Lightstrip, RGBIC Colour Gradient
Philips Hue Essential Strip Light Review

5 m (also 10 m)  |  RGBIC colour gradient  |  Not extendable  |  Bluetooth and Zigbee  |  Works without Wi-Fi

Overview

The Philips Hue Essential Strip Light shines a gradient of colourful light using RGBIC technology, and this review covers the 5 m length. Hue also sells it in a 10 m length, and lists the strip as a white and colour gradient. Hue’s UK product page says you can customise the strip by cutting it to fit any space, but it is not extendable. The strip is 9.8 mm wide and 2 mm high, and it offers customisable scenes and effects. Hue doesn’t publish lumens or a colour-temperature range for it.

It runs from 220-240 V mains, is Class II double insulated and is rated IP20, which Hue says makes it suitable for indoor use. It uses Bluetooth and Zigbee, and Hue says it works without Wi-Fi; you can unlock all features with a Hue Bridge. Hue lists app and voice control, and Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, Matter, Samsung SmartThings and Sonos among the platforms it works with. The UK page lists iOS 16 or later for the app. It is dimmable, with a rated lifetime of 15,000 hours (unit from Hue’s US comparison table) and a 2-year warranty.

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Key Features

✓5 m strip; also sold in a 10 m length
✓Gradient of colourful light with RGBIC technology
✓Cut to fit any space (Hue’s UK product page); not extendable
✓Customisable scenes and effects
✓Bluetooth and Zigbee; works without Wi-Fi
✓Unlock all features with a Hue Bridge
✓Dimmable
✓9.8 mm wide and 2 mm high; visible LEDs with a protective coating, no sleeve (Hue’s US comparison table)
✓220-240 V mains; IP20, suitable for indoor use
✓15,000-hour rated lifetime (unit from Hue’s US comparison table); 2-year warranty

Pros & Cons

Pros

+ RGBIC gradient of colourful light
+ Hue’s UK page says you can cut it to fit any space
+ Works without Wi-Fi
+ Slim strip, 9.8 mm wide and 2 mm high
+ Customisable scenes and effects

Cons

− Not extendable
− Hue doesn’t publish lumens or a colour-temperature range
− Full features need a Hue Bridge
− IP20, for indoor use

Good to Know

Hue also sells a separate Hue Essential flex strip light. This review covers the standard Hue Essential strip light 5 m.

Setup & Installation

Add the strip in the Philips Hue app. If there’s no QR code to scan, Hue’s guide says to tap No QR code to add it by searching or using its serial number. Hue says you can unlock all of the strip’s features with a Hue Bridge.

If the strip won’t connect, Hue’s US strip help suggests removing it from the Hue app and adding it again, and keeping its firmware up to date in the Hue app. Hue’s strip help also suggests a factory reset if problems persist, and Hue’s reset article for Hue lights includes a reset using the serial number.

Common Problems & Fixes

Running into issues? Our Philips Hue troubleshooting guide covers step-by-step fixes taken from Hue’s own support pages, including how to reset Hue lights, light not found over Bluetooth and not responding to Alexa or Google.

Who Should Buy It

Anyone who wants a 5 m RGBIC colour gradient strip for indoors that works without Wi-Fi.

Verdict

The Essential Strip Light 5 m gives an RGBIC gradient of colourful light from a 9.8 mm wide strip that Hue’s UK page says you can cut to fit. It can’t be extended; if you need that, Hue lists the Flux Strip Light as cuttable, reusable and extendable.

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