Philips Hue vs Ikea TRÅDFRI

[FN-GM]

Hello,

 

I am looking at some smart home stuff (again after not doing anything about it for 2 years!).

 

Philips Hue seems to have lots of options (both physical and software) but the price is quite high!

 

Philips Hue Plug = $64.95

Ikea TRÅDFRI Plug = $20

 

Philips Hue Colour Bulb = $99.95

Ikea TRÅDFRI Colour Bulb = $30

 

Philips Hue Bridge = $99.95

Ikea TRÅDFRI Gateway = $59

 

I don't think you can access the Ikea gateway outside the house natively without something like Google Home. I believe this is possible with Philips Hue natively. I don't really want to get into Home Assistant. It's tempting to get the Philips Hue bridge with Ikea parts. Although there is a new Ikea Gateway coming soon so might be improve it?

 

What are peoples thoughts please? Has anyone used both? If so what did you think?

 

Thanks

Edited September 23, 2022 by FN-GM

[bald_pig]

Everything I've read about Hue is that it's overpriced and underperforms. I use the Ikea stuff at home, tied into Google Home. You are right, you can't use the Ikea app when you're off network, but that doesn't really matter to me, as I have routines on the gateway for turning lights on at certain times etc if I'm not there.

[FN-GM]

Everything I've read about Hue is that it's overpriced and underperforms. I use the Ikea stuff at home, tied into Google Home. You are right, you can't use the Ikea app when you're off network, but that doesn't really matter to me, as I have routines on the gateway for turning lights on at certain times etc if I'm not there.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I was thinking of using my phone to turn on the doorstep light so I can see the lock. Otherwise I wouldn’t use it.

 

Maybe I could use Google Home to turn it on remotely please?

 

Thanks.

[EssentialRug]

Use the Tradfri stuff at home integrated with Google Home and works really well for the price.

 

If you wanted to turn on the doorstep light so you can see the lock, you could buy one of the IKEA motion sensors to automate that. We use one for when we walk into the garage the light comes on and if it doesn't detect motion in 15 minutes or so it will turn it off.

[bald_pig]

Thanks for the feedback. I was thinking of using my phone to turn on the doorstep light so I can see the lock. Otherwise I wouldn’t use it.

 

Maybe I could use Google Home to turn it on remotely please?

 

Thanks.

 

I'd probably look at getting the tradfri motion sensor, so the lights come on automatically as you approach the door. I'm not sure of any IP rating, but Ikea say it can be used in bathrooms, so probably good for outdoor use under cover at the very least.

[FN-GM]

Thanks guys. The motion sensor isn’t a bad idea. The possums might set it off though!

 

I’m curious if the Google Home app could control it outside the WIFI? I would be fiddly and not as slick as the sensor.

 

Someone is selling a cheap Nest Mini Gen 2 (sealed) on Facebook. Tempted to pick that up as well.

[EssentialRug]

Thanks guys. The motion sensor isn’t a bad idea. The possums might set it off though!

 

I’m curious if the Google Home app could control it outside the WIFI? I would be fiddly and not as slick as the sensor.

 

Someone is selling a cheap Nest Mini Gen 2 (sealed) on Facebook. Tempted to pick that up as well.

 

Yep, you'll be able to control all lights through the Google Home app when you're away from your property.

[FN-GM]

Thanks!

 

One concern I have about Ikea is that the smart devices go back on after a power outage. Not ideal if it happens during the night!

[bald_pig]

Thanks guys. The motion sensor isn’t a bad idea. The possums might set it off though!

 

I’m curious if the Google Home app could control it outside the WIFI? I would be fiddly and not as slick as the sensor.

 

Someone is selling a cheap Nest Mini Gen 2 (sealed) on Facebook. Tempted to pick that up as well.

 

You say that, "OK Google, turn on the doorstep light" Would be an option

[bald_pig]

Thanks!

 

One concern I have about Ikea is that the smart devices go back on after a power outage. Not ideal if it happens during the night!

 

There's an option to go to the last state before the power was lost, so anything that was off should stay off

[EssentialRug]

There's an option to go to the last state before the power was lost, so anything that was off should stay off

 

What he said!

[EssentialRug]

You say that, "OK Google, turn on the doorstep light" Would be an option

 

Another, possibly more convoluted option which I've been trying out...

 

Recently purchased something similar to these which can be mounted in strategic places inside/outside/around your home/car/wherever. I've then set up a routine in the Shortcuts app (I'm iOS) to do various things such as turn on/off lights and linked it to the tag.

 

For your scenario you could mount this outside of your house, or somewhere in your car, set up to run a routine on your phone to turn the doorstep light on. Scan the tag and let your phone do the work.

Edited September 23, 2022 by EssentialRug

[slugshead]

I've got a mix and match. Hue hub with hue and tradfri bulbs.

 

Works perfectly.

 

The Tradfri bulbs are nowhere near as good as the hue bulbs, brightness, temperature and variety of colours doesn't come close.

 

Keep your ebay filter skills brushed up and you can get Hue bulbs at Ikea prices.

[JJonas]

I went Lifx a while ago and I am quite satisfied with them as they dont require a hub

 

Take a look at this guy on YouTube Paul Hibbert He does Smarthome reviews. I do know he is not a fan of Phillips Hue though

[mrcrazy04]

I have a mixture of Hue and Tradfri bulbs with a Hue hub, and out of home access works well, both in the app and with Alexa and Google Assistant.

 

I got quite a few of the Hue bulbs when they were on special offer on Amazon. At points they can be in the region of £10 per bulb for the white ones (bayonet or Edison fittings) - particularly around Prime Day.

My Tradfri bulbs are mainly in the kitchen and toilet (GU10 Hue bulbs were too expensive for the number I needed), and I haven’t noticed any difference in brightness or whiteness compared to regular LED bulbs from Tesco or similar.

 

Some of the newer Amazon Echos include a Zigbee hub, so can connect directly to the smart bulbs. I set this up for my parents, and it works well. I don’t think they’ve tried, but I expect out of home control will work with the Alexa app.

I’ve not kept up to date with the Google hubs, but do any of them include a Zigbee hub?

 

If you just want to control a single light by the front door, the newer Hue bulbs also include Bluetooth, so you could pair the bulb directly to your phone and turn it on when needed. That does, however, mean you won’t be able to control it when away or give lots of people access.

[ZeroHour]

Old Hibbert is a bit mad, he isnt bad but I dont bother with his videos much now given some of the craziness and effort required for the setup.

 

I think to consider is CRI for bulbs and R9 as numbers as the higher the better I believe.

 

I have not heard anything bad about the IKEA stuff to be honest, I dont know what their CRI is though but I believe the CRI stuff is more important if you have issues with flickering for bulbs.

[XiJ]

I haven’t read all this thread - but I did want to say I’ve been running hue bulbs for 8 years without issue. I’ve changed one early bulb (white) and just got an issue with an 8 year old colour one. The system has been flawless tbh and really helped with early smart home automation.

 

We mainly run white ambiance lamps which can be picked up for ~£12 each or less at the right times. Or could before cost of living crises and the Uk going mad.

 

I’m now running home assistant and trying to move to a more ‘home based’ system rather than rely on commercial clouds services. But hue (and Ikea) etc integrate with that well.

[FN-GM]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

 

I had a look at the Paul Hibbert videos but gave up. He is way OTT!

 

One thing I have noticed Ikea done seem to do bayonet bulbs.

 

I will have a look on eBay and see what there is.

 

Cheers.