Philips Hue’s new bridge could turn your lights into motion sensors

Smart lighting company Philips Hue appears to be launching a new version of its bridge, the first in a decade. According to a product page briefly published on Hue’s website and since removed, the Hue Bridge Pro will be faster, have more capacity, and can “turn your smart lights into motion sensors.” A Hue video doorbell, new outdoor lighting, and a more energy-efficient A19 light bulb are also on the way.

The page, which was first spotted by HueBlog, outlined all the new products but revealed no specs or prices. Signify, Hue’s parent company, is hosting a press event in Berlin next month, ahead of the IFA tech trade show, where we expect full details. 

The standout news is the bridge’s new motion-sensing capability. Details are scarce, but the description mentions “built-in MotionAware technology.” Wi-Fi motion sensing technology has been around for years — Hue’s sister company Wiz uses it in its Wi-Fi bulbs — but Hue lights work over Zigbee, not Wi-Fi. In January, a company called Ivani debuted its Sensify wireless sensing technology, which can turn mains-powered Zigbee devices (like light bulbs) into motion sensors with a firmware update. 

At the time, Ivani co-founder Justin McKinney told The Verge the company was working with “large household names poised to deploy the technology very soon.” It’s possible one of those companies is Hue, and that Sensify’s tech is powering the upgrade that could let your existing Hue bulbs and accessories act as motion sensors. This would make them capable of automatically adjusting your lights as you move through the house without the need for standalone motion sensors.

The bridge will also have “advanced AI features,” likely tied to Hue’s new AI lighting assistant. According to additional reporting by HueBlog, the Bridge Pro will feature a faster processor, more RAM, the addition of Wi-Fi connectivity so you don’t have to plug it into your router, and support for up to 150 bulbs and 50 accessories — more than triple the current bridge’s capability.

In addition to the bridge, Hue is preparing a new wired video doorbell, first leaked in March. A new image shows a design reminiscent of the second-gen August doorbell. The Hue website noted it will stream in 2K, an upgrade from the 1080p on Hue’s 2023 security cameras.

Another confirmed rumor: Hue lights will soon be controlled by Sonos’ voice assistant. According to the page, you’ll be able to tell Sonos speakers to turn Hue lights on and off, dim or brighten, change their colors, or select a light scene. While Sonos Voice Control is more limited than Alexa or Siri, all commands are processed locally.

Of course, there are new lights coming, too. The page reveals a new, more energy-efficient E26/A19 60-watt smart bulb that uses 40 percent less energy and dims as low as 0.2. percent. It supports Hue’s ChromaSync tech for more precise color matching when syncing across fixtures — a feature also coming to a new “family of indoor and outdoor light strips” with gradient lighting.

Two new Festavia-branded outdoor lights are on the way: a set of permanent outdoor lights designed to be fixed to the outside of your house, similar to those offered by Govee and Nanoleaf, and a set of Globe String lights. The globe lights look particularly attractive, with each bulb featuring a “distinctive inner tube” that can be customized with light gradients, colors, and special effects. 

It’s an impressive lineup, but the upgraded bridge with motion-sensing technology is the standout. Not only should it strengthen Hue’s lighting system and support more devices, it could eliminate the need for dedicated motion sensors altogether. I’ll be in Berlin next month for IFA to see the official launch and get hands-on with these new products.