REVIEW: Philips Hue Dimmer Switch

Controlling the operation and intensity of smart lamps is a function usually done by the app or by voice commands from Google and Alexa. But, those who also want to control their lamps through a traditional switch, can do it with the Philips Hue Dimmer Switch. Check out the review of this product.

Design

O Dimmer switch has a modern look and has four buttons: two buttons to control the intensity of the lighting and a button to turn on and another to turn off the device. The finish is plastic and gives the feeling of being a cheap product. The device has a wall base that can be removed, and it also comes with magnets for easy installation on metal surfaces.

The device works as a remote control that can be removed from the base to control the lights, or used on the wall, like a normal switch. It can also be installed with screws to make it more secure. The new Dimmer switch It runs on a CR2045 coin-type battery that the company promises to last up to two years. 

Hours

To start using the Philips Hue Dimmer Switch it's pretty easy. Just download the app Beanies, go to Settings > Accessories > Add Accessory and follow the on-screen instructions. Then, you can choose which lamps the switch will be responsible for controlling, being able to choose through all of them in a given room, a zone, as an upper or lower part of the room, or individual lamps. It is important to note that the Hue Dimmer needs the Hue Bridge, the brand's smart center, to work, and therefore is only compatible with lamps connected to the Hue Bridge. 

In the app, the user can also choose what the Dimmer buttons will be responsible for doing. It is still possible to configure, for example, so that by pressing the power button once, the lamps enter a scene configured by the user, or by pressing twice, their intensity is below 10%. It can also be configured so that if you keep the power button pressed and all the lamps in the house connected to the Hue Bridge turn off. 

Finally, the device also has two light intensity buttons. These buttons cannot be configured, and they always work the same way: pressing the top one will increase the intensity of the lights; pressing the bottom one will decrease. It's simple and efficient, and it helps to have good control of the lighting. 

Hue app

The application Beanies it's an important part of how the entire Philips Hue ecosystem works, and the Dimmer Switch is no different. After configured, opening the application the user will see the lamps Beanies connected in the home, along with other devices in the ecosystem. In the top right corner of the app, three options are displayed: The first has a “list” symbol, the second looks like a “color palette”, and the third looks like a “color drop”.

A "list” shows the lamps in the room. THE "color palette" represents mode "Scenes”, there are several programmed intensities and colors, such as “sunset”, “twilight” and several others. At "colored drop” will appear a circle with all the colors — in this option, you can configure the light with the intensity, color and brightness you want. All these selections are for modifying a room's light set. The options present in the mode Scenes and in the “color drop” option are the options that can be activated through the buttons on the Dimmer switch. During its use with the application, I found the configuration easy to perform, which adds positive points to the device.

Conclusion

In general, Philips Hue Dimmer Switch is a simple product, but it adds a lot for users of smart lamps and the Hue Bridge. With the possibility to control the intensity of the lamps and still have easy access to different lighting settings, it is an important item for the Philips Hue ecosystem, even if it is not mandatory.

O Philips Hue Dimmer Switch is available for R$206,33 in Magalu.

Technical specifications

Philips Hue Dimmer