Philips Hue Lightstrip vs. Plus | Differences Explained

The field of smart lighting extends far beyond basic bulbs, and adding a lightstrip into your lighting setup can add ambiance and a splash of color — 16 million colors, in fact!

Below, we go into a detailed comparison of the Philips Hue Lightstrip vs. Lightstrip Plus. Is it really worth shelling out extra for the Plus model? Let’s dive into the similarities and differences below to help make that decision a little bit easier!

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Philips Hue Lightstrip vs. Plus — Easy Comparison Chart

	Philips Hue Lightstrip	Philips HUE Lightstrip Plus
Energy Use	12W	20.5W
Lumen Output	120 Lm.	Up to 1600 Lm. (varies)
Voltage	12V DC	24V DC
Lifespan of Product	12,000 hrs	20,000 hrs
Extendable	No	Yes (up to 32 feet)
Philips Hue Bridge Required	Yes	Yes
16 Million Colors	Yes	Yes
Software Upgradeable	Yes	Yes
White Color Ambiance	No	Yes
Ambience/Wakeup/Wellbeing	No	Yes
Away-From-Home Controls	Yes	Yes
Light Schedules	Yes	Yes
Comfort Dimming	Yes	Yes
Music/Movie Syncing	Yes	Yes
IFTTT	Yes	Yes
Width	0.43 inches	0.57 inches
Height	0.11 inches	0.19 inches
Length	78.7 inches	78.7 inches

Last update on 2023-03-31 at 23:06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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Philips Hue Lightstrip vs. Plus — What’s Different?

1. Brightness – One of the most noticeable differences between the Philips Hue Lightstrip and the Lightstrip Plus is that the newer model is significantly brighter. Both lightstrips use LED lights with brightness measured in lumens. While the original lightstrip produces 120 lumens, the Lightstrip Plus produces a whopping 1600 lumens. This is a significant difference that makes the Lightstrip Plus our go-to pick when you need lighting that will really illuminate the room. The Lightstrip Plus also provides a more natural light and different shades of white that may be easier on the eyes.

   However, the regular Lightstrip’s lower luminosity may be the perfect fit for soft bedroom lighting or other areas where you don’t need maximum brightness. A brighter light isn’t always the best fit for every situation, but it’s worth keeping in mind that the Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus creates significantly stronger illumination and has a more attractive, natural glow.

2. Length – One other notable difference between the Philips Hue Lightstrip and the Lightstrip Plus is their length. The regular lightstrip is around 6.6 feet in length, which should be more than enough for the average user. However, for those with larger homes or who are looking to cover large spaces, the Plus has the advantage in that it offers extension add-ons of 3.3 ft. String a few of those together, and you can end up with a Hue Lightstrip Plus of up to 32 feet in length. If you decide on the regular lightstrip, you’re stuck with the length as-is with no opportunities for expansion.

   While the Lightstrip Plus may seem light the better option overall with its support for extension, the regular model actually has the advantage when it comes to fitting smaller spaces. You see, each lightstrip can actually be cut with scissors in order to fit specific lengths. The standard lightstrip has markers every 4 inches where you can safely cut, while the Plus version has these markers spaced 13 inches apart. If you’re trying to light up a small area, you may be better suited with the standard Lightstrip due to the ease of cutting it into smaller segments.

   If you do decide to cut your lightstrip, make sure you do it while the power is turned off and only at the marked sections!

3. Life-Span – Both the regular Hue Lightstrip and the Lightstrip Plus have a significant lifespan, but the Lightstrip Plus definitely has the upper hand at a 20,000 hour span vs. the regular Lightstrip’s 12,000 hour life.

4. Energy-efficiency – If you’re looking for the most energy-efficient Philips Hue lightstrip, your best bet is going to be the base model at 12 Watts power consumption. The Lightstrip Plus consumes significantly more power at 20.5 Watts, but it’s important to keep in mind that that higher energy expenditure also leads to a much brighter light. If energy savings is very important, the standard model is obviously the best choice. However, we feel that the brighter, more natural light that the Lightstrip Plus has to offer is more than worth the extra energy cost.

5. White Color Ambiance – As mentioned above, the difference in brightness levels between the regular Hue Lightstrip and the Lightstrip Plus is significant, but the quality of white light from the Plus is also significantly better. There are many more options for color warmth, allowing you to pick from a rich, warm white to cool daylight, depending on your mood. You can adjust the settings easily as needed, giving a different ambiance for different moods or across different seasons. It’s a definite advantage that makes the Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus feel a little bit more premium and fully-featured.

6. Dimensions – The differences in dimensions between the regular Lightstrip and the Lightstrip Plus aren’t super significant, but they’re still worth mentioning for those who are planning to place the lights in smaller spaces. The standard lightstrip is smaller in both width and height when compared to the Lightstrip Plus at 0.43” x 0.11” vs 0.59” x 0.19”. In practical applications, it probably doesn’t make that much of a difference. But if you’re planning to install these strips in cramped locations like a kitchen cabinet, the larger size of the Lightstrip Plus may be undesirable.

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What do Philips Hue Lightstrips Have in Common?

• Colorful Lighting Solution – As part of the Philips Hue family, you’ll have the ability to play with 16 million colors. Instantly change the look and atmosphere of your room, and change the settings easily with just the press of a button. Once you find a color scheme that you really enjoy, you can set it for easy recall whenever you want with just one touch.

• Philips Hue Hub – Both the Philips Hue Lightstrip and the Lightstrip Plus require the Philips Hue Bridge in order to function. This bridge will also connect your lights to the rest of the Philips Hue ecosystem, such as Hue bulbs and the various dimmers and switches you can use to control the whole setup.

• App Control – One of the easiest ways to control either lightstrip is through the Philips Hue App. Whether you’re sitting on the couch or thousands of miles away from home on vacation, you can control your lights remotely as long as you have an internet connection. It’s the perfect setup for when you aren’t sure whether you remembered to turn off the lights before heading out, or to make sure you’re coming home to a well-lit house after working late.

• Light Schedules – Both models have smart functionalities that allow you to set light schedules. These are convenient while you’re at home, but they’re also an excellent way to keep your house protected while you’re not. You can set your lights to turn on and off at specific times, making it seem more active and less attractive to intruders. The scheduling also allows you to make sure the lights are turned on when you need them to be, and can dim them gradually as the night goes on so you never have to worry about whether you’ve left lights on.

Last update on 2023-03-31 at 23:06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

• Entertainment – As mentioned above, both of the light strips required the Philips Hue Bridge in order to function correctly. One of the advantages of this bridge, however, is the ability to use the Philips Sync app to turn your lights into an entertainment spectacle. Match the hue on your screen while watching a movie or playing a game to really immerse yourself in your media. When you invest in the Philips Hue ecosystem, you’re getting a lot of practical benefits — but the fun with colors is a major benefit as well.

• Voice Control – The Philips Hue app is one of the best ways to control your lighting, but sometimes you don’t have your phone on hand and want to control the settings hands-free. Both the Philips Hue Lightstrip and Lightstrip Plus interface well with popular voice controllers like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit, allowing you to change colors, lighting intensity, and various other settings with just your voice.

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Philips Hue Lightstrip and Plus in a Smart Home Environment

As part of the Philips Hue ecosystem, you’ll enjoy integration with the “Friends of Hue” — a selection of smart products and smart home controllers that make adding these the Lightstrip or Lightstrip Plus into your home a breeze.

Tie your Lightstrip to the thermostat or security system from Nest, or take control over your entertainment with the Logitech Harmony Remote. SmartThings, Xfinity Home, and Vivint Smart Home systems also offer full support for Philips Hue, allowing you to connect your Lightstrip to a greater smart home ecosystem.

One of the most notable aspects of the integration, however, is support for IFTTT. This incredibly powerful smart home automation software allows you to set conditional triggers that enable some really cool functionality with your Philips Hue Lightsrip and Lightstrip Plus. Set your lights to turn on when you get home from work, dim in cooperation with your smart speakers, or even unique security features like lighting up when your Nest Cam detects activity. It’s a major benefit that sets the Philips Hue lighting ecosystem apart from some smart lighting competitors.

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How to Make Philips Hue Lightstrips Even Better?

As mentioned above, you may be interested in purchasing an extension for the Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus in order to extend it to over 30 feet in length. You can also get this extension as part of the main Lightstrip Plus Kit in order to save some money over purchasing the two products separately.

Also, as part of the Philips Hue family, the Lightstrips are perfect to add in to products like the Philips Hue 1, 2, or 3 smart light bulbs, or perhaps the Philips Hue Go and Bloom.

Last update on 2023-03-31 at 23:06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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Which Would We Choose for Our Home?

At the end of the day, there are many different factors to consider when deciding whether the Philips Hue Lightstrip or the Lightstrip Plus is the best option for your home. For example, some fancy features like different lighting warmths may not be necessary, or if your budget is smaller it may make more sense to go with the cheapest option.

However, we feel that in the majority of situations the Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus is the superior product. With a much brighter light, opportunities for extension, and more customizable options for white light, it’s clear that it’s an upgrade over the standard model.

If price is a concern or you need a lightstrip that can be cut to fit small spaces, the base Philips Hue model may be your best bet. The energy consumption is also considerably lower, which may make a difference if you have a lot of lights set up.

Whether you decide to go with the Hue Lightstrip or the Lightstrip Plus, we hope that this comparison did a good job of breaking down the details and pros and cons of each model. If your heart is not yet set on the Philips Hue ecosystem, you might want to take a look at our comparison between Lightstrip Plus and the LIFX Lightstrip — another worthy competitor in the smart lighting scene.

Last update on 2023-03-31 at 23:06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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