The Philips Hue Essential Light Strip has officially landed in the UK and Europe, several months after it first appeared at IFA in September 2025. The light strip can be connected to Apple Home via the Hue Bridge.
Designed as part of the new Hue Essentials range, the product focuses on making smart lighting more affordable and easier to get started with. The wider Essentials collection includes A19 bulbs, GU10 spotlights, starter packs, and two different light strip options, with this entry level model being the most accessible choice.
Despite its lower price, the Essential Light Strip still offers key Hue features including white and colour gradient lighting. Users can adjust brightness levels and select colour temperatures ranging from a warm 2,200K up to a cool 6,500K. Pairing it with a Hue Bridge unlocks deeper smart home integration, including Apple Home.
To keep costs down, there are some trade offs compared with Hue’s premium strips. The strip dims only to 2 percent, colour transitions are less refined, and extension options are not supported. However, it can still be cut to fit your space.
Pricing starts at £49.99/€49.99 for the 5 metre version and is currently available from Very and Argos in the UK and Amazon in Europe, US buyers got access shortly after launch, and sold directly by Philips Hue for $59.99.
