Are the cheap Philips Hue Essential lights any good? Here's what you need to know

Date:
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:18:47 +0000

Description:
We tested these budget bulbs side-by-side with the pricier range, and struggled to see the difference.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Philips Hue makes some of the best smart bulbs around, but they're not cheap. So if you've spotted the brand's Essentials range which comes in at around half the price of the classic bulbs you might be wondering what the catch is, and whether they're quite as good a buy as they seem. It's an especially pertinent question right now, because we're inundated with Philips Hue deals across both the Essential and standard ranges, as part of the Amazon Prime Day sales.

View all Philips Hue deals on Amazon UK / Amazon US This article is here to help you figure out whether the Philips Hue Essential range is right for you, or whether it's better to splurge on the original lineup. Below, you'll find all the key information you need to know about these bulbs and the main differences between the two options. I've also rounded up my pick of the best discounts in the UK and US this is just a selection of the deals on offer,
so if you can't see what you're looking for, it's well worth browsing the
full range on Amazon using the links above. Are the Philips Hue Essential bulbs any good? Let's get straight to it: the answer is yes. You can get the full low-down in my teammate Cat Ellis' Philips Hue Essential series review , but the short version is that we're big fans of these lights. They're around half the price of the main range, but when she tested the two sets side-by-side, Cat struggled to see many differences:

"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."

The Essential bulbs are also fully compatible with the main range of bulbs
and other Philips Hue accessories, meaning they'll integrate smoothly into an existing setup. That means you could use these as a complement to the pricier options, perhaps in rooms that are used less frequently. We concluded that they were "a superb entry into the world of smart lighting". What are the down-sides versus the main range? There are a few compromises you're making for that much cheaper price. Essential bulbs can only dim to 2% , whereas the main range can go right down to 0.2% you can see what that looks like in the image below. They also have a narrower white light range , which could look odd if you were planning on mixing and matching Essential and regular Hue bulbs in the same room. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your
inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from
us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. The Hue Essential bulbs (left) can't dim to as low a level
as the main range (right) (Image credit: Future) Essential bulbs have a lower maximum brightness level they can reach 803 lumens, whereas some of the standard White & Color Ambiance bulbs can hit 1,600 lumens. (The regular bulb we used in our side-by-side tests had the same max lumens as the Essential one, though.) None of these aspects were deal-breakers for us, but they're worth being aware of before you buy. Philips Hue deals UK 34% OFF Philips
Hue Essential starter kit (2 bulbs), White and color ambiance 53.19 79.99
shop now 28% OFF Philips Hue Essential LED smart bulb (2 pack), White and color ambiance 23.90 32.99 shop now 20% OFF Philips Hue LED smart bulb
Starter Kit (2 bulbs, Smart Button and bridge),
White and Colour Ambiance 78.99 99.14 shop now 25% OFF Philips Hue LED smart bulb Starter Kit (3 spotlight bulbs, Smart Button and bridge), White and Color Ambiance 120.59 159.99 shop now 20% OFF Philips Hue Essential A60 LED Smart Bulb (4 pack), White and Color Ambiance 40.08 49.99 shop now 23% OFF Philips Hue LED smart bulb (2 pack), White ambiance 46.08 59.99 shop now Philips Hue deals US 11% OFF Philips Hue Essential starter kit (4 bulbs), White and color ambiance $88.99 $99.99 shop now 15% OFF Philips Hue Essential starter kit (2 bulbs), White and color ambiance $67.99 $79.99 shop now 43%
OFF Philips Hue A19 starter kit (2 bulbs), White light $39.99 $69.99 shop now 24% OFF Philips Hue E12 LED smart bulb, White and color ambiance $41.89
$54.99 shop now 20% OFF Philips Hue A21 LED Smart Bulb, White light $19.08 $23.99 shop now 25% OFF Philips Hue A21 LED smart bulb, White and color ambiance $48.49 $64.99 shop now 20% OFF Philips Hue MR16 LED smart bulb (2 Pack), White and color ambiance $87.99 $109.99 shop now 23% OFF Philips Hue BR30 LED smart bulb (2 pack), White and color ambiance $76.99 $99.99 shop now 24% OFF Philips Hue E12 LED smart bulb, White and color ambiance $41.89
$54.99 shop now 20% OFF Philips Hue A19 LED smart bulb (2-pack), White and color ambiance $71.98 $89.99 shop now 31% OFF Philips Hue A19 LED smart bulb, White and color ambiance $37.97 $54.99 shop now 32% OFF Philips Hue A19 LED smart bulb (3-pack), White and color ambiance $99.99 $147.99 shop now Wait, are there different kinds of Hue lights? Whichever bulb lineup you choose, you'll have to decide between Hue's three light types. The main one that most people probably associate with the brand is White and color ambiance . That means the bulbs can emit any one of millions of RGB colors, including a wide range of different white tones.

However, if you don't want colored lights, you'd be better with either a
White or White ambiance bulb. The former emit a warm light at a set color temperature. The latter can be set to any one of a massive range of cool to warm white lights. (You can read more in our article explaining Philips Hue bulb types .) Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred
source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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