Anyone with a smart light has experienced this one particular problem: If you turn the wall switch off, your light is useless. Smart lights can turn on and off on their own, but if they rely on a power source from a wall switch, then a well-meaning friend or family member can flip the switch and throw all of your routines out of whack.
Philips Hue offers a solution through the Philips Hue Wall Switch Module. This module fits behind an existing wall plate and lasts for up to five years. It allows you to use your smart lights even if the switch has been flipped, and you can also activate your favorite scenes directly from the module. The Wall Switch Module will be available in summer 2021 for $40 for a single module or $70 for a two-pack.
One thing to note is that this Wall Switch Module will not turn regular lights into smart lights. It only works to maintain a connection with your Philips Hue lights, even if the power supply has been turned off. It works in conjunction with an existing system.
Philips Hue also announced the Amarant, an outdoor light bar with a maximum brightness of 1400 lumens. It gives you the ability to create ambient mood lighting on your balcony, patio, porch, and anywhere else you can imagine. The light bar is 31 inches long and fits easily along walls or underneath the roofing of your porch to help you set the mood.
The Philips Hue Amarant will launch in March 2021 in the U.S. with a price of $170. It will need a Hue power supply unit that can be purchased separately.
Philips also made another surprise announcement: An upgrade to the current Philips Hue Dimmer Switch that includes a detachable wall plate. This allows visitors to your home to control the lights without needing an app. This is not an in-wall switch; the new dimmer switch attaches to almost any wall with adhesive. It’s not a permanent installation and can be removed relatively easily.
The Hue Dimmer Switch will have a slightly reduced price from the original model, coming in around $25 and launching on February 23.
