Philips Hue Smart Plug Review: A Small Upgrade That Makes a Real Difference
TestedTired of crawling behind furniture to unplug a lamp or fan? The Philips Hue Smart Plug fixes that for under $40 — no electrician, no subscription, no full smart home commitment required. It's a simple, well-made accessory at the affordable end of the smart home category, and it does exactly what it promises.
What It Is
The Philips Hue Smart Plug is exactly what it sounds like: a compact plug that sits between your wall outlet and whatever device you want to control remotely — a lamp, a space heater, a string of fairy lights, a fan, anything that isn't already "smart." Plug it in, and you control that device via Bluetooth for near-instant on/off commands, or step up to a Philips Hue Bridge for full app control, voice commands, scheduling, and Matter compatibility.
There's no app-exclusive gimmick or subscription fee hiding behind it. It's a straightforward piece of hardware that quietly makes your existing stuff smarter.
Who It's For
This plug is a great fit for:
- Smart home beginners who want to dip a toe in without committing to a full ecosystem
- Renters who can't install smart switches but can still plug in a smart device
- Existing Hue users looking to extend automation to lamps, humidifiers, or other non-Hue devices
- Voice assistant households already using Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, or SmartThings who want one more thing to control hands-free
If you want energy monitoring or scheduling across a dozen devices, you'll need the Bridge in the mix. But if you just want to stop crawling behind furniture to unplug a lamp, this handles it on its own.
Key Features & Specs
- Dual control modes: Bluetooth for instant, bridge-free control; Hue Bridge for app scheduling, voice control, and Matter support
- Broad compatibility: Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings
- Matter-ready: Built for the growing Matter smart home standard
- Simple setup: No hardwiring, no electrician — just plug and pair
- Rated 4.80 out of 5 across 209 reviews, a strong showing for a device this simple
Pros
- Setup takes minutes, even with zero smart home experience
- Works standalone via Bluetooth — no Bridge purchase required to get started
- Genuinely wide compatibility across major voice assistants and platforms
- Matter support means it won't feel outdated in a year or two
- Reliable, consistent performance backed by strong user ratings
Cons
- Bluetooth-only mode has shorter range and no remote-away-from-home control
- Scheduling, automations, and full voice integration require a Hue Bridge — an extra cost
- It's a single outlet, not a power strip, so it only controls one device at a time
At $37.99, the Philips Hue Smart Plug hits the sweet spot: cheap enough to try on a whim, solid enough that it never feels like a compromise. It won't replace a full smart home system, but as an entry point or a small addition to an existing one, it's hard to fault — and the option to start with Bluetooth and grow into Bridge-based automation later is genuinely useful, not just a marketing checkbox.
If you've been curious about smart home gadgets but didn't want to spend big to find out whether you'd actually use them, start here.
https://www.amazon.com/Philips-Hue-Lights-Bluetooth-Compatible/dp/B07XD578LD?tag=thebenchtest-20
