EUR44,99
Philips Hue Bridge
Product ratings
Pros
Cons
618 reviews
Without backup function a hobby / hobbyist solution
Actually, I'm a total Hue fan and meanwhile have over 50 lamps and over 10 dimmers and motion sensors on our system. I had to use 2 bridges for distance reasons.
The fact that several bridges can not be combined into a virtual overall system (certain apps try to pretend that but basically the elements of the individual bridges are completely separate from each other) is extremely unfortunate.
But what is really a no/go: The missing backup/restore function. In my home configuration, I'm sure I've spent a whole day working on it (rather more).
If for some reason the bridge has to be replaced (or the configuration has to be reset to factory settings) you have to start all over again... there is not even the possibility to at least "print" the configuration, so that you would have the serial numbers of the lamps and the self-assigned designations at least for sure. Nope... nothing. Philips MUST fix this! I find it totally tragic.
Another unpleasantness is that the dimmers can not automatically take over the lamp control directly (i.e. bridge-less) in the event of a failure of the WLAN or even the bridge.Pro
- Basically a great system
Contra
- Several bridges can not be combined to a complete system
- NO BACKUP/RESTORE FUNCTION!!!!
- No "Save current state"/"Return to last state".
I would buy the bridge again.
I have the Hue Bridge with light bulbs from Ikea (Tradfri) and Google Home in use. The integration was not particularly difficult, but requires that the bulbs are near the Hue Bridge.
The Ikea bulbs can be integrated without the gateway from Ikea, as long as they are from a newer batch (min. batch 1721).Pro
- Ikea light bulbs can be integrated
- Works great with Google Home
Contra
- Bulbs must be near the Hue Bridge
A good bridge for Philips Hue
I use the bridge to control Philips Hue lamps. Commissioning works without any problems. The lamps have to be close to the bridge so that they can be integrated quickly.
I also use the bridge in combination with Loxone, so I can also control the lamps via home automation.Pro
- Price
- Commissioning
- Possible applications
I can only recommend for Hue system
Up to 10 lamps can also be controlled via Bluetooth, but this increases the convenience of operation via the app even if there are fewer lamps.
Simple integration (less than 5 minutes) = that's how it should be - a recommendation!Pro
- Easy integration into the network
- Control via app of the lamps
- Various programming options (out of home, light on on arrival etc. via app)
- great interaction with Hue = a must have
Contra
- No backup/restore system
- Programming only goes forward - no back function
Much room for improvement
Once you start using Hue, you won't want to stop. The setup is simple and quick, the first lamps and scenes are set up in no time. At the latest when you become more demanding over time, you come back down to earth. You will never reach the promised 60 lamps per bridge, unless you have zero accessories and zero scenes. For me, it was already over with a little more than 30 lamps.
Setting up a second bridge is just as easy, but the operation is not well thought out. You have to constantly switch back and forth in the app, you don't see both together. In addition, accessory A cannot control lamps from bridge B - fail. Likewise, neither Alexa nor Google work with 2 bridges, or can only control the first one. Workarounds are tedious.
Third-party lamps with Zigbee can be easily integrated (e.g. ikea, lidl), and basically also work, including the scenes. But when it comes to controlling with Hue accessories, you have to make concessions. For example, the Hue Smart Button does not manage to switch the scenes for my third-party lamps. Instead, they simply go out. That certainly shouldn't be the case, Philips is deliberately hindering the competition here. No wonder, a GU10 lamp from Hue costs about 50.-, at Lidl you could buy one for 15.-.
If you are planning a smarthome with Hue and have a larger flat or house, you should plan with 2 bridges from the start. Because I still have Google Assistant, I have now divided the lamps so that all those that do not need to be controlled with Google (e.g. those with motion sensors) are on one bridge, the rest on the other. This way I have achieved what I need and hope that it will last for a while...
We don't need to talk about the prices. The bridge seems to be cheap, but the accessories and the lamps are expensive as hell. Really.Pro
- Control lamps centrally
- easy to set up
Contra
- No WLAN
- Small number of devices manageable
- many "logical" things do not work
- does difficult with foreign lamps with Zigbee
- 2-bridge operation cumbersome and not well thought out
- Hue price
A must have for Hue lamps
It is essential to connect my Hue Play lamps and control them remotely from outside my home with 4g? Home automation as I imagine it.
Pro
- easy to connect to the internet box
- the case heats up very little
- super simple pairing
Contra
- price a bit expensive for a single function box
6 out of 618 reviews
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