The tech industry is currently a hotbed of leaks. Following recent reveals about Google’s upcoming smart speaker and Nest products, it’s Signify that now has to bear the brunt of industry scoopers. This comes as bad news for the global smart lighting brand, considering the company had initially planned to keep its new Philips Hue products tightly under wraps until the official reveal at IFA later this week. However, with most media outlets and tech enthusiasts already aware of what Signify has planned, there’s little to no excitement about Signify heading to Europe’s largest tech event.
The Philips Hue leak saga began with Signify accidentally revealing information on its own website. A ‘New on Hue’ page briefly went live, showcasing a lineup of unannounced products before being yanked offline. Hat tip to HueBlog, the details were preserved, sparking a frenzy of speculation. The leaks revealed a slew of exciting new products, from innovative bulbs to a video doorbell. But what truly garnered everyone’s attention was the powerful Hue Bridge Pro, which supposedly “turns your smart lights into motion sensors.” This is possible courtesy of the Zigbee protocol, which Hue devices already rely on.
The leaks pointed out that there is no extra hardware required, besides a firmware update and the new Bridge Pro. While we cannot confirm the exact functioning of the tech, some Redditors speculate that this is possibly courtesy of Ivani’s Sensify platform, which uses signal disruptions in the Zigbee mesh network to detect movement. All-in-all, this is a major upgrade to the hub that’s been the backbone of Hue ecosystems for a decade.
It is to be noted that the current Hue Bridge, while reliable, is limited to 50 devices, which can be a headache for people who love sprawling smart home setups. The Bridge Pro, according to the leaks, can handle up to 150 bulbs and 50 accessories, with support for 500 scenes. That’s a massive leap, powered by a 1.7 GHz quad-core Cortex processor and 8GB of RAM, compared to the measly 16MB in the existing model.
The Bridge Pro also adds Wi-Fi connectivity, freeing it from the Ethernet tether, and uses USB-C for power. It’s faster, too, with response times up to five times quicker than the current model. However, we can’t help but wonder about the privacy implications. Turning lights into motion sensors sounds incredible, but what data is being collected? Signify hasn’t addressed this yet, and as someone wary of smart home surveillance debacles, we’ll be keeping a close eye on its response.
Getting back to the leaks, when everyone thought it was over and Philips Hue PR team had a hand behind it, it got chaotic with another round of major leaks spotted in the brand’s new lighting products. This involved the Hue Essential line and Festavia Permanent Light. Android Authority points out that these lightguide bulbs would feature a distinctive inner tube, which perfectly balances color and brightness. The blog further reports that users will be able to customize the lights.
The leaks didn’t stop there, with another bit of information coming from The Verge, which reported that Philips Hue lights will have direct matter support, leaving Redditors debating on whether it’s a viable replacement for Nanoleaf bulbs or a competitor to Aqara light bulbs. Besides lighting, the leak also confirmed a wired Hue Secure video doorbell, first hinted at in March 2025 via app graphics.
As per the limited information available, the doorbell features a 2K resolution (1440p), which is an upgrade to the 1080p resolution offered by the current cameras. The doorbell promises sharper video and instant motion alerts. On the design front, it features a sleek, rectangular design with a prominent button and LED ring. Not to mention, it integrates with Hue’s security ecosystem.
There are also rumours that Hue lights will support Sonos Voice Control. This comes as a relief for those who have a Sonos speaker at home, as they would be able to easily dim the lights of the kitchen or set a cozy scene in the living room without reaching for their phone.
While Signify’s leaks have been stealing the spotlight, Google has been dealing with its own leak drama. Unlike Hue’s detailed leaks, Google’s are murkier, with little clarity on specs or release dates. The big question is what’s in store for Philips Hue at IFA 2025? We are not sure, but we do hope the representatives have some energy and a few more surprises left to showcase how the iconic lighting brand holds the potential to revolutionize how people use lights.
Signify is set to unveil these rumored products (and potentially more) at IFA 2025 in Berlin on September 4, and we’ll be glued to official details, especially about pricing and other significant but undetailed information. The current Bridge retails for around $53, so we are bracing for a premium price tag on the Bridge Pro, likely reflecting its beefier specs.
