Philips Hue bulbs go bridge-less with new Bluetooth lights

Philips Hue bulbs go bridge-less with new Bluetooth lightsPhilips Hue bulbs are being introduced to work without the previously essential bridge, making smart lighting easier to control for new consumers.

Philips Hue Bluetooth bulbs so far include the traditional A19 lightbulbs and also the BR30 downlight bulbs in the US starting today, and the new bridge-less tech applies to the three variants: White, White Ambiance, and White and Color Ambiance.

Signify says that it’s doing this to ease new users into its brand of smart lights, and it’s catching up to a few of its competitors that offer bulbs without a bridge.

The best part is that these Bluetooth-controlled Hue bulbs price isn’t increasing. The dimmable White bulbs cost $14.99, the custom-white-shaded White Ambiance bulbs cost $29.99, and the millions of colors-filled White and Color Ambiance costs $49.99.

These are just the first Bluetooth-enabled Philips Hue bulbs, with Signify saying that more of its products will be getting the bridge-less treatment in 2020.