Instead of blindly searching for a light switch at night, consider this smart hub from Philips Hue. The smart home system is compatible with other Philips Hue accessories. However, its main focus is to control up to 50 Philips Hue smart lights. It uses smart switches via one hub for a complete smart home system dedicated to lighting.
This system can be voice-controlled with a connected Amazon Echo, Apple HomeKit, or Google Home smart speaker. It is compatible with IFTTT protocols. You can fully automate your lighting system by setting timers, alarms, and prompts. These allow the lights to turn on whenever you need them without touching the app or saying a word. However, this system does need to be connected directly to your router with an included Ethernet cable.
Product Specs
- Control: Philips Hue app or voice control (Amazon Echo, Apple HomeKit, Google Home)
- Size: Measures 1 by 3.5 by 3.5 inches
- Capacity: Up to 50 Philips Hue smart light bulbs
Pros
- Automatic hub updates with the latest software
- Enables convenient IFFT protocols
- Operates independently of home’s internet (doesn’t slow down WiFi)
Cons
- Requires 4 AA batteries
- Schedules and timers do not back up to a device outside the hub