The Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus is the go-to smart LED strip for UK buyers who want deep platform integration, reliable performance and a polished app experience. The 2-metre starter kit costs around £59.99 — making it one of the pricier options in our best LED strip lights UK guide — but it brings features that cheaper strips simply cannot match. This philips hue lightstrip plus review uk covers everything from installation to Home Assistant compatibility so you can decide whether it fits your setup.
What's in the Box
The standard kit includes a 2-metre lightstrip, a power supply, and a controller unit. Extensions are sold separately, and the strip can be extended to a maximum of 10 metres in a single run. You do not need the Philips Hue Bridge to get started — the strip supports Bluetooth control via the Hue app — but you will need the Bridge to unlock automations, remote access, and third-party platform support.
Design and Build Quality
Construction is noticeably better than budget strips. The lightstrip uses a thick, flexible PCB with an adhesive backing that grips firmly to most surfaces. The LEDs are evenly spaced, which matters a great deal when the strip is used on shelving or behind a TV where hot spots would be obvious. The controller box is compact and sits discreetly at the start of the run.
The strip can be cut at marked intervals — every 33 cm — but once cut, that section cannot be rejoined or reused. Plan your run carefully before trimming.
Colour Quality and Brightness
At 1600 lumens max output, the Lightstrip Plus is genuinely bright — enough to use as functional ambient lighting rather than purely decorative accent. The RGBW design adds a dedicated white LED alongside the colour LEDs, which means whites look natural and warm rather than the bluish tint you get from RGB-only strips mixing all three channels.
Colour accuracy is among the best we have tested in this price bracket. Reds are rich, blues are deep, and the transition between hues in scenes is smooth. Dimming performance is strong down to around 1% without obvious flicker, which is useful for night-light scenes.
Installation
Installation is straightforward. Clean the surface, peel the adhesive backing, press the strip in place, and plug in the controller. Pairing via Bluetooth takes under two minutes using the Hue app. If you are adding the strip to an existing Hue Bridge setup, open the app, tap Add Light, and hold the controller button — the strip appears within seconds.
For longer runs you will need to purchase Hue Lightstrip Plus extension packs. Each extension adds 1 metre and the clips connect securely without tools. Bear in mind the 10-metre maximum applies per power supply — you cannot daisy-chain beyond that limit.
App and Automations
The Philips Hue app is one of the most polished smart lighting apps available. Scenes, schedules, routines, and geofencing are all easy to configure. The Hue app also supports Entertainment Areas — syncing the strip's colours to music or to the content playing on a screen connected via an HDMI sync box.
If you have the Bridge, you gain access to the full automation engine: time-based schedules, sunrise/sunset triggers, and integration with other Hue accessories. Without the Bridge you are limited to manual control and a few preset scenes via Bluetooth.
Platform Compatibility
With the Hue Bridge installed, the Lightstrip Plus works with:
- Amazon Alexa — voice control for on/off, brightness, colour
- Google Assistant — same capabilities, good for routines
- Apple HomeKit — full support; scenes show up in the Home app
- Home Assistant — via the native Hue integration or direct Zigbee pairing (see our Home Assistant UK setup guide for how to configure the Bridge)
The Bridge uses the Zigbee protocol to communicate with lights. This means you can also pair the strip directly to a Zigbee coordinator in Home Assistant and skip the Bridge entirely, though you will lose access to the Hue entertainment sync features.
Gradient Version
Philips Hue also makes a Gradient Lightstrip, priced at around £89.99. The gradient version can display multiple colours simultaneously along the strip's length, making it ideal for TV backlighting. If ambient TV sync is your primary use case, the gradient version is worth the premium. For under-shelf or general accent lighting, the standard Lightstrip Plus delivers better value.
Value for Money
At around £59.99 for 2 metres, the Lightstrip Plus costs two to three times more than comparable strips from Govee or generic brands. What justifies the premium? Reliability, colour consistency, ecosystem depth, and longevity. The Zigbee radio means the strip stays responsive even on a congested Wi-Fi network, and Philips Hue's firmware track record is excellent — these lights receive updates years after launch.
If you are already invested in the Hue ecosystem, adding a Lightstrip Plus is a no-brainer. If you are starting from scratch, factor in the cost of the Hue Bridge (around £49.99 separately) unless you are comfortable with Bluetooth-only mode. You can read our Philips Hue starter kit review for a breakdown of whether the Bridge bundle or standalone purchase makes more sense for new buyers.
Verdict
The Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus is the benchmark smart LED strip for UK buyers who want quality, reliability and wide platform support. The 1600-lumen output, natural RGBW whites, and flawless Zigbee integration make it the sensible choice for a permanent installation. It is not the cheapest option on the market, but the total cost of ownership — factoring in longevity, ecosystem value, and the absence of frustrating connectivity dropouts — makes it strong value for anyone building a smart home setup that is built to last.
Related: Govee LED strip review UK, Philips Hue Sync Box review, and best LED strip lights UK.
