Skip to main content

Philips Hue adds support for cameras and sensors

After years of serving as a hub for smart lights, Philips Hue is officially adding support for security cameras and motion sensors. The news came during the annual IFA Convention, with Philips revealing several new classes of products that can interact with the existing Philips Hue lineup. This includes the Philips Hue Secure Wired Camera, Philips Hue Secure Contact Sensor, and Philips Hue Secure Floodlight.

The Hue Secure Camera boasts 1080p video capture, night vision, motion notifications, two-way audio, and the ability to sync with existing Hue lights to deter unwanted guests. It can also detect whether an alert is caused by a human, pet, or package without needing to access the cloud (resulting in enhanced privacy and security for your footage).

The Philips Hue Secure Camera on a table.
Philips

Philips notes the camera will be available in multiple formats (including battery or wired, black or white), works both indoors and outdoors, and an optional desktop stand and ground spike will be offered.

Recommended Videos

The Hue Secure Floodlight offers many of the same features as the camera, but benefits from the addition of built-in lighting that supports a wide range of colors, including white and red.

The Philips Hue Secure Floodlight installed on a building.
Philips

Aside from cameras, Philips announced new Hue Contact Sensors. These work like most other contact sensors available in 2023, alerting you when doors, windows, or cabinets are opened. Using the Hue software in conjunction with a contact sensor, you can program an opened door to turn on your Hue-enabled lights.

An updated Philips Hue app will power all these new products — after loading the software, you’ll see a new section for the Hue Security Center. It’s here that you’ll be able to customize your security hardware, including setting up activity zones, arming your system, or reviewing captured footage.

Some of these features will be locked behind a Hue Secure subscription plan, which starts at $4 a month per camera or $40 per year.

The Philips Hue Secure Camera launches this fall and starts at $200, while the Floodlight is priced at $350. The Hue Contact Sensors also arrive this fall and will cost $40 for one and $70 for a two-pack.

Jon Bitner
Jon Bitner is a writer covering consumer electronics, technology, and gaming. His work has been published on various websites…
Ikea rolls out Matter support for its Dirigera smart home hub
The Ikea Dirigera Hub on a table.

Ikea already had a surprisingly robust smart home catalog, offering smart blinds, light switches, air purifiers, and a handful of other popular gadgets. It’s now grown even more enticing, as the Dirigera Hub that drives most of the action now offers full Matter support.

As of September 11, all products connected to the Dirigera Hub will work with the interoperability standard. That’s a big win for Ikea, allowing its gadgets to interact with those from other platforms like Apple Home and Google Home. To achieve this, Dirigera is being updated to become a Matter Bridge, allowing it to work with all other Matter products.

Read more
Aqara shows off new smart home lineup with Matter support
A collage of the new Aqara products from IFA 2024.

Aqara offers a variety of smart home products, running the gamut from smart locks and sensors to smart lights and smart curtains. The brand is now ready to expand its catalog even further, with the reveal of several new smart home gadgets at IFA 2024. A common thread throughout the reveal was support for Matter -- making it easy for shoppers to integrate the devices with the rest of their home.

The Camera Hub G5 Pro is the standout product, as it's Aqara's first security camera built for outdoor use. Its 4MP camera captures color night vision and uses onboard AI to identify people, pets, vehicles, and packages, allowing for more accurate notifications when motion is detected. And since it's officially rated for outdoor use, you should have no problem finding a good spot for it on your property.

Read more
The latest Philips smart lock can read your palm to open your front door
The Philips Palm Reader smart lock on a blue door.

Philips just launched a slew of new products, headlined by the Philips Home Access 5000 Series Palm Recognition Smart Lock. The device works not just with a physical key, PIN code, or Philips mobile app, but also with the built-in palm scanner -- making it one of the most futuristic smart locks of 2024.

According to Philips, the scanner works by tracking "unique palm vein patterns," making it nearly impossible to hack and offering families an ultra-secure way to lock their front door. Setup is just as easy as most other smart locks, thanks to built-in Wi-Fi so you can get up and running without the need for a secondary bridge. It also works with voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Read more