Good news for smart home owners! After facing delays and uncertainty, the Philips Hue Bridge is finally receiving an update to support the new smart home standard called Matter. The software update is expected to roll out in September, allowing users to connect their Hue systems with other Matter devices and apps. This update means that all existing Philips Hue products, including their original bulbs launched in 2012, will now be compatible with Matter.
The announcement came from Signify, the company behind Philips Hue, during the IFA tech show in Berlin. In addition to the Matter update, Signify also revealed several other updates, including the introduction of the Hue line’s first smart security cameras and a range of new lights.
One of the biggest challenges for smart home owners is ensuring that their devices work seamlessly together. Interoperability has become crucial in the smart home market, and Matter aims to address this issue. Launched in the fall of 2022, the Matter standard is compatible with major smart home platforms such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home, and Samsung SmartThings. Over the past year, more and more smart home devices have added support for Matter, expanding the list of Matter-compatible devices.
Although Philips Hue was initially supposed to receive a Matter update earlier this year, it faced delays. Hueblog.com reported in March that the company needed more time to roll out Matter support, and there was no concrete date for its arrival. Some Hue users even resorted to signing up for a developer account and downloading a beta update for Matter support, which resulted in its own set of difficulties.
The Philips Hue Bridge joining the Matter ecosystem will introduce some changes for users. Hue devices communicating through Matter will work locally, potentially leading to faster and more responsive setups. Moreover, Hue users may be able to connect more than one bridge to Amazon Alexa or Google Home, enabling them to expand beyond the Hue bridge’s 50-light limit.
The timing of the Matter update is particularly advantageous as the holiday season approaches. Smart home owners who want to decorate their homes with connected lighting systems can now take advantage of the compatibility with Matter. To complement this, Signify will be releasing new lights, including the second generation of Festavia string lights, which now have the ability to work outdoors. These festive lights come in three different lengths: 100 LEDs on an 8-meter cord, 250 LEDs on a 20-meter cord, and 500 LEDs on a 40-meter cord. The Festavia string lights are priced at $119.99, $219.99, and $359.99 respectively. Additionally, Signify announced the arrival of the Hue Perifo track lighting system in the US. This system, which is already available in Europe, offers customization options and can be mounted on walls or ceilings. The track lighting is available in white and black, with prices ranging from $19.99 to $299.99. All these new products will be available in US stores starting in September.
In conclusion, the update to support Matter for the Philips Hue Bridge is an exciting development for smart home owners. It enables improved interoperability and expands the compatibility of Philips Hue products. With the addition of new lights and features, Signify continues to enhance the Philips Hue ecosystem, providing users with more options to create their ideal smart home setup.