LED Bulbs · Head to head

Philips Hue Smart Bulb - White and Color 1100 vs Philips Hue Essential BR30 Smart Bulb - White and Color 650

Full Smart LED Bulbs comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Philips site.
2026 verdict
The Philips Hue Smart Bulb - White and Color 1100 wins this smart LED bulb comparison on brightness and warranty, and it is the better reviewed bulb of the two.
Philips Hue Smart Bulb - White and Color 1100
Winner
Philips Hue Smart Bulb - White and Color 1100

Last recorded priceOct 10, 2026$36.99

Currently unavailable on Amazon USA
See on Amazon USA
It produces 1100 lumens from 10.5W against 650 lumens from 7.2W on the Philips Hue Essential BR30 Smart Bulb - White and Color 650, and it carries a three-year warranty to the BR30's two. Both are genuine Hue color bulbs with the same 16-million-color range, Bluetooth setup, Zigbee control that lets each bulb repeat the mesh for the others, and Matter only through the Hue Bridge. What the BR30 adds is its shape: it is the flood bulb recessed cans are built for, while the 1100 is a standard A-shape for open fixtures. Pick the Philips Hue Smart Bulb - White and Color 1100 for an open socket that wants more light, and the Philips Hue Essential BR30 Smart Bulb - White and Color 650 for a can light or a lower upfront outlay.
Winner
Philips Hue Smart Bulb - White and Color 1100
Philips

Philips Hue Smart Bulb - White and Color 1100

Prime exclusive deal
6% above its lowest price of the last 6 months ($34.99)

Last recorded priceOct 10, 2026$36.99

Currently unavailable on Amazon USA
See on Amazon USA

Also sold in packs

  • Pack of 4$168.00$42.00 per unitBuy
vs
Philips Hue Essential BR30 Smart Bulb - White and Color 650
Philips
#6 Best Seller in LED Bulbs

Philips Hue Essential BR30 Smart Bulb - White and Color 650

8% OFF
Prime exclusive deal
$22.99
$24.99

Last recorded price

Buy on Amazon USA

Also sold in packs

  • Pack of 230% OFF$27.99$39.99$13.99 per unitYou save $17.99Buy
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FeaturePhilips Hue Smart Bulb - White and Color 1100Philips Hue Essential BR30 Smart Bulb - White and Color 650Winner
Rating4.64.4Philips Hue Smart Bulb - White and Color 1100
Warranty3 years2 yearsPhilips Hue Smart Bulb - White and Color 1100
ConnectivityBluetooth, ZigbeeBluetooth, ZigbeeTie
IntegrationsGoogle Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, MatterGoogle Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, MatterTie
Bulb InterfaceE26E26Tie
Power Off MemoryYESYESTie
ColorYESYESTie
Adjustable BrightnessYESYESTie
Adjustable TransitionYESYESTie
Dynamic ScenesYESYESTie
Zigbee RouterYESYESTie

What the differences mean

Brightness

The Philips Hue Smart Bulb - White and Color 1100 is the brighter bulb at 1100 lumens against 650 for the Philips Hue Essential BR30 Smart Bulb - White and Color 650. That is the gap you notice in an open fixture; in a recessed can, with the beam aimed down, the BR30's lower output still fills the space it was built for.

Shape and socket

The 1100 is a standard A-shape bulb for table lamps, pendants and open fittings. The Philips Hue Essential BR30 Smart Bulb - White and Color 650 is a wide flood reflector, the shape recessed cans and can lights are designed around. Both use the same E26 screw base, so the difference is where the light goes, not whether it fits.

Warranty

The 1100 carries a three-year warranty and the Essential BR30 two. Hue bulbs are known for lasting years, so this is a small edge rather than the reason to choose one, but it is a real difference in coverage.

Power draw

At full brightness the 1100 draws 10.5W and the Essential BR30 7.2W, which follows from the output each one pushes. Neither is a heavy electrical load, and the gap is minor next to the brightness each one delivers.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Owners of both Hue bulbs end up praising the same core: vivid, accurate color, an app that makes scenes and schedules easy, and Zigbee reliability that keeps the lights off the Wi-Fi network. They also share the same gripe, that voice control, remote access and Matter all wait for the separately sold Hue Bridge. Philips Hue Smart Bulb - White and Color 1100 owners talk most about brightness, calling it a clear step up from the older 60W Hues, along with dimming they describe as flicker-free and bulbs that have run for years without failing. Philips Hue Essential BR30 Smart Bulb - White and Color 650 owners, several already deep in Hue gear, say they cannot tell it apart from the pricier bulbs and like the value, though a few wish the dimming went lower and find the housing less premium than the older glass-and-aluminium Hues.

Price history compared

Every price change of both, in the same store, so the gap between the two lines is what one costs more than the other.

  • Philips Hue Smart Bulb - White and Color 1100
  • Philips Hue Essential BR30 Smart Bulb - White and Color 650

Loading price history...

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Philips Hue Smart Bulb - White and Color 1100 or Philips Hue Essential BR30 Smart Bulb - White and Color 650?

For an open fixture, the Philips Hue Smart Bulb - White and Color 1100. It is brighter at 1100 lumens, carries a three-year warranty and draws the stronger owner feedback. The Philips Hue Essential BR30 Smart Bulb - White and Color 650 is the better match when the socket is a recessed can, since that is the shape it is made for.

What is the biggest difference between the Philips Hue Smart Bulb - White and Color 1100 and the Philips Hue Essential BR30 Smart Bulb - White and Color 650?

Shape. The Philips Hue Smart Bulb - White and Color 1100 is a standard A-shape bulb for lamps and open fittings, while the Philips Hue Essential BR30 Smart Bulb - White and Color 650 is a flood reflector for recessed cans. Brightness follows, 1100 lumens against 650.

Which bulb is brighter?

The Philips Hue Smart Bulb - White and Color 1100, at 1100 lumens versus 650 for the Philips Hue Essential BR30 Smart Bulb - White and Color 650.

Do both work with the same smart home systems?

Yes. Both pair over Bluetooth, join Zigbee through a Hue Bridge, and work with Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home, SmartThings and Home Assistant, with Matter available only once the Hue Bridge is in place. Neither has Wi-Fi or Thread built in.

Who should buy the Philips Hue Essential BR30 Smart Bulb - White and Color 650?

Anyone lighting recessed cans or flood fixtures, or wanting full Hue color and scenes for less upfront.

Who should buy the Philips Hue Smart Bulb - White and Color 1100?

Anyone with an open fixture who wants the brighter of these two Hue color bulbs, the longer warranty and the stronger owner reviews.

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