When it comes to functionality, the Philips Hue surpasses the Sengled WiFi with its immersive entertainment system and convenient home integration. Philips Hue also has a huge product line to extend to, so there really is something for everyone.
However, if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, then Sengled WiFi might be just what you need, considering that it also offers neat energy stats reports.
So let’s take a look at the Sengled vs. Philips Hue, and see how this newcomer to the smart lighting scene stacks up.
Sengled vs. Philips Hue — Differences
Difference #1: Technology & Connectivity – The Philips Hue and Sengled WiFi use totally different technology to communicate remotely.
Philips Hue smart bulbs use Zigbee technology, and thus require a Philips Hue Bridge in order to connect to your router. An extra piece of equipment might be the reason for Philips’ higher price. So make sure to take this expense into account when comparing the two options.
The bridge connects to the router using an ethernet cable. Besides it being the “middle man” between your Philips Hue light bulbs and your WiFi router, it also enables some cool features like Apple HomeKit support and entertainment, which we’ll discuss in a bit.
The Sengled WiFi uses WiFi technology (hence the name), and connects directly to the 2.4GHz 802.11 b/g/n compatible router. So no bridges or hubs required, making the whole set up a little simpler to work with.
Difference #2: Apple HomeKit – This is perhaps the biggest difference when comparing the Sengled vs. Hue. Apple HomeKit support is just another convenient way to control your smart lights. Whether it’s via the Apple HomeKit app or Siri, if you have an iPhone, you’ll definitely be looking for Apple HomeKit compatible devices.
Voice control over Siri is a simple and fun way to adjust your lighting to suit your mood. And it’s great that you can do all that without even taking out your phone!
Luckily, Philips Hue lighting is compatible with Apple HomeKit, whereas the Sengled WiFi light bulbs, unfortunately, don’t support this function yet making it an easy choice for those of us who are tied to the Apple ecosystem.
Difference #3: Microsoft Cortana – Both Philips Hue and Sengled WiFi work with Alexa and Google Assistant. So anyone with an Echo or Google Home will be able to use the voice command features.
It’s also important to note that Sengled doesn’t offer Microsoft Cortana, which makes Philips Hue the superior choice as it supports both Apple HomeKit and Microsoft Cortana.
Difference #4: Bulb Base – When it comes to your light bulbs, make sure to always check beforehand if your new bulbs fit into the current sockets, to save you disappointment.
The Philip Hue has more options to choose from: E26, E12, BR30, GU10, and PAR16.
While the Sengled only offers the basic E26 setup.
So, if you have any other fitting besides the E26 base, then Sengled WiFi is definitely not for you.
Difference #5: Beam Angle – The beam angle is essential when choosing the way light fills a room. There is quite a big difference between Sengled’s 240 degrees vs. Philips Hue’s 160 degrees.
While the beam angle of Philips Hue is relatively lower, it means that in a sufficient space, the light is strong and more concentrated. Making it ideal for smaller rooms that require brighter bulbs (such as an office, a bedroom or a pantry).
Whereas the Sengled Light beam may travel further but will be more subdued and not as focused in an area.
Difference #6: Geofencing – While scheduling lights is a fantastic and reliable tool to use, it doesn’t always match up with our actual plans. One way to combat this is via geofencing.
Geofencing is a built-in feature in the Philips Hue app, which allows you to turn your bulbs on or off based on your location. It basically uses your smartphone’s GPS to check your location to adjust the lights accordingly.
It’s a fantastic way to save on energy costs and make sure your home is all lit up when your car is pulling up.
The geofencing feature can be enabled through the integration with IFTTT (If This Then That). So, you can, for example, set the light bulbs up to automatically turn the lights on or off as your device connects to or leaves your home’s WiFi network. You can also do other cool things too like, set your lights to turn a red tone when the sun sets, or turn green when you receive a text!
It’s worth to note, that while the Geofencing is a feature that’s already built into the Philips Hue app, with Sengled you’ll need to take it a step further and use IFTTT instead.
Difference #7: Entertainment – When it comes to entertainment, Philips Hue takes the top spot.
You can see how music comes to life when you sync your Philips Hue light bulbs to your favorite tunes, creating a fun mood that’s great for a party. Or even pair up the lights with the TV, so you can enjoy your Netflix marathon or the latest video game in a more dramatic and engaging way.
Unfortunately, the new Sengled WiFi bulb doesn’t offer such features. So in terms of entertainment, Philips Hue definitely wins.
Difference #8: Energy Stats – There’s one thing where Sengled actually pulls ahead — it offers Energy Stats. So, with the stats, you can check your overall energy consumption from a smart bulb and saving on your overall bill. It’s a great way to keep track of the energy use of certain light bulbs (if you’re into that).
Philips Hue doesn’t have this feature yet.
Sengled vs. Philips Hue — Comparison Chart
| Sengled WiFi | Philips Hue Gen 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Lumens | 800 Lm. (60W equivalent) | 806 Lm. |
| Color Temperature | 2000K-6500K | 2000K-6500K |
| Colour Range | 16 million colors | 16 million colors |
| Dimming | 1% – 100% | Yes |
| Geofencing | via IFTTT | Yes |
| Scheduling | Yes | Yes |
| Away Home Control | Yes | Yes |
| Music Syncing | No | Yes |
| Movie/Games Syncing | No | Yes |
| Technology | WiFi | Zigbee |
| Requires a Hub/Bridge | No | Yes |
| Wi-Fi Router Requirement | 2.4Ghz 802.11b/g/n | Ethernet Port for Hue Bridge |
| App | iOS/Android | iOS/Android |
| Apple HomeKit | No | Yes |
| Amazon Alexa | Yes | Yes |
| Google Assistant | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Cortana | No | Yes |
| IFTTT | Yes | Yes |
| Full Brightness | 9 Watts | 10 Watts |
| LED Life-Span | 22.8 years (based on 3hrs/day) | 22.8 years (based on 3hrs/day) |
| Bulb Base | E26 | E26, E12, BR30, GU10, PAR16 |
| Beam Angle | 240 degrees | 160 degrees (A19) |
| Security | N/A | N/A |
| Water Resistant | No | No |
| Outside Use | No | No |
| Product Dimensions LxWxH | 2.3 x 2.3 x 4.2 in | 2.4 x 4.3 in |
| Weight | 0.35 lbs | N/A |
| Warranty | 3 years from the manufacturer | 3 years |
Sengled vs. Philips Hue — Things in Common
Away From Home Control – Unlike other smart bulbs that work via Bluetooth, these bulbs connect directly to your router. Meaning that you can control the lights even when you aren’t home.
You have the choice of having your lights on, just a couple of minutes before you arrive home. Or even make it look like you are at home while away, scaring off any potential intruders!
Brightness – When it comes to brightness, Sengled and Philips Hue offer similar options. Both feature a wide range of color temperatures of 800 lumens, and a good amount of brightness of 2000K-6500K.
16 million colors – Regardless of your choice, you’ll have the option to choose from up to 16 million different light tones! You can adjust the settings to suit a movie night or a romantic dinner, or whatever mood you might be in.
With so many vivid colors to choose from, you’ll never fall short of ideas.
Dimming – Luckily, both smart bulbs support the dimming feature. Which allows you to set the perfect level of lighting at any time you wish. Whether you’d prefer a softer setting before bedtime, or a bright level to invigorate you, the dimmer has you covered.
Scheduling – Similar to geofencing, scheduling allows you to set your lights to turn on when you arrive home, or off when you leave. This way, you have the ability to plan your lighting around your day, ensuring you aren’t wasting excess energy. How cool is that?
IFTTT – As we mentioned before, both light bulbs can support the IFTTT feature.
With the Philips Hue and Sengled applets, you can do awesome things like changing the light scene by Google Assistant command or even have your lights blink when you receive an email or text.
Full list of Philips hue applets and Sengled applets.
LED Life-Span – Judging from an average usage of 3 hours per day, both bulbs should last around 22.8 years. While it’s safe to assume that we usually use lights for a much longer period of time per day, you still get quite a few years out of a single bulb.
Sengled vs. Philips Hue — Accessories
When it comes to accessories, why not expand your collection with some extra smart products from the same brand?
For the Sengled, we recommend the Sengled Smart LED with Security Camera or Sengled Smart LED Multicolor Light Strip.
The Philips Hue does offer more of variety when it comes down to it, like the Philips Hue Light Strip or a lamp like the Bloom, Go or Beyond. The lamps are particularly useful for when setting the right type of mood, you may want for your next meditation or reading session.
If you just prefer to have the bulbs themselves, you can add in other accessories like the tap switch, Dimmer, and motion sensor for even more control over all the bulbs.
Sengled vs. Philips Hue — Our Thoughts
When it comes down to comparing Philips Hue vs. Sengled, it’s clear that both have their good and bad points. The biggest pro to the Philips Hue is the incredible entertainment system which allows you to sync up your tunes and have an immersive gaming experience like no other.
While you do need to pay extra for the Philip Hue Bridge, it can still bring a lot of enjoyment into your lighting system.
It’s also worth mentioning, that Philips Hue has better integration with smart homes, meaning the smart bulbs can support Apple HomeKit, Microsoft Cortana, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant, unlike Sengled which only works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Sengled bulbs, on the other hand, are more affordable when compared with Philips Hue. But they’re missing out on key features such as the entertainment system, which might be a deal breaker for some of you.
Otherwise, they are just as bright as the Philip Hue bulbs and offer energy saving reports, which is a nice touch.
Last update on 2024-04-24 at 19:22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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HI Anna, You have clearly been paid by Philips to complete this and more importantly your review is completely and utterly miss-leading. Given Sengled also has a zigbee hub for the vast majority of their app and voice controlled Element lights why on earth would you be comparing Philips Hue with the Sengled Wifi bulbs?? Its comparing apples with oranges and disparaging a great product in the process. POOR POOR review
Hi Heidi,
Whether we use Sengled WiFi or Sengled Element bulbs for this review, the differences between them and Philips Hue will still remain the same (except for the first one, of course, where we talk about technology.) But I totally agree with you that it’d be nice to add Sengled Element bulbs to this comparison for a full picture. I’ll add it to our agenda.
Also, we’re not paid by any company to write these comparisons. Our goal is to help people make a choice between two products by outlining their key differences. If you have something to add, please, do so. We’re always open to editing/updating our articles. ?
Cheers!