If you’ve been eyeing Philips Hue smart lights, now might be the time to buy. Signify, the parent company of the popular smart lighting brand, has officially announced that prices for its Philips Hue products in the United States will increase significantly, effective July 1, 2025. The reason is clear and direct: tariffs.
The Official Reason Behind the Price Hike
Signify provided a candid statement to Hueblog (reported via The Verge), explicitly confirming the cause. Their message leaves no ambiguity, stating:
“Signify will increase prices on our Philips Hue portfolio in the US, effective July 1, 2025, as a direct result of tariffs.”
This directness stands in contrast to earlier, vaguer marketing messages that simply urged customers to “Hurry, prices go up on July 1.”
Signify also added a crucial note about the future, stating they “reserves the right to modify prices based on new or additional tariffs becoming effective in the future.” This suggests that the July 1 hike might not be the last if trade policies continue to shift.
Why Tariffs? Broader Context
While Signify’s statement doesn’t specify which particular tariffs are driving this increase, reports from various outlets connect the move to the broader landscape of US trade policy and tariffs, particularly those impacting imports from China. This includes tariffs initially imposed during the Trump administration.
Some reports specifically point to a significant 125 percent tariff rate on Chinese imports that has been anticipated and is currently set to take effect shortly after the price hike date (around July 9, 2025), despite potential delays in implementation. Furthermore, there’s speculation that a potential new US trade deal with China could potentially raise tariffs on certain goods to as high as 55 percent.
Philips Hue isn’t alone in this; other companies in the technology sector, such as Yale, have also attributed recent price increases on products like their Matter Smart Lock to the impact of tariffs, highlighting a wider industry trend.
How Much More Will You Pay? Estimating the Increase
The precise percentage or dollar amount of the price increases across the entire Philips Hue portfolio won’t be fully revealed until July 1st when they take effect. However, recent product launches and existing pricing disparities offer clues:
The new Philips Hue Smart Button is priced at $32 or $33 in the US, a notable jump from the $25 price of its predecessor. Crucially, in Europe, both the old and new versions cost the same €21.99 (roughly $23.50-$25 USD depending on exchange rates). This difference strongly suggests the US increase is tariff-driven, not solely due to product upgrades.
The new Hue Play Wall Washer light is priced around $219.99 in the US compared to €199.99 (approximately $213-$225 USD) in the EU. While the conversion is closer here, some sources indicate this is still about 10 percent higher in the US compared to the EU price.
These examples underscore a point highlighted in reports: US pricing for Philips Hue products has, in some instances, already been creeping higher than European pricing, contrary to historical trends where euro prices often converted close to a 1:1 ratio with US dollars. The July 1st increase is expected to widen this gap further.
Impact on Consumers and the Smart Home Market
Philips Hue products are widely recognized as some of the more premium, and thus expensive, options in the smart lighting market. The impending price hikes are expected to make the ecosystem even less accessible for many consumers. This could potentially encourage US buyers to explore more affordable smart lighting alternatives offered by competing brands. As mentioned, this isn’t an isolated incident, reflecting how broad tariff policies can ripple across entire product categories.
Act Fast: Secure Your Hue Gear Before the Hike
Fortunately for consumers, there’s a temporary window to purchase Philips Hue products at current, lower prices – and even potentially below them. Leading up to the July 1st increase, the official Philips Hue online store is reportedly offering a temporary 25% discount on many items. Shoppers may be able to use a specific coupon code (check the official site for current details, which have included codes like HUE-25-FLASH in the past) to take advantage of this sale before the new, higher tariff-influenced prices are implemented. This presents a significant opportunity for those looking to expand their Hue system or start fresh.
Beyond Tariffs? The Evolving Cost of the Hue Ecosystem
While the July 1st increase is directly attributed to tariffs, some reports suggest this move aligns with other changes in the Philips Hue ecosystem over recent years that could contribute to increased user costs. These include requiring a Hue account for cloud services (like out-of-home control), which was previously available without one, and potential future costs associated with new features like an AI assistant or the separate expense of apps required for syncing lights with certain TVs ($130 one-time or $3/month). These factors, combined with the tariff impact, paint a picture of a smart lighting system becoming increasingly premium not just in features, but also in overall cost of ownership.
Conclusion
The message from Signify is clear: Philips Hue prices in the US are officially increasing on July 1, 2025, as a direct result of tariffs. While the exact impact on every product remains to be seen, consumers should expect to pay more for this popular smart lighting line. For those considering a purchase, acting before the July 1st deadline, particularly while temporary discounts are available, appears to be the best strategy to mitigate the impact of the upcoming price jump.
