Technology has given us the ability to make our homes more beautiful and interconnected than we have ever achieved before. Smart homes used to be a thing left to sci-fi movies and plots in the future. Still, now they’re becoming a reality and more accessible for the average person to build. The Internet of Things (IoT) concept is a big help.
Considering the entire market is projected to hit a trillion dollars in 2030, it’s not surprising that light bulbs have jumped in on the action. Smart light bulbs are one of the best ways to achieve this in your home. By having a smart light bulb in your home, you can control your lights remotely, have them turn on as scheduled, and even have them glow different colors at different times! Needless to say, you can get a lot more out of a smart light bulb than you can with a regular one.
Philips is one of the top two players in the smart lighting game, with two of their most popular options for consumers being Philips WiZ and Philips Hue. It’s not surprising that consumers find themselves confused about which one to opt for with these options that seem to do the same thing.
I’ll be helping you make that decision by putting Philips WiZ vs. Hue in this article. This should make it so much easier for you to see the specs and aspects that make them different from one another and hopefully help you make a better decision. Let’s get into it then!
Do you have a particular question about Philips Wiz vs. Hue comparison? Then use the table of contents below to jump to the most relevant section. And you can always go back by clicking on the black arrow in the right bottom corner of the page. Also, please note that some of the links in this article may be affiliate links. For more details, check the Disclosure section at the bottom of the page.
Here's what we'll cover:
Philips Hue and WiZ: What Is the Difference?
When trying to compare the WiZ vs. Hue, there are a lot of aspects in which they differ. This makes it so confusing, especially as they are made by the same parent company! You might prefer one to the other, though. I’ll break down how they differ in an easy-to-understand way.
Hopefully, this will make it easier for you to decide which to purchase between the two. The way they work means that it is best you buy one type and stick to that. Mixing and matching won’t benefit you at all!
Options
How do WiZ light bulbs differ from Hue in terms of the options they give you? We’ll be looking at aspects such as the fitting types and the brightness levels that each brand can offer.
Starting with the Hue bulbs, Philips doesn’t restrict where they are marketed to buy them worldwide. This is different from WiZ, where the products can only be bought if you live in the United States or the United Kingdom.
Regarding the brightness in lumens, you don’t need to get too selective when looking at WiZ vs. Hue, as they are both able to reach a peak level of 1600 lumens. However, WiZ lights can drop to 355 lumens. Philips Hue bulbs can only do as much as 500 lumens.
Both smart bulbs can be gotten in the E27 screw fitting and B22 Bayonet fitting. They also both offer static and adjustable whites, as well as color bulbs.
Hue offers a wider variety of lighting styles, for both inside and outside, including lamps, wall lights, light strips, and others.
Features
The best place to see which features your new smart light bulb has is by checking the WiZ lighting app and tweaking things around!
Both let you control the light bulb from the Hue or WiZ app, as is expected. Some of the standard features of these bulbs include the ability to control the intensity of the light, switch them off or on, and modify the color if supported.
However, where they begin to display their differences in the Philips WiZ vs. Hue argument is in their customization options. The Philips Hue lets you customize more, such as scheduling lights for sunset or sunrise instead of just a solid time. It can also check for anyone at home before performing certain actions.
The WiZ lighting app is particularly beneficial for beginners, as the app is much easier to navigate.
Connectivity
Whether you are leaning towards Philips WiZ bulbs or Hue ones, it is crucial to know everything about these, such as how they connect to the internet. After all, their internet connectivity is a significant part of their daily functioning.
The Hue bulbs have Bluetooth, so you can easily connect to nearby bulbs. Unfortunately, you need to buy an extra piece, the Philips Hue Bridge, to connect them to your router and then your Wi-Fi. A Hue Bridge is a good idea for those with other Hue smart accessories.
A WiZ smart bulb may not have Bluetooth, but they connect directly to the router, which means you don’t need to buy an extra item, and they will work regardless of whether home or away.
Price
To keep it short and simple, the average price of a Philips Hue bulb is anywhere between $15 to $50. WiZ light bulbs are much more affordable, starting at $9 and going up to $14.
Suppose you have no reason to jump into the Hue ecosystem. In that case, the WiZ options will definitely be more pocket-friendly.
Philips Hue: Pros and Cons
So, in the contest between WiZ vs. Hue, what reasons might you want to go for a Philips Hue? Let’s start with the advantages:
- A wider selection of lighting options like lamps, recessed lights, and pendant lights
- Multiple accessories, like motion sensors and HDMI sync boxes
- More customization in the app
- Also, have Bluetooth
- Available worldwide
When it comes to the downsides:
- Each bulb is more expensive
- Requires the Hue Bridge, which is added cost
- The minimum brightness is higher than WiZ light bulbs.
Pros and Cons of WiZ
Do you find yourself leaning towards Philips WiZ bulbs? Here are some of the pros to help win you over to that side:
- A single WiZ smart bulb costs much less than its competitor
- WiZ light bulbs can connect directly to Wi-Fi, with no need for a bridge
- Can achieve a lower minimum brightness
- The WiZ lighting app is much more straightforward for novices
When it comes to the downsides of Philips WiZ products:
- There are fewer options for lighting styles
- The products are only officially marketed in the United States and the United Kingdom
Philips WiZ vs. Hue: which one is better, and which one should you choose?
Now then, it can be tough when choosing between Philips WiZ vs. Hue. The truth is, I can’t give you a definitive winner because it all comes down to your needs.
Are you trying to make sure that every single light in your house is a smart bulb? Then you will probably need to fork out the extra cash for the Hue products. This way, you can cover recessed lights, wall lights, and even outdoor lights.
Are you looking to change certain bulbs in convenient locations, and that’s it? Then going for Philips WiZ bulbs is the straightforward answer here. You can buy each WiZ smart bulb for less, and you don’t need to get a Bridge to handle them all.
In the end, look through the pros and cons, as well as your needs, and ask yourself whether variety means more to you than price!
Credits: Thanks for the photo to Canva.
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