Top critical review
1.0 out of 5 starsSerious Issue [updated]
Reviewed in Canada on January 29, 2020
UPDATE 3 - Don't buy these. I now have two completely useless battery burners. If I put a new battery in, they say 100% for about a week, then they suddenly drain completely, even if I've only used them 2 or 3 times. I have two Apple AirTags that use exactly the same battery. They are still over half full even after a year, and these things are on BlueTooth all the time. These Hue switches sit there idle and die in less than 3 weeks. Absolute junk. Someone should start a class-action suit, as I know I'm not alone, and we all lost our money.
UPDATE 2 after just over a year (original review below):
Another firmware update has brought back the battery drain issue. I complained to Philips, and because I was within the warranty period, they sent me another button. The problem is, the new one is exactly the same. Now I have two buttons that drain in 2 or 3 weeks.
Another issue is that you can't use it to toggle a light on and off, unless you wait several seconds after turning it on. The built-in behaviour is to cycle through several scenes. If you tap and hold, it will dim the lights.
If you've turned on the lights another way (e.g. Alexa), the switch has no idea. If you tap it to turn the lights off, because it's not aware of the current state, it tries to turn the lights on, and since they're on, nothing happens. If you wait a few seconds and tap it again, then it turns them off (as long as your battery isn't dead).
You can configure it in the Home app, but it can only turn on a light, not off (or off, but not on) - that is, it can only do one thing.
I think this is a failed product by Philips/Hue. If you own stock in a battery company, then maybe you have the patience for this device.
If they can ever solve the battery issue, they need to make this be a simple toggle. On/Off, and hold to dim. This can't be rocket science.
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The switch fills a gap in the Hue line, and I do like its functionality.
It does have a serious flaw: Mine arrived with a dead battery. I put in a replacement and got it working. After a few minutes of experimenting with it, my Home app reports that the battery I just put in is already down to 27%.
Oh, and the box has a misprint. It states that the device uses a CR2450 battery. This is not true. It uses a CR2032 battery. a CR2450 would not even come close to fitting. They got confused I guess, as their other dimmer switches do use a CR2450.
I will give it a few days before I decide to return the device.
UPDATE - a firmware update and a fresh battery seems to have solved the battery drain issue. I have increased my rating. Not 5-stars though, because it did arrive with an issue, and Philips didn’t even suggest the update, they wanted me to return the switch to Amazon - and never even offered to send me a new battery.