Signify today announced that it's going to be easier to get started with the Philips Hue line of lights thanks to a new standalone Bluetooth bulb offering.
The new Philips Hue with Bluetooth bulbs allow those who are newcomers to the Hue ecosystem to get started with a single light. Each of the Bluetooth bulbs can be controlled via an app using Bluetooth, with no need for the Philips Hue Bridge that's normally required for Hue lights.
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Using the new Philips Hue Bluetooth app, users can turn the lights on and off, dim the lights, set the lights to millions of colors or different shades of light, select pre-set scenes, and enable multiple users to control the lights.
There are three versions of the Bluetooth bulbs: White ($14.99), White Ambiance ($24.99), and White and Color Ambiance ($49.99). They're available in the A19 bulb shape and the BR30 downlight.
Because there's no bridge involved these standalone Bluetooth bulbs are not HomeKit enabled, but for people who purchase them and decide to then expand to a larger Hue ecosystem, the bridge can be added at a later date and the bulbs can be connected like any other existing Hue bulbs.
Philips Hue Bluetooth bulbs do work with Amazon Echo, Google Home, and Nest smart display even without the Philips Hue Bridge.
The new Philips Hue Bluetooth lights are available from the Philips Hue website and Amazon starting today.
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Top Rated Comments
Buying a 3 bulb and bridge combo pack is a big investment on something that many people unfamiliar with IoT wouldn't consider a high-confidence purchase. Buying at $15 bulb that connects to your phone and lets you control it? That's enough to start the Hue addiction.
[doublepost=1561643790][/doublepost]Maybe. I imagine it depends on cost to manufacture w/ and w/o the Bluetooth module and the demand between the two moving forward. I bet they just exhaust the existing supply of non-Bluetooth and move over to w/ Bluetooth model bulbs.
Ummm…. then another company has beaten you, Hue. It's Sylvania. Sylvania sells a Bluetooth LED smart-bulb that does not require a bridge/hub, and it also works with and is controlled by Apple HomeKit devices (such as an iPhone or a Mac). Again, the Sylvania bulb also does not require a router/hub/bridge. But it's completely made for Apple HomeKit. They've done it right. And their bulb was to market over a year ago.