Philips Hue Essential lights are spectacular value, but the originals outshine them in one key way
SOURCE:TechRadar|BY: Cat Ellis
Hue Essential bulbs are just as good as the originals in most situations, provided you don't need to dial the brightness right down.
Philips' Hue Essential series is a great entry-level range of smart lights that is fully compatible with other Hue devices, with the bulbs working brilliantly in most situations. The main drawback is that they can only dim to 2% (on the left in the image above) compared to 0.2% for regular Hue lights (right). Their white light spectrum is narrower, too, so I wouldn't recommend mixing and matching them within the same room. Used on their own, however, they offer fantastic value and are an excellent way to start a Hue setup or extend your existing one without breaking the bank.
Pros
Much more affordable than regular Philips Hue lights
Very good color reproduction
Fully compatible with Philips Hue app and accessories
All Essential bulbs offer tuneable white and colored light
Cons
-
Dimmable to 2% brightness, compared to 0.2% for a regular Philips Hue bulb
-
Only three bulb types available
-
Darker 'halo' sometimes visible around top of bulb
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Philips Hue Essential: two-minute review
Philips Hue Essential bulbs are a more affordable version of the company's standard smart lights, and they perform incredibly well considering they're less than half the price. There are a few limitations, though. For example, Philips Hue Essential bulbs offer a maximum brightness of **803**CHECK*** lumens, whereas standard Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance bulbs range from 800 to 1,600 lumens.
The Philips Hue Essential bulb's color reproduction was impressive (Image credit: Future)
To see how the two would compare, I set up a pair of lamps – one with a Philips Hue Essential bulb, and the other with an 800-lumen Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance bulb. I added them to the same room in the Philips Hue app, which would enable me to control them simultaneously, and directly compare and contrast their output.
During most of the tests I ran, it was difficult to spot any difference between the two. Both were equally responsive, and produced colors that were identical to my naked eye when I switched between scenes. According to Signify (the company behind the Philips Hue brand), Essential bulbs use different color-matching technology to regular Hue lights; but personally, I had a hard time telling the difference.
Having said that, I did notice a dark band at the top of the Essential bulb, which wasn't present on the premium bulb. This was most apparent with purple and blue light. Note that it isn't something you'll notice if you're using the bulb in a ceiling light, nor in a table lamp, and therefore is unlikely to be a deal-breaker unless you're exceptionally picky.
A dark "halo" is sometimes visible around the top of the Philips Hue Essential bulb (Image credit: Future)
The two were equally bright (as expected), although if I'd used a higher-output White & Color Ambiance bulb, then it would have been appreciably brighter.
However, there's one important difference that you should be aware of, particularly if you're looking for smart bulbs that will produce a natural-looking sunrise and sunset to help you wake up feeling refreshed, or to create subtle ambient lighting in your living room.
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With both bulbs dialled down to their dimmest setting, the Hue Essential bulb was much brighter than the more expensive White & Color Ambiance model, as you can see in the photo below. That's because the Hue Essential bulb can only be dimmed to 2% of its maximum brightness, whereas the regular bulb can drop to just 0.2%.
(Image credit: Future)
I also found that the Essential bulb tended to show a slightly warmer cast, due to its narrower white light spectrum (2,200–6,500K compared to 1,000-20,00K for a regular Hue bulb). Depending on your preferred light temperature, the difference could be apparent if you use the two different types of bulbs in close proximity,
I wouldn't mix and match regular Hue and Hue Essential bulbs within the same room. However, they're an excellent option for those wanting to setup a Philips Hue system but have previously been intimidated by the price. They're also great if you're looking to extend your existing system to more rooms in your home, without splashing too much cash.
Performance score: 4.5/5
Philips Hue Essential: price and availability
Much cheaper than regular Philips Hue bulbs
Even more affordable when bought as a multipack
You may also want a Philips Hue Bridge
The Philips Hue Essential range is designed to be an accessible entry point into the world of smart lighting, with the bulbs coming in at a much cheaper price than standard Philips Hue ones.
One Philips Hue Essential bulb (either screw or bayonet) costs $24.99 / £19.99 (about AU$40). If you want several, you can save money by opting for a multipack. A twin-pack costs $44.99 / £32.99 (about AU$70), and a four-pack comes in at $59.99 / £49.99 (about AU$90).
For comparison, a twin-pack of regular 800-lumen Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance bulbs costs $98.99 / £84.99 / AU$149.25, and a four-pack is $185.99 / £169.99 / AU$290.50. That's the starting price for a maximum brightness of 800 lumens; brighter bulbs cost even more.
The Philips Hue Essential bulb (left) has a slightly warmer cast than the regular Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance bulb on maximum brightness (800 lumens) (Image credit: Future)
There's another potential cost to consider, though. Although you can control the color and brightness of your Philips Hue Essential lights using Bluetooth on your phone, for more advanced features (such as applying scenes, setting schedules, and connecting them to smart speakers or switches) you'll also need a Philips Hue Bridge.
A standard Philips Hue Bridge costs $65.99 / £49.99 / AU$99.95, so factor this into your budget when planning your new smart lighting system. There's also a Philips Hue Bridge Pro, but this would be overkill for a new user with a small setup.
Hue app, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, Matter, and more
Connection options
Bluetooth, Zigbee
Philips Hue Essential: design
Only three bulb types available
All options offer tuneable white and colored light
Maximum brightness of ***802***CHECK lumens
Philips offers only a small selection of Hue Essential bulbs, which makes sense for an entry-level option. There are currently three models available – screw, bayonet, and GU10 spotlights – and these should be fine for most fittings around your home. Here, I tested an E27 screw-fitting bulb.
By contrast, regular Philips Hue lights come in virtually every shape and form possible, including candle and "filament"-style bulbs, LED strips, and gradient lamps to name just a few.
All bulbs in the Philips Hue Essential Series are "Warm to Cool White & Color", meaning they can show eight million colours, plus white light at different temperatures (from 2,200K to 6,500K). Regular Philips Hue smart bulbs are available in three versions:
Warm white, which lets you tune brightness but not color;
White Ambiance, which lets you adjust the brightness and temperature;
White & Color Ambiance, which also lets you pick from eight million colors.
All Philips Hue Essential bulbs offer a maximum brightness of ***803***CHECK lumens. Regular Philips Hue bulbs range from 800 all the way through to 1,600 lumens.
Design score: 4.5/5
Should you buy Philips Hue Essential bulbs?
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Philips Hue Essential scorecard
Attribute
Notes
Score
Value
Exceptional value at less than half the price of a standard Hue bulb (and even better in a multipack).
5/5
Design
Only available in three formats, but these cover most everyday use cases.
4.5/5
Performance
Compares favorably with original Philips Hue bulbs, but can't dim as low and has a slightly warm cast.
4.5/5
Buy them if
Don't buy them if
Philips Hue Essential: also consider
How I tested the Philips Hue Essential bulbs
I tested a Philips Hue Essential E27 screw-fitting bulb alongside a standard Philips Hue Essential White & Color Ambiance bulb in identical table lamps, so I could more easily compare the two. I connected both to my existing Philips Hue setup, and added them to the same zone, which would enable me to control them both at once via the Hue app on my phone, set them to the same colors and brightness, and note similarities and differences.
I also tested them using the "sunset" automation within the Philips Hue app, with various preset scenes, and by tuning the light color and brightness manually.
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Cat is TechRadar's Homes Editor specializing in kitchen appliances and smart home technology. She's been a tech journalist for 15 years, having worked on print magazines including PC Plus and PC Format, and is a Speciality Coffee Association (SCA) certified barista. Whether you want to invest in some smart lights or pick up a new espresso machine, she's the right person to help.
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