Hue Smart Button V3: Features, Pricing, and Availability

Smart lighting company Hue has released a new version of its Smart Button”>Smart Button, which is one of the simplest ways to control Hue’s colorful smart lights. The new Smart Button features a larger design and a slight price increase; in the U.S., it now costs $32.99 compared to $29.99 for its predecessor. This price point is significantly higher than the UK and EU pricing for the new button, which stands at £19.99 and €21.99 respectively, possibly indicating a trend in pricing strategies.

The new button is available now directly from Hue’s site”>Hue’s official website.

A Zigbee device, the Hue button can be programmed to control any single or group of Hue light bulbs and fixtures through the Hue app. According to Philips Hue’s website, the button “allows you to trigger scenes based on time of day, or cycle through a selection. Press and hold to dim and brighten your lights, or even set it to start an automation.” This functionality remains consistent with the prior model, suggesting that the primary changes are in design and pricing.

The new button is almost twice the size of its predecessor, featuring a 45mm diameter (approximately 1.8 inches) compared to the previous 32mm (about 1.3 inches). The design is now more angular and flatter, moving away from the bulbous style of the earlier model. Notably, it does not include a large plastic wall plate that resembles a standard light switch, which was convenient for users accustomed to traditional switches. Instead, it comes with a small metal plate for magnetic wall attachment, as noted by HueBlog hands-on with the button”>here.

The Hue button continues to utilize the same CR2032 battery, which Hue claims should last for two years. HueBlog has highlighted that the battery replacement process is significantly easier on this new button compared to the previous version.

As a Zigbee device, the button requires a Hue Bridge for operation and is compatible with Matter-supported platforms through the bridge”>various smart home systems, including Apple Home, where it appears as a single-press button.

I reviewed the first generation of the button”>original Hue Smart Button when it launched in 2019 for $24.99, and it has long been one of my preferred methods for controlling Hue lights. An update in 2023″>earlier update introduced additional control options, allowing users to cycle through Hue’s natural light scenes based on the time of day, providing the right type of tunable white light with just one press.

The larger design of the new button could enhance usability; however, the increased price in the United States compared to the EU and UK raises concerns. Hue is already recognized as one of the more expensive smart lighting brands, and based on an email the company sent”>communications sent to users earlier this month, it may be getting even pricier — particularly for consumers in the U.S. According to a promotional message received on June 9th, Hue’s “prices go up on July 1.”

The notice regarding the price increase appears to have only been sent to US customers”>generated some discussion, indicating that the increase may be due to Trump’s tariffs”>various market factors. We have reached out to Signify, the parent company of Philips Hue, for confirmation and to ascertain which products will be affected by the upcoming price changes.