The 2025 edition of the IFA in Berlin has barely started, and Philips Hue marks a significant turning point during its press conference! The atmosphere in the room was electric: professionals and enthusiasts attended the official presentation of a new generation of products. The spirit of the launch is clearly focused on simplicity, modularity, and openness: an accessible offer for all those who wish to reveal the potential of the connected home, with advanced features worthy of the most demanding.
This year, in the spotlight: a next-generation Hub, a revolutionary motion detection technology, a range of new fixtures and accessories, as well as comprehensive security solutions. The leitmotif? To provide control over the lighting environment and peace of mind at your fingertips, all while delivering a seamless and personalized experience. The range expands, enriches, and refines. This is enough to change the game for any modern interior, from the connected studio to the family home.
A Hue Bridge Pro Built for the Future
This is the epicenter of the Hue ecosystem of tomorrow. The Hue Bridge Pro, dressed entirely in black, boasts very impressive features. It can support up to 150 lights and 50 synchronized accessories, capable of competing with the most sophisticated installations.
Powered by the new Hue Chip Pro processor, it has five times the power and fifteen times the memory of the previous bridge, which has served well for its 10 years.
This Hue Bridge Pro ensures impeccable responsiveness: instant scene changes, dynamic device management, and exemplary fluidity during peak usage.
Storage of more than 500 personalized scenes allows users to adapt lighting to every moment of the day. A gentle morning? Dim ambiance for dinner? Dynamic lighting for an evening with friends? Everything becomes possible and immediately accessible via the app.
Good news: the migration from the old bridge is a formality: a few steps are all it takes to recover your luminous universe and your favorite settings.
Another new feature is the ability to merge multiple bridges into a single system, which will be available in a few months for oversized spaces.
Connection can be made via Ethernet or Wi-Fi, at your choice, for simplified installation, on a shelf or in a technical room. From September 2025, the Hue Bridge Pro will be offered at a recommended retail price of €89.99, which is certainly more expensive than its predecessor, but much more powerful and comprehensive.
Local intelligent management opens the door to embedded AI, allowing finely tuned automations: evolving routines based on habits, real-time adaptation, or advanced motion detection thanks to MotionAware technology.
MotionAware: Discreet Intelligence at the Heart of Lighting
MotionAware is arguably the biggest surprise of this launch. This technology, active only via the Bridge Pro, is a true concentrate of innovation. With a simple software update, over 95% of existing Philips Hue products become capable of detecting motion. No need to multiply dedicated sensors or cameras: Hue fixtures take over in every room.
In practical terms, the lamps continuously analyze fluctuations in the ZigBee signal. If a presence is detected (movement that disturbs the “pool” of radio waves, to borrow the analogy of a swimming pool), the system triggers, as desired, a lighting, a notification, or an alarm. The configuration is playful: simply associate at least three compatible lamps in a space, then launch a quick calibration via the app. In twenty seconds, it’s set.
The sensitivity adjustment is fully customizable. A pet often present in the rooms? Detection can be weakened to avoid false triggers. MotionAware works equally well for comfort scenarios and for security (in this case, via the Hue Secure subscription: alerts, sirens, logs). One can easily imagine its usefulness in daily life: hands-free access in the kitchen, automatic light activation in the garage at dusk, or an alarm system without a camera for rooms where one prefers to maintain privacy. Everything occurs without any manual intervention; the house comes alive at the whim of movements.
The experience is also designed for playful uses. During a treasure hunt among children, for example, the lights can intelligently turn on as each player passes by! The possibilities are varied and truly customizable.
Hue Lights, A Wide Range for All Uses
The major innovation on the lighting side is undoubtedly the arrival of the Philips Hue Essential range. Here, everything has been thought out for immediate and accessible use, even for a first purchase.
The Essential A19 and BR30 bulbs, GU10 spots, starter kits (with bridge and/or switch), and especially the two new Essential strips make the Hue universe accessible, without detours or compromises. Total compatibility, plug-and-play configuration, control via Bluetooth or through Bridge Pro: everything is designed to broaden the audience.
The new generation of Hue lamps (including Essential) supports Matter over Thread, ZigBee, and Bluetooth, with increased luminous efficacy (+40% compared to the previous generation). The range is fully automatable, controllable by voice assistant or app. Convenient for adapting ambiances for seasons or family moments (automatic nightlights, wake-up ambiance lighting, or ultra-fine dimming for movie night).
Prices are also clearly oriented towards accessibility; the Essential A19 starts at €24.99 per unit, and packs up to €59.99. Starter kits are offered from €79.99. The Essential strips are priced at €59.99 for 5 meters, €99.99 for 10 meters; the Flex versions, for curved or custom neon effects, at €99.99 for a 5-meter kit and €169.99 for 10 meters. An ideal palette to equip the house or give as a gift. Excellent news, as it must be admitted that Philips Hue prices have been quite high until now.
Hue is not just about making access easier: the premium range is redesigned, with seven new LED strips. Omniglow particularly shines: up to 4500 lumens over 10 meters, CSP technology for uniform output, possible cuts and extensions, very precise dimming for all desires. Other models complete the palette: Flux indoor and ultra-bright for powerful ambiances, outdoor Flux strips or flexible Neon for terraces, façades, pergolas, and outdoor parties, all controllable via Hue and synchronizable with Spotify for customized light shows. Enough to liven up beautiful parties!
Prices are harmonized: Omniglow is sold at €139.99 for 3 meters, €199.99 for 5 meters, and up to €349.99 for 10 meters. The Festavia globe string lights for outdoor use will be available from September at €159.99 (7 meters), €219.99 (14 meters), €289.99 (21 meters). The permanent Festavia for façades will be available from €119.99 or €299.99 depending on the length.
Installation is done without specific tools, and the accessories (connectors, supports, extensions) facilitate ultra-flexible customization; each room gets its light and its ambiance. No longer a question of limiting creativity: any indoor or outdoor space can come to life with just a few gestures.
Connected Security, Philips Hue Secure Takes on a New Dimension
The Hue Secure range also reaches a decisive milestone. No need to multiply brands: cameras, video doorbells, and security accessories integrate into the same Hue lighting universe.
The Hue Secure video doorbell delivers a 2K image (180° fisheye, Starlight night vision), detects packages, allows two-way communication, and triggers entry lighting as soon as the visitor arrives. No chance of missing a delivery or a visit.
The Hue Smart Chime enhances the system with customizable sound alerts in each area, works on a standard outlet, with planning of “quiet hours” or tones depending on the moments. The wired Hue Secure cameras offer 2K resolution, recognition of smoke detector signals, and can be easily installed (Wi-Fi, plug-and-play power, priced from €179.99 for the black or white version).
Video history for 24 hours becomes free from autumn, a welcome evolution in the landscape of subscriptions. Hue Secure instantly connects alerts to your smartphone, lights up the lamps or triggers a siren, manages access and intrusion scenarios: it’s impossible to miss any activity, everything remains under control, whether at home or away.
MotionAware, as mentioned above, complements wireless security: ideal for securing bedrooms or bathrooms without installing a camera, or for overall movement management, all within the same application. Finally, the prices are coherent and controlled: €169.99 for the video doorbell, starting from €59.99 for the Smart Chime, up to €199.99 for the stand-alone camera depending on the configuration.
Flexibility, Simplicity, and Customization: The New Face of Philips Hue
With this launch, Philips Hue no longer offers just connected bulbs: it’s all about personalizing and securing everyday life, with redesigned ergonomics. The intelligence embedded in the Bridge Pro, MotionAware detection, integration with voice assistants and Spotify, automatic lighting effects, and custom scenarios: the connected home aims to be dynamic, accessible, and ultra-creative.
The new products and updates shape an ecosystem where every need finds its solution, from daily comfort to advanced surveillance, festive atmospheres on the terrace to gentle routines for morning awakenings. Philips Hue reinforces its leadership in the market, offering a home that is safer, more user-friendly, and more intuitive, where lighting is no longer just utilitarian but becomes one of the major levers of the smart home experience.
We will, of course, talk about this in more detail very soon in a test, as I fully intend to replace my old Hub with this new Bridge Pro as soon as possible!
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