded to Thread with a firmware update (see e.g. Aqara’s light switches that can switch between a Zigbee firmware and a Matter-over-Thread firmware).
I sure hope that the backup function is finally coming. One of my 3 bridges just died and I’m moving everything to one of the other two.
Now learning that a new bridge is around the corner, let’s hope for more devices, backup, POE and whatnot 😉
With a proper backup function I might even buy an extra bridge as a spare when one dies. Functioning lights are pretty important to keep the family happy.
Exiting stuff!
Really hoping there’s a big update for the Entertainment Area in the near future. There’s got to be a better way to have light shows inspired by music (Spotify) or on screen media. It all feels very random at the moment and could benefit from utilizing the map with the location and height of the individual light bulbs being so specific. Fades, flashes, pulses, pauses, temperatures, textures, and more peaks and valleys throughout the space. From floor to ceiling, front to back, corner to corner. Think Dolby Atmos but with lights instead of sound.
Of course programming a show would be better but one could dream.
Pro bridge.
“ Available now
Hue Bridge Pro
Our most advanced smart home hub is faster, has more capacity, and unlocks more features than ever before. Get ultra-fast response times, advanced AI features, and expanded capacity. Plus, turn your smart lights into motion sensors with built-in MotionAware™ technology.”
Was posted on Philips Hue USA website.
https://www.philips-hue.com/en-us/products/%20promotions/newest-philips-hue-products
Hue Bridge Pro comes with matte black, search the image on Google just found it.
I really hope there’s a NEW Gradient Play Light with COB in September.
Hue Bridge Pro has appeared on the Hue website : r/Hue https://share.google/7N9qYDOvCcpZ2HdBX