Table of Contents<\/p>
- LIFX vs Hue Comparison<\/a>
- Brightness<\/a><\/li>
- Smart Home Compatibility<\/a><\/li>
- App and Software<\/a><\/li>
- Lighting options<\/a><\/li>
- Hubs<\/a><\/li>
- Overall Winner<\/a>
- Buy\u00a0LIFX if<\/a><\/li>
- Get\u00a0Hue if<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n
LIFX vs Hue Comparison<\/span><\/h1>\n
Affiliate Disclosure<\/a>: This page contains affiliate links, which earn us commission from Amazon at no cost to you.<\/em><\/p>\n
![\"lifx](\"https:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/lifx_vs_hue-compressor.jpg\")
<\/p>\nIf you’re a visual person, our comparison table above has nearly all of the information you need for LIFX vs Hue, although\u00a0I’ll expand below.<\/p>\n
\nBrightness<\/span><\/h2>\n
LIFX<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/h5>\n<\/i> 1,000 lumens<\/p>\n
Hue<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/h5>\n<\/i> 800 lumens (still bright, but less than LIFX)<\/p>\n
![\"lifx](\"https:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/lifx_vs_hue_blue-compressor-1.jpg\")
\u00a0![\"lifx](\"https:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/lifx_vs_hue_white-compressor.jpg\")
<\/div>\nWinner:\u00a0LIFX<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
As you can see in the pictures and based on the number of lumens, LIFX is brighter\u00a0than Hue. This means that the colors in LIFX are more vivid. Green appears more yellowish on Hue, especially compared with the neon green offered by LIFX. If vivid, brilliant smart lights are what you’re looking for, LIFX will be the way to go.<\/p>\n
\nSmart Home Compatibility<\/span><\/h2>\n
LIFX<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/h5>\n<\/i> Works with Nest, Logitech Harmony, Scout\u00a0alarm, Flic
![\"Smart](\"https:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/nest-thermostat-featured-compressor.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/i> Alexa, SmartThings, HomeKit and Google Home compatible<\/p>\n<\/i> IFTTT channel<\/a> for extra control<\/p>\n<\/i>\u00a0Not compatible with Wink 2<\/p>\nHue<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i>
![\"echo](\"https:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/echo_dot-compressor.jpg\")
<\/h5>\n<\/i> Works with\u00a0Nest,\u00a0Logitech Harmony, Scout alarm, Flic, Singecue Gen2<\/p>\n<\/i> Alexa, SmartThings, Wink 2, HomeKit, and Google Home compatible<\/p>\n<\/i> IFTTT channel<\/a> for extra control<\/p>\nWinner:\u00a0Tie<\/strong><\/p>\n
LIFX just announced that it is now compatible with HomeKit, which is long-awaited news for many Siri fans. If you currently own LIFX bulbs, you can run a firmware update to get them working with HomeKit. This makes the category nearly an exact tie, since both brands of bulbs are compatible with almost the exact same home gadgets.<\/p>\n
The only difference for compatibility between LIFX vs Hue is with Wink, and if you are a Wink hub user, then you will want to purchase the\u00a0Hue<\/strong> system. Otherwise, consider this category is a tie since both bulbs are so well connected to other smart home technology.<\/p>\n
Since both of these bulbs are so compatible with smart home tech, we’ve used them for different smart lighting ideas<\/a>\u00a0around our house.<\/p>\n
\nApp and Software<\/span><\/h2>\n
LIFX<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/h5>\n<\/i> More user-friendly design and color wheel<\/p>\n<\/i> Allows you to set schedules and groups<\/p>\n<\/i> Warm and cool whites<\/p>\n<\/i> May be less reliable. Some users report that LIFX drops connectivity more than Hue<\/p>\n
Hue<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/h5>\n<\/i> Has more third-party apps<\/a> for different light control options<\/p>\n<\/i> Set up rooms and routines to schedule the lights to fade on and off<\/p>\n<\/i> Warm and cool whites<\/p>\n<\/i> Color picker\u00a0is not as easy to control<\/p>\n
![\"lifx](\"https:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/lifx_app_compressed.png\")
\u00a0![\"hue](\"https:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/hue_app_compressed.png\")
<\/div>\nWinner:\u00a0LIFX<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
The LIFX app is more simple and easy to use, while the Philips Hue app is a little more complicated. LIFX has some skilled\u00a0designers who worked hard to keep the app simple, and it is. You can simply turn the color wheel to watch the light change, or move the slider in the middle up and down to adjust brightness.<\/p>\n
While it might occasionally drop connectivity for some users, we have mostly had success using LIFX in our home for a few years. As always, results vary depending on your Internet. If LIFX doesn’t connect to your Internet well, you can always return it and try Hue instead.
![\"lifx-app-compressor\"](\"http:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/lifx-app-compressor.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHue takes a little more getting used to and is harder to control. You basically move the pointer around on the color screen, then click done. Change\u00a0the brightness on the screen listing all lights. This can make it difficult to find the exact color\u00a0you’re looking for since you need to go back and forth between the color picker and the brightness slider. I also had it crash on me a few times, which never happened with\u00a0LIFX.<\/p>\n
Both brands\u00a0have bulbs for ambiance lighting. For example, the LIFX white light\u00a0is adjustable over 1,000 whites. You know how shades of white can vary from a yellowish, to a blue, to everything in between? Both Hue and LIFX have bulbs that let\u00a0you customize the color of your white light to match the room that it’s in; they recommend warmer whites in the living room and bedroom, and cooler whites in the kitchen and hallway.<\/p>\n
\nLighting options<\/span><\/h2>\n
LIFX<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/h5>\n
LIFX offers more\u00a0standard light bulbs in different sizes. It seems like the LIFX business model is to sell less products that are very high quality. LIFX’s counter argument to the different lighting options offered by Hue\u00a0is that you can just put a LIFX bulb into a cool lamp to make it smart. Of course, that adds to your cost, and you have to make sure the bulbs fit (especially since LIFX is a little wider than generic bulbs). At the end of the day, it still has less options than Hue, but that is changing.<\/p>\n
LIFX recently added LIFX Z light strips, LIFX Mini, and\u00a0LIFX Plus bulb, which lets off infrared light to help security cameras expand their field of view at night.<\/p>\n
![\"LIFX](\"http:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/lifx-wifi-bulb.jpg\")
![\"icon\"](\"http:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/site_icon.jpeg\")
![\"LIFX](\"http:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/lifx-app.jpg\")
<\/div>\n![\"LIFX](\"https:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/LIFX_Z_LongImage.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"lifx](\"https:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/lifx_mini-compressor.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHue<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/h5>\n
There’s no denying that Philips Hue gives you more lighting options. Their smart light strip is incredibly versatile; cut it to the length you need and install it in hard-to-light places, like\u00a0above your kitchen cabinets. (Compare LIFX vs Hue light strips here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n
Hue’s\u00a0other options are equally impressive, with ambient lamps\u00a0that can really change the vibe of your home. They also offer several varieties of light switches and remotes for those who want to replace physical switches in their home. Hue’s morning wake-up light simulates sunrise and dusk to help you fully wake up and feel rejuvenated.<\/p>\n
![\"hue](\"http:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/hue_bloom-compressor.jpg\")
\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0<\/a>![\"philips](\"http:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/hue_bulb_single-compressor.jpg\")
![\"Hue](\"http:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/hue_strip-300x300.jpg\")
<\/div>\n![\"hue](\"http:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/hue-light-switch-compressor.jpg\")
\u00a0![\"hue](\"http:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/hue-sunrise-light-compressor.jpg\")
\u00a0![\"hue](\"http:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/hue-dimmer-switch-compressor.jpg\")
<\/div>\nWinner:\u00a0Hue<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\nWhile LIFX is growing its list of smart lighting options, Hue is still ahead of the pack with wall switches and lamps for a whole-home system that works within the Philips Hue app. LIFX is catching up quickly, but in the meantime Hue wins this category when comparing LIFX vs Hue.<\/div>\n
\nHubs<\/span><\/h2>\n
LIFX<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/h5>\n<\/i> No hub required. Simply screw in the bulbs, download the app, and go.<\/p>\n
Hue
![\"hue](\"https:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/hue_hub-compressor-e1494540827971.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/i><\/h5>\n<\/i> Hub required; you can’t control bulbs in the app without one. While this brings more automation options, it’s an extra cost.<\/p>\n
Winner:\u00a0LIFX<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
LIFX requires no hub, which I consider to be a plus over Philips Hue. In my\u00a0comparison table above, I\u00a0listed the fact that\u00a0Philips Hue requires a hub as a negative factor, although\u00a0some may\u00a0disagree.<\/p>\n
There are certainly pros and cons to getting a hub.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Pro: The positive spin on a hub is that it means your home can be smarter and communicate with other devices. The Philips Hue hub\u00a0(they call it a bridge, but don’t let that\u00a0confuse you)\u00a0is Zigbee compatible, which means you can use other Zigbee bulbs within your Hue smart light set up to keep your costs low.<\/li>\n
- Con: The negative is that the hub usually runs around $60, which is obviously a financial obligation and makes you feel a little more “locked in” to the brand. It’s also one more thing to plug into your router, which, if you’re like me, is already a chaotic jumble of cords.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The argument for the\u00a0Hue hub is that eventually its integration can grow as you add Zigbee compatible door sensors or security cameras. This way, if\u00a0a door opens or a camera\u00a0detects motion, it can trigger the lights to turn on. This is convenient for you, and more secure since a burglar will\u00a0think someone is home. Of course, this type of integration is also possible with LIFX since it works with the SmartThings hub.
![\"philips](\"https:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/hue_kit-compressor.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLong story short:<\/strong> If you don’t mind buying and plugging in the\u00a0hub, then\u00a0Hue should be no problem. But if you\u00a0don’t want to deal with a hub, then\u00a0LIFX is the way to go since it doesn’t require\u00a0a hub at all.<\/p>\n
\nOverall Winner<\/span><\/h2>\n
The overall winner is…\u00a0LIFX!<\/strong><\/p>\n
In my testing, LIFX color bulbs have\u00a0been easy to use, very bright, and a hit whenever we throw parties. The bright colors and hub-less technology are what pulled me in, and I haven’t been disappointed. The white bulbs are pricey, but I saw one on sale at Lowe’s a few weeks ago for just $20.<\/p>\n
![\"lifx](\"http:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/cropped-site_icon.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/buy-from-amazon.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\nI own LIFX Plus, LIFX, and LIFX Z strips. Connectivity issues are rare and next to none. The devices work very well and are extremely bright and colorful. I consider one less hub plugged into my router to be a big benefit, especially since LIFX works with SmartThings. If I want to integrate a hub, I can use SmartThings to connect dozens of smart home devices to my\u00a0LIFX<\/a><\/strong> lights.<\/p>\n
\n![\"lifx](\"https:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/lifx_vs_hue_bulbs-compressor-e1494540234492.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAll that being said, it’s really difficult to choose a\u00a0clear-cut\u00a0<\/strong>winner between LIFX vs Hue Gen 3. Both\u00a0are the two highest rated light bulbs on Amazon. Their apps, bulbs, and pricing are all highly comparable. But they are still different smart lighting systems that have their own strong pros and cons.<\/p>\n
Buy\u00a0LIFX if<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
You want to try out one or two smart bulbs<\/a> or are obsessed with having the brightest, most colorful smart bulbs around.<\/p>\n
Get\u00a0Hue if<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
You’d rather buy a set of bulbs and have diverse smart lighting in\u00a0your home.<\/p>\n
What do you think? Would you rather install LIFX or Hue Gen 3 in your smart home? To see further smart light comparison, check out our Best Smart Lights 2017 article<\/a>.<\/p>\n
- Get\u00a0Hue if<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n
- Smart Home Compatibility<\/a><\/li>
- Brightness<\/a><\/li>
![\"lifx](\"http:\/\/smarthomesolver.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/lifx-vs-hue-pinterest.jpg\")
<\/div>\n