Is Philips Hue Worth It? Hue vs Tapo vs Nanoleaf (UK 2026)

Q: Do I need a hub for Hue?

Some Hue features use a Hue Bridge. Check the listing for the exact product before you buy.

Philips Hue is the best-known smart lighting brand and costs more per bulb than the alternatives. Ratings show how big the difference is.

We compared them on Amazon UK, using price, rating and number of reviews. We haven't tested them ourselves. This comparison is based on the Amazon listings and customer ratings, so check the latest price and details before you buy.

Product	Approx. price	Rating	Reviews
Philips Hue Essential A60	£20	4.6	1,150+
Philips Hue A60 4-pack	£44	4.6	490+
Philips Hue Lily Outdoor (3-pack)	£264	4.7	690+
Tapo L535E bulb	£9	4.4	9,580+
Tapo L530B (2-pack)	£20	4.4	16,480+
Nanoleaf Essentials B22	£18	4.3	490+

Our take: if you only want a few colour bulbs, Tapo does the job for less. Hue costs more but has a wider range of lamps, strips and outdoor lights, so it suits people building a whole-home setup.

Short answer: It depends on how much you want to build. A Hue bulb costs roughly £20 and rates 4.6, a Tapo colour bulb costs around £9 and rates 4.4 from nearly 9,600 buyers. The gap in ratings is small. Prices and ratings are from Amazon UK, checked when our catalogue was last updated. Prices change, so check the latest on Amazon.

1. Best Hue bulb: Essential A60

Philips Hue Essential Smart A60 LED Bulb

★★★★☆ 4.6 · 1,147 Amazon UK ratings

£20

A 4.6 rating from more than 1,100 buyers at around £20.

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Compare more in our Best Premium Smart Lighting UK 2026 guide →

2. Best Hue value: A60 4-pack

Philips Hue A60 Bulb

★★★★☆ 4.6 · 485 Amazon UK ratings

£44

A 4.6 rating from nearly 500 buyers at around £44. A filament-style Hue bulb is around £20 for one.

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Also consider: Philips Hue Filament Bulb — £20 (4.6★, 1,170 reviews)

Compare more in our Best Premium Smart Lighting UK 2026 guide →

3. Cheapest: Tapo L535E

Tapo L535E E27 Smart Bulb Matter Multicolour LED Light

★★★★☆ 4.4 · 9,582 Amazon UK ratings

£9

A 4.4 rating from nearly 9,600 buyers at around £9. The L530B 2-pack is around £20, rated 4.4 from more than 16,000 buyers.

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Also consider: Tapo L530B — £20 (4.4★, 16,475 reviews)

Compare more in our Best Premium Smart Lighting UK 2026 guide →

4. Alternative: Nanoleaf Essentials

Nanoleaf Essentials B22 LED Bulb

★★★★☆ 4.3 · 490 Amazon UK ratings

£18

A 4.3 rating from about 490 buyers at around £18.

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Compare more in our Best Premium Smart Lighting UK 2026 guide →

5. Outdoor: Philips Hue Lily spotlights

Philips Hue Lily Outdoor Spotlight

★★★★☆ 4.7 · 686 Amazon UK ratings

£264

A 4.7 rating from nearly 690 buyers at around £264 for a 3-pack, the highest rated item here.

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Compare more in our Best Premium Smart Lighting UK 2026 guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Philips Hue worth paying more for?

The ratings are close: Hue bulbs here are 4.6 to 4.7 and Tapo 4.4. Hue costs more per bulb, so it suits you if you want its wider range of lamps, strips and outdoor lights.

Do I need a hub for Hue?

Some Hue features use a Hue Bridge. Check the listing for the exact product before you buy.

HomeGadgetPro Editorial Team

Our buying guides are based on real Amazon UK product data, verified customer ratings and independent research. Prices are checked weekly. We may earn commission on purchases made through links in this article — see our affiliate disclosure.