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The Philips Hue Floodlight Digital camera 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 desperate to check out the floodlight digicam and see how properly it really works with Hue, so I’ve lastly changed my ageing Netatmo Good Outside Digital camera.
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 folks, vehicles, animals, packages
- Night time 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 Digital camera, you’ll discover the digicam itself, then the big 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 working to the digicam to keep away from it being stolen.
It’s a little bit of an odd design resolution, as it might be fairly simple to dislodge the digicam whether it is at arm’s attain. I additionally dwell in a notoriously windy city, so I used to be involved the digicam would possibly get dislodged when the climate is unhealthy, however thus far, 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 had been associated to me attempting to make use of the previous wires and the location of the earlier digicam.
The principle physique of the floodlight digicam has a big footprint, so it would be best to ensure that it matches 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 via the opening with the rubber grommet to cut back the danger of water ingress. Then, wire the cables into the terminal block.
I then bumped into one other problem as the present wiring was reduce brief 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 you probably have 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 may 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 a number of extra points with the set-up course of, which I’m sure was because of the digicam not connecting to my WiFi with a robust sufficient sign. The app would discover the digicam and hook up with the WiFi, however the firmware replace stored failing, and the digicam wouldn’t add correctly to my system.
I had minimal information charges assigned to my SSIDs and the band, so I lowered these and elevated the output energy on my entry factors.
With these settings modified I used to be ready 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 ground 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 private home, so it is advisable assign it to a zone or create a brand new one. This then permits the sunshine to perform 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 may regulate movement detection sensitivity, arrange exercise zones to concentrate on particular areas, and configure mild and sound alarms. The app additionally means that you can handle video recording and storage settings.
Movement Detection
The Philips Hue Floodlight Digital camera’s movement detection function is extremely efficient. It could precisely detect and distinguish between folks, vehicles, animals, and packages, lowering false alarms. You may obtain instantaneous notifications in your smartphone when movement is detected, permitting you to remain knowledgeable about exercise round your private home.
There are a number of quirks that make this fairly totally different out of your common floodlight digicam.
For cameras just like the Eufy Floodlight Digital camera 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 may management the sunshine through the Hue app identical to some other Hue mild. This consists of setting schedules and having equipment like movement sensors or dimmers management the sunshine.
Then, throughout the digicam settings, you may outline which movement sensors are used for the two-armed modes, dwelling and away.
Then, you may outline which lights shall 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 stored the floodlight vivid for every of the time zones, then off after 5 minutes, whereas for the opposite lights, I set an acceptable 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 world, whereas the digicam’s built-in speaker emits a loud alarm to discourage potential intruders. These alarms might be customised and managed via the Philips Hue app.
Floodlight Efficiency
The floodlight on the Philips Hue Floodlight Digital camera delivers spectacular efficiency. With a lumen output of two,250 lm at 4000 Ok and a couple of,050 lm at 2700 Ok, it supplies vivid and even illumination in your out of doors area.
The floodlight’s color temperature might be adjusted to fit your preferences, making a welcoming atmosphere or a deterrent impact. It is usually RGB, so you might have the total vary of colors out there. That is fairly helpful you probably have the digicam put in protecting a personal backyard, permitting you to light up the surface with a extra nice lighting have an effect on than you get off regular floodlights.
Philips Hue Safe Pricing
You don’t want a Safe plan to make use of the floodlight digicam. Nonetheless, a plan provides you entry to extra options, comparable to video historical past and exercise zones. Once you initially arrange the digicam, you’ll get a 30 day free Safe trial.
With the free plan you get:
- Dwell streaming
- Gentle and sound alarms
- On the spot movement notifications
- Finish-to-end video encryption
- Blackout zones
- Video snapshots
The fundamental plan prices £35 per 12 months per digicam and provides you entry to:
- Again-to-back video clip recording
- Exercise zones
- AI-powered individual, 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.
As 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.
Worth and Different Choices
The Philips Hue Floodlight Digital camera has an RRP of £300
The eufy Safety Floodlight Digital camera E340, which is a dual-lens floodlight digicam with pan and tilt, has an RRP of £220 and is offered for £180 at the moment.
The Ring Floodlight Cam is £140.
The Arlo Floodlight Safety Digital camera Outside is offered for £150.
The Netatmo Good Outside Safety Digital camera is £190.
The Google GPLE9 Nest Cam with Floodlight (Outside, 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 out a subscription, and so they each have facial recognition.
General
In my view, the Philips Hue Floodlight Digital camera 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 value, and there are higher floodlight cameras at a cheaper price level if you happen to simply desire a good floodlight digicam.
Nonetheless, as at all times with Hue, the digicam integrates completely with the Hue ecosystem and can be utilized along with your current movement sensors and lights. Both alerting you to when somebody is on the door or used as a primary alarm system.
Manufacturers like Ring and Eufy have expanded into the good alarm market, however they don’t combine into your good dwelling fairly in addition to the Philips Hue Floodlight Digital camera.
There are a number of quirks that would do with ironing out. The principle one being the choice to have color night time video.
Philips Hue Safe Floodlight Digital camera Assessment
Abstract
Should you’re in search of a floodlight digicam that works harmoniously along with your Philips Hue system, the Philips Hue Floodlight Digital camera is a best choice. Its dependable efficiency, superior options, and ease of use make it a worthwhile funding for enhancing your private home’s safety and comfort. For consumers with out an intensive Hue setup and wanting an regular floodlight digicam, there are higher and cheaper choices.
Professionals
- Integrates completely with all of your Philips Hue gadgets
- Vivid floodlight that can be utilized for safety and RGB scenes for whenever you need to illuminate an outside sitting space
- Good high quality video for 1080P
- Dependable alerts with superior object detection
Cons
- Costly
- Requires subscription
- Some quirks with settings and options comparable to no choice for color night time footage
I’m James, a UK-based tech fanatic and the Editor and Proprietor of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Obsessed with all issues expertise, my experience spans from computer systems and networking to cellular, wearables, and good dwelling gadgets.
As a health fanatic who loves working and biking, I even have a eager curiosity in fitness-related expertise, and I take each alternative to cowl this area of interest on my weblog. My numerous pursuits enable me to carry a singular perspective to tech running a blog, merging life-style, health, and the most recent tech tendencies.
In my educational pursuits, I earned a BSc in Data Techniques Design from UCLAN, earlier than advancing my studying with a Grasp’s Diploma in Computing. This superior examine additionally included Cisco CCNA accreditation, additional demonstrating my dedication to understanding and staying forward of the expertise curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has persistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of many high expertise blogs within the UK. With my dedication to expertise and drive to share my insights, I purpose to proceed offering my readers with participating and informative content material.
