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Philips Hue sale at Amazon UK – top smart light bundles drop to record-low prices

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Philips Hue are some of the best smart lighting solutions you can buy, offering vast a range of products and features to create the ideal ambiance in your home. There’s one problem: they are pricey. But, the latest sale at Amazon has several discounted starter kits – including some record-low prices for bulbs, strips, bridges, and more.

• See all Philips Hue deals at Amazon UK

The best value bundle and a great buy if you want to dip your toe into the world of smart lights is this Philips Hue Bulbs (2-Pack) + Philips Hue Bridge for £79.99 (was £144.98). Not only does this bundle sit at a record-low price, but it comes with a pair of white and colour bulbs, plus the Bridge that you need to connect them to so you can customise your lights through the Hue app. You can also sync them with other smart home devices that use Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

If it’s LED strips you’re after, then you might want to consider this Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus v4 + Philips Hue Bridge at Amazon for £92.99 (was £116.45). This bundle has been £10 cheaper before, but this is the lowest price since Black Friday for the colourful and flexible smart lighting option. You get 2m of lights, adhesive tape to secure it to any surface, and a connector should you wish to cut the strip down to a smaller size and reuse the excess elsewhere.

Check out more info on these two options below, as well as other Philips Hue lights on sale such as standing lights and extension kits.

Today’s best Philips Hue deals at Amazon

If you want to read more before you hit that buy button then check out our very positive Philips Hue review that praised the ease of use, great customisation options and handy app experience. I’ve also dropped a few more of today’s best smart light deals below so you can compare them to everything available now.

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Computers

Meta’s Ray-Ban Smart Shades Get a Fresh Blast of AI

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Meta’s newest smart glasses, developed in partnership with Ray-Ban, have been newly fleshed out with more AI features. This week, Meta started rolling out an over-the-air update to its second generation of smart sunglasses that gives the wearables some new capabilities.

The biggest update is the Meta AI with Vision feature, which incorporates Meta’s ChatGPT-enabled AI assistant into the spectacles. Owners of the smart glasses will be able to activate an AI voice assistant, fiddle with (nearly) real-time translation, and identify stuff in the wearer’s vision. It all sounds very futuristic for sunglasses, though users have reported that, like all these newfangled AI systems, some features work better than others.

Other new features in the update include video calling in WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger apps and the ability to share the wearer’s view, shot from the glasses’ two front-facing cameras. The glasses also come in two new frame styles: the lower bridge Headliners and the cat-eye Skylers.

Walking around with a pair of cameras strapped to your face might still feel a little dystopian, but the fact that they look like regular old Ray-Bans makes the Meta shades blend into daily life more than the smart glasses of old like Google Glass. So yes, it certainly gets points for style, much like Mark Zuckerberg and his new chain obsession these days. But it’s also worth taking a moment to remember that these sick shades are coproduced by a company that has a history of letting its users’ data fall into the wrong hands. You’ll look dope in them, sure, but you’ll also be giving Meta first dibs on all the new parts of your life you’re capturing.

Here’s some other consumer technology news from this week.

Bag Your Recycling

Freitag backpack

The new Freitag Mono[PA6] bag.

Photograph: Freitag

Freitag, the Swiss company known for making upcycled bags and backpacks, has a slick new black sack. The Mono[PA6] Backpack can hold up to 24 liters of stuff and comes with a smaller detachable musette that can be worn like a sling or purse. The company says every bit of the bag is made from a single nylon material (polyamide 6). Everything from the flaps, straps, and zippers are cobbled together from that single base compound. That means you can send it back to Freitag, where the company can fully break it down and recycle the material to make another bag. The new piece retails for $380.

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Computers

Yale Approach Smart Lock Review: Magical Door-Unlocking Powers

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The smart home doesn’t always feel smart. I test a lot of devices for a living, and they take a lot of babysitting and steps to do everything you want. Whether you’re setting up skills on an Alexa speaker or getting your smart lights on the right schedule–shout-out to Daylight Savings for ruining my existing one—it takes work.

While the Yale Approach Lock still has plenty of hassle (Physical install! Accessory calibration! App setup!), its ability to unlock all by itself when it senses you’ve arrived home feels actually smart. It’s all done within the Yale app, with the help of your phone’s location. As someone whose arms are often full of toddler things (Why are his shoes never on his feet?), it’s been a relief to just walk up and not worry about what pocket my keys ended up in after leaving the parking lot.

Slick Setup

Left Hand holding white packaging of electrical components. Right Hand holding a keypad and batteries

Photograph: Nena Farrell

Installing the Yale Approach was easy, thanks to the short video clips and steps inside the app to guide you through installation. Since you’ll remove part of your existing lock, I recommend having a sandwich bag handy in case you want to use it again in the future (or need to put it back when you move out, like I will). It took me about 10 minutes, including video-watching time.

You’ll also be prompted to set up the included Yale Connect Wi-Fi Bridge and Door Status at this time. The Wi-Fi Bridge will look familiar if you’ve ever used an August Lock (8/10, WIRED Recommends). (Yale bought August in 2017 and now uses the same Wi-Fi connectors.) The little white square sits in a nearby outlet and connects via Bluetooth to the lock, and then connects the lock to Wi-Fi. The Yale Approach didn’t like my outlet location, which was around a corner about 3 feet away, and told me so during setup, but it’s worked perfectly fine.

Meanwhile, the Door Status lets the Yale app tell you whether the door is shut, along with whether it’s locked. It works great and is easy to pop onto your door frame, since it’s just a little sensor you’ll line up with the lock. Especially since I have a door that resists shutting, I love that I can use the Yale to check if it’s open.

Digital Keys

Black ovalshaped keypad with numbers 0 through 9

Photograph: Nena Farrell

You can choose to buy the lock with or without the keypad. The default pricing includes it, and it does pack some features I really liked, but it’s not a perfect fit to install outside every home, the way the lock is.

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A huge Meta AI update finally arrives on Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses… for some

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After months of waiting the moment is here: Meta AI features have arrived on the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses for everyone – well, everyone in the US and Canada, for now.

The exclusivity to those regions is not the only caveat unfortunately. Another big one is that while the Meta AI tools are no longer locked behind an exclusive beta, Meta notes in its blog post announcement that they are still beta features – suggesting that you’ll likely run into several problems with regard to reliability and accuracy.

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Business Industry

Samsung launches new Smart Monitor M5, M7, M8 in South Korea

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A few months ago, Samsung unveiled its new monitor lineup for 2024. Some of those monitors have now been launched in Samsung’s home country, South Korea. Consumers can now buy the Smart Monitor series models in the country.

The Smart Monitor M5 (M50D), M7 (M70D), and M8 (M80D) are now available through Kakao, Naver, and Samsung.com.

2024 versions of Smart Monitor M5, M7, and M8 are now available in Korea

Samsung Smart Monitor M5 M7 M8 2024 Moving Stand South Korea

Samsung has launched the 2024 versions of Smart Monitor M5, Smart Monitor M7, and Smart Monitor M8 in South Korea. The Smart Monitor M5 is priced at KRW 330,000 ($240) for the 27-inch version and KRW 390,000 ($283) for the 32-inch version. The Smart Monitor M7 is priced at KRW 540,000 ($392) for the 32-inch version and KRW 680,000 ($494) for the 43-inch version. The Smart Monitor M8 costs KRW 850,000 ($618) in Korea.

The Smart Monitor M5 has Full HD resolution and 250 nits brightness, and it comes in 27-inch and 32-inch versions. The Smart Monitor M7 has 4K resolution and comes in 32-inch and 43-inch sizes. The Smart Monitor features 4K resolution, too, but comes in just one size: 43-inch. All these monitors run Tizen OS, bringing access to all the popular audio and video streaming services. They also feature AirPlay and Smart View for screen mirroring from Apple and Samsung devices, respectively.

The Smart Monitor M8 features an AI-capable processor for upscaling low-resolution content. It also features Active Voice Amplifier Pro to make vocals clearer. When connected to compatible Galaxy Buds, it features 360 Audio mode for more immersive audio.

All monitors feature Gaming Hub, Samsung Daily+, Samsung TV Plus, and Workout Tracker. They can display real-time health data from your Galaxy Watch while you work out. These monitors feature Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HDMI ports, and a USB Type-C port. Some of them can be fitted with Samsung’s Moving Stand accessory, which is sold separately.

A Samsung Electronics official said, “We have further improved the viewing experience and usability by adding AI functions to the Samsung Smart Monitor, which has been greatly loved by reflecting the rapidly changing lifestyles of consumers,” adding, “We have strengthened various home life usability in line with trends. We will lead the monitor market by doing so.”

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I tried Therabody’s self-massage smart pants to get me ready for the London Marathon

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I had been running four times a week for 18 weeks straight, and my legs were in need of a break. I was at the TCS London Marathon 2024 running show, the venue where every marathon runner, or at least a family member, has to go prior to the event to pick up their bib and race pack, and at the time of writing, it was just a few days out from the big day itself. 

Having grabbed my pack, I was now in the exhibition center, and it was a veritable running convention: talks on marathon mindsets and training plans were taking place on a stage to one side of the room; the best running shoes and best running watches of the moment were on display in lurid, shiny brand activations; and vendors hawked all sorts of smaller items such as energy gels, oat bakes, foam rollers and heat packs said to relieve muscle soreness. 

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This smart pellet grill uses generative AI to deliver the perfect BBQ – including adapting to ‘unexpected surprises’

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Everyone loves BBQ season… except perhaps the poor person stuck tending the grill. A new wave of smart grills looks set to change all of that, but Brisk It’s Origin is one of the first we’ve seen to use generative AI as a cooking assistant. One whose attention won’t wane, and who won’t get tipsy and burn the sausages as the afternoon wears on.

The design offers automatic temperature adjustment, achieved via a selection of heat probes and a PID algorithm. Set a desired temperature and it’ll manage the fuel for you, to keep your food cooking at a stable temperature, with no tinkering required. 

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Computers

LG MyView Smart Monitor (32SR85U-W) Review: A Fun 2-In-1 Screen

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you might think a “smart monitor” might have some tie-in to the smart home, but it’s more akin to modern-day smart TVs. LG’s MyView 4K Smart Monitor has a smart TV built into it, complete with a homepage of apps, just like your Roku or Google TV.

“Can’t I just use a web browser?” you might ask. Yes, you can. This led me to wonder why I’d need a smart TV interface on a device that can typically surf any corner of the web, including directly accessing streaming services. To my surprise, I liked using my desktop monitor as both a normal PC monitor and a smart (albeit imperfect) TV. I often preferred the built-in streaming apps over a browser page. It created a nice separation between my work and relaxation time, offering some peace at the end of a long day.

Screen Time

The 32-inch MyView is fairly well rounded for its $600 price, considering it’s a 4K (3,840 x 2,160 resolution) monitor with a large and bright IPS screen. It has already dipped as low as $500, making it an even better value. It comes with a remote, which is how you navigate the TV interface.

There’s a selection of picture modes accessible through the remote’s Settings button, ranging from a dim power-saver mode to ones calibrated for watching movies and sports. They all do something different—Cinema and Sport modes both raise the brightness to 100 percent but choose different levels of contrast, while Auto Power Save cuts down on brightness but uses a high amount of local dimming to respond to your space. These modes are pretty standard fare on monitors and TVs.

The screen was bright enough that I usually chose the Power Save mode, and the local dimming usually landed on around 10 to 15 percent brightness. I also toggled on Eye Care Mode—which reduces blue light on the screen—whenever a yellow-toned screen wasn’t an issue for my tasks. All of this was so much easier to access via the remote compared to the usual buttons you’d find on some corner (or the back) of a monitor. No more guessing what button does what!

White flat screen monitor on desk with 2 speakers on either side neon lighting behind and picture of sky and leaves...

Photograph: Nena Farrell

You’ll see fewer options if you connect the monitor to your PC using a USB-C cord with display-out support instead of an HDMI—Vivid, Standard, Game Optimizer, and a couple of movie-related modes. There’s no Auto Power Save option, and I ended up manually dimming the brightness to replicate the mode I used when I was connected via HDMI.

The 60-Hz refresh rate is a bit of a bummer but unsurprising on monitors that don’t specifically cater to gamers. Whether you’ll notice it depends on what you play; Baldur’s Gate 3 still looked beautiful onscreen, particularly with the Game Optimizer picture mode. I also liked playing Stardew Valley on it, though I found it better to play with the Standard or Auto picture modes, since the art style isn’t as dynamic. If you have a hefty gaming PC and often play fast-paced games, you’ll want to look elsewhere for a monitor that can handle higher refresh rates.

Streaming is where this monitor shines. The large 32-inch screen feels immersive and cinematic when you’re perched right in front of it. It’s big enough that even if you’re sitting slightly farther away, it works OK, but sit more than 5 feet away and it’ll look too small. I spent a good amount of time watching Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, and the Cinema mode did a lovely job of improving the picture quality. (It looked good even on the Auto mode.)

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Entertainment

Get an Echo Pop speaker with a free TP-Link smart light bulb for only $23

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If you like the idea of turning on a light just by talking, here’s an affordable smart home starter bundle. For those already comfortable with the automated life, this deal will give you one more thing to control and one more receptacle for your demands. Amazon’s smallest smart speaker, the Echo Pop, bundled with a TP-Link Kasa smart bulb is now $23. The speaker goes for as much at $40 at full price, though the lowest we’ve seen it drop is $18 for Black Friday last year. The bulb has a $23 list price, but dropped to $15 a few times before. In all, the bundle marks a $40 discount off the full price and a $22 savings over the two items’ current sale prices. The Kasa bulb made the cut in our guide to smart bulbs.

Amazon

The Echo Pop goes for $40 on its own and the bulb sells for as much as $23 at full price, so this bundle represents a $40 discount off the list prices. 

$23 at Amazon

The larger Echo Dot speaker is also on sale, bundled with the same bulb. The set is down to $40, a 45 percent discount over buying the two items separately and at full price. Since they’re both on sale individually right now, getting the set saves you $22 over current sale prices. The Echo Dot is our top pick for a smart speaker under $50 because it puts out big sound for its size, has handy physical controls and grants access to Alexa’s helpfulness — a selling point if you prefer that assistant’s capabilities over another.

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The Kasa Smart Plugs Mini EP25 four-pack is down to its lowest price yet

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There’s something truly nice about not having to get up when you realize that light across the room is still on. If you’re looking for that ease then check out the current sale on our favorite smart plug. The Kasa Smart Plug Mini EP25 four-pack is on sale for $32.58, down from $50. The initial deal cuts its price to $37.58 with a $5 coupon available at checkout (though its limited to one per order).

Kasa Smart

The Kasa Smart Plug Mini EP25 works with Android and iOS devices and offers assistant support from Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri and Samsung SmartThings. The plug has a stable connection, and you can give each one a unique name for easy control. The app is also clean and intuitive to use, with features such as timers, vacation mode and schedules.

There’s also a deal on Amazon’s Smart Plug, down to $20 from $25. We named it the best smart plug for Alexa-enabled homes, so this might be your best bet if you have a few Amazon Echo devices scattered around your house. You can use the existing account and designate the plug as a light in settings. Once that’s set, all you need to do is tell Alexa which lights to turn on and off.

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