February 8, 2025

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The Philips Hue Floodlight Digicam was introduced at IFA 2023 as a part of the Philips Hue Safe launch, together with three different cameras.

It joins a rising variety of floodlight cameras available on the market, however its integration with the Philips Hue ecosystem units it aside.

As I’m closely invested in Philips Hue, I’ve been wanting to check out the floodlight digicam and see how properly it really works with Hue, so I’ve lastly changed my ageing Netatmo Sensible Out of doors Digicam.

Table of Contents

Associated Evaluations

Specification / Options

  • Decision: 1080P
  • Sensor: CMOS – F35
  • Area of View: 141.2
  • Floodlight:
    • Lumen output at 4000K: 2,250 lm
    • Lumen output at 2700K: 2,050 lm
  • Movement Detection: Sure, together with individuals, vehicles, animals, packages
  • Evening Imaginative and prescient: Sure
  • Microphone / Audio: Sound alarm  Two-way audio
  • Weatherproof: Sure, IP65 digicam, IP44 floodlight
  • Connectivity: Zigbee  WiFi (2.4GHz – 5GHz)

Unboxing

Upon unboxing the Philips Hue Floodlight Digicam, you’ll discover the digicam itself, then the massive steel physique it mounts to with the floodlight.

What’s fascinating is that the digicam is separate from the principle floodlight, and it attaches magnetically to the principle physique with a small safety cable operating to the digicam to keep away from it being stolen.

It’s a little bit of an odd design resolution, as it could be fairly straightforward to dislodge the digicam whether it is at arm’s attain. I additionally reside in a notoriously windy city, so I used to be involved the digicam would possibly get dislodged when the climate is unhealthy, however to date, so good.

Set up

As I used to be swapping out my Netatmo, the set up was comparatively easy as I had the bodily wires in place already.

I did run into some points, however these have been associated to me making an attempt to make use of the outdated wires and the position of the earlier digicam.

The primary physique of the floodlight digicam has a big footprint, so you’ll want to make certain it suits the place you intend. The place I put in the digicam, I’ve an ornamental sandstone encompass and the principle physique virtually didn’t match, I needed to give it a little bit of a bash to get it to squeeze in.

The precise set up is intuitive. You take away the again plate from the physique and run your cables by means of the outlet with the rubber grommet to scale back the chance of water ingress. Then, wire the cables into the terminal block.

I then bumped into one other challenge as the present wiring was minimize quick to suit neatly into the earlier digicam. With the Hue floodlight, the terminal block is screwed into place additional up from the entry gap.

The terminal block wants to remain in place as a result of the principle physique doesn’t have wires to screw into place. There are three pins that slide into the block. It’s a good suggestion because it ought to simplify the set up when you’ve got wires lengthy sufficient.   

Lastly, you simply want to attach the safety cable to the digicam (or do that earlier than mounting the physique if you’re up ladders) and join the information cable.

Set Up with Philips Hue App

As soon as the digicam is put in, you possibly can set it up utilizing the Philips Hue app. The app guides you thru the method of connecting the digicam to your Philips Hue bridge and configuring its settings. The app supplies a user-friendly interface for managing the digicam’s options and settings.

I skilled just a few extra points with the set-up course of, which I’m sure was as a result of digicam not connecting to my WiFi with a powerful sufficient sign. The app would discover the digicam and connect with the WiFi, however the firmware replace saved failing, and the digicam wouldn’t add correctly to my system.

I had minimal knowledge charges assigned to my SSIDs and the band, so I diminished these and elevated the output energy on my entry factors.

With these settings modified I used to be in a position so as to add the digicam and replace it. In its present place, it states that my WiFi sign is honest, and I’ve an entry level on the bottom flooring within the room subsequent to the digicam, and one other in my workplace above and to the correct of the digicam.

Lastly, I used to be confused about why the floodlight digicam was at all times on. I later realised that the floodlight is added individually as a lightweight inside your own home, so it is advisable assign it to a zone or create a brand new one. This then permits the sunshine to operate like some other mild you might have within the Hue app.

App Settings

The Philips Hue app provides a variety of settings to customize the digicam’s behaviour. You’ll be able to modify movement detection sensitivity, arrange exercise zones to deal with particular areas, and configure mild and sound alarms. The app additionally lets you handle video recording and storage settings.

Movement Detection

The Philips Hue Floodlight Digicam’s movement detection function is very efficient. It may precisely detect and distinguish between individuals, vehicles, animals, and packages, decreasing false alarms. You’ll be able to obtain on the spot notifications in your smartphone when movement is detected, permitting you to remain knowledgeable about exercise round your own home.

There are just a few quirks that make this fairly totally different out of your common floodlight digicam.

For cameras just like the Eufy Floodlight Digicam E340, the floodlight, digicam and all of the capabilities are restricted to the digicam as one unified system that doesn’t discuss to my different Eufy cameras.

The Hue floodlight works extra like three separate gadgets: the digicam, the floodlight, and the movement sensor.

You’ll be able to management the sunshine by way of the Hue app similar to some other Hue mild. This contains setting schedules and having equipment like movement sensors or dimmers management the sunshine.

Then, throughout the digicam settings, you possibly can outline which movement sensors are used for the two-armed modes, dwelling and away.

Then, you possibly can outline which lights can be activated in movement and the totally different time zones.

So, for me, I assigned my workplace lights and hallway lights. Then, I outlined which scenes to make use of and the time. I saved the floodlight vivid for every of the time zones, then off after 5 minutes, whereas for the opposite lights, I set an applicable scene for the time after which reverted to the earlier state.

Alarms & Lights

Along with movement detection, the digicam helps mild and sound alarms that may be arrange within the dwelling and away armed modes.

When triggered, the floodlight illuminates the realm, whereas the digicam’s built-in speaker emits a loud alarm to discourage potential intruders. These alarms might be customised and managed by means of the Philips Hue app.

Floodlight Efficiency

The floodlight on the Philips Hue Floodlight Digicam delivers spectacular efficiency. With a lumen output of two,250 lm at 4000 Okay and a pair of,050 lm at 2700 Okay, it supplies vivid and even illumination to your out of doors house.

The floodlight’s color temperature might be adjusted to fit your preferences, making a welcoming atmosphere or a deterrent impact. Additionally it is RGB, so you might have the total vary of colors out there. That is fairly helpful when you’ve got the digicam put in masking a non-public backyard, permitting you to light up the skin with a extra nice lighting have an effect on than you get off regular floodlights.

The Philips Hue Floodlight Digicam is proscribed to 1080P, which is kind of low for a floodlight digicam at this worth level. Eufy has a 3K and 2K floodlight digicam, and the Arlo floodlight digicam is 2K.

That mentioned, in the course of the day, the digicam captures clear and detailed footage that appears to be higher high quality than lots of the different out of doors cameras I’ve used.

The extensive 141.2-degree subject of view ensures complete protection of the monitored space. The digicam’s picture high quality is great, with correct colors and good distinction.

One other quirk of this digicam is that it doesn’t do color night time video. Most competing choices will document in B&W when the highlight or floodlight is off then change to color when the sunshine is activated. Hue bizarrely stays in B&W.

I reside in a well-lit road, and I discovered that the digicam sensor was ok to disable night time imaginative and prescient altogether, leaving it to document my color all day and night time.

With the sunshine off, the footage is ample, you possibly can clearly make out individuals strolling up my path, however there may be plenty of noise and lack of element.

When the sunshine prompts, the standard is significantly better. Nevertheless, as I’ve the digicam put in low down, the sunshine does glare again off anybody strolling previous, however this is a matter with my placement, not the digicam.

Philips Hue Safe Pricing

You don’t want a Safe plan to make use of the floodlight digicam. Nevertheless, a plan provides you entry to extra options, similar to video historical past and exercise zones. Once you initially arrange the digicam, you’re going to get a 30 day free Safe trial.

With the free plan you get:

  • Stay streaming
  • Mild and sound alarms
  • Instantaneous movement notifications
  • Finish-to-end video encryption
  • Blackout zones
  • Video snapshots

The essential plan prices £35 per 12 months per digicam and provides you entry to:

  • Again-to-back video clip recording
  • Exercise zones
  • AI-powered particular person, animal, car and package deal detection
  • 30 days video historical past

The plus plan prices £85 per 12 months however that is for 10 cameras and supplies 60 days of video historical past.

Compared, Arlo cost £45 for a single digicam, £110 for 4 cameras, or £150 for limitless cameras with 60 days recording and as much as 4K decision.

Value and Different Choices

The Philips Hue Floodlight Digicam has an RRP of £300

The eufy Safety Floodlight Digicam E340, which is a dual-lens floodlight digicam with pan and tilt, has an RRP of £220 and is out there for £180 presently.

The Ring Floodlight Cam is £140.

The Arlo Floodlight Safety Digicam Out of doors is out there for £150.

The Netatmo Sensible Out of doors Safety Digicam is £190.

The Google GPLE9 Nest Cam with Floodlight (Out of doors, Wired) is £210.

The Reolink Duo Floodlight isn’t fairly the identical as this makes use of PoE however is priced at £130.

Eufy and Netamo work with no subscription, they usually each have facial recognition.

Total

In my view, the Philips Hue Floodlight Digicam and the opposite Hue cameras are designed particularly for people who find themselves already invested within the Hue ecosystem.

Like all Hue merchandise, it has a premium worth, and there are higher floodlight cameras at a lower cost level should you simply desire a good floodlight digicam.

Nevertheless, as at all times with Hue, the digicam integrates completely with the Hue ecosystem and can be utilized together with your present movement sensors and lights. Both alerting you to when somebody is on the door or used as a fundamental alarm system.

Manufacturers like Ring and Eufy have expanded into the sensible alarm market, however they don’t combine into your sensible dwelling fairly in addition to the Philips Hue Floodlight Digicam.

There are just a few quirks that might do with ironing out. The primary one being the choice to have color night time video.

Philips Hue Safe Floodlight Digicam Assessment

Abstract

When you’re searching for a floodlight digicam that works harmoniously along with your Philips Hue system, the Philips Hue Floodlight Digicam is a best choice. Its dependable efficiency, superior options, and ease of use make it a worthwhile funding for enhancing your own home’s safety and comfort. For patrons with out an in depth Hue setup and wanting an regular floodlight digicam, there are higher and cheaper choices.

Professionals

  • Integrates completely with all of your Philips Hue gadgets
  • Shiny floodlight that can be utilized for safety and RGB scenes for if you wish to illuminate an out of doors sitting space
  • Good high quality video for 1080P
  • Dependable alerts with superior object detection

Cons

  • Costly
  • Requires subscription
  • Some quirks with settings and options similar to no possibility for color night time footage