Philips Hue launches Bridge Pro and new lighting and security devices

Philips Hue on Wednesday unveiled a broad refresh of its smart‑lighting lineup, centered on a more powerful hub called the Hue Bridge Pro and a range of new bulbs, light strips and security devices designed to widen the brand's appeal and add new automation features. The announcements, made around the company's IFA presentation and bolstered by earlier retail and regulatory leaks, mark the most significant update to the Hue ecosystem in years.

The Hue Bridge Pro increases device capacity and processing power, Signify said, supporting up to 150 lights and more than 50 accessories, compared with roughly 60 devices for the outgoing Bridge V2. The company said the new hub includes a faster processor, more memory and can handle up to 500 scenes. It will be offered from September with a U.K. price of 79.99, according to the company.

A headline feature called Motion Aware uses interference patterns in the Zigbee radio mesh to let existing Hue lights act as motion sensors, Hue said. The system, based on technology the company calls Sensify, requires at least three Hue lights in a defined area and can trigger standard lighting routines for free. Security‑oriented automations that send...