Hands-on with the new Philips Hue Neon Outdoor Lightstrip

After a slight delay, Philips Hue has launched its new Neon Lightstrip for outdoor use. The 10-meter version is already available in Europe, and the 3- and 5-meter versions of the new Outdoor Lightstrip are also expected to be available shortly. It’s best to check availability directly on the official product page. The launch in North America is planned for March 2026.

Comparison with the old Philips Hue Outdoor Lightstrip

The previous Outdoor Lightstrip has been around for several years. The 2-meter-long light strip cost €139.99 and delivered up to 850 lumens. The 5-meter version with up to 1,650 lumens had a hefty price tag of €239.99. The Hue Neon Outdoor Lightstrip is available in three versions, here is a brief overview:

• 3 meters for €139.99 with up to 1,100 lumens
• 5 meters for €199.99 with up to 1,100 lumens
• 10 meters for €349.99 with up to 1,100 lumens

It’s immediately clear that you’re getting more light strips for your money. You pay the same for 3 meters as you previously paid for 2 meters, and the 5-meter light strip is now €40 cheaper.

The brightness is identical for all three versions, at up to 1,100 lumens. That’s less than before, but more than enough for mood lighting – at least that’s my impression from my front yard.

Installing the new outdoor light strip

All three versions of the Hue Neon Outdoor Lightstrip come with a 30-watt outdoor power supply. Alternatively, you can of course use a 40- or 100-watt power supply that you may already have. The new light strip is fully compatible with the Philips Hue 12-volt system.

An extension cable can be connected directly to the power supply unit as required. Otherwise, a 2-meter cable leads to the small Zigbee controller, from where it continues 1 meter to the start of the light strip. The cables are permanently connected around the controller and cannot be removed. Incidentally, the light strip itself is IP67 certified and the power supply unit is IP44 certified.

The scope of delivery includes a set of small mounting clips that can be used to attach the light strip to a wooden wall, for example. Alternatively, you can simply place the Hue Neon Outdoor Lightstrip decoratively in your flower bed. I find it a shame that Philips Hue does not include ground spikes for mounting. That would be a great thing, especially for some tighter “curves.”

Adding the light strip to the Philips Hue app and integrating it into the ecosystem works as usual.

Improvements over the old generation

In direct comparison with the previous outdoor light strip from Philips Hue, there is of course a major improvement: the Hue Neon Outdoor Lightstrip supports the popular gradient function. Within the Hue app, you can easily set color gradients or apply them to existing scenes. In combination with effects, the light strip can even switch off individual segments, which created a particularly spooky atmosphere on Halloween. Of course, white light with real white LEDs in various shades of white is also possible.

The individual LEDs are not visible under the silicone coating of the Hue Neon Outdoor Lightstrip. Together with the great color gradients, this creates a really beautiful overall picture. There’s no question about it: this light strip is a wonderful mood light.

Also worth mentioning: the light strip actually illuminates up to a few millimeters before the end. With the old Outdoor Lightstrip, depending on how it was installed, the last 5 to 10 centimeters remained dark. Here, too, Philips Hue has further improved the product.

Almost all wishes fulfilled

With the new Hue Neon Outdoor Lightstrip, Philips Hue has done many things right: it is slightly cheaper, twice as long if desired, and technically significantly improved. Ground spikes would be desirable to make installation in flower beds a little more “stable.” It would also be great if the Hue Neon Outdoor Lightstrip were also sold without a power supply as an alternative – you may already have an outdoor system in use.

Hue Neon Gradient Outdoor Lightstrip

from 139.99€

Add a playful glow to your outdoor space with the Neon outdoor strip light. Enjoy bright, true white light in any natural tone for practical outdoor illumination. Installation is simple – connect to a standard outlet using the included Low-volt power supply or integrate with your existing Low-volt set-up.

Buy Now