Comparison

Magic Hue Bluetooth vs Hue Essentials

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Magic Hue Bluetooth

Control smart bulbs with your phone via Bluetooth. Adjust color, brightness, and set dynamic lighting scenes like flowing colors or music synchronization. Automate on/off times for personalized ambiance.

Highlights
  • Bluetooth Low Energy control
  • Color and brightness adjustment
  • Dynamic scene lighting
  • Music synchronization
  • Scheduled on/off times
Features
Read full description

MagicHue Bluetooth is a BLE(Bluetooth Low Energy) based, personal, scene lighting system. A BLE supported smart phone can be used to control the bulbs, for color/brightness setting. Some useful functions can be used to set the scene lighting, e.g., flowing Color, dancing with music, turn on/off, times.

About

Hue Essentials

Unlock the full potential of your smart lighting system. Create custom scenes, dynamic effects, and automate your lights with schedules and triggers. Control multiple smart home bridges and devices seamlessly for a personalized ambiance.

Highlights
  • Custom scenes and effects
  • Music and entertainment sync
  • Sunrise/sunset automation
  • Multi-bridge control
  • Device discovery and setup
  • Button and sensor automation
  • Away from home control
Features
Read full description

Imagine unlimited possibilities in your smart home. Set scenes and fast effects to your mood. Experience Dance Sensation in your entertainment area with Philips Hue Entertainment. Feel more in control with schedules and automation from sunrise to sunset. Control multiple bridges simultaneously without switching between them. Supported devices • Philips Hue bridge • Philips Hue Bluetooth lights • deCONZ (ConBee) • diyHue • LIFX Scenes & effects Create the perfect ambiance from your photos or the included photo library. Experience special animations like lava, fireplace, fireworks, or lightning. Wake up at sunrise and go to sleep at sunset with fading lights. Get into the party on the beats of your music. Sync your lights for a night of disco with strobe effects (updates 25 times/sec). Quick access Create rooms and groups to organize your lights. You can even put a light in several groups. Smart lights & controls The unique ‘Touchlink’ search allows you to find new (3rd party, Zigbee) lights. Use included wizards for easy setup of your devices. You can set scenes, actions, or even multiple scenes on a button to make your switch a real investment. Experience the right ambiance during different times of your day with your motion sensor. All of your creations are stored on the bridge. Easy for you and your family. Advanced Automation allows you to have greater control of your smart home. Turn on your lights when the door opens. Adjust your ventilation when the humidity gets too high. Open or close blinds and curtains based on temperature or sunshine. Make it look like you are at home using 'Away from Home' (out of home control). Communicate directly with your Hue bridge using the API debugger. View technical details of your Hue bridge and update its resources like lights and sensors. You want it all? Fast performance with ad-free experience. Purchase the premium version to unlock full content.

Screenshots

Magic Hue Bluetooth4 screens
Hue Essentials4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Magic Hue Bluetooth at none against Hue Essentials's 8. Magic Hue Bluetooth also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). Hue Essentials's advantage is rating (4.1 vs 3.7) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Hue Essentials sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Magic Hue Bluetooth asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Hue Essentials holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hue Essentials has 133 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of Magic Hue Bluetooth's written reviews are positive against 37% of Hue Essentials's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Magic Hue Bluetooth ships an update every 2 months, Hue Essentials every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 10, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Magic Hue Bluetooth versus Hue Essentials: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMagic Hue BluetoothHue Essentials
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (7 ratings)4.1 (133 ratings) — better
Positive reviews16.7% of reviews37.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings7133 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB269 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer明长 周Thomas Vos

Customer experience

Magic Hue Bluetooth

All ratings7 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.6%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive16.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative50.0%

Hue Essentials

All ratings133 ratings
Positive75.9%
Neutral8.3%
Negative15.8%
Written reviews239 reviews
Positive37.2%
Neutral8.4%
Negative54.4%

Bugs and requests

Magic Hue Bluetooth

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Hue Essentials

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Fade feature not working
  • Saving automations not working
  • Crashes when checking 'About' section
  • Widgets and Apple Watch app issues

Requested features

4 requests
  • Repeat/loop function for automations
  • Strobing/flashing effects
  • Dark mode
  • Alexa integration

In-app purchases

None

Magic Hue Bluetooth

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

Hue Essentials

One-time8
  • Effects: Christmas$0.99
  • Effects: Universe$0.99
  • Effects: Wonders of nature$0.99
Show 5 more
  • Effects: Romantic$0.99
  • Effects: Floral fantasy$0.99
  • Effects: Spooky$0.99
  • Multiple bridges$4.99
  • Premium$7.99

Questions

Is Magic Hue Bluetooth free?
Magic Hue Bluetooth is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Hue Essentials free?
Hue Essentials is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Magic Hue Bluetooth or Hue Essentials?
Hue Essentials is rated higher. Magic Hue Bluetooth averages 3.7 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Hue Essentials averages 4.1 from 133 ratings.
Do Magic Hue Bluetooth or Hue Essentials have ads?
Neither Magic Hue Bluetooth nor Hue Essentials shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Magic Hue Bluetooth or Hue Essentials?
Magic Hue Bluetooth ships an update every 2 months, and Hue Essentials every 2 weeks. Most recently, Magic Hue Bluetooth was updated on June 10, 2026 and Hue Essentials on September 24, 2026.

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