Hue Essentials vs Coway AR
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Hue Essentials
Transform your smart home with dynamic scenes and automated lighting. Control multiple bridges, sync lights to music, and create custom schedules for ambiance and security. Unlock advanced features for a personalized smart home experience.
- Create custom scenes and effects
- Sync lights with music
- Automated schedules and routines
- Control multiple Hue bridges
- Support for deCONZ and diyHue
- Remote home control
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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.
Coway AR
Visualize Coway products in your home using augmented reality. Explore product designs and features in 3D, customize your space, and save favorites for easy access. This app enhances product selection with interactive and accurate visualizations.
- View products in 3D augmented reality
- Explore product designs and features in 3D/AR X-ray mode
- Incorporate products into home designs
- Save frequently used products as favorites
- View filter functions
- Take and share photos with 3D AR products
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Coway AR is an augmented reality application (AR app) that could assist users in product selection by visualising Coway product arrangement in your homes or offices via your mobile devices. This smart app also allows users to have a better understanding of the product designs and features from inside-out with the 3D model function. Coway AR is user-friendly whereby users are able to select their preferred Coway products from a comprehensive catalogue and incorporate it into their home designs. Customise your home with your own style and needs with the thoughtful 3D AR function for a better view of how your living space will look like and all at your fingertips. Coway AR is the ideal AR app to engage with users and bring your ideas to life. This improves user experience through interactive experiences as well as accuracy. Coway AR allows you to showcase your products in 3D AR with just three (3) easy steps: 1. Install and open the Coway AR app. 2. Select the desired product from the catalogue. 3. Select the AR button at the bottom left corner to view the product in AR mode. 4. Scan the desired product placement area (e.g.: floor or kitchen countertop) and place the product. Features: - View product placement in 3D augmented reality (AR) feature for Coway air purifiers, water purifiers, and many more. - View product key features and designs in 3D or AR X-ray mode. - Users are able to save frequently used products as favourite for easier access. - View filter functions. - Users are able to take photos together with the 3D AR product and share it with friends and family.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Hue Essentials at 4.2 against Coway AR's 1.0. Hue Essentials also leads on review sentiment (38% vs 0%) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 8 months). Coway AR's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8). On price and ads 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
Both are free to download. Hue Essentials sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Coway AR asks for nothing beyond the download.
Hue Essentials holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hue Essentials has 144 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of Hue Essentials's written reviews are positive against 0% of Coway AR's.
Hue Essentials ships an update fortnightly, Coway AR every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Hue Essentials | Coway AR |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (144 ratings) — better | 1.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 37.8% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 144 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 8 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 271 MB | 372 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Thomas Vos | COWAY (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD |
Customer experience
Hue Essentials
Coway AR
Bugs and 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
Coway AR
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Hue Essentials
- Effects: Christmas$0.99
- Effects: Universe$0.99
- Effects: Wonders of nature$0.99
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- Effects: Romantic$0.99
- Effects: Floral fantasy$0.99
- Effects: Spooky$0.99
- Multiple bridges$4.99
- Premium$7.99
Coway AR
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Hue Essentials free?
Is Coway AR free?
Which has better reviews, Hue Essentials or Coway AR?
Do Hue Essentials or Coway AR have ads?
Which is updated more often, Hue Essentials or Coway AR?
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