At IFA 2025 in Berlin, Philips Hue revealed its most significant update in years, introducing the all-new Hue Bridge Pro along with a refreshed lineup of bulbs, strips, and security products. This marks a turning point for the smart lighting brand, making its ecosystem faster, smarter, and more affordable.
Hue Bridge Pro: A Decade in the Making
After nearly 10 years, Hue has finally upgraded its hub, and the new Bridge Pro is a massive leap forward. Powered by the next-gen Hue Chip Pro, it delivers five times faster performance and 15 times more memory than its predecessor. The new hub can manage up to 150 lights and 50 accessories, while storing over 500 custom scenes for complete personalization.
One of the standout innovations is MotionAware, a feature that transforms Hue lights into motion sensors by analyzing subtle Zigbee signal fluctuations. This eliminates the need for dedicated motion sensors. Importantly, this data stays local unless users choose to enable Hue Secure. Beyond lighting, the Bridge Pro also integrates with Hue’s expanding home security platform, enabling alerts, flashing lights, or siren activations when movement is detected.
Hue Essential: Making Smart Lighting More Affordable
To shed its “premium-only” reputation, Philips Hue has launched the Essential line, offering budget-friendly smart bulbs and strips. Starting at $25 per unit (or as low as $15 in multipacks), the range includes A19 bulbs, BR30s, GU10 spotlights, and strip lights.
While not as efficient or color-accurate as Hue’s $60 flagship models, these Essential lights still provide up to 800 lumens, support Matter over Thread, and work seamlessly within the Hue app. This move positions Hue more competitively against brands like Govee and Tapo, making it easier for newcomers to step into the ecosystem.
The iconic A19 bulb has been redesigned to cover the full daylight spectrum, dim down to 0.2% brightness, and operate 40% more efficiently. Every new bulb and strip light now supports Matter over Thread, Zigbee, and Bluetooth, ensuring compatibility with Apple Home, Google Home, and Alexa — even without a Bridg
Light strips have also leveled up. The new OmniGlow strip delivers a stunning 4,500 lumens over 10 meters, bright enough to illuminate entire rooms. New Flux and Essential strips cater to both indoor and outdoor use at more accessible prices.
Philips Hue is now positioning itself as a broader home security platform. The company introduced:
- The first-ever Hue Secure Video Doorbell with 2K resolution ($170).
- A plug-in chime/siren ($59.99).
- Updated security cameras with free 24-hour video history.
- Smoke alarm recognition in 2025, with AI-based facial recognition slated for 2026.
- Additionally, the popular Festavia string lights now have outdoor-ready versions, perfect for patios and facades.
Price and Availability of Hue Bridge Pro
For serious smart home enthusiasts, the Hue Bridge Pro is priced at $98.99 in the US and €89.99 in Europe. Most of the new products will be rolled out between September 2025 and early 2026 in Europe and North America. Pricing and availability for the Indian market are yet to be announced by Signify.