• Philips is rumored to be launching a new camera-based Hue Sync device for its TV backlights
• It removes the need for a pricey Hue Play HDMI Sync Box
• The 'Sync Screen' would be the first camera for the Philips Hue Play system

Philips Hue could be working on a new device for syncing your TV’s color palette to your backlights, giving you another option for illuminating your entertainment setup

Fabian of Hue Blog attended an online presentation hosted by Philips, and spotted a new Hue Sync device with an integrated camera that looks strikingly similar to rival devices like the Nanoleaf 4D.

The new gadget could be called ‘Sync Screen’, and may be unveiled at IFA 2026 in September. We don't know how much it will cost yet, but considering Philips Hue is a premium brand, it's likely the new device will sit in a higher price bracket than its competitors.

Just like other camera-operated TV LED lights, Philips’ version mounts to the top of a TV or monitor, and captures the color movements of the movie, show, or game on the screen. This movement is then processed and synced with backlights mounted behind the display.

From the image shared by Hue Blog, it seems that the Philips Sync Screen camera will only have one lens, but will likely be a fish-eye one to capture your entire TV screen — just like those used by rival devices.

You will almost certainly still need a Philips Hue Bridge to link the lights and camera to one another, but because the system camera-operated, you won't need a Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box or Hue Sync TV app subscription, which could make it a more tempting proposition.

As mentioned, Philips isn’t the first smart home giant to offer TV lighting gadgets like this, which aim to make your TV and gaming experiences more immersive by extending the colors from the screen onto the surrounding walls.

In addition to the Nanoleaf 4D light strips, the Govee StarPal Pro and the more recent Govee TV Backlight 3 Pro models are all camera-operated — the latter having a dual-camera system to capture more of your TV screen or monitor.

Philips has had quite an eventful 2026 already. In March the company unveiled its new OLED TVs, which are also the first native models for Dolby Vision 2, as well as its beautiful yet expensive ceiling light that mimics natural daylight. We’re just a mere two months away from IFA 2026, and I think the best is yet to come.

Halloween might seem like a long way away, but it's never too early to start getting ready, and if you're anything like me, then you can't wait for the weather to start getting cooler, with crisp leaves underfoot and misty mornings. It seems the designers at IKEA agree, because they've already launched a whole set of Kustfyr Halloween decor so you can start preparing for spooky season now.

The new seasonal lights are particularly cute, and I defy anyone not to be charmed by the adorably spooky LED ghost table lamp with its arms raised mid-scare. Pair it with a set of ghostly battery-powered LED string lights for a full themed room.

It wouldn't be Halloween without pumpkins, and you can avoid the mess and hassle of carving a real gourd by picking up one of IKEA's fun pumpkin lamps. The globe-shaped LED pumpkin table lamp is a cute classic, while the matching battery-powered pendant lamp is safe to use outdoors, so you can hang it on your porch when it's time for trick-or-treating.

Want more creepy ways to decorate your home? Check out the full Kustfyr collection, which includes everything from plushies to plates.

Adorably spooky Halloween lights

Philips Hue is widely known as the best smart bulb brand, but if you're looking to get yourself kitted out with a full Hue setup from the main range, it'll cost you. You might have spotted the brand's Essential range — which looks very similar to the main lineup but comes in at a much more affordable price — and wondered where the compromise is. You can see an Essential bulb on the left of the image above, next to a main range bulb on the right.

This article is here to help you figure out whether the Philips Hue Essential range is right for you, or whether it's better to splurge on the original lineup. We've tested both, and you can get the full low-down on what we thought of the budget-friendly bulbs in our Philips Hue Essential series review. For a quick summary, though — plus links to buy — read on.

Philips Hue Essential bulbs: reasons to buy

Let's start with the good bits about the Philips Hue Essentials range. Here are the main benefits to know about:

✅ The performance is excellent: In her side-by-side tests with the main range, our Homes Editor Cat Ellis found "both were equally responsive, and produced colors that were identical to my naked eye when [she] switched between scenes". The Essential bulbs are based on a different color-matching technology to regular Hue lights, but Cat "had a hard time telling the difference".

✅ They're compatible with the full Hue ecosystem: The Essential bulbs will play nicely with any Hue gadgets you already have, making them a great way to extend your existing smart light setup.

✅ They're much cheaper than the main range: While prices vary depending on exactly which bulb you're buying, generally the Essential models come in around half the price of the main range.

Philips Hue Essential bulbs: reasons to avoid

So what about the downsides? These are the main compromises you'll be making if you opt for an Essential bulb:

❌ The white shades don't match the main range: Essential bulbs have a narrower white light range, which is an issue if you were hoping to add them into a room that already has bulbs from the main lineup.

❌ They can't dim as low: Essential bulbs can only dim to 2%, whereas the main range can go right down to 0.2%. If you want seriously muted lighting, you'll need to shell out a bit more and stick to the main range.

❌ They can't get as bright: Essential bulbs have a lower maximum brightness capacity — they can reach 803 lumens, whereas some of the standard White & Color Ambiance bulbs can hit 1,600 lumens. It's worth nothing that this spec varies by bulb; not all standard bulbs have a higher max brightness than their Essential counterpart.

Philips Hue Essential Starter kits

Most people getting started with a Philips Hue lighting setup will begin by purchasing a 'Starter kit', which bundles some bulbs, a Philips Hue Bridge, and occasionally a bonus Philips Hue accessory. A Bridge isn't essential, but it is a good idea if you want to maximize the potential of your bulbs. There are a few variations available, with different numbers and kinds of bulbs included; I've listed a selection here.

US starter kits

UK starter kits

Philips Hue Essential bulbs

If you already have a Bridge and are looking to extend your setup, or are planning on going without (basic bulb functions can be controlled via Bluetooth), you can buy individual or multipack bulbs. There's a massive range — I've just included a selection here.

Whichever bulb lineup you choose, you'll have to decide between Hue's three light types. White and color ambiance bulbs can emit any one of millions of RGB colors, including a wide range of different white tones. White bulbs emit a warm light at a set color temperature, and White ambiance bulbs can be set to any one of a massive range of cool to warm white lights.

US bulbs

UK bulbs

• A software update bricked Philips Hue Bridge Pro devices
• The bug required a very specific set of circumstances
• Philips Hue has promised free replacements to affected users

Over the last few weeks, reports have emerged of Philips Hue Bridge Pro smart home devices becoming bricked, and it looks like the culprit has now been identified. According to Philips Hue, the fault lay with a recent software update — but the company has won plaudits for what it's giving to customers in order to make amends.

The trouble started in late June when Philips Hue released software update 2071353020, which was intended to include “several small changes” that improved the product’s operations. Yet reports started flooding in that the update had caused people’s Hue Bridge Pro devices to fail and become completely unresponsive.

In a statement to Ars Technica, Philips Hue explained the very specific circumstances that caused the problem: “The issue affects users who disabled automatic software updates, remained on an older software version for an extended period, and then manually installed a firmware update after the update package had been stored on the Bridge for more than 10 days.”

As well as that, the spokesperson noted that “Our data shows fewer than 100 Philips Hue Bridge Pro devices have been impacted.”

Still, any disruption like this is a pain. If you’re affected, not only will you have to wait for a replacement to arrive, but you’ll also have to reconfigure your lights and settings from scratch. That’s the kind of disturbance that is made all the more irritating due to the fact that it occurred after users updated their software — something that people are often encouraged to do in order to get the latest bug fixes and improvements.

Free replacements

While it’s always unpleasant to see a software update brick your device, Philips Hue has attracted praise for the way it’s responded. Not only has it issued a fix, but the company has promised that “We will replace affected Philips Hue Bridge Pro devices free of charge, regardless of warranty status.”

The decision has proved popular with Hue owners on Reddit, who've noted in one popular thread that it's a rare example of "big company actually making good". Another comment noted: “Considering the RAM prices too those Bridges went up in costs too. W to Philips on this one.”

If you haven’t updated your Philips Hue Bridge Pro for a while and think your device could be vulnerable according to Philips Hue's description, it might be worth getting in touch with the company first before attempting to update. The last thing you want is a bricked product on your hands.

And if you already have been affected, don’t spring for a replacement device just yet. You might be able to get a free replacement from Philips Hue, so be sure to explore that avenue first before spending a dime on anything new.

Philips Hue bulbs are a hugely popular smart lighting solution, and with good reason. But if your setup consists only of Hue bulbs (and a hub), you're missing a trick. The brand makes a range of accessories that can make a major difference to how you use your smart lights, and most are very affordable too. I asked the TechRadar team for some of their favorite cheap smart home upgrades, and almost all the answers I got back were Philips Hue accessories, so I decided it was worthy of its own article.

Entertainment Editor Matt Bolton is a big fan of his Philips Hue Smart Button, a compact, simple, wireless switch. "I stuck the Smart Button on my wall next to my regular light switch, giving me a way to control just the lamps in my living room separate to the other lights," he says. "It's so nice and easy, and no rewiring needed."

Matt also makes use of the Philips Hue Smart Plugs, which can be used to integrate non-smart lights into your Hue ecosystem. "I use the Hue Plugs to add little lamps that are too small for Hue bulbs into my lighting setups," he says. "I also use it for my Christmas tree lights every year, so I can plug them in somewhere awkward, but I can still turn them on and off at will."

Senior News Editor Mark Wilson is a big fan of his Philips Hue Tap Dial Switch. This physical switch has four buttons and a dial, and can control nine different actions; it's a more complex alternative to the Smart Button. "I hate using my phone or voice controls for smart lights. My favorite feature is turning the dial to dim my Hue lights — it's so much better than tapping the buttons on other switches," says Mark. "It’s simple to use, while also being really versatile thanks to those four buttons, which can set scenes in different rooms."

Homes Editor Cat Ellis has a slightly different suggestion: if you're finding regular Hue bulbs too expensive, she recommends checking out the much cheaper Essential range. "I put a regular Philips Hue bulb and a Hue Essential bulb side-by-side in identical lamps, and it was almost impossible to tell the difference when shifting colors — I could only really notice a distinction when dialing down the brightness."

A smarter setup

• Aldi is launching a new outdoor lamp range
• Each lamp is solar-powered and comes in two styles with three color choices
• The cost just £4.99, making them an affordable way to give your garden a glow-up

We’re seeing more and more affordable tech gadgets appearing in the middle aisles of budget supermarkets these days — and if you’re looking to give your garden a summer makeover, Aldi just unveiled a new range of solar-powered garden lights.

The lineup, which goes on sale on July 9, consists of two styles of outdoor table lamp, mushroom-top and flat-top, both of which are available in three colors: black, mint, and beige, so you should be able to find a colour that fits in with your garden decor.

Each lamp costs just £4.99, making them an affordable way to give your garden a glow-up with Aldi proving once again that you don’t need to spend a lot of money on the best smart lights in order to brighten up your home and garden.

Aldi’s new lighting range isn't, of course, in the same ballpark as smart lights from the likes of Philips Hue or Govee. There’s no app and no controls to fiddle with, and because they’re solar powered, placing them in sunny spots in your garden will ensure they have enough juice to last through a whole evening of outdoor dining or partying.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned from national treasure Nigella Lawson is that summer parties aren’t just about good food and drinks — the setting and decor are just as important, and lighting plays a big part in creating the perfect atmosphere.

It’s not only budget brands like Aldi that are jumping on the outdoor lighting bandwagon — if you want app-based features such as the option to change the colour of your lights, the big smart home brands are getting in on the act too.

Govee’s recently released smart string lights marked the brand’s first step into solar lighting costing £119.99. Though this is a little more pricey than the average solar-powered light , Philips stills takes the top spot on the price front — its own Festivia Smart Globe String Lights are one of our favorite garden gadgets for giving your outdoor space an instant lift.

• Nanoleaf announced a new $80 smart ceiling light
• It comes with three different lighting modes and also supports Matter
• It's on sale in the US and Canada now

Nanoleaf has unveiled a new device coming to its range of smart home tech, and it’s a small ceiling light that packs quite a punch.

Yesterday (June 30) the Toronto-based company announced its small 12-inch Nanoleaf Smart Multicolor Ceiling Light on its blog, which is now available to purchase for $79.99 in the US and Canada. We don’t know when or if its new ceiling light will be available internationally, but we’re keeping our eyes peeled for more news.

There’s not an evening spent in my home where the big light is turned on, so having a neat device like Nanoleaf’s new ceiling light is perfect for when you want to set the ambience for an entire room without turning on individual lamps. It can also be wired into your home, easily replacing your existing ceiling light.

As far as its features go, Nanoleaf’s ceiling light packs 19 LEDs and has three modes. ‘Front’ mode projects 2600 lumens of light filling rooms of up to 150 sq. ft, making it ideal for things such as cooking or reading. ‘Back’ mode shines light onto the ceiling to set the mood for times where you want to relax or indulge in a good movie, while ‘Front and Back’ mode is a combination of the two.

We’ve tested an extensive range of the best smart lights from Nanoleaf and there’s a plethora of reasons why we keep going back for more. One of them is its endless color wheel of lighting options, and the new ceiling light is no exception.

Nanoleaf says its ceiling light has roughly 16 million color choices, so I think it’s safe to say that you won’t run short of options when setting the right mood in your home. Additionally, it has a CRI 95 rating which, if you’re unfamiliar with the lingo, means that every color in your room will shine naturally when the light hits. Essentially, this rating is the gold standard.

Ceiling lights have had their time in the spotlight quite a bit recently. Philips, another behemoth in the world of smart lighting, launched an impressive ceiling device that imitates natural sunlight. However, though it looks stellar, it’s very pricey and falls flat on the smart features front, which is where Nanoleaf’s latest device wins.

While the Philips Skylight automatically adjusts daylight temperature as the day goes on, it’s not a smart light in the conventional sense as you can’t connect it to smart home hubs. In the case of Nanoleaf, the ceiling light is Matter compatible and supports Apple Home, Google Home, SmartThings, and Alexa smart speakers, allowing you to use voice control to set the mood regardless of which system you’re using.

The other handy trick with the ceiling light is that it can do all the thinking for you when you set schedules, so the mood will automatically change to correspond with your set times. That’s not the only means of control however, the ceiling light can also be used with the Nanoleaf Sense+ switch (sold separately) which uses motion and daylight sensors to take the light’s smarts to the next level.

Despite Philips having the more premium ceiling light, Nanoleaf’s newest addition tackles a lot of pain points from its $500 rival. And yes, it’s not as big or bold, but for the roster of color options, Matter compatibility, and other smart home tools, $80 is quite the steal.

Looking to get started with smart lighting? Philips Hue is probably the brand you're looking at. It's the most prominent name in this market, and with good reason: it makes high-quality and ultra-versatile smart lights, and offers a huge range of products to suit different needs.

Philips Hue lights can, however, be rather pricey — especially if you're looking to kit out several rooms at once. The Amazon Prime Day sales can be a really good opportunity to pick up some Hue kit at a more affordable price, and luckily there's one about to start. The event officially runs through June 23-26, but there are discounts popping up already — and a number of other big retailers are running their own rival sales at the same time.

Below you'll find an explainer on your different Philips Hue bulb options, plus the best deals I've spotted in each category, from Amazon and beyond.

Philips Hue starter kits

Philips Hue bulbs are available as part of 'Starter Kits', which include bulbs (in any of the three light categories detailed above) and a Hue Bridge. The Bridge is essentially the communication hub that all your smart lights connect to, and which unlocks the lights' full gamut of features.

A starter kit is designed to be the most straightforward way to get set up with smart lighting in your home, and will often also be the most cost-effective, too.

US deals

UK deals

Philips Hue bulbs

At the heart of the Philips Hue range are its light bulbs. It makes a wide range of shapes and styles — spotlights, candle-shaped or flattened-off, and regular bulb-shaped bulbs. Most are available in any of Philips Hue's main light categories: White, White ambiance, and White and color ambiance. They'll also be available with different connections to work with different light fittings; double-check your setup before buying.

US deals

UK deals

Philips Hue lamps

Philips Hue makes a selection of indoor and outdoor lamps. I say lamps, but it's really everything from spotlights to light bars to pendant lights, wall washers and wake-up lights — I'm essentially using this as a catch-all term for anything where the bulb and its casing are sold together.

US deals

UK deals

Philips Hue lightstrips

Another main category of Philips Hue light is the LED strip light. These are designed to sit behind your TV, under shelving or behind mirrors to enhance room features and create atmosphere. There are even options that are weatherproof, and can be used outside. You can purchase different lengths (some kinds can be trimmed further), and they have adhesive backing to enable you to simply stick them on a clean, flat surface.

US deals

UK deals

Philips Hue accessories

Finally, Philips Hue makes a selection of accessories to work with its lights. The key one is the Bridge — if you're just purchasing individual lights rather than a Starter kit, you might need to pick one of these up separately in order to unlock the full potential of your smart lighting setup. The brand also makes physical switches and buttons that offer a different way to access your lights' functions outside of the app.

US deals

UK deals

• New Hue Play lamps to expand your immersive lighting
• Upgraded candle bulbs with full-spectrum daylight and Matter compatibility
• New smart switches, including dimmer switches

My house is full of Philips Hue smart bulbs, motion detectors and various flavours of lightstrips, but one thing I haven't been able to do is integrate old-fashioned light fixtures into my hue setup – so for example if you've got a ceiling light that doesn't use the kind of bulbs that can be swapped out for Hue ones, you're out of luck. Or at least, you were. Hue now offers smart light switches that you can use to add non-smart lights to your Hue system.

There are two versions, the Hue Wired On/Off and the Hue Wired Dimmer. Simply swap them for the original light switches and you can then control the appropriate lighting with the Hue app or compatible voice assistants.

The big benefit here is that your non-smart lights can now be included in your Hue groups, and in timed or other triggered events – so for example my Hue setup turns on the living room lights when I'm arriving home after dark. And it's a boon for rooms such as kitchens where – and I'm speaking from experience here – swapping out multiple downlighter bulbs for Hue ones is ruinously expensive.

Just make sure that you put the right sort of switch for the kind of lighting you have: for example some older downlighters aren't designed to be dimmed and can start strobing if they don't get enough power, so you'd need the on/off switch rather than the dimmer for those.

More Play lamps to light up your living room

In addition to the smart switches there are three new models of Play lamps: the Hue Play table lamp, the Hue Play floor lamp compact, and the Hue Play floor lamp large.

The USP of these lamps is that they pair with either the Hue Play HDMI Sync Box or the Hue Sync TV and PC apps to synchronise your lighting with the on-screen action.

I really like the Hue Play system and use it with a lightstrip for TV, movies and gaming; it makes my TV look like an Ambilight one and it's particularly good fun with things like the sunsets in Horizon: Forbidden West, which filled my entire front room with reds and oranges. By adding floor and table lamps to the collection Hue's expanding the scope of a Hue Play system, with the potential to have immersive lighting across even really big rooms.

Last but not least, there are new versions of the Hue candle bulbs. The new version is 40% more energy efficient and as before they're designed to go into decorative lighting, chandeliers and wall sconces. The 2026 version features full-spectrum daylight that closely mimics natural daylight and can be turned into warm or bright tones depending on the time of day, your preferences and your Hue routines.

The new wall switches will be available in the Europe (including the UK) from June 2026. The Hue Play table and floor lamps and the new candle bulbs will also arrive this month, and will be available in North America and "selected other markets" too.

As ever with Hue there are multiple bundles for the bulbs and the price you pay per bulb gets less the more you buy. The prices for the new lamps and switches are:

• Philips Hue wired switch module 1P/2P: £39.99 / £69.99 (about $50 / $90 or AU$80 / AU$130)
• Philips Hue wired dimmer switch 1C: £52.99 (about $70 / AU$100)
• Philips Hue wired relay switch 1C/2C: £44.99 / £49.99 (about $60 / $70 or AU$90)
• Hue Play Table lamp: £69.99 (about $90 / AU$13).
• Hue Play Floor lamp compact: £124.99 (about $170 / AU$240)
• Hue Play Floor lamp large: GBP £129.99 (about $170 / AU$250)

And the price for the candle bulbs will be (W is white, WA is White Ambience and WCA is White and Colour ambience):

• Philips Hue W B39 1P/2P: £19.99 / £29.99 (about $30 / $40 or AU$40 / AU$60)
• Philips Hue WA B39 E14 1P/2P/3P: £29.99 / £44.99 / £59.99 (about $30 / $60 / $80 or AU$40 / AU$90 / AU$110.
• Philips Hue WCA B39 E14 1P/2P/3P: £54.99 / £94.99 / £139.99 (about $70 / $130 / $190 or AU$100 / AU$180 / AU$270

• Philips is launching a ceiling light that mimics the look of a real skylight
• It automatically adjusts daylight temperature as the day goes on
• The skylight looks very realistic, but lacks smart home support

Philips is one of our favorite home lighting brands, and it’s launching a new ceiling light that mimics daylight and creates the effect of a skylight — and it looks spectacular.

The Philips Skylight is designed to replicate natural lighting and outdoor environments indoors, using a blend of advanced LED and Philips’ NatureConnect technologies. Signify, Philips’ manufacturer, says the skylight is “inspired by the natural brightness, depth and rhythm of sunlight”.

It’s a great option for windowless rooms if the design of your roof doesn't allow you to fit a skylight, or you want to save yourself the hassle and expense of having one fitted.

Before now, Signify limited the Philips Skylight to professional settings (offices, medical environments, and so on), but now the ceiling light will be available for everyone when it launches later this month in most regions (Signify says the Skylight be available in the US in September).

The Philips Skylight comes in four models: the Philips Skylight Medium, Philips Skylight Large, Philips Skylight VitaUp Medium, and Philips Skylight VitaUp Large, with prices starting at 499.99 euros (about $580 / £430).

Each variant comes with a slim ceiling profile for mounting, a remote control, five preset lighting scenes, and Philips’ Day Rhythm tool which automatically adjusts color temperature and brightness throughout the day. All models have an IP44 rating, meaning the Philips Skylight can be fitted in bathrooms and other humid environments.

The VitaUp models come with an integrated UV-B module built to support the body’s natural vitamin D production indoors. This also includes a handful of safety measures, including automatic shut-off which happens after eight hours.

In images shared by Philips, the Skylight's outdoor light imitation looks surprisingly convincing, and there are obvious benefits for wellbeing. More people are spending more time indoors and out of natural daylight, so devices like this are becoming increasingly sought after.

However, despite its cleverness, the Philips Skylight is not a Hue product. Philips produces some of the best smart lights out there, but its new ceiling light doesn't offer smart connectivity. This means it doesn’t connect to Wi-Fi or work with Matter over Thread, so you can't integrate it into your existing smart home setup, and you’ll have to use the included remote to control it manually.

Given how impressive the Philips Skylight looks, and its price tag, that's a shame. Let's hope Philips adds smart home connectivity to a future version.

• The IKEA Ankarlägg is a battery-operated light that you can stick anywhere
• Previously only available in Europe, it's now on sale in the US for $3.99
• It detects movement within 10 feet, and switches off when motion stops

If you struggle to see to the back of your closet, or you don't like trying to find your way around in the dark when you're heading for the bathroom, you need the IKEA Ankarlägg — a motion-sensitive LED light that you can stick anywhere, with no wires and no drilling required. Best of all, unlike typical smart light setups, there's no hub or Bluetooth connectivity necessary either. Just insert batteries, stick it up, and it's ready to go.

The Ankarlägg is also a great choice for dark kitchen cupboards, where it will nicely illuminate all your ingredients as soon as you open the door, and turn off automatically after you close it again. The light deactivates after 30 seconds if it doesn't detect any further movement, helping the replaceable AAA batteries last around six months if it's activated 10 times per day.

Reviewers have reported that the light isn't too bright, so they're not dazzled at night if they use it on the stairs or in the bathroom, and it's handy for rooms without windows. They say its "cute" design is a bonus as well.

"I purchased this nightlight to place in my hallway," wrote a reviewer from Canada. "I have no electricity sockets in there and it is really dark at night time. When we have guests staying who are not familiar with our layout (we have a cupboard in the hallway) they were bumping into the cupboard.

"With this light as soon as they open the bedroom door, the light comes on. It is not bright but does have enough light to show where to go. I have ordered a second one for stand by. I really love the light and would recommend it to anyone who needs a little light in a dark space."

Real-world battery life will depend on how often the light is triggered, but when used with IKEA's rechargeable batteries, even frequent use isn't a problem. The most common complaint is that the light's battery compartment is held closed with a screw (likely to prevent children accessing the batteries if it's used as a nightlight in their room), so make sure you have a crosshead screwdriver to hand when it's time to swap them out.

First, let's talk tech. If you're in the market to upgrade your TV for the occasion, we have a separate guide to how to choose a TV for the World Cup. Personally, though, when it comes to watch parties, I'm all about a projector. The Xgimi Mogo 4 and Mogo 3 Pro are both great options. They have built-in speakers, but if you want to beef up the sound, you could add in a Bluetooth desktop speaker like the Pebble Nova or Sonos Era 100.

To really amp up the festive atmosphere, you could add some smart lighting into the mix. Combine the Philips Hue Sync Box and Play Light Strip and the effects will match up to what's going on on screen, or string up some Govee Smart Outdoor String Lights, which can sync to sound.

Then it's time to get your refreshments sorted. With its two generously-sized drawers, the Ninja Double Stack air fryer is ideal for low-effort, large-scale catering. You can set it to automatically time the two baskets to finish cooking at the same time, and it'll switch itself off automatically when the food is done. That means there's no clock-watching needed, and you'll never have to sprint out of the room to turn the oven off when the on-screen competition is just heating up. The same brand's Woodfire electric pizza oven and Slushi cold drinks machine are also reliable winners when it comes to party catering.

Scroll down for more watch party picks for a top-tier international soccer season. And if you're confident you know who's going to take home the trophy this year, enter our TechRadar World Cup Members Club competition to be in with the chance of winning a $500 Amazon gift card, plus a year's Norton VPN subscription.

Watch party winners

• Camera-based so no sync box required
• TV sync and AI-based lighting designer
• From $89.99 / £89.99 (about AU$126)

If you fancy a Philips Hue-style lightstrip for your TV but don't want to splash out on a sync box or sacrifice lighting quality, Lepro may have just the strip for you. Its new STV1 lightstrip promises accurate color reproduction to extend your movie, show or game beyond the edge of your TV without complex installation or extra hardware.

I'm a big fan of lightstrips — I'm on my second Hue setup and use it daily for movies, TV shows and gaming — but the combination of a sync box and a lightstrip or other synchronized lighting isn't cheap. Lepro's approach is simpler and considerably less expensive, with the 55- to 65-inch version coming in at a very reasonable $89.99 / £89.99 (about AU$126).

The difference is that this is a camera-based system, and Lepro says it has key features that differentiate itself from other camera-based lighting strips.

Lepro STV1 lightstrip: is this the perfect accessory for your big-screen TV?

The STV1 has a two-in-one design that combines the camera and controller in a single device. The camera is a fisheye ultra-wide-angle lens with a very wide field of view – over 180 degrees – that enables it to capture color from screens up to 85 inches. Lepro says it responds up to 36% faster than similar camera-based setups.

If you've used fisheye lenses you'll know they distort shapes, but Lepro has thought of that. There's automatic distortion correction and zone mapping to get the captured image into the correct proportions, enabling the controller to deliver the right colors to the right parts of the lightstrip.

In addition to syncing with the on-screen action the STV1 can also listen to music, creating wave-like rhythm lighting rather than just flashing in time to the kick drum. It also comes with a prompt-based lighting designer that can turn your commands into lighting scenes to match whatever you plan to watch.

The STV1 comes in two sizes: 55 to 65 inches for $89.99 / £89.99, and 75 to 85 inches for $109.99. Both versions are on sale now directly from Lepro and from retailers including Amazon in the US, although at the moment only the 55-65 inch version is listed on Lepro's UK site.

I suspect this won't be as accurate as a Hue strip (or an Ambilight TV) but from the videos Lepro's given us it looks to be nice and responsive across a wide range of colors. I'm a big fan of synchronized lighting and this looks like a much more affordable alternative to more premium-priced products.

• Philips' new TV light sync box uses WiZ rather than Hue
• Includes 4K 120Hz passthrough, so you don't lose use of a key TV port
• £129 to £149 including lightstrip; US launch TBC

Signify has launched a new Philips HDMI sync box, but it's not for the Philips Hue range: it's part of the Philips Smart Lighting range, and uses smart technology from WiZ instead.

That's good news, because Hue is positioned as a premium product with prices to match, and Wiz is much cheaper. My Hue Play Sync Box, while excellent, is also very expensive: it had an official price of £299 / $349 at launch, although it's widely discounted now. The new sync box is £129 to £149.

The new product is called the Philips Smart Lighting HDMI Sync Box 2.1 and it comes with a bundled lightstrip in a choice of two sizes, one for TVs from 55 to 65 inches and one for TVs of 75 to 85 inches.

What's the difference between Philips Smart Lighting Sync and Hue Sync?

The Philips Smart Lighting HDMI 2.1 Sync Box isn't designed to work with any Hue system or the Hue app. It's a purely WiZ affair, and uses WiZ's app. The only thing that isn't WiZ is the branding, presumably because Philips has better brand cachet.

In terms of what the box offers, it's much the same as the Hue I love so much (or one of Philips' Ambilight TVs, which basically have a smart lightstrip built in). You connect it to your TV and it changes the lightstrip to match what's going on on screen, making the image feel larger and more immersive.

I particularly like mine when I'm gaming: playing Horizon: Forbidden West was spectacular with in-game sunsets.

Signify is also expanding the Philips Smart Lighting range with other products including gradient floor lights and bars, table lamps and multiple flexible strips, with models up to 20m long for the European market and in the UK, models with 5m lengths. All of these new products are much more affordable than the equivalent Hues, so for example the cheapest lightstrip will be £23.99.

The new products will all launch in the UK and Europe in June 2026. They'll be coming to other countries too, but launch dates and prices haven't been announced just yet.

• Smart multicolor solar lighting with app control
• Up to 50 lumens of white light output
• Fast charging and up to 13 hours of illumination

If, like me, you love solar garden lighting but hate the poor quality options on the shelves of so many shops, Govee would like to offer an alternative: the new Outdoor Solar String Lights, Govee's first venture into solar lighting.

These aren't the 10- or 20-buck strings you'll find in a supermarket or similar store that might last one season if you're lucky; they're a more premium product with app control. better batteries, better environmental protection and a two-year warranty. And they look pretty awesome too.

There's another big advantage to these lights: because they're solar you don't have to be tethered to a power supply. And that means your party lights are can go camping or anywhere else you want to add some atmosphere after dark.

Govee Outdoor Solar String Lights: is it worth paying a premium for your solar strings?

The problem with cheap solar lights is that they're not built to last, and as a result I end up buying new string lights every spring because last year's lot have succumbed to the weather. Govee's version comes with IP67 rating for weather and environmental resistance, so they're made for longer life. They also feature larger batteries and faster charging than standard solar, with a 6W corrosion-resistant panel that charges 50% faster than standard 4W panels.

You can expect up to 13 hours of illumination after the sun goes down and the battery is rated to deliver 93% capacity after 300 charge cycles, so it should last a long time.

The lights are LED, of course, and they're RGBICW. That means you get to use RGB, cool white and warm white too, so you can get your space just-so. However, it's worth noting that to create the nice lighting shown in some of the marketing images you'll need several strings: there are eight bulbs per string, with a 34-foot cable length. If you need longer you might be better off with Govee's plug-in strings, which aren't solar; they run at 48 or 96 feet with 15 bulbs.

The app gives you the same kind of control you'd expect from Govee's smart lights, with millions of possible color combinations including pastels as well as party colors. There's up to 50 lumens of output with white light, and it's all controlled through the Govee Home app so you can create lighting groups, set timers and choose from over 100 presets.

At $99 the Govee Outdoor Solar String lights cost a fair bit more than most solar lighting, especially if you need more than one string. But they're clearly a much classier proposition with much more customization and flexibility, as well as what should be decent stamina too.

• Philips Hue are getting a new Sports Live feature for the World Cup
• It will sync Hue smart lights to the action during games
• You don't need any extra hardware, just the lights and the Hue app

As a long-time Philips Hue user, and a big fan of this brand of smart lights, I'm looking forward to trying out a newly announced Sports Live feature during the World Cup — as long as it doesn't signal goals before they've actually happened.

Philips Hue lights have long been able to change color and brightness based on what's happening on a TV screen, but you need a compatible television or an HDMI Sync Box to get the feature. With Sports Live the lights change in real-time based on "live match data", with no additional hardware required.

That's according to the announcement from Philips Hue parent company Signify. Apparently the lights will shift for "key moments" such as goals, yellow cards, and red cards, during the soccer World Cup 2026.

"Easy to set up and in time for the world's biggest football event of the year, soccer at home has never felt so real," says Signify, though it sounds as though the feature is only going to be available for this one upcoming tournament, which starts on Thursday, June 11. That's a disappointment.

No spoilers please

It's also going to be interesting to see how this works. The live match data comes straight from the web to the Hue app, so presumably you'll need to tell the app when you've actually started watching it – and give your smart lights a heads up if you decide to pause or rewind the action at any point.

I don't want to be in a situation where my smart lights are flashing to tell me England have scored (or conceded, which is perhaps more likely), while the action on my TV screen is still several seconds behind.

"The system allows users to fine-tune timings to account for minor broadcasting delays," according to Signify. "If users choose to pause the action, lighting effects are also paused and — upon resuming — sync to current, live match events for a consistent and accurate real-time experience."

Sports Live will support an unlimited number of smart lights apparently, and there will be a certain level of customization on offer: you'll be able to select your favorite team, and its main strip color will be used as part of the suite of smart lighting effects.

IKEA Varmblixt LED lamp: two-minute review

IKEA's color-shifting Varmblixt smart lamp, with its donut-shaped frosted glass diffuser, makes a striking focal point. It's easy to operate using the switch included in the box, and it casts a soft glow whether you use it on a table or mounted on a wall.

The Varmblixt was designed by Dutch artist Sabine Marcelis and comes with a preset palette of pastel hues designed to complement its curves. Pressing the button on its remote once will turn it on, and double-pressing will switch to the next shade in the sequence.

This works well straight out of the box (and handing it to visitors so they can change the mood lighting during dinner is fun), but the Varmblixt really comes into its own when used with the IKEA Home Smart mobile app. This lets you choose from a much larger range of colors, adjust the lamp's brightness, and link it to other IKEA smart devices such as motion sensors and scroll wheel switches.

You can even incorporate it into a mix-and-match smart home setup using the Matter protocol. To do this, you'll need IKEA's Dirigera smart hub, so be prepared for that extra expense if you want to use the Varmblixt's smart capabilities.

Connecting the Varmblixt to the Home Smart app wasn't quite as straightforward as it should have been and involved some trial and error. You should be able to link any IKEA smart home device by scanning the QR code on the item or its packaging, but the app failed to connect to the Varmblixt (or the Bilresa switches I later used to control it).

I eventually found that I could get around the problem by waiting for the connection failure notification to appear in the app, then selecting the option to connect without Bluetooth. The lamp and switches were then linked to the app without a hitch.

Once your devices are linked, IKEA's app is extremely simple to use and is a good introduction to smart home tech. Unlike the Philips Hue app, which gives you granular control over every switch and light in your home, linking a device to IKEA Home Smart works immediately, with a limited but useful set of options.

Once you've linked the Varmblixt lamp, you'll find that you can pick from a much broader palette of colors, although the hues selected by Sabine Marcelis are highlighted so you can find them easily. Alternatively, you can use a color wheel to choose the shade you want.

The lamp doesn't offer as many colors as a Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance bulb, but its smooth shape and frosted diffuser mean it's effective at setting a mood with indirect lighting.

You can even set the Varmblixt to change colors on a schedule. The default 'adaptive' option changes the light temperature during the day, so it becomes cooler during working hours and warmer in the evening when you want to unwind, but it's also possible to create your own timed color changes.

When you connect a controller to the Varmblixt, there's no need to spend time configuring what each button should do; again, it works right away. When I linked it to a Bilresa dimmer switch, I found that the wheel was pre-programmed to control the light's brightness.

Overall, the IKEA Varmblixt lamp is a pleasure to use, and a real conversation-starter when you have guests. App setup can be a bit fiddly and requires IKEA's smart home hub, but it works very well with the remote alone.

• Performance score: 4/5

IKEA Varmblixt LED lamp: price and availability

IKEA first showed the Varmblixt smart lamp at the CES tech show in January 2026, and the donut-shaped light went on sale in the US and Europe in March of the same year. It's not available in Australia at the time of writing, but it might be released more widely later in 2026.

It's priced at $99 / £55 (about AU$140), which is about standard for a color-changing smart lamp without additional features like music or media synchronizing. For example, the Govee Table Lamp 2 is $69.99 / £69.99 (about AU$100).

However, if you want to use the smart functions and choose from a wider array of colors, you'll also need IKEA's Dirigera smart hub, which costs an additional $109 / £70 / AU$129, so you'll need to be sure that you want to invest in IKEA's wider smart home system first.

• Value score: 4/5

IKEA Varmblixt LED lamp: design

This is a new take on the original donut-shaped Varmblixt lamp, which was released in 2022. This lamp (also designed by Sabine Marcellis) had a glossy orange surface that cast warm light into the room. The 2026 Varmblixt replaces this with a white frosted glass diffuser and cycles through a palette of pastel colors selected by the designer.

The Varmblixt lamp has a flat base so you can use it on a table, and a hole in the backplate so you can mount it on a wall (though be aware that it's a wired lamp, so you'll need to place it near an electrical outlet).

The lamp is wired and is supplied with one of IKEA's standard Bilresa remote controls, which takes two AAA batteries (not included).

• Design score: 5/5

Should you buy the IKEA Varmblixt LED lamp?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

IKEA Varmblixt LED lamp: also consider

How I tested the IKEA Varmblixt LED lamp

I tested the Varmblixt lamp with the remote control included in the box, switching between all the preset colors, and then connected it to the IKEA Home Smart app using a Dirigera hub. I used all the color and scheduling options in the app, comparing it with a Philips Hue Wall Washer lamp. I also tried controlling the lamp using an IKEA Bilresa dimmer switch with a scroll wheel.

First tested April 2026

IKEA showed off a new range of furniture at Milan Design Week, including an inflatable chair that's turning heads and dropping jaws. The IKEA PS 2026 Easy Chair is a far cry from the uncomfortable, tacky plastic inflatables of the 1990s. Instead, this super lightweight armchair consists of two cushions covered in soft green fabric, with a chrome-colored carbon steel frame. It can be inflated with a foot pump, and you can add more air for a firm feel, or less if you want a soft seat.

The chair will be available in IKEA's online store on May 21, so there's plenty of time to think about how to style it in your home. It's a striking piece, so I'd choose to make it the star, using light oak veneer furniture as a base, and building around it with chrome and green accents.

Light fittings are a great way to add a pop of color, and the Spetsboj Table Lamp provides a little splash of green that should perfectly match the armchair. For ambient lighting, I've also picked Simrishamn ceiling and floor lights that match the chair's curvy chrome frame, with frosted opal diffusers to prevent the room looking clinical.

I'd finish the look with Fejka artificial potted plants, which soften the look even further while complementing the chair's striking green upholstery. Would you do something different? Let me know in the comments.

Green, chrome, and oak

There's a new statement piece in my living room — one that grabs everyone's attention when they visit — and nobody ever guesses it's from IKEA. The new smart version of the Varmblixt LED lamp launched earlier this year, and is a guaranteed conversation-starter that costs only $99.99 / £55.

The donut-shaped lamp can be placed on a table or mounted on a wall, where its frosted glass diffuser casts a soft halo of light. It was designed by artist Sabine Marcelis, who also picked out a palette of pastel shades to suit its soft curves.

You can switch between these colors by simply double-clicking a button on the remote control supplied in the box — and it's fun handing the controller to friends and seeing their smiles and the light shifts from one subtle shade to the next.

Want more options? If you have IKEA's Dirigera hub, you can control the Varmblixt through the IKEA Home Smart app, which gives you access to a full spectrum of colors, lets you set the light color to change on a schedule, and allows you to link it to other devices, including sensors and switches.

If you're feeling really adventurous, you can even control it using Apple HomeKit or Google Home — and this week, IKEA added support for SmartThings, so you can operate your Varmblixt and other devices through your Samsung smart TV.

Some people have reported problems connecting the Varmblixt lamp to the app, and there appears to be a bug when trying to link it via Bluetooth. Choose the option to connect without Bluetooth, however, and it should work perfectly.

What makes IKEA's app so special is its simplicity. I'm a fan of Philips Hue lights, but I'll admit that they can be time-consuming to set up, particularly if you want to use switches and sensors. IKEA's smart home system makes things a lot easier because you don't need to program the switch and decide which button should do what. Just follow the on-screen instructions to link the switch to the lamp, and it just works.

I've also used the lamp with one of IKEA's Bilresa smart switches, which have a large dial that you can turn with your thumb or press like a button. When connected to the Varmblixt lamp, double-pressing this dial changes the light color, and rotating it adjusts its brightness. Again, there's no complicated setup necessary.

Having used the Varmblixt lamp for a while, I think it looks most striking when mounted on a wall, and you can have it up and running in a couple of minutes. It's given a relatively dull room a whole new look, and I can't wait to have more people round to show it off.

IKEA has just launched a new motion-activated LED light that you can stick anywhere, and doesn't require a smart home hub. The IKEA Gömpyssling light is completely wireless, and best of all, it's super cheap — just $4.99 for a pair of two

They're incredibly handy — you can use them as nightlights in your kids' rooms, stick one in the bathroom so you don't dazzle yourself if you need to fetch a drink in the night, stick them in your kitchen cabinets so you can see all the spices at the back, or put some in your closet so you can get a better view of your clothes in the morning.

Cleverly, IKEA has designed each light with the LED angled downwards, so it illuminates whatever is underneath. They will turn off automatically after 10 seconds have passed with no motion detected

It's a much quicker and easier option than using a smart light paired with a motion sensor, which would also require a smart home hub, and would cost a lot more for the same result.

If you're worried about electronic waste, you'll be pleased to know that that the little Gömpyssling lights use replaceable AA batteries, so you don't need to throw them out when they start to dim. Pick up a Stenkol charger with four Ladda batteries for $18.98 and you can keep your home beautifully lit for years to come.

More bright ideas

The Gömpyssling lights aren't the only new additions to IKEA's collection of LED lamps. There are new designs for every room in your home, and I've picked a collection of my favorites right here.

Summer is just around the corner, and IKEA has just launched a new set of kitchenware that's got me in the mood for lazy camping trips and long evenings with friends in the great outdoors.

The new Soluppgång range is packed with accessories, furniture, and lighting ideas that wouldn't look out of place in the backcountry, and as TechRadar's Homes Editor, I'm in love.

I love lighting that sets the mood for entertaining, so one of my favorite pieces in the new Soluppgång collection is the LED lantern, which is wireless so you can use it indoors or out, and dimmable so you can use it to illuminate your table while you eat, then turn it down for a cozier feel while you relax afterwards.

I also adore the new bamboo cooler basket, which is insulated to keep your drinks and snacks cool when you're dining in the garden, but looks like a wicker picnic basket. It's a lot more elegant than a chunky plastic cooler, and is the perfect partner to the new folding table and folding stool, both of which are made from natural eucalyptus. Read on for more of my top picks.

Get back to nature

Want to take your outdoor entertaining a step further? Take a look at the Ninja Woodfire Pro Collect XL, which is an electric air fryer and grill that uses pellets of wood to give your food an authentic smoky flavor, and the Nanoleaf Solar Garden Lights, which look like beautiful bunches of glowing tulips growing from your planters and flower beds, and are fully wireless.

Take a look at our roundups of the best air fryers and best smart lights for even more options tested and recommended by our team of experts.

Philips Hue Omniglow: one-minute review

The Philips Hue Omniglow is the best Hue lightstrip yet. It's a classier kind of LED strip: where other models have visible LEDs, the Omniglow delivers seamless color gradients and smoothly moving light effects. The results are very impressive and the Hue app makes it easy to select, edit or create scenes either solo or as part of a wider Hue setup. If you've already got a Hue system you can add it in seconds and then include it in your scenes and automations. As with other Hue lights you'll need a Philips Hue Bridge or Bridge Pro to access advanced features such as custom scenes and smart home integration.

The Omniglow is easy to install and set up, although if you're mounting it up high you might curse the short power cable. The only real downside is the length: you can shorten the Omniglow but not extend it, and longer versions are not widely available in the UK or US. While European customers can choose between 3m, 5m and 10m models, the US and UK are currently limited to the 3m model only.

Philips Hue Omniglow: price and availability

• On sale from November 2025
• $139.99 / £119.99 / AU$279.99 (3m)

The Philips Hue Omniglow was announced in September 2025 and went on sale in November 2025. There are three sizes, but only the 3m model is available everywhere. That has a recommended price tag of $139.99 / £119.99 / €139.99 / AU$279.99.

Europe and Australia also get a longer 5m version, which costs €199.99 / AU$399. And in Europe there's a 10m version with a price tag of $349.99. The same 10m version was listed with a UK price of £349.99 but at the time of writing it's showing as as "not currently available" on the Philips website.

Philips Hue Omniglow: design

• RGB, warm white and cool white
• Seamless color and gradients
• Cuttable but not extendable

The Omniglow is a RGBWWIC design, which means it combines RGB, warm white, cool white and independent control in a single light source. Unlike other Hue lightstrips you can't see the individual LEDs; it's designed to deliver seamless whites, colors and gradients, which it does very well. That makes it look much more classy than lesser lightstrips.

The strip is 17mm wide and 8.5mm high and consists of multiple 12.5cm sections, each of which has 6 LEDs that can be individually controlled – so you can get twinkly lights and motion effects as well as solid color and gradients.

This lightstrip can be cut shorter at pre-defined 12.5cm spaces but any bit you remove can't be re-used or replaced later. Unlike previous Hue lightstrips the Omniglow can't be (officially) extended with additional sections, although inevitably some Hue fans have come up with warranty-voiding DIY solutions.

There are double-sided adhesive strips along the full length of the Omniglow, but you may want to use something more permanent if you're putting the strip in a place where it'll have to battle gravity; in my experience the adhesive that comes with Hue strips tends to be rather weak, and this lightstrip is quite heavy. The power supply is also very short, with just over 1m between the plug socket and the beginning of your lightstrip, and you're going to want to support the weight of the power brick.

Design score: 4/5

Hue Omniglow review: features

• Three-stage gradients
• Moving and flickering lights
• Great integration with other Hue lights

The Omniglow delivers the promised seamless gradients, and it also brings a feature across from the Festivia string lights in the form of moving lights. That enables you to pick a moving scene such as a fireplace, candle glow or looped color change, and you can tweak those scenes in the Hue app to adjust their speed or intensity. It's very smooth and very impressive.

The app offers very basic control via Bluetooth but for access to advanced features such as syncing and smart home integration you'll need a Hue Bridge or Hue Bridge Pro. That gives you the full range of customization, per-light settings and the ability to create your own custom moving gradients and flickering effects.

Features score: 5/5

Philips Hue Omniglow: performance

• Up to 2,700 lumens
• Seamless color
• Beautifully smooth transitions

If you're familiar with Hue lightstrips the first thing you'll notice about the Omniglow is how bright it is. It's much brighter than standard Hue lightstrips, delivering up to 2,700 lumens of brightness compared to the 1,700 lumens of a Hue Solo of the same length.

If you can get the 5m or 10m models they are more powerful still, putting out up to 4,500 lumens. That means the Omniglow isn't just a decorative lightstrip. You can also use it to illuminate spaces such as stairs or feature walls.

Performance score: 5/5

Philips Hue Omniglow: should you buy it?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

Philips Hue Omniglow: also consider

There are multiple lightstrips for Hue, some of them much more affordable – so for example the Hue Gradient Lightstrip is much cheaper. Govee is the main rival in this space with very affordable products including the bendable, cuttable COB Strip Light Pro, the very cheap RGBIC LED Strip and several rope light models.

How I tested the Philips Hue Omniglow

I've been all-in on Hue lights for more than a decade, and my home currently features a mix of smart lights including two Hue gradient lightstrips, various Hue bulbs, a Hue motion sensor and Hue Festavia string lights, all controlled via the Hue app, Apple Home and Siri. I added the Omniglow to my living room setup and Hue Bridge and used it as both decorative lighting and functional lighting, controlling it alongside my existing lights and scenes.

First reviewed March 2026

This year, one of the biggest sleep trends is ‘dark showering’ — turning down the lights while bathing in the evening to get your body and mind ready to rest. The idea isn’t brand new, but as the seasons change and nights get shorter in the northern hemisphere, it makes sense that people are trying to optimize their bedtimes.

As the Guardian explains, the idea is to block out distractions, calm your nervous system, and practice mindfulness before bed. According to sleep scientists, it can have real benefits, with warm water reducing your core body temperature and low light signaling that it’s time to get ready to sleep, causing the release of melatonin.

If you want to try dark showering (or bathing if you prefer the tub), smart lights are a good way to do it. You can schedule them to dim to help you get into a regular routine, and set the brightness so you’re still safe in the bathroom.

That’s not the only way lighting can help you get a better night’s rest, though. I asked an expert from Signify — the company behind Philips Hue and WiZ smart lights — for some recommendations to help you get more out of your smart lamps and bulbs in the evening, and again in the morning when it’s time to rise and shine.

“Light is one of the most important environmental signals influencing the body’s internal clock, also known as the circadian rhythm,” said Signify’s spokesperson. “This biological system helps regulate sleep–wake cycles and responds strongly to changes in light throughout the day.

“Exposure to brighter and cooler-toned light in the evening can delay the body’s natural transition toward sleep, while lower light levels and warmer tones are generally associated with more relaxing environments before bedtime.

“Because of this, we recommend reducing brightness and using warmer light settings during the evening hours. These lighting conditions resemble the natural decrease in daylight after sunset and can help create a calmer atmosphere that supports bedtime routines.

Smart sunsets

I’ve tested a lot of sleep tech over the years, and I’ve found wake-up lamps are particularly tricky to get right. Ideally, the light shouldn’t wake you the moment it comes on; instead, it should brighten very gradually, like dawn through the canvas when you’re camping.

In my experience, many of them simply can’t dim low enough to wake me gently. Worse still are the lights with ‘nature’ sounds that are looping snippets of audio — usually only a few seconds long - that sound horribly compressed. It’s not a great way to start the day.

If you're on a budget, the Beurer Wake Up Light WL50 is a good option. It offers a broad spectrum of light temperatures, meaning it can wake you with warm light that gradually brightens and then cools, and it dims lower than most other lights in its price bracket (under $100 / £70 / AU$150).

I recommend skipping its wake-up noises, but it doubles as a radio and Bluetooth speaker, so you can connect it to your phone and wake up to your chosen music as a backup in case the light alone isn't enough to rouse you.

The lamp that’s working for me right now is the Philips Hue Play Wall Washer, which casts indirect light by shining onto a wall rather than directly into the room, and offers extremely low dimming. If you also want a light that can double as a reading lamp, the Philips Hue Twilight could be the one for you. It’s not quite as versatile as the Wall Washer (it can’t be connected to a Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box and used as part of an entertainment system, for example), but it provides you with focused white light that lets you enjoy a few pages of your favorite book before turning in for the night.

The Philips Hue app provides sunrise and sunset automations that can be triggered at a specific time or upon a particular event. I wake up at the same time most days, so the sunrise is on a timer, but bedtimes can vary, so the ‘Go to sleep’ automation is triggered by a smart switch attached to my bedside table.

“By allowing Philips Hue users to schedule gradual light transitions in the evening and morning, the system helps create consistent daily lighting routines that align more closely with natural light patterns,” explains Signify’s spokesperson.

If you want to get creative with your lighting, Google Home and Alexa+ let you describe the type of lighting you want using natural language — so you could ask for soft evening light, or a dim glow for your night time shower routine, whichever smart lights you own.

• The IKEA Skaftsärv is an LED gradient light costing $6.99 / £4 (about AU$8)
• It looks similar to the Philips Hue Play Gradient Light Bar, but can't mirror colors from a TV screen
• The WiZ Gradient Light Bar is an affordable alternative that can sync to a TV

IKEA has just launched a new lamp that looks strikingly similar to a popular Philips Hue light, but at a tiny fraction of the price. The IKEA Skaftsärv is available in the UK for just $6.99 / £4 (about AU$8), and each one has three lighting zones that can cast a colorful glow onto your walls or shine into the room.

As our colleagues at T3 note, it bears an uncanny resemblance to the Philips Hue Play Light Bar, and if you like the idea of making your home cinema system more immersive but have been put off by the price tag, you might be tempted to snag a pair of Skaftsärvs instead — but there's something you should know first.

Although the Skaftsärv can shift colors in response to music, and is dimmable, there's no way to connect it to your TV or PC monitor to extend the colors from the screen. It's impressive considering how little it costs, but it's only a decorative lamp, not a smart light.

By contrast, the Philips Hue Play Light Bar can be used to add ambience to a room, or to create an Amblight-style effect around and behind your TV when connected to a Philips Hue HDMI Sync Box. Up to three Light Bars can be connected to the same power supply.

You can control your Light Bars via the Philips Hue app, and like all Philips Hue devices, they are compatible with all the major smart home ecosystems so you can operate them with voice commands, connect them to your other smart devices, and use them in automations. Take a look at our Philips Hue Play Light Bar review to find out more.

Lighting for less

If the Philips Hue light is outside your budget, but you want something that will provide a similar experience, take a look at the WiZ Gradient Light Bars, which cost just $59.99 / £54.99, and work in a very similar way when linked to a WiZ HDMI Sync Box.

Although they use different technologies, both Philips Hue and WiZ smart lights are made by the same company (Signify), so you can be confident that you're getting good quality. In fact, our reviewer Abigail Shannon gave the WiZ Gradient Light Bars a near-perfect four and a half stars out of five thanks to their ease of use, versatility, and smooth color gradient. Check out our full WiZ Gradient Light Bars review for more details.

Thinking of freshening up your home this spring? Good news — IKEA has just launched a huge spring sale with enormous savings on storage, decor, and lighting. As TechRadar's Homes Editor, I've browsed through all the offers on lights and lamps to bring you my pick of the very best bargains.

It's a particularly good time to get started with smart lighting, with deep discounts on IKEA's already cheap smart switches (which you can use to control its smart bulbs), plus smart plugs (which let you control your existing lights remotely).

Fancy something fun? There are also great savings on battery-powered string lights for both indoors and out, which would look charming draped over a cabinet, or help set the mood when you're entertaining outside as the weather gets warmer.

Take a look at my top sale picks below, or browse the whole IKEA spring sale yourself. Can't see quite what you want? Check out my complete roundup of the best smart lights for more illuminating ideas.

Epic lighting deals at IKEA

The Philips Hue Spring Sale is on now, with big discounts across the brand's entire range of smart lights, switches, sensors, and other devices to help you brighten up your home for less.

Philips Hue products consistently rank among the best smart lights I test as TechRadar's Homes Editor, so whether you're just starting out with Hue or want to expand your existing setup, this is the perfect time.

• Shop the full Philips Hue spring sale

I'm particularly impressed by the spring deals on multipacks of Philips Hue light bulbs, which mean you can fit them in every lamp and ceiling fixture in your home without spending an arm and a leg. For example, you can pick up a four-pack of Philips Hue Essential bulbs for just $44.99 (was $59.99), which is awesome value.

I gave these bulbs four and a half stars in my Philips Hue Essential review, and they're the ones I use most often at home. Read on for more of my top sale picks.

Today's best Philips Hue deals

If you're not sure whether Philips Hue lights are right for you (perhaps you want an LED pegboard to show off your collectibles, for example, or want some battery-operated string lights), take a look at our complete guide to the best smart lights for more options from brands including Nanoleaf and Govee.

Philips Hue is the biggest name in smart lights, and for good reason. Not only are its lights themselves well-made, they're also available in a huge choice of shapes and styles, are easy to use, and are super versatile. The only sticking point is that they can be pretty expensive — but not right now! Amazon is holding a huge spring sale this week, and has knocked up to 34% off all kinds of Hue bulbs, light strips, and starter kits.

Personally, I'm a huge fan of the Philips Hue Essential series, which is a collection of bulbs and LED strips that are cheaper than standard Hue lights, with only slightly lower specs. They're fantastic value, and with these offers at Amazon, I'm going to take the opportunity to stock up.

If you're new to Hue, this is the perfect time to grab a cheap Philips Hue Starter Kit. Each of these includes a pack of smart bulbs and a Philips Hue Bridge hub to connect them together — sometimes with a smart switch or button thrown in as well. They're the perfect way to start your smart lighting journey.

Philips Hue Essential deals

Philips Hue Starter Kits

Philips Hue LED strips

If you can't see a light here that quite suits your needs, take a look at my complete guide to the best smart lights, where you'll find an array of bulbs, lamps, and string lights to suit every room in your house – all tested and recommended by me and my army of smart home tech experts.

It's hard to overstate the usefulness of smart lights, and once you have one at home, you'll start to see dozens of different ways to use it— from simply creating a schedule to changing the light temperature to suit the time of day, or even making it blink when someone presses your doorbell.

Smart lights don't have to be expensive either. Sure, outfitting your whole home with top-end Philips Hue color bulbs would be an expensive endeavor, but that's not your only option. There are (literally) brilliant bulbs from other brands that offer impressive features and quality for much less cash, and even Philips has a collection of lights at an entry-level price these days.

Below you'll find the top three smart light bulbs I recommend for your home. I've opted for Hue Essentials in my own apartment, but I'd happily fit either of the other options as well — particularly if I was in a party mood.

Best cverall

Philips Hue Essential

Philips Hue is the biggest name in smart lighting, and has sat at the top of our roundup of the best smart light systems for years, but it's always had one significant drawback: it's expensive. That's where Philips Hue Essential comes in.

Hue Essential, which launched last year, is a more affordable alternative to the standard Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance series, with fewer bulb options and a much lower price tag. You don't get to pick from such a huge array of sizes and styles (at launch, there were only three bulbs and a light strip available), but during my tests, I was thoroughly impressed by how well they performed compared to their full-price counterparts.

Like regular Hue bulbs, Hue Essential lights can be controlled individually via Bluetooth, or through the Philips Hue app. Using the app unlocks a lot more features, including the ability to assign a set of bulbs to a particular room or area and control them together, create automations, apply Scenes (themed color palettes) and link them to other devices such as sensors and switches.

The more advanced features also require a Philips Hue Bridge, which is an extra expense you'll need to consider when budgeting for your new smart lighting system, but it's worthwhile if you're adding them to more than one room, particularly since it also allows you to connect your lights to virtually any smart home ecosystem.

Colors are bright and bold, and in my tests, the Hue Essential bulb proved just as responsive as a White & Color Ambiance bulb costing twice as much. The two bulbs use different color technologies. meaning the more expensive bulb offers a wider palette, but in everyday use, you'll be hard-pressed to tell the difference.

The only real downside of choosing Hue Essential bulbs is that they can't be dimmed quite as low as regular Hue bulbs. That won't matter for most situations, but if you want to use your smart lights to wake you gently in the morning, or for subtle lighting in your home theater, the more expensive bulbs may be the better option.

For everything else, though, Hue Essential bulbs offer a staggering array of features, excellent quality, a well-designed app, and the most extensive compatibility of any smart lights you can buy today.

Read our full Philips Hue Essential review

Party lighting

GE Cync Lighting Dynamic Effects

Philips Hue Essential lights are excellent, but GE Cync Lighting Dynamic Effects bulbs offer something Hue ones don't: the ability to assign multiple colors to a single bulb so you can set the mood with just one light. Better yet, these party-ready smart lights can shift their multiple colors in response to music without the need for extra sensors and accessories. It's a party on your ceiling, and everyone's invited.

"The dynamic effects available here are a treat, especially the ones that respond to audio, and set it apart from the competition," said our reviewer, James Holland. "Get enough of these, and you could probably throw your own rave."

These bulbs link directly to Wi-Fi, so unlike Philips Hue lights (which use the Zigbee wireless protocol), there's no need for a hub to use all their features. If you're planning to equip your whole house with smart lights, then a Zigbee mesh network makes more sense (each light effectively acts as a repeater, giving more range), but if you just want fun lighting for one or two rooms, Wi-Fi will be fine.

During testing, we found GE's bulbs refreshingly simple to connect, and the accompanying Cync app is much better designed than many others we've tried over the years.

"The GE Cync Lighting Dynamic Effects bulb might be a little spendy compared to other models, but its connectivity is rock solid," said James. "In fact, the closest I‘ve had to any issue is a second or two of lag when turning off through the app, but that’s only if the light’s been on for a while."

Want to take the party further? There are also Dynamic effects wall light panels, LED strips, and string lights so you can design a setup to suit your room. These bulbs aren't widely available outside the US though, so if you want to have fun with smart lighting elsewhere, scroll on for my next recommendation.

Read our full GE Cync Lighting Dynamic Effects review

Budget

Nanoleaf Matter Essentials

Nanoleaf has carved a niche for itself in smart lighting for gamers. If you want an illuminated pegboard to hold your headphones and controllers, flexible rope lights that sync with the on-screen action, or stackable light-up storage cubes to show off your collectibles, Nanoleaf has you covered.

It does have a more sensible side, though, including some excellent smart light bulbs that are particularly bright and bold, and are great paired with Nanoleaf's decorative lighting or used alone.

As you can tell from the name, these particular bulbs are Matter-compatible, meaning you can use them as part of a mix-and-match smart home comprising devices from different brands — a significant advantage over many similarly-priced smart bulbs.

We experienced a few connectivity hiccups during setup, but once we got our Nanoleaf bulbs set up, we were very impressed. We particularly liked the way you can easily sync your Nanoleaf bulbs with what's happening on your screen, and the Circadian Lighting feature, which changes the color temperature and brightness throughout the day to help you feel energized when it's time to work, and wind down in the evening. Creating custom color scenes is a breeze, too (and you can even share them with other Nanoleaf users if you're feeling generous).

Like the Hue Essential series, Nanoleaf's budget bulbs don't give you a huge range of shapes and styles to choose from — there's a screw fitting, bayonet fitting, spotlight for recessed ceiling lights, and that's it — but the fact that you can use them with any major smart home platform opens up a world of options if you want to extend your smart lighting further.

Read our full Nanoleaf Matter Essentials review

• The hugely popular IKEA Varmblixt smart lamp has been spotted in stores
• It features frosted glass, shifting colors, and smart home compatibility
• It's scheduled for an April release, but some shoppers have found it already

IKEA's donut-shaped Varmblixt smart lamp was a surprise highlight of this year's CES technology show, and although the company said it would have its official launch in April, it seems some stores have jumped the gun and started stocking their shelves early. The lamp has also appeared on IKEA's Swedish website, where it's described as "a magical sight that catches the eye" — and we're inclined to agree.

The lamp is an updated version of the original Varmblixt LED lamp, which launched in 2022. The classic lamp has a glossy orange finish to fill your room with a warm glow, but it's now had a makeover with softly shifting pastel colors, a frosted finish, and Matter compatibility so you can integrate it with your smart home.

TechRadar's Editor-at-Large Lance Ulanoff got his hands on the new lamp on the show floor, and couldn't stop thinking about it afterwards.

"With each press of the remote, I watched as the color shifted almost imperceptibly, then slowly transitioned to the new, fully-dimmable hue," he wrote after experiencing it in person. "Not only that, but the color diffusion under the molded glass is near perfect. It's simply beautiful to watch, and I loved basking in the glow."

He imagined owning one, calling it a "marriage of hue and form", and it seems that dream might not be too far off. As German site Notebookcheck reports, some shoppers have already spotted the redesigned lamp in their local stores — and posted photo evidence to prove it.

Like its predecessor, the new Varmblixt is a collaboration with Dutch artist and designer Sabine Marcelis, who is known for her use of pastel colors, light, and geometric shapes.

Unlike most smart lights, which let you pick any color on the spectrum, the Varmblixt lamp shifts between a limited palette of hues hand-picked by Marcellis to complement its shape. You can move smoothly between these colors using a remote control, or connect it to the IKEA app to open up a wider selection of 40 shades, but that's entirely optional.

"Most people won't buy this updated Varmblixt because they want a smart device but because it’s a beautiful lamp, where you can change the atmosphere of a room with a click of a button," David Granath, Range Manager for Lighting and Home Electronics at IKEA of Sweden, told TechRadar in an exclusive interview last month.

The lamp hasn't yet been spotted outside continental Europe, but we'll certainly be keeping our eyes open next time we're browsing the shelves. It's listed for 699 Krona on IKEA's Swedish site, and is set to cost $99 in the US, so we'll be tempted to grab more than one.

• The IKEA Ankarlägg is a new battery-operated, motion-sensitive light
• It's fully wireless and self-adhesive, so you can use it anywhere
• It has a battery life of around six months, and doesn't need a smart hub

IKEA has just launched a new motion-sensitive light, which you can stick anywhere and doesn't require a smart home hub to work. The IKEA Ankarlägg (which is shaped like a cartoon light bulb) can illuminate your hallway when you come home, your bedroom if you need to get up in the night, or a closet when you open the door.

The Ankarlägg is cheap, too. As German site Notebookcheck reports, it costs €2.99 in continental Europe, and will hopefully launch in other territories soon. If it follows IKEA's usual international pricing, we can expect it to be around $7 / £4 / AU$5 when it rolls out globally. That's a lot less than a typical smart light bulb and motion sensor bundle, which can easily cost four times as much.

It's more versatile than a lot of other lights and sensors as well. According to IKEA's French website (translated by Google), "this lamp can be installed anywhere because it runs on batteries and requires no wiring." Instead, it has a self-adhesive backing that lets you mount it on any flat surface.

The Ankarlägg light switches off if there's no motion detected for 30 seconds, which helps to conserve power. According to IKEA, it has a battery life of around six months if it's triggered 10 times per day.

No hub necessary

IKEA is making a name for itself in affordable smart home tech, with products like the Bilresa remote control kit, Timmerflotte temperature sensor, and Myggspray wireless motion sensor all promising to automate your home for a bargain price.

However, although IKEA's controllers are cheap, they only work when connected to a Thread hub, which can be a considerable expense. IKEA recommends its own Dirigera hub, which costs $109 / £60 (and isn't yet available in Australia). That's much pricier than a Philips Hue Bridge, which unlocks the world of Hue bulbs and sensors.

The Ankarlägg is a simple device, but hopefully we'll see more standalone devices in future that are great value and don't rely on extra, more expensive accessories to access their full functionality.

With snow settling in across many parts of the US, it's time to bed in and turn your home into a cozy haven. Below, you'll find my ultimate cold-weather homeware collection to help you beat the freeze.

I've chosen my favorite snuggly blankets to wrap yourself up in on the sofa, as well as a couple of top-rated electric throws for when you need to up the ante. Plug-in room heaters have come on a long way in recent years, and I've picked some bestselling options from trusted brands — the Dreo 714 oscillates like a fan to boost the warmth in your whole room in double-quick time.

A smart thermostat like the Google Nest thermostat will enable you to easily schedule your heating, or switch it on remotely, so you'll never return to a chilly house (and you won't waste money heating an empty home, either). The new budget-friendly IKEA Timmerflotte sensor lets you keep an eye on the temperature and humidity levels — just make sure you bundle in a Dirigera hub if you don't already have a compatible smart home hub.

Finally, I've picked a few lamp options to help you create a warm, cocooning glow. The Lumie Bodyclock is a wake-up lamp that can mimic the sunrise or sunset on days when the real thing is hiding behind the clouds, and the Lumie Task lamp is an adjustable light therapy lamp that can go all the way up to 10,000 Lux, to recreate the sunshine on dull days.

Cold weather essentials

Last year, Signify, the company behind Philips Hue, unveiled a new lineup of bulbs and strip lights intended to make it more affordable to start installing smart lighting in your home, and lower the barrier to entry – but just how good are they, and how do they compare with the company's full-price smart lights? To find out, I put both types to the test against one another.

Philips Hue bulbs, strips, and lamps have consistently held the top spot in our roundup of the best smart lights here at TechRadar, and for good reason. They provide excellent color reproduction with smooth transitions, brightness up to 1,600 lumens, compatibility with all the major smart home ecosystems, a feature-packed mobile app, and lights for pretty much everywhere, including regular screw-fitting bulbs, spotlights, and outdoor fixtures.

The Hue Essential series gives you almost all the same features, but with a maximum brightness of 806 lumens, and fewer design options. You can choose screw-fitting or bayonet bulbs for lamps and pendant lamps, B22 spotlights, or a five-meter LED strip. However, they're also less than half the price, so those differences are easy to justify.

To see how well they compare in practice, I fitted an 800-lumen White & Color Ambiance bulb and a Philips Hue Essentials bulb in identical table lamps, and used the Hue app to add them to the same zone so I could control them together.

Although the more expensive bulb can display more colors, and uses a different LED system that means it can shift between them more smoothly, in real life I couldn't see any noticeable difference between the two. It might well be a different story if you wanted to sync your lights with a TV screen or PC monitor, but since they're not compatible with a Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box, that's a moot point.

The Hue Essential bulb did. however, have a warmer cast when set to one of its white light settings. I'd advise against using a combination of Essential and regular Philips Hue bulbs in the same room to avoid a mis-matched appearance.

The other big difference was dimming. The Hue Essential bulb could only be dimmed to 2% of its maximum brightness, whereas the regular bulb could drop to just 0.2%, which makes the more expensive bulb a better choice for situations where you want very low light levels, for example when setting a lamp to wake you up with a virtual sunrise in the morning, or providing just enough light for you to find the bathroom at night without waking anyone else.

In all other respects, the two bulbs were strikingly similar in performance, and I'd definitely use the Hue Essentials ones for things like basic ceiling lights in hallways and bathrooms that don't require anything too elaborate. They're also great value bundled with the Philips Hue Bridge, making them perfect for newcomers to the world of smart lighting. Take a look below for today's best offers on Philips Hue Essential lights and starter kits.

Today's best Philips Hue Essential deals

• The Philips Hue Lucca lights are tipped to get an upgrade
• These models are set to get brighter and more colorful
• At the moment, prices and launch dates aren't clear

In recent weeks we've seen Philips Hue upgrade some of its existing products, like its Hue Flourish lamp. And it looks like another refresh is on the way for the Lucca series of products, which comprises a wall light, a path light, and a pedestal light.

According to the usually reliable Hueblog (via Notebookcheck), the Lucca lamps are getting a bulb upgrade. These products will soon be fitted with the E27 smart bulb, just about the best that Philips Hue makes at the moment.

Not only will that boost the maximum brightness of these devices from around 800 lumens to around 1,100 lumens, it will also enable a wider range of color effects. Some of the current Lucca models only offer white lighting, but the bulb upgrade should put these devices among the best Philips Hue lights out there.

It seems as though the rest of these products will be unchanged – specifically the design and dimensions. Philips Hue is just upgrading the bulb that's fitted inside, which is after all the most important component in a smart light.

Pricing to be confirmed

At the moment it's not clear if this is going to affect pricing, and we don't know when the refresh is actually going to happen either. Given that the update has now leaked, however, it shouldn't be too long before its made official.

The availability of the current Lucca series seems to be rather limited right now: the Philips Hue US store only has the wall light on sale for $109.99, while the UK store has the wall light for £89.99 and the pedestal light for £114.99. None of the products are showing up on the official Australia store at the time of writing.

That's another indication that a refresh is on the way, together with the previously rumored updates for the Turaco lights and the Flourish table lamp – all getting a boost from the same E27 Philips Hue bulb.

Meanwhile, the Philips Hue Bridge and Bridge Pro hubs continue to get updated with new and improved features, including easier access to automations. Note that you need a Bridge or Bridge Pro in order to make use of the Lucca lights.

Philips Hue bulbs and lamps are among the best smart lights around, and there's a dizzying array to choose from. As TechRadar's smart home tech editor, I've had my hands (and eyes) on all of the main products, and have put together this guide to help you decide which ones are right for you.

If you're new to the world of smart lights and just want to try replacing a few of your existing bulbs, I recommend the Philips Hue Essential series. These are entry-level versions of the brand's standard color-shifting smart bulbs, and are much more affordable. If you want to add ambience to a room or create an Ambilight-style home-theater effect without the hassle of fitting light strips behind your TV, I recommend the Philips Hue Wall Washer, and if you want string lights that will be fun and functional throughout the holidays and beyond, Philips Hue Festavia gets my seal of approval.

Bear in mind that to unlock all the features of your smart lights, you'll need a Philips Hue Bridge. This links to your Wi-Fi router and connects all your Hue lights (plus switches and sensors) in a mesh network. For more details, take a look at our guide about what is a Hue Bridge and how important is it.

Best smart light bulbs

Philips Hue Essential

Philips Hue is the biggest name in smart lighting, but the price can be daunting if you're thinking about trying it for the first time, or like the idea of having smart bulbs in every room. That's where the Hue Essential series comes in. It doesn't include as many different types and styles as the original Hue range, but it covers all the basics with screw, bayonet, and spotlight options – and they're excellent.

I tested a Philips Hue Essential bulb against its premium White and Color Ambiance counterpart, and I could barely tell the difference between the two in most situations. Color reproduction was excellent for both, they're equally responsive to commands from the Hue app, and their maximum brightness is almost identical.

The only significant difference involved dimming, with the regular White and Color Ambiance bulb capable of dropping to a much lower level than the Hue Essential bulb. That might be an issue if you want subtle lighting for your home entertainment area, or you want to fit a smart bulb in your bedroom to wake you gently with a sunrise effect, but for most rooms, it really won't matter.

Hue Essential bulbs work just like any other Hue lights in other respects. You can control them via Bluetooth or use a Philips Hue Bridge to connect them to other devices, including switches, sensors, and smart speakers.

That's all very impressive considering they're less than half the price of standard Philips Hue bulbs, and means they're easy to recommend.

Check out my full Philips Hue Essential review

Best smart table lamp

Philips Hue Play Wall Washer

The Philips Hue Play Wall Washer is the most versatile smart lamp I've tested. Rather than shining light directly into the room, it has a stack of three bright LEDs on the back, which cast a striking, even gradient of color onto a wall – hence the name.

Much like Philips Ambilight, you can use a pair of Wall Washers to enhance your home-theater setup by extending the colors from the edges of your TV screen. Just connect them to a Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box, follow the setup instructions in the Hue app, and settle in for a more immersive viewing experience. Color-matching was impressive during my tests, and each Wall Washer has a surprisingly long throw, so they will even work with larger TVs.

You can also use it to add ambient light to any room (the further away from a wall it is, the more diffuse the glow), and link it to any other Hue smart lights and devices in your home.

Personally, I like to use it as a wake-up light (similar to the Philips Hue Twilight, but not quite as expensive). The Wall Washer casts a warm glow onto your bedroom wall that gradually brightens and shifts from dark blue to red, orange, yellow, and eventually white to rouse you from slumber gently. It's less of a shock to the system than an audible alarm, and beats even the best wake-up lamps when it comes to color and dimming.

Read my full Philips Hue Play Wall Washer review

Best smart string lights

String lights aren't just for the holidays, as Philips Hue Festavia proves. This string of tiny smart LEDs looks stunning gracing your tree, but can also be strung anywhere in your home to add ambient lighting all year round.

Using the Philips Hue app, you can apply themed Scenes to your Festavia lights, and even group them with other Hue bulbs and lamps to create a cohesive theme throughout a space. Thanks to a new feature called Hue SpatialAware, the app can even apply Scenes differently depending on where the lights are positioned, so your Festavia strings add to the ambiance in a way that makes sense for your room.

You can also control them using automations or switches and sensors. For example, you could have them illuminate only when someone enters the room, or on a timer so they shut off automatically at bedtime.

You can even use them to create a welcoming glow around the front of your home when someone approaches. Unlike most string lights we've tested over the years, standard Festavia lights are suitable for use indoors or out, and are rated IP54, meaning they won't be damaged by rain.

As with all Hue lights, you'll need a Philips Hue Bridge to get the most out of them, but if you already have a Hue setup, then they're a great option if you're shopping for lights for the holidays and beyond.

See our guide are smart string lights worth it?

The 'donut' lamp is one of IKEA's best-selling and most popular homeware products. This year, it's had a glow-up, adding extra functionality that the brand hopes will make it even more user-friendly and versatile. I fell instantly in love with the new-look VARMBLIXT donut lamp when I had a chance to check it out at CES.

I wanted to find out more, so I caught up with David Granath, Range Manager for Lighting and Home Electronics at IKEA of Sweden, for a deep-dive into the new features. Here's a run-down of the upgrades, with behind-the-scenes insights…

1. It changes color

The most immediately noticeable change is that the new donut lamp can change color. For this aspect, IKEA worked with Dutch artist and designer Sabine Marcelis, and there's a massive range of color options to choose from.

"We wanted to build on Sabine’s strong sense of color and atmosphere and include her ideas on how the lamp could gradually change between colors in a way that feels smooth," comments David.

2. It's dimmable

"One of the most common notes of feedback we have had since launching VARMBLIXT has been the ability to dim it and change the tone of the light," shares David. The updated version is capable of emitting a range of different white light temperatures (as well as all those colorful options), and it's also dimmable.

"Updating the donut lamp takes us closer to what the original intent was, to not only create a beautiful lamp but also really let the light set the mood of your home," he adds.

3. It's matte

The 2026 VARMBLIXT keeps the same shape as the original, and like that version it can sit flat on a table or be mounted to a wall. However, the finish has been switched up.

"The biggest change between the designs is that the new version has a matte, white surface instead of a glossy, colored one," says David. "This makes the light inside glow in a more soft and diffused way."

It makes sense that IKEA has kept the recognizable, curvy shape of the first version. I asked David why he felt that design struck such a cord with the public, and a lot of it is to do with the form.

"I think it’s a good example of where unique design is combined with an affordable price. It's a very strong design piece, and so simple in its form," he says. "You can put it in any room and it works. And it doesn’t depend on a specific interior style, which I think makes it easy for people to connect with it."

4. It's smart

To enable customers to make the most of all the new control options, the new VARMBLIXT is smart. It's built on the Matter standard, which means you'll be able to integrate it into your existing Smart Home setup.

Hook it up to the IKEA Home Smart app to unlock the full spectrum of color options – there are more than 40 different shades, and you can change the light intensity and brightness here too.

For David, the smart part is a logical next step for the lamp: "VARMBLIXT is one of our most loved and best-selling lighting products, so it felt like a really good place to show how smart features can genuinely improve everyday life."

5. … but you don't have to use the app

One of my favorites of the new features is that IKEA has provided a way to access the additional features without having to use the app. "We decided to include a pre-paired remote in the box, to give customers instant access to the extra functionality, even before choosing to add the product to an app," says David.

Using the remote, you can launch a sequence of 12 preset colors, curated by Sabine. It starts with white light, transitions into warm amber, red, and pink, then to a cool-toned lilac and turquoise, yellow, and then back to white. All the transitions have been meticulously fine-tuned and shift smoothly, without being jarring.

"Most people won't buy this updated VARMBLIXT because they want a smart device but because it’s a beautiful lamp, where you can change the atmosphere of a room with a click of a button," David concludes.

The updated VARMBLIXT is due to go on sale from April 2026. The original version will remain available to buy.

IKEA has updated one of its most loved and best-selling homeware products: the iconic 'donut' lamp – or, to give it its official name, the VARMBLIXT LED table/wall lamp. After getting a preview of the new, smarter VARMBLIXT at CES, I spoke to David Granath, Range Manager for Lighting and Home Electronics at IKEA of Sweden, about the second-gen donut lamp, the driving force behind the changes, and why he thinks this version is going to be even more popular than the original.

"In general, we want to offer well designed, functional home furnishing at very affordable prices. Even when we succeed really well – as in the VARMBLIXT collection – there are always things we can improve," says David. "Updating the donut lamp actually takes us closer to what the original intent was, to not only create a beautiful lamp but also really let the light set the mood of your home."

The original donut lamp, launched three years ago, has proved extremely popular. And the updated version adds new features – it can change color, cycling gently though a broad range of hues, plus there are options to adjust the intensity and brightness of the light.

It's also smart. It's built on the Matter standard, which means it can be connected to a range of smart home ecosystems. For Smart Home novices, IKEA has added a pre-paired remote in the box for instant access to the extra features, and there's also the option to connect up to the IKEA Home Smart app for more precise control.

For David, the smart features are a welcome support to the design elements. "Most people won't buy this updated VARMBLIXT because they want a smart device, but because it’s a beautiful lamp, where you can change the atmosphere of a room with a click of a button," he comments.

"VARMBLIXT is one of our most loved and best-selling lighting products, so it felt like a really good place to show how smart features can genuinely improve everyday life."

A softer option

IKEA purposely hasn't messed with the donut shape, but it has opted for a matte finish rather than glossy, to give this new iteration a "soft and diffused" effect. The new light adjustment options should make it even more versatile.

When quizzed on why the original struck such a cord with people, David had this to say: "I think it’s a good example of where unique design is combined with an affordable price. It's a very strong design piece, and so simple in its form. You can put it in any room and it works. And it doesn’t depend on a specific interior style, which I think makes it easy for people to connect with it."

The updated VARMBLIXT is due to go on sale from April 2026.

Winter still has us in its grip, but with the right lighting you can turn your home into a cosy sanctuary – without even touching your thermostat. IKEA's latest collection of smart lights and stylish lamps will add a warm glow to any room, and as a Homes Editor here at TechRadar, I've picked a selection of my favourites.

We fell in love with IKEA's Varmblixt smart lamp at the CES show in Las Vegas a few weeks ago, but you don't have to wait until it goes on sale in April – the original Varmblixt LED Table/Wall Lamp, with its signature donut shape and warm orange glow, is on sale right now for £55.

If you already have a favourite lamp, simply swapping the bulb can give it a whole new look. IKEA's retro Molnart LED Globe Bulb in golden brown is perfect for fixtures where the bulb is on show, and costs just £7. Alternatively, you could fit a dimmable smart bulb so you can lower the lighting with a tap, or change the color temperature to something warmer later in the day.

String lights aren't just for Christmas, and IKEA's Solvinden LED Lighting Chains are available in a range of cosy colours that would look perfect draped over a bookcase or headboard. The pink, yellow, and orange bulbs are a particularly pretty choice, or try the cute mini paper lanterns.

Finally, if you're short of space, a simple table lamp can take your lighting to the next level. Take a look at the minimalist Solvinden LED Globe Lamp in red and pink, or the yellow Tärnaby Table Lamp, which takes its design cues from old gas-powered lanterns.

Section break to introduce the products

January is the perfect time to brighten up your home office, and IKEA has all the accessories you need to bring a touch of spring freshness to your workspace. This year's home office trends are all about fresh white and soft green, giving your nine-to-five an airy, natural feel.

Breathing fresh air into your office doesn't have to be expensive either. Small accessories like the Plöja Desk Pad in white for $4.99, or a set of green Relatera Bookends for $5 will bring your desk up to date, while artificial greenery like the Bladverk Potted Plant in Mug will add a touch of fun, with no watering necessary.

Extra lighting can also lift your mood, and the Kulglass Bluetooth Speaker Lamp in green will let you enjoy your favorite tunes at the same time without cluttering your desk with too many objects. If you want more inspiration, take a look at my full roundup of IKEA's 2026 lighting trends, which includes smart lights that you can dim and brighten automatically, or with a tap of IKEA's Home app.

If you have the budget for a bigger home office refresh, you can pick up the white and sage green Pähl / Örfjäll Desk and Chair set together for $159.98, to give your space a completely new look – and to really freshen things up. the Starkvind Smart Air Purifier can improve the air quality manually, automatically, or via IKEA Home. For more info take a look at our complete roundup of the best air purifiers, and find out how air purifiers work.

Freshen up your home office

• An update to the Philips Hue Flourish table lamp is on the way
• The lumens will be boosted from 806 to 1,100
• It's not clear when the lamp is going to go on sale worldwide

The newly unveiled IKEA donut lamp, part of the Varmblixt series, has been turning heads in recent weeks – but Philips Hue looks set to counter with a new product of its own, based on the existing Hue Flourish table lamp.

Based on a listing seen on Amazon Germany (via Hueblog), the lamp is going to get an upgrade from 806 lumens to 1,100 lumens. That should mean a higher maximum brightness for the Flourish lamp when it's sitting in your home.

If you're new to the product, the lamp doesn't actually have a light fixed inside it, like the Flourish pendant light or the Flourish ceiling light. Instead, it comes with a Philips Hue E27 bulb for full color illumination, which can be replaced as and when needed.

It's that bulb that is driving the upgraded lumens in the new version, and the rest of the lamp looks to be the same: it still measures 26.1 centimeters wide and 17.5 centimeters high, so make sure you've got enough room for it before buying.

The price is right?

Based on the Amazon Germany listing, the upgraded Flourish table lamp is going to be available for roughly the same price as the previous version launched at – though the older model no longer available to buy direct from Philips Hue.

The previous version would have cost you $153.99 / £129.99 (roughly AU$225, though it's not clear what the original price in Australia was). Remember that includes both the E27 bulb and the surrounding lamp, made from glass.

The IKEA Varmblixt donut will set you back $99.99 when it goes on sale in April – that's about £75 / AU$145, though international pricing is to be confirmed – so if you're going for the cheaper option it seems as though IKEA is still the way to go.

Of course, a lot depends on what else you've already got set up in your smart home: if you've already heavily invested in Philips Hue lights and perhaps a Hue Bridge to connect them all together, then the Flourish table lamp makes more sense. Well, either that, or buying a different IKEA light and using a Philips Hue bulb inside it.

It's only January, but IKEA has already wowed us with some stunning smart lights this year – and they're a super affordable way to add some color and character to your home, for remarkably little cash. Here I've rounded up a collection of my favorite lamps and lights, from wireless lanterns through to smart bulbs, all of which will brighten up your space during the dreary months (and beyond).

Battery-powered lanterns are the easiest way to add ambient lighting to any room. The Stråla LED Table Lamp, for example, is shaped like an old-fashioned gas lantern, complete with valve, and is on sale for only $7.99. If you'd prefer something prettier, the Stråla LED Lantern looks like it should be hanging in a country garden, and at $2.99, it's hard to resist.

The donut-shaped Varmblixt smart light amazed us with its soft, shifting colors at the CES 2026 show in Las Vegas, but it's not on sale until April. Until then, the classic Varmblixt LED Lamp, with its signature warm orange glow, can be yours for $99.99. It's an enduring classic, and for good reason, adding a cozy atmosphere anywhere, whether it's mounted on a wall or placed on a table.

You can also make your existing lights more welcoming by fitting dimmable smart bulbs – and IKEA's are some of the most affordable ones around. Its Trådfri LED Bulbs come in a variety of types for all your ceiling fixtures and lamps, including color-changing pearlescent bulbs and ones with a retro-style filament. All of them can be controlled using your phone, so you can set the mood with a tap.

Scroll on for all my favorite IKEA lights to give your rooms a cozy glow-up.

IKEA lighting trends

• A new Hue Bridge update lays the ground for an automations tweak
• Automations will soon be visible alongside rooms and scenes
• There's no sign yet of the SpatialAware feature we saw demoed at CES

Update: We've had a response from Signify, the parent company of Philips Hue. Its representatives told us –

"Automations aren’t disappearing or being replaced. Instead, we're making them more accessible by surfacing them directly where they're most relevant. Automations will live alongside lights, scenes, and accessories within rooms and zones, so users can interact with them in the context of the space they’re controlling."

Scroll to the bottom for the rest of the statement. Our original story continues below.

--

If you have a Philips Hue Bridge or a Philips Hue Bridge Pro set-up at home, be on the lookout for a software upgrade that's rolling out now, which lays the foundations for upcoming improvements to smart-light automations.

As spotted by Notebookcheck, the notes accompanying the version 1975104000 update (Hue Bridge v2) and version 2071193000 update (Hue Bridge Pro) mention showing automations "within the screens of the rooms and zones they control".

Currently, if you open up the Philips Hue app on your phone, you'll see there's a separate Automations tab where you'll find them all listed – timers for waking up and going to sleep, motion-sensor triggers, preset color cycles, and so on. These automations are why Philips Hue devices are some of the best smart lights in the business.

In the near future, it sounds like these automations will also appear on the same screens where you can access the rooms and zones you've created for your lights, making it much easier to see what's what with a quick glance.

Coming soon

The latest Bridge update doesn't enable this change – but it's apparently arriving "in the coming weeks". We've reached out to Philips Hue parent company Signify to see if it has anything extra to add, and will add an update here if we hear back.

In addition to making preparations for this automations tweak, the update release notes say there are "several small changes behind the scenes" that make the Bridges work better than ever – so expect faster responses and fewer problems in the future.

Though it's not mentioned in this update, we're also patiently waiting for the SpatialAware feature, announced at CES 2026 and exclusive to the Hue Bridge Pro. When you set scenes in a room, it tweaks the output from each light, based on its position – for example, for a sunset scene, the artificial sun effect will set on one side of the room.

You can manage Hue Bridge updates by tapping Settings in the app, then choosing Software update. To make life easy, enable Automatic update, which means your Hue devices will update themselves, without you having to do anything else.

And the rest of that Signify statement in full –

"From those room and zone screens, users will be able to create, edit, delete, enable or disable, and start or stop automations – without having to navigate away. This makes it much easier to find the right automation at the right moment.

At the same time, the Automations tab will remain available. This gives users flexibility: they can either browse automations by context (room or zone) or view and manage the full list of automations across their home in one place.

We're also introducing more personalization in how content is displayed within rooms and zones. Users will be able to reorder sections – for example, placing scenes or automations first, followed by accessories and individual lights – based on how they prefer to control their space.

The change is focused on reducing friction and making everyday actions quicker, especially for users who rely heavily on scenes and automations rather than individual light controls. We'll share timing details closer to rollout."

As the dust settles on the chaos that is always CES 2026 and we take our time to chew on the tech we saw from the 2026 iteration of the Las Vegas tech show, I can’t help but feel like IKEA stole the show.

We discussed the coolest tech we saw on the latest episode of our podcast, and while awesome tech that feels ripped from the future – like the brain-reading Neurable HyperX headset and over-100-inch Samsung Micro-RGB TV – were among our favorites, we all conceded that IKEA’s simple yet effective smart appliances were the true stars.

Watch our latest podcast below, and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Speakers, lights, even air-fryer-microwave-combos, IKEA had a lot of fantastic home gadgetry to showcase – much of which came in dazzling colors, and of course, the brand’s iconic fun Swedish names.

The reason for IKEA’s excellence is a simple one: its tech hit the sweet spot of interesting, useful, and relatively affordable.

Its Varmblixt LED Lamps are beautiful, brightly colored donuts that boast a color representation that even some supposed smart lighting experts can't beat, and they’ll only cost $99 (prices will vary outside the US) when it ships in April.

Our US Editor-at-large saw the light in person, and said that while it "does look like a giant donut," there's "just something so beautiful about it." You can hear more about his first-hand experience with Varmblixt in the episode linked above.

Or you’ve got the tiny, beautiful Kallsup speakers, which are properly affordable at just $9.99. You can connect to up to 100 at once, and there’s a fantastic opportunity here for a delightful audio setup if you’re brimming with creativity.

While it’s arriving a little after CES proper, we’ve also got the three-in-one Gåtebo microwave making its global rollout following its European launch last year. Perfect for smaller spaces, this microwave meets airfryer looks to be a simple yet effective appliance, adding to IKEA’s improved smart home image

We’ll have to see how well IKEA’s tech performs when it lands in front of our expert reviewers, but if it hits the mark with everything it has shown off so far this year, IKEA might have already won 2026.

Every once in a while, you stumble on a gadget that haunts your nights and can pop up unbidden in your daydreams. You imagine it on your desk, next to your best 4K TV, or filling a wall like a vertical box of delicious donuts.

IKEA's quirky, donut-shaped Varmblixt lamp is that product, and I haven't stopped obsessing over the Bluetooth lamp since I saw it at CES 2026.

Varmblixt isn't brand new, but this version represents a significant update, with a fresh glossy finish and a multitude of colors. Let's start with the basics, and I'll try to explain why I'm so smitten with the $99 illuminator.

First of all, IKEA's Varmblixt is shaped like a giant donut (roughly one foot in diameter). At first glance, it has no visible seams and, though I spotted a power cord running out of it, I wasn't sure how IKEA fed it into that perfectly smooth torus shape. Naturally, I flipped the lamp over to see the well-hidden plastic base, which, in addition to the power cord entry, houses a slot for wall hanging.

Varmblixt invites you to touch it. Even before IKEA reps explained the new product, I was running my hands over the smooth glass surface and admiring its glow.

The CES 2026 IKEA setup featured almost a dozen of these lamps, which was fitting since the upgraded Varmblixt now supports 12 distinct colors, including the original orange, and new white, amber, red, pink, lavender, and turquoise, among others.

The other big upgrade here is the Matter over Thread integration, which means Varmblixt now works with virtually any smart home platform, including Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home.

I'm glad, though, that IKEA chose to keep the tiny physical remote, which means that even if you don't want to hook the lamp up to an app, you can access all 12 colors (app control raises the customization level to 40 distinct hues).

There's the other reason I'm obsessing over Varmblixt: I used that remote. Unlike most other Bluetooth LED-based lighting systems that make hard, almost jarring switches between colors, Varmblixt takes it slow.

With each press of the remote, I watched as the color shifted almost imperceptibly, then slowly transitioned to the new, fully-dimmable hue. Not only that, but the color diffusion under the molded glass is near perfect. It's simply beautiful to watch, and I loved basking in the glow.

Function follows form

None of this would work so well if there weren't such a clear marriage between the design and color choices. Dutch artist Sabine Marcelis clearly designed the pair to be a marriage of hue and form. Even the way the colors change is more like a symphony than a switch, and is the perfect match for the Varmblixt's smooth looks.

Perhaps the other thing that attracted me to the Varmblixt is its fundamental simplicity. No hubs, just a choice to use the remote or the app.

One wonders if the Philips Hue lineup of smart lighting products would be the same kind of sensation if it paid as much attention to design and simplicity.

I remember thinking that Varmblixt would be perfect if it were also rechargeable and truly wireless; then my secret dream of a wall of them could come true.

The other thing I loved is that even though this is a more powerful and smarter version, Varmblixt will still cost just $99 (prices will vary outside the US) when it ships in April.

I know this is just a lamp, but the best technology products are often the ones that do one thing and do it very well. Varmblixt appears to succeed on that level, but it will do more than that because when you have one or more of these donut lamps in the home, they will be instant conversation pieces. And whether you're using your app, voice, or the handy remote to control them, I bet you elicit more than a few 'oohs' and 'ahhs'.

There is, by the way, another Varmblixt option, a large hanging LED pendant light, which looks like a random bunch of hanging 'U's. It currently only supports white light and also ships in April for $149. I do not dream about that lamp.

For the first time ever, IKEA took to the stage at CES 2026, and it was a huge success for the home furnishing giant.

Though IKEA has made its mark on all things interior design, it's also made a name for itself on the smart home front by becoming a great budget alternative to the best smart home devices. Its CES debut provided the perfect opportunity to show smart home enthusiasts what IKEA is all about, and it did just that.

In addition to upgrading one of its most popular lighting products, IKEA unveiled new audio devices and showcased new utility smart home sensors, which were first announced late last year.

Missed out on IKEA's CES appearance? Here are the 5 main announcements you need to know about.

Varmblixt LED Lamp

IKEA's iconic donut-shaped Varmblixt lamp has been a stand-out among the company's range of funky lighting - I even have one of my own. I love how it looks, but I wish I had waited for its new smart light version to drop.

The new Varmblixt smart lamp keeps its iconic design, but packs 12 different color presets that you can control with the new Bilresa remote, so you can smoothly float between different light settings to set the mood and atmosphere. You can also control the lamp by hooking it up to IKEA's Dirigea Wi-Fi hub, where you'll be able to select from a larger spectrum of over 40 hues.

One of its most unique features is that each color is designed to seamlessly blend into the next, which was designed by collaborator Sabine Marcelis. But its smart features don't end there: the lamp is also built on Matter, meaning that it can easily fit into your existing smart home setup. Basically, I'm ever so envious of this upgrade.

Kallsup smart speaker

As well as smart lamps, IKEA is dipping its toes even further into the audio waters, unveiling its tiny but dead cheap Kallsup speaker - which will set you back a mere $10. It's set for an April 2026 launch, with pricing varying in different regions.

Coming in three colorful shades (lime green, pink, and white) the Kallsup speaker is an affordable entry-level speaker that's very light and allows you to get creative by stacking them like building blocks.

Though it doesn't pack a powerful punch on the audio front, which we'd expect from a speaker of this size, it supports Bluetooth 5.3 and has a 20-hour battery life at 50% volume. You can even connect up to a whopping 100 of them - the ultimate way to get the party started.

Teklan Kulglass collection

Alongside its new cheap and cheerful speaker, IKEA showcased a new range of premium-priced audio devices from its Teklan collection, which was first announced in November 2025.

The new collaboration with internet personality Tekla Evelina Severin consists of a number of eye-catching audio gadgets including the portable Solskydd Bluetooth speaker, which can be mounted to a stand or to a wall space. There's also the mushroom-shaped Kulglass Bluetooth speaker and lamp, which packs the handy Spotify Tap function.

Kajplats smart bulb expansion

If there's one thing that IKEA has shown us is that smart bulbs don't have to cost you an arm and a leg. At CES 2026, IKEA announced its expansion of its Kajplats range of smart bulbs (another gadget that was announced in November 2025), showcasing its cheapest one yet at just $6.

But don't think that this price seems too good to be true, this $6 smart bulb still supports Matter-over-Thread and can be controlled through a number of smart home ecosystems including Apple Home, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings.

New smart sensors and control gadgets

Smart bulbs were just the beginning - IKEA is also expanding its utility lineup of smart sensors and control devices that can be integrated across different rooms in your home, which includes the new Bilresa remotes that you can use with the smart Varmblixt lamp.

Additionally, IKEA's new Klippbok water sensor uses sound alerts and phone notifications to let you know when a leakage occurs, while the Alpstuga sensor measures CO₂, particles, temperature, and humidity to determine the air quality in your home. There's also a new smart plug that tracks your energy usage.

We're on the show floor at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, where all the biggest names in tech are showing off their latest consumer products, and smart home brands are vying for a place in your living room.

There have been some interesting developments in the world of smart lighting (such as IKEA's donut-shaped Varmblixt LED Lamp), but one that really caught my eye was a new line of budget-friendly smart light bulbs from Lifx.

These have been on sale for a couple of months already, but this is the first time Lifx has demonstrated them at a major trade show.

We've tested various Lifx products over the years here at TechRadar and been impressed by their performance. However, they tend to lean towards the expensive side, with premium prices more in line with Philips Hue's best smart lights than affordable rivals Govee or Nanoleaf.

Last year, Philips launched the Hue Essential series – a collection of everyday bulbs that work in just the same way as its regular lights, but with more modest specs and much lower prices, so it makes sense that Lifx is following its lead with a more accessible range of entry-level bulbs.

Opting for a cheaper bulb doesn't necessarily mean missing out on features or quality. I put a Philips Hue Essential E27 bulb to the test against a regular Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance one, and was surprised how well the cheaper model compared in terms of overall brightness and color reproduction. The biggest difference was that the regular Hue bulb could be dimmed to 0.2% of its maximum brightness, whereas the Hue Essential one could only drop to 2%.

Depending on how you're planning to use them, that might be something you don't even notice – particularly if you're not mixing the two bulb types within the same room.

So what does the new Lifx Everyday series bring to the table (or ceiling) compared with Hue Essential, and which smart lights should you pick if you're on a budget?

Significant specs

The table below sums up the key similarities and differences between a Philips Hue Essential and a Lifx Everyday bulb. In the interest of simplicity, I'll be comparing the standard E27 screw-fitting bulb in both collections.

I should also point out that although Hue Essential bulbs can be bought individually, Lifx Everyday bulbs are only available in packs of two, so here I'll be comparing the list price for a twin-pack of each.

As you can see, while both these bulbs are in the entry-level price bracket, the Philips Hue Essential is considerably more expensive. If you want to make the most of the Hue Essential bulb's features (beyond simply adjusting the brightness and color) then you'll also need to factor in the price of a Philips Hue Bridge, which connects to your router and links all your Hue devices in a mesh network using the Zigbee wireless protocol.

Using Zigbee does have some significant advantages over Wi-Fi though, and is ideal for low-powered devices like smart lights and switches. Connecting multiple smart lights directly to your Wi-Fi router can cause congestion, and although you can theoretically connect dozens of bulbs to a single router, doing so is likely to slow down other connected devices.

Zigbee-enabled devices also act as repeaters, which can dramatically extend their range compared to Wi-Fi connected devices.

The Hue Essential bulb has a slightly higher max brightness and the Lifx Everyday, plus a wider white light temperature range. The Lifx bulb offers deeper dimming, however, which may be helpful if you want to use your bulb as a wake-up light in the morning.

Into the apps

Both thje Lifx and Philips Hue apps let you choose from a collection of preset lighting scenes or create your own to set a particular mood. However, the Hue app also has an AI-powered assistant to make bespoke scenes for you using typed or spoken commands. Both the Philips Hue app and the Lifx app let you set custom schedules and automations.

Both apps let you connect to their respective brand's switches without using a third-party platform, but the Hue app also offers native support for the brand's huge range of sensors, cameras, doorbell, and other devices. You can not only control your lights, but also create and arm a home security system through the same app. There are also more third-party integrations for Hue products via services like IFTTT.

Conclusion

So which entry-level bulbs are right for you? The answer depends partly on your budget, and partly on what you're planning to do in the future.

The Lifx Everyday bulbs are cheaper to buy outright, and have the advantage of not needing an additional bridge to unlock features like customizable scenes and scheduling. If you want smart light bulbs for one or two rooms, they're a very reasonably priced option, with brightness, dimming, and colors to compete with premium options.

Philips Hue Essential bulbs, on the other hand, are intended as an affordable entry point to the Hue system. If you'd like to gradually change all your lights to smart ones and can see yourself building a system spanning multiple rooms with different sensors and security devices, Hue Essentials will be a better investment in the long term.

• IKEA has launched a set of new smart lights as part of its Varmblixt series
• These include a donut-shaped LED lamp with softly-shifting colors
• There's also a dimmable version of the tubular Varmblixt pendant lamp

We're at CES 2026, where IKEA has just launched a fun, donut-shaped smart lamp with soft, subtly shifting colors. The lamp (which can be mounted on a wall or used on a table) is a new addition to the Varmblixt series, which first launched in 2022 and is a collaboration with Dutch artist and designer Sabine Marcelis.

The original 2022 range included tableware, pendant lights, an illuminated mirror, and the classic Varmblixt LED Lamp, which had glossy orange glass to reflect the ambient light in your room while projecting a warm glow.

IKEA has now revamped the LED Lamp for 2026 with matt white glass and and color-shifting lights. The lamp comes with a Bilresa remote that lets you cycle through 12 preset colors – from pink and lavender to soft yellow. Each hue was picked by Sabine Marcelis, and blends smoothly with the next.

TechRadar's Editor at Large, Lance Ulanoff, has had his hands on the new Varmblixt LED Lamp on the CES show floor. See it in action in the video below.

If you like, you can skip the remote and connect the lamp to IKEA's Dirigea Wi-Fi hub, which will let you control the lamp using the company's mobile app or any other Matter-compatible smart home system. Operating the lamp this way lets you choose from a wider palette of over 40 colors.

If you like the shape of the lamp but aren't interested in smart home tech, worry not – the original orange version without smart controls will still be available to buy.

IKEA is also launching a smart version of the tubular Varmblixt LED Pendent Light, with dimmable white light. Like the LED Lamp it can be controlled using the remote included in the box, or be connected to the Dirigea hub and integrated into a larger smart home system.

Both lights will go on sale in April. The Varmblixt LED Lamp will be priced at $99.99 (about £80 / AU$150), while the LED Pendant Light will cost $149.99 (about £110 / AU$220).

IKEA has become a big name in affordable smart home tech, and in November it released 21 new connected devices, including light bulbs, sensors, and smart plugs. It'll be interesting to see what else its engineers and designers have up their sleeves in 2026, particularly as it bids to catch up with bigger names like Philips Hue. Watch this space...

• Your Philips Hue lights are getting a new feature called Hue SpatialAware
• It applies scenes differently depending on the location of lights in a room
• There's also a long-awaited update coming to the Philips Hue Bridge Pro

Your Philips Hue lights are getting an upgrade that's going to make your rooms look a lot more cohesive. It's called Hue SpatialAware, and it will apply lighting scenes differently depending on the location of smart lights within your room, resulting in a more natural-looking effect.

Lighting scenes are palettes of themed colors that you can apply to all the lights in a particular room or area. They're great for setting a mood, but until now each color in the scene could be applied to any light bulb or fixture, regardless of its location. The result could be somewhat jumbled, as you can see on the left-hand side of the images above and below.

That's about to change though, because now you can use your phone's camera to scan your room and log the location of each light. Hue SpatialAware will then apply the colors within your chosen scene in a way that makes sense. For example, the lights on one side of the room might have a bright, warm glow to represent a sunset, while those on the other are darker. You might also find the lights towards the top of your room are brighter than those lower down, simulating a sunny sky.

Hue SpatialAware is currently available for about half the remastered scenes in the Hue app's scene gallery, and is most effective with nature-inspired palettes. It requires Philips Hue Bridge Pro, which went on sale in September last year, and SpatialAware will be available early this year.

More bright ideas

SpatialAware isn't the only new feature rolling out today. Anyone who currently has multiple Philips Hue Bridges will be pleased to learn that they can now port all their lights to a single Bridge Pro. A single Bridge Pro can support over 150 lights and 50 accessories, and you can transfer data from as many Hue Bridges as you like provided you don't exceed those limits.

The Philips Hue AI assistant is getting an upgrade that will let it create automations based on your requests. For example, you can ask it to wake you at a particular time every day, except for Mondays. The assistant is currently only available in English, but support for Dutch, German, and Spanish will arrive over the next few weeks.

There's good news for Apple Home users too. The Hue Secure camera, video doorbell, and contact sensors will soon work seamlessly with Apple's smart home platform, with support for live streaming via picture-in-picture mode on Apple TV, and real-time alerts in the Apple Home app. This will be available very soon as well.

• Govee unveiled three new smart light products at CES 2026, including the new Floor Lamp 3 and two new ceiling lights
• The new Ceiling Light Ultra encourages you to create your own animated color gradients, while the Sky Ceiling Light leans into natural lighting
• As well as new hardware, Govee announced a slew of new software upgrades including DaySync, which changes your smart lights based on the time of day

Govee’s showcase at CES 2026 showed that not only is the company focussed on evolving its range of smart lighting, but it's dedicated to making the technology even smarter through its new era of smart lights and software updates – and Philips Hue should watch out.

Known for making some of the best smart lights out there, three new products are joining Govee’s range of lighting products. These include the Floor Lamp 3, the Govee Ceiling Light Ultra, and the Govee Sky Ceiling Light – each offering Matter integration and compatibility with Apple's HomeKit smart home platform.

While we don’t have any pricing details for the new range, the new Floor Lamp 3 succeeds the Govee Floor Lamp 2 packing an upgraded LuminBlend+ color system. Its advanced new features now allow you to control a staggering 281 trillion colors and an extensive spectrum of temperature lighting ranging from 1,000K to 10,000K – a feature that’ll be coming to other Govee smart lights this year.

With that said, the Ceiling Light Ultra, and Sky Ceiling Light are new to the Govee family, both of which are 21-inches in size, but offer different, unique functions.

The Ceiling Light Ultra is a more playful take on the smart light, packing a detailed 616-pixel LED matrix which can display intricate animated scenes and gradients with 5000 lumens of brightness. You can even take it a step further and design your own patterns in the Govee app “with up to eight distinct layers of motion, color, and shapes” – or you can select from the 20+ presets that are included – something that even the Philips Hue Datura ceiling light has yet to achieve.

When it comes to the Sky Ceiling Light, this model is designed to emulate natural daylight, with 5200 lumens of brightness and edge-mounted LEDs that mimic the effects of a real skylight window. While the Ceiling Light Ultra provides a more creative experience, the Sky Ceiling Light leans more towards the well-being side of smart lighting, offering realistic blue-sky effects during the day and warm sunset tones in the evening with the help of DaySync – a new lighting feature introduced by Govee.

Govee catches up on customization

We’re very fond of Govee as a budget-friendly smart lighting brand, but until now one of its drawbacks has been the lack of advanced features offered by rivals like Philips Hue. With the new DaySync and AI Lighting Bot 2.0 functions, that could all be about to change.

At CES 2026, Govee announced its new DaySync functionality alongside its range of new hardware. As its name implies, DaySync can alter the brightness and color of your smart lights based on the time of day. It can also pick up on sunrise and sunset times and local conditions and change your lighting accordingly – which is native to the Sky Ceiling Light.

Additionally, Govee unveiled its AI Lighting Bot 2.0, an upgraded version of its scene-changing chatbot feature that adjusts animated scenes in its pixel and graphic smart lights. Instead of using fixed commands, it can now alter your smart lighting by using natural conversations.

Like we’ve stated earlier, we don’t know how much Govee’s new Floor Lamp 3, Ceiling Light Ultra, or Sky Ceiling Light will cost, nor when they’ll be available to purchase. That aside, this is a huge step for both Govee’s smart lighting hardware and software, and 2026 is already looking to be a bright year for one of our favorite smart home brands.

Philips Hue Essential: two-minute review

Philips Hue Essential bulbs are a more affordable version of the company's standard smart lights, and they perform incredibly well considering they're less than half the price. There are a few limitations, though. For example, Philips Hue Essential bulbs offer a maximum brightness of 806 lumens, whereas standard Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance bulbs range from 800 to 1,600 lumens.

In most other respects, the two are very similar, and during my tests there was only one clear instance where the standard bulb really outshone the Essential version.

To see how the two would compare, I set up a pair of lamps – one with a Philips Hue Essential bulb, and the other with an 800-lumen Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance bulb. I added them to the same room in the Philips Hue app, which would enable me to control them simultaneously, and directly compare and contrast their output.

During most of the tests I ran, it was difficult to spot any difference between the two. Both were equally responsive, and produced colors that were identical to my naked eye when I switched between scenes. According to Signify (the company behind the Philips Hue brand), Essential bulbs use different color-matching technology to regular Hue lights; but personally, I had a hard time telling the difference.

Having said that, I did notice a dark band at the top of the Essential bulb, which wasn't present on the premium bulb. This was most apparent with purple and blue light. Note that it isn't something you'll notice if you're using the bulb in a ceiling light, nor in a table lamp, and therefore is unlikely to be a deal-breaker unless you're exceptionally picky.

The two were equally bright (as expected), although if I'd used a higher-output White & Color Ambiance bulb, then it would have been appreciably brighter.

However, there's one important difference that you should be aware of, particularly if you're looking for smart bulbs that will produce a natural-looking sunrise and sunset to help you wake up feeling refreshed, or to create subtle ambient lighting in your living room.

With both bulbs dialled down to their dimmest setting, the Hue Essential bulb was much brighter than the more expensive White & Color Ambiance model, as you can see in the photo below. That's because the Hue Essential bulb can only be dimmed to 2% of its maximum brightness, whereas the regular bulb can drop to just 0.2%.

I also found that the Essential bulb tended to show a slightly warmer cast, due to its narrower white light spectrum (2,200–6,500K compared to 1,000-20,00K for a regular Hue bulb). Depending on your preferred light temperature, the difference could be apparent if you use the two different types of bulbs in close proximity,

I wouldn't mix and match regular Hue and Hue Essential bulbs within the same room. However, they're an excellent option for those wanting to setup a Philips Hue system but have previously been intimidated by the price. They're also great if you're looking to extend your existing system to more rooms in your home, without splashing too much cash.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Philips Hue Essential: price and availability

• Much cheaper than regular Philips Hue bulbs
• Even more affordable when bought as a multipack
• You may also want a Philips Hue Bridge

The Philips Hue Essential range is designed to be an accessible entry point into the world of smart lighting, with the bulbs coming in at a much cheaper price than standard Philips Hue ones.

One Philips Hue Essential bulb (either screw or bayonet) costs $24.99 / £19.99 (about AU$40). If you want several, you can save money by opting for a multipack. A twin-pack costs $44.99 / £32.99 (about AU$70), and a four-pack comes in at $59.99 / £49.99 (about AU$90).

For comparison, a twin-pack of regular 800-lumen Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance bulbs costs $98.99 / £84.99 / AU$149.25, and a four-pack is $185.99 / £169.99 / AU$290.50. That's the starting price for a maximum brightness of 800 lumens; brighter bulbs cost even more.

There's another potential cost to consider, though. Although you can control the color and brightness of your Philips Hue Essential lights using Bluetooth on your phone, for more advanced features (such as applying scenes, setting schedules, and connecting them to smart speakers or switches) you'll also need a Philips Hue Bridge.

A standard Philips Hue Bridge costs $65.99 / £49.99 / AU$99.95, so factor this into your budget when planning your new smart lighting system. There's also a Philips Hue Bridge Pro, but this would be overkill for a new user with a small setup.

At the time of writing, Hue Essential bulbs only seem to be available in Australia as part of a starter kit, costing $170.08 for four bulbs and the Hue Bridge.

• Value score: 5/5

Philips Hue Essential: specifications

Philips Hue Essential: design

• Only three bulb types available
• All options offer tuneable white and colored light
• Maximum brightness of 806 lumens

Philips offers only a small selection of Hue Essential bulbs, which makes sense for an entry-level option. There are currently three models available – screw, bayonet, and GU10 spotlights – and these should be fine for most fittings around your home. Here, I tested an E27 screw-fitting bulb.

By contrast, regular Philips Hue lights come in virtually every shape and form possible, including candle and "filament"-style bulbs, LED strips, and gradient lamps to name just a few.

All bulbs in the Philips Hue Essential Series are "Warm to Cool White & Color", meaning they can show eight million colours, plus white light at different temperatures (from 2,200K to 6,500K). Regular Philips Hue smart bulbs are available in three versions:

• Warm white, which lets you tune brightness but not color;
• White Ambiance, which lets you adjust the brightness and temperature;
• White & Color Ambiance, which also lets you pick from eight million colors.

For more details, take a look at my complete guide to the different types of Philips Hue smart light bulbs.

All Philips Hue Essential bulbs offer a maximum brightness of 806 lumens. Regular Philips Hue bulbs range from 800 all the way through to 1,600 lumens.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Should you buy Philips Hue Essential bulbs?

Buy them if

Don't buy them if

Philips Hue Essential: also consider

How I tested the Philips Hue Essential bulbs

I tested a Philips Hue Essential E27 screw-fitting bulb alongside a standard Philips Hue Essential White & Color Ambiance bulb in identical table lamps, so I could more easily compare the two. I connected both to my existing Philips Hue setup, and added them to the same zone, which would enable me to control them both at once via the Hue app on my phone, set them to the same colors and brightness, and note similarities and differences.

I also tested them using the "sunset" automation within the Philips Hue app, with various preset scenes, and by tuning the light color and brightness manually.

For more details, see how we test, rate, and review products at TechRadar.

If you're keen to invest in some of the best smart lights, then you may have been put off by the price. All that incredible functionality comes with an understandably high price tag. But thanks to a Philips Hue sale at Best Buy, you can take advantage of some huge savings right now.

There are deals on a range of bulbs, strips, starter kits, and more, but my top pick is the Philips Hue A19 3-pack, which is on sale for 101.99 ($147.99). It's a well-rated, Bluetooth-enabled smart bulb that delivers both white and colored ambiance.

So, if you've been considering upgrading your ceiling lights and lamps, now is the time to jump in.

Today's best Philips Hue deal

In September of this year, Philips released 10 new Hue devices, including the long-awaited Philips Hue Bridge Pro, seamless light strips, a video doorbell, and the A19 smart bulb. We reviewed the E26 version of the A19 bulb that was released a few years ago and gave it a commendable four out of five stars.

The A19 smart bulb offers millions of shades of warm-to-cool white and color-changing light to transform your home decor and the way you feel. With Bluetooth you can control up to 10 lights in a single room and set up routines so you have customized lighting through the day.

With so many options, it can be difficult to know which Philips Hue products to go for. That's why we've created a dedicated guide to Philips Hue bulb types and cover the key differences between the three main bulb types.

While you're smartifying your home, you might like to consider buying one of the best smart speakers or best smart displays.