Hue’s smart lighting ecosystem just got a little bigger, in a couple of different ways. The company known for its wide array of smart lights and switches has unveiled a refreshed version of its Smart Button, but it comes at a price.

The biggest changes you’ll notice right off the bat are in the Smart Button’s design. It’s had a bit of a growth spurt, now measuring 45mm (1.8 inches) in diameter, which is a noticeable jump from the predecessor’s 32mm. Gone is the more rounded, bulbous aesthetic, replaced by a flatter, more angular look. The large plastic wall plate that resembled a traditional light switch has also been revamped, now just a small metal plate roughly the size of the button. The Smart Button magnetically attaches to the plate.

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Functionality-wise, you’re looking at essentially the same features. This Zigbee device still requires a Hue Bridge, and through the Hue app, you can program it to control individual bulbs or entire groups of lights. The button can be configured to trigger a specific scene based on the time of day or cycle through a selection of scenes as well.

It’s not just limited to a single press, either. A press and hold could dim or brighten your lights, and you could also use it to kick off an automation with multiple presses. It’s also compatible with Matter-supported platforms like Apple Home, just as before. You’ll still get the promised two years of battery life from the CR2032 battery, which is now apparently easier to replace.

Here’s where things get bigger in a different way, especially if you’re in the US. The new Smart Button is available directly from Hue’s site, and it comes with a slight price hike to $32.99 from the previous $29.99. While that’s only a $3 difference, it’s quite a bit more than its £19.99 price tag in the UK and €21.99 in the EU. This disparity, coupled with a recent email from Hue hinting at further price increases for US customers starting July 1, raises some eyebrows. It seems Hue, already one of the pricier smart lighting brands, might be getting even more expensive for those of us in the States.

Source: The Verge

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