No matter whether new bulbs from Philips Hue or smart lamps from other manufacturers. We always take a look at new accessories for your smart home.
It’s been quite a while since Philips Hue introduced the improved Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8K for €349.99. The improved model was launched in September 2024. The 8K version is particularly useful for gamers who want to use 4K at 120 hertz. However, since 8K and a frame rate of more than 60 hertz don’t really play a big role in the normal world, the expensive Hue Sync Box is almost a niche product.
Hue Flux light strips have been available in Europe for quite some time, and they are set to launch in North America in March. However, we’ve had to wait for the matching accessories, which Philips Hue unveiled back in September at the major IFA event in Berlin. Now the time has finally come: the connectors and extensions are available in the Philips Hue online store and should also be available in stores soon.
It has been several years since Philips Hue introduced its brighter 1,100-lumen bulbs. Compared to the “old” 806-lumen bulbs, this is an increase of 36 percent, which is particularly noticeable with white light. The new Philips Hue bulbs are now even equipped with Matter over Thread – and are also built into the Philips Hue Flourish.
This story had already been announced, and now the improved version of the Hue Flourish table lamp is available in the official Philips Hue online store for a hefty €149.99 in Europe. You can easily recognize the new generation by the large Hue logo and the four symbols for Matter, Apple Home, Google Home, and Samsung Smartthings.
Philips Hue has released another firmware update. However, unlike most updates, this one is not for its Hue Bridge, but for its accessories. This is extremely rare, as the last software update for Philips Hue switches and motion sensors was in December 2024. Software versions 67.116.1, 2.85.1, and 2.85.5 are now being rolled out for all battery-powered accessory products.
Philips Hue is expected to update some of its existing products in February. The Philips Hue Flourish table lamp will be equipped with a brighter and matte-compatible light source. The same applies to the Hue Turaco series, consisting of wall lamps, pedestal lamps, and path lamps. The upgrade here is particularly extensive, as only a Hue White bulb has been used up to now.
Last September, Philips Hue introduced a total of seven new light strips. These are also available in different lengths, giving us a total of 21 different variants. It’s easy to lose track of them all. Especially since not all of the new Philips Hue light strips are available yet. Here in Europe, for example, the Hue Essential series is still missing, which is expected to be released together with the Flux accessories in the eighth calendar week – at least according to my latest information.
The Philips Hue Secure video doorbell, which was launched last autumn, has learned something new. Following the app update to version 5.60.1, two new features are now available that actually have a significant impact on everyday life. You can customise the doorbell button sound and set your own trigger areas and options for the integrated motion detector.
There is hardly any other topic on which I have received the same questions over and over again in recent weeks: When will the accessories for connecting the Hue Flux light strips be available? Until now, I have had to keep putting you off, and it was actually supposed to be ready by the end of last year.
Philips Hue continues to update its product range. Following the Hue Flourish table lamp, which has already been equipped with an improved light source, it is now the turn of the Philips Hue Turaco. An updated version has already appeared on Amazon Germany and is expected to be available from the end of February.
Fabian