In January of this year, a newer version of the Philips Hue dimmer switch came to the market. The new dimmer switch is either called Philips Hue Dimmer Switch (2021) or Philips Hue Dimmer Switch v2. In this blog, I’ll shorten it to the v2 switch (and use v1 for the old switch). This blog will go into depth about everything that is new with the v2 switch, so let’s get going!
TL;DR;
- A revised design
- Build with a matt material
- Nicly rounded corners
- A new Hue button
- A hinch wider
- The Hue button to switch scenes
- A time-based mode for your switch
- The wider mounting plate fits over an empty socket
- The Hue dimmer switch is now magnetic instead of the mounting plates
- Easier battery replacement
For more details please read onwards!
A new design
First of all, there is the revised design. Besides the rounded corners, the new switch is also made of a totally different material. As you can see from the picture below, the v1 switch looks quite cheap now in comparison with the v2. With the v2 switch, it really became a nice product. But besides the design, the buttons did also change. On v1 we have two separate buttons to turn the lights on and off, together with two buttons to brighten or dim the lights. On the new one we have an on/off button on the top, the dimming functionality on one button just below and at the bottom, we have the new Hue button. For more information about this Hue button please read onwards.
Fitting of the Philips Hue Dimmer Switch v2
Moreover, with the upgrade of the Philips Hue dimmer switch, Philips Hue has thought the whole story through to the end this time. The included mounting plate has become one centimeter wider to approximately 8 centimeters. It is now wide enough to cover an empty (European) wall switch box. But that’s not all: the wall mount can not only be glued on but thanks to its matching holes, it can also be screwed onto empty sockets.
The Hue button
The new switch contains a Hue button as you can see in the image above. Within the Philips Hue app, you have the option to select 5 different scenes to circulate through with the Hue button. So remember when clicking on the Hue button you are changing the Hue scene.
Magnetic switch
In the first version of the dimmer switch, two small magnets were added to the backplate. As the switch contained some metal bits and pieces, the switch would easily stick to the mounting plate when you want to put it away. In the new one however, things have switched. The switch now contains two small magnets while the mounting plate contains metal. So you can still easily put it away on the backplate, but now you also have the option to stick it to the fridge for example! Super convenient.
Time-based functions
Within the Philips Hue app, you can now change the mode of your dimmer switch to the time-based mode. This mode will alter the effect of your buttons depending on the time of the day. So let’s say you like dimmed lights in the morning and bright light in the evening. You now have the option to set this up within the app to automatically set your preferred lighting at any time. In addition, a long press on the on/off switch can switch off all Hue lamps in the house if desired.
Battery replacement
Even though the battery of the switches lasts quite long, one day you will have to replace them. In the earlier version, you needed a screwdriver to open the back of the switch to replace the battery. The new switch has a convenient notch to open with about anything around you. Flip the notch and open up the back.
Connect your switch to your bridge
To connect your switch to your bridge, there are a couple of steps you need to take, I’ll list them down below:
- Op your Philips Hue app and open the settings tab
- Click on accessories, and then on add accessories
- Select whether you want to add a new or an old switch
- Hold the power button for 3 seconds
- The Hue app will now say the switch is connected
After adding your switch to the accessories tab, you have the option to change the room for the switch; alter the actions for the buttons, and define the different scenes of the new Hue button
Conclusion
The upgrade of the Philips Hue Dimmer Switch v2 is quite big. To sum up a couple of features. The switch has a new design with a new button, it fits over an empty socket now, the switch became magnetic and more. Which made it more functional and much cooler looking. It’s quite surprising Philips Hue didn’t increase the price of their v2 switch, but you won’t hear me complain 😊. For more interesting reviews click here.
Thank you for reading my review of the Philips Hue Dimmer Switch v2.
