Philips Hue Switches
Philips Hue switches give a Hue setup physical controls: a dial for the wall, a four-button dimmer, a one-button scene control, and a smart plug for the lamps that aren't smart yet.
Battery remotes, no wiring
The Dimmer Switch, Tap Dial and Smart Button all run on a CR2032 and either magnet to a bracket or screw down. Nothing is wired, so they go where the light switch isn't.
Which one does what
Four buttons on the Dimmer for on, off and brightness. A rotary dial on the Tap Dial for scenes and dimming in one hand. One button on the Smart Button for a single scene by a bed or a door.
Smart plugs
The Hue Smart Plug puts a standard lamp, a fan or a set of string lights under the same app and the same scenes. It handles up to 2,300 W and does not meter energy.
What needs the Bridge
The Dimmer Switch and the Smart Plug pair over Bluetooth and work without one. The Tap Dial and the Smart Button need the Bridge, because the scenes they fire live on the Bridge rather than on your phone.
More about Philips Hue switches
Choosing a Philips Hue control.
Put a control where people reach
The most common Hue complaint is a housemate turning the lights off at the wall. A Tap Dial or Dimmer Switch mounted over the existing switch plate solves it: the power stays on, and the thing people reach for still works.
Dial or buttons
Buttons are better for on, off and a scene you already know. The dial is better when you want to ride the brightness up and down, or flick between four scenes without looking. If you only ever use two settings, the Smart Button is enough.
Smart plugs cover what Hue doesn't make
Floor lamps, fairy lights, a fan, anything with a plug and a mechanical switch. The plug goes between the powerpoint and the appliance and brings it into Hue scenes with everything else, up to 2,300 W.
Australian stock, two-year warranty
AU-plug hardware from the Australian range, held in local stock, with Signify's two-year warranty.
Common questions
Quick answers before you buy. We test this gear ourselves. Can't find yours? Ask our Melbourne team
Not with the products we stock. Hue's controls mount over or beside your existing switch rather than replacing it, which is what keeps power to the bulbs on. If you want the switch itself to be smart, a smart switch or relay from our switches range is the right answer, with standard bulbs behind it.
Both have four buttons and both mount to the wall. The Tap Dial adds a rotary dial for brightness and for cycling scenes, and it needs the Bridge. The Dimmer Switch works over Bluetooth without one. Pick the Dimmer for a simple one-room setup, the Tap Dial once you have scenes worth switching between.
The Dimmer Switch and the Smart Plug pair straight over Bluetooth and work without one. The Tap Dial and the Smart Button need the Bridge, because the scenes they trigger are stored on it.