Philips Hue Gen 1 Vs Gen 2 Vs Gen 3: Which One To Buy?

Philips has three generations of the Hue series, the first being released in 2012. Although being from the same brand, there are few features worth noticing which would help you buy the better one. We will be comparing the Hue bulb Philips Hue Gen 1, Gen 2, and Philips Hue Gen 3. Gen 1 gives out a white color, with Philips Hue Gen 2 giving out all shades of white. Gen 3 offers multi-color lightings.

Our Verdict

According to us, Philips Hue Gen 3 wins the game. The reason might be because it offers whatever the Philips Hue Gen 2 and Philips Hue Gen 1 has to offer. But finally, the choice is left to you on your preferences. If you don’t prefer HomeKit support, then the first generation is better as you’ll be saving some cash. But if you need Apple HomeKit and brighter colors, you can go with the Gen 2 and Gen 3 depending on your need.

Philips Hue Gen 1 Vs Gen 2 Vs Gen 3: Comparison Chart

Differences

1. Packaging

It is hard to differentiate the Philips Hue Gen 1, Gen 2, and Gen 3 because it is not mentioned anywhere in the package. Although Philips does not sell Gen 1 bulb separately, you can still find them in the starter kit. The second generation has “Works with Apple HomeKit” title in the side of the box. But the 3rd gen has a “Richer Color” title. Another way to differentiate the first and second-gen is that they have silver letterings, whereas the 3rd gen has gold letterings.

2. Colors

When we talk about colors, the Philips Hue Gen 2 had issues with providing specific colors like green, cyan, and blue. This issue is solved in the 3rd generation, as it no more gives yellow-green instead of bright green. Like the packaging says, Philips Hue Gen 3 is provided with more vibrant colors and can provide all the colors you wish.

3. Philips Hue Bridge

The significant difference between the three generations is the hue bridge. In the first release, there was no concept of the hue bridge. If you are planning on buying a smart bulb without any sort of bridge, then the Gen 1 is recommended. Whereas, the gen two and gen three supports the hue bridge. Among the hue bridges, there are Hue bridge one and the Hue Bridge 2. The Hue Bridge 1 is a circular device and does not support Apple HomeKit. But, the Hue Bridge 2 is available for both the second generation and the third generation. The difference in the Hue Bridge 2 is the square shape, and it also supports the Apple HomeKit. Through voice commands to Siri, you will be able to control and adjust your lightings.

4. Dimming

Dimming is another factor where we can see differences between the three-generation. The Philips Hue Gen 3 bulb can have a much higher level of dimming, which is helpful during your bedtime. Although Philips Hue states the dimming level for gen two and gen three is similar, we can still notice the difference.

Similarities

1. Light Schedule

You can schedule your lights to a specific time so that you do not have to worry about remembering to turn on or off the lights. This can be done through the “Routine” feature that is present in the Hue app. All you have to do is decide the time slot, the room which you’ll be scheduling the lights for, and the time to turn off the lights. After this, your lights will turn on and off themselves.

2. Comfort Dimming

The dimming feature is essential if you want your lights to be on but not too bright. Through a dimmer, you can control the intensity of your lights. The feature is helpful when you are asleep, or when you do not want your lights to be turned off.

3. Away From Home Feature

The Philips Hue Gen 1, Philips Hue Gen 2, and Philips Hue Gen 3 have Away from the Home feature. If you have forgotten to turn off your lights or want to keep the lights turned on to look as if it is occupied, this feature comes in handy. If you are out on work, or out with your family, you can mimic your presence with the function.

4. Smart Control

All three generations support controlling the smart bulbs through their Hue App. Through this app, you can customize your lights for specific rooms and turn on or off whenever you wish just through a single touch. In the 3rd gen, you can select from the 16 million colors that are available and adjust the perfect lighting you require. You can schedule, control, or anything just from the Hue App. The Hue app is supported for iOS as well as Android.

Features And Technical Specifications Of Philips Hue Gen 1

• Power: 8.5W 
• Brightness: 600 Lumens 
• Color Temperature: 2700K 
• Lifespan: 15,000 hours 

Features And Technical Specifications Of Philips Hue Gen 2

• Color Temperature: 2200K-6500K 
• Lifespan: 25,000-hour
• Brightness: 800 Lumen
• Power: 9 W 

Features And Technical Specifications Of Philips Hue Gen 3

• Color Temperature: 2000K-6500K 
• Colors: 16 million colors
• Lifespan: 25,000-hour
• Brightness: 800 Lumen
• Power: 10 W

What’s In The Box?

Philips Hue Gen 1 

• One Philips Hue Bulb
• One instruction manual

Philips Hue Gen 2 

• Philips Hub Bridge
• Three 2nd generation LED Hue Bulbs.
• Ethernet cable
• Power Adapter
• Instruction manual

Philips Hue Gen 3

• Philips Hub Bridge
• Three 3rd generation LED Hue Bulbs.
• Ethernet cable
• Power Adapter
• Instruction manual

Overview Of Philips Hue Gen 1

Philips Hue Gen 1 is one of the first versions of the Philips Hue series. Although Philips does not sell the Gen 1 anymore, you can find it along with Philips Starter Kits. Talking about the bulb, it is a simple round bulb that just gives out a white color. If you are a person who doesn’t own an iOS or just prefers to use Android, this might be the one for you.

Another factor is that the first generation does not require a hue bridge. The intensity of the white bulb is 600 Lumens, with 2700K color temperature. The full brightness power output is 8W. Philips also assures that the life span of this bulb can be up to 12 years.

Overview Of Philips Hue Gen 2

The Philips Hue Gen 2 is the next version of Gen 1. Gen 2 is an upgraded version of the gen one and provides all the warm and cold colors. You can connect your hub through the ethernet cable provided.

The second-generation bulb also supports Apple HomeKit, which is useful if you want to be tied with the Apple Ecosystem. About the bulb, it is 800-lumen brightness bulbs with 2200K-6500K operating temperature. It has the wakeup and ambiance feature which the first generation lacks. The output of this bulb is 9W and can work up to 15 years.

Overview Of Philips Hue Gen 3

The Philips Hue Gen 3 is an updated version of both the devices. This version of the bulb has 16 million colors to choose from, and you can select the color you wish the from the Hue App. Talking about the app, you can schedule your lights, adjust your brightness when you are away from home.

Another feature which is absent in Gen 1 and Gen 2, is that this bulb syncs with your favorite movie and songs to give you the perfect atmosphere. It also enables you to paint with light and gives you the choice of selecting colors. The 3rd generation is said to have more vibrant colors, and also supports Apple HomeKit. The bulb has a brightness of 800 Lumen with 2000K-6500K color temperature. The full brightness output is 10W, with assured 15 years life span. if you want to see more of gen 3, you should check out how Philips Gen 3 is different from LIFX.

FAQs

Bottom Line 

After comparing all the three products, we would recommend the Philips Hue 3rd gen bulb. This is because it offers more colors and lets you expand the Philips products through the hub. It also has extra features that the first and second generation lacks. However, if you are not a fan of the Apple Ecosystem and just prefer white light, then we would opt for the Philips Hue Gen 1 for you. If you had to choose for the Philips Hue Gen 2 and 3rd generation, go for the Philips Hue Gen 3 because it offers richer and vibrant colors.