Philips

Hue Phillips Smart Bulbs and Smart Hub

The hub connects to the bulbs and the internet, letting you set timers and rules so you can automatically turn your lights on at dusk, for example and using the app control them from anywhere. You can connect to voice assistants to control your lights with spoken commands, and other sensors like movement and temperature.

EASE OF USE

Medium

These take a little time to set up for your own routines, but once done can be easily controlled without any particular skills.

SET-UP TIME

15-60 minutes

Setting up for the first time, you have to connect your hub to the wifi, so you'll need your password handy. You'll also need a smartphone with the app, and to be able to connect the hub for the lights to the back of your router with the supplied cable and to a power socket, so you'll need a spare one near your router.

PRICE

Upfront: £80

Recurring: None

Argos, Currys, Amazon

Other uses

Allows control remotely.
Easy dimming.
Timers.
Voice control.
Wake-up light.

Good to know

You can use these with moveable switches to switch on and off and dim so that if you have difficulty getting to a switch, you can have one close at hand.
They work with voice assistants, so you can say things like "switch on the bedroom light" or "dim the bathroom light".
Once you have the hub, you can add more bulbs to it, and they come with all the different types of fittings, or as LED strips for different effects in different parts of your home.