As far as I know yes, it is. It’s just locked into the custom software that binds it to hue. Otherwise it’s a fairly unremarkable ZigBee system.
Relative to ZigBee, hue is the more expensive option, and you would think that expense would get you higher quality in terms of longevity, reliability, quality of craftsmanship, extra features… Etc etc, but not really.
There are so many very very good ZigBee options out there that completely outshine hue, and cost less. The only caveat is that you have to do a bit more work up front to get it working, since hue’s own hub/app is the big plug and play thing you get with the system (and the clouds seamless connectivity outside of your home). Beyond that, hue doesn’t do anything special, and in many ways, it’s more limited than alternatives.
It’s brain-dead simple though, and their brand recognition makes it easy for people to jump on board, so I’m not going to knock it… There’s a subset of people where hue is a great choice… Just be careful, since Phillips has introduced smart bulbs that are not hue, and don’t require the hub, and the two systems are kind of confusing, and both related and not related at the same time. It’s relatively expensive, but for someone who can’t be bothered to fiddle with their lights to get them working just right, and want something fairly simple/plug-and-play… Then, if you have the money, hue might be the right fit.
Anyone looking to save a bit of cash, or someone who wants more control or local control, or needs lights that integrate specifically with a thing… Hue might not be the best option, even when limiting the discussion to ZigBee… Once you get away from ZigBee, it becomes a much more complex discussion about short and long term plans.
As far as I know yes, it is. It’s just locked into the custom software that binds it to hue. Otherwise it’s a fairly unremarkable ZigBee system.
Relative to ZigBee, hue is the more expensive option, and you would think that expense would get you higher quality in terms of longevity, reliability, quality of craftsmanship, extra features… Etc etc, but not really.
There are so many very very good ZigBee options out there that completely outshine hue, and cost less. The only caveat is that you have to do a bit more work up front to get it working, since hue’s own hub/app is the big plug and play thing you get with the system (and the clouds seamless connectivity outside of your home). Beyond that, hue doesn’t do anything special, and in many ways, it’s more limited than alternatives.
It’s brain-dead simple though, and their brand recognition makes it easy for people to jump on board, so I’m not going to knock it… There’s a subset of people where hue is a great choice… Just be careful, since Phillips has introduced smart bulbs that are not hue, and don’t require the hub, and the two systems are kind of confusing, and both related and not related at the same time. It’s relatively expensive, but for someone who can’t be bothered to fiddle with their lights to get them working just right, and want something fairly simple/plug-and-play… Then, if you have the money, hue might be the right fit.
Anyone looking to save a bit of cash, or someone who wants more control or local control, or needs lights that integrate specifically with a thing… Hue might not be the best option, even when limiting the discussion to ZigBee… Once you get away from ZigBee, it becomes a much more complex discussion about short and long term plans.