**Philips Hue Introduces Exciting New Features and Products**
Philips Hue has recently revealed a collection of noteworthy updates and new offerings that aim to improve the smart lighting experience for consumers. Among the standout features is the launch of the new Bridge Pro, which enables existing Philips Hue smart bulbs to operate as motion sensors. This advancement, combined with more budget-friendly lighting solutions, brighter light strips, and support for Matter-over-Thread, signifies a significant progression in the Philips Hue ecosystem.
### Converting Existing Hue Bulbs into Motion Sensors
The new Bridge Pro, available for $90, is crucial for activating the motion sensor functionality in current Hue bulbs. Users won’t need to update their bulbs, but they are required to swap their existing Hue Bridge for the new model. The Bridge Pro features remarkable capabilities, including support for three times as many devices and the capacity to store over 500 lighting scenes, greatly enhancing response times.
The Bridge Pro showcases an elegant black design, a quicker processor, and expanded memory capacity, making it particularly attractive to committed Hue users. It can connect up to 150 lights and 50 accessories, and it introduces Wi-Fi support, facilitating more versatile placement away from the router. Philips Hue has also indicated that a migration tool will be provided to help users transfer settings from the old bridge to the new one, streamlining the transition for those with multiple bridges.
### Hue Secure Smart Doorbell
Philips Hue has also unveiled the Hue Secure Doorbell, aimed at rivaling established products like Ring and Nest. This smart doorbell includes a high-resolution 2K fisheye camera and provides 24-hour video history without necessitating a subscription. It integrates perfectly with Hue lights, allowing users to configure outdoor lights to turn on when someone approaches the door, in addition to activating indoor lights for visual notifications.
The Hue Secure Doorbell will retail for $170 in the US, Europe, and the UK next month. However, it will not support Apple Home upon launch, with that functionality anticipated to be added later.
### More Budget-Friendly Hue Lights
In an effort to make smart lighting more affordable, Philips Hue is launching the Hue Essential series, with prices beginning at just $20 per bulb when bought in packs of four. These new bulbs are crafted to provide a straightforward lighting solution, maintaining compatibility with the current Hue ecosystem while delivering a more limited white spectrum and somewhat reduced brightness.
The colored bulbs within the Hue Essential series will be priced at $24.99 each, with multi-packs offering even greater value. The series is set to expand in December 2025 to include new light strips, further enriching the product lineup.
### New Light Strips
Philips Hue is also preparing to introduce five new light strips, featuring closer LED spacing for improved and more uniform lighting. These strips are designed to be more flexible, making installation in various configurations simpler. The new selections include:
– **Hue OmniGlow Lightstrip** (3/5/10 meters) starting at $139.99, launching in November 2025.
– **Hue Flux Gradient Lightstrip** (3/4/5/6/10 meters) starting at $69.99, launching in October 2025.
– **Hue Flux Ultra Bright Gradient Lightstrip** (3/5/10 meters) beginning at $99.99, launching in October 2025.
– **Hue Flux Gradient Outdoor Lightstrip** (5/6/10 meters) starting at $149.99, launching in October 2025.
– **Hue Neon Gradient Outdoor Lightstrip** (3/5/10 meters) starting at $139.99, launching in October 2025.
Additionally, new outdoor Festavia Globe string lights will be offered, with prices starting at $129.99 for various lengths.
### Conclusion
Philips Hue’s recent announcements illustrate a dedication to innovation and user-friendly solutions in the smart lighting arena. With the debut of the Bridge Pro, economical lighting alternatives, and new products such as the Hue Secure Doorbell, Philips Hue continues to enhance the smart home experience for users worldwide.
