Hue just launched the Essential A19 — a budget bulb that finally brings Matter over Thread to Hue at $15 (per bulb in a 4-pack). But does cheaper still mean that Hue quality? I compare the Essential to the updated Hue A19 and stack both against the Aqara T2 to see what you gain (and what you lose), including Adaptive Lighting, Hue app control, and whether you still need the Bridge. ⚖️
📺 Video References
Conquer Smart Home Lighting —
Has Philips Hue Been Dethroned? —
The WiFi Lights Problem —
🎛 Smart Home Lighting Playlist —
🛒 Amazon — Products Mentioned
Philips Hue Essential A19 (Thread/Matter):
Philips Hue A19 (updated):
Philips Hue Bridge:
Philips Hue Bridge Pro:
Aqara T2 (Thread/Zigbee):
⏱️ Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:11 What’s New: Essential + Thread
2:00 Matter vs. Hue Bridge (Pick a Lane)
3:19 Your Connectivity Options
4:45 Side-by-Side Tests: Color, Brightness, Dimming
6:21 Verdict & Recommendations
#PhilipsHue #HueEssential #SmartHome #Matter #Thread #AppleHome #HomeKit #HueBridge #AqaraT2 #SmartLighting
Remember that connecting Apple, home and Phillips together is done at the cloud. So you have two corporates monitoring all your movements as a minimum.
So which one is better 800 lumen white box or purple box
I have Nanoleaf smart bulbs with an Apple TV serving as my hub, and using the Apple Home app for control. The bulbs are all shit and stop working one after the other. I am now fed up and would like to switch brands or even the system entirely. Can I add these Hue Essential A19 to my existing setup, using my Apple TV as a Matter/Thread hub? Or do these Hue bulbs use Wifi, which makes them respond stupidly slowly to my commands in the Home app? I appreciate your insight.
Too lil to late Govee has taking over
It’s about time Philips Hue offered a more budget-friendly option 💡 The trade-off between Matter/Thread and adaptive lighting is a tough choice, but it’s great to see more competition in the thread bulb space. Thanks for the side-by-side comparison