Philips Hue has confirmed that support for the original Philips Hue Bridge v1 will stop from April 2020. The official Philips Hue twitter handle confirmed this news via a tweet earlier this week.
Starting April 2020, software support including bug-fixes will stop for all Philips Hue Bridge v1 devices. Compatibility for the hub with Philip’s online services will also be withdrawn.
Philips Hue has explained this decision citing hardware limitations on the Philips Hue Bridge v1. As per Philips Hue, the older bridge hub device does not have sufficient resources to support further product evolution. This is apt from a compatibility, speed and security perspective.
If consumers still insist on using the older variant of the Philips Hue Bridge, they can do so using the dedicated app locally. The actual feature of the Hue Bridge enables control over smart lighting features over the internet.
After Philips Hue Bridge v1 support ends, devices will be disconnected from servers
After support ends, the older Hue Bridge devices will be disconnected from the Philips servers. However, consumers can still control their smart lights while connected to the local network, using the Philips Hue Bridge v1 legacy app.
Philips has also confirmed that they will be stopping software updates to the Philips Hue Bridge v1 legacy app after April 2020. This also means that there will not be any more security updates, which puts the older device at risk from hackers.
The Philips Hue Bridge is the control hub for the wildly successful Philips Hue Smart Lighting line. This Bridge enables advanced control features for the smart lights over the internet. Consumers use the bridge to control brightness, colors and to switch the lights on or off.
Philips Hue line has now equipped the latest Philips Hue line with Bluetooth connectivity. This helps to bypass the need for the Philips Hue Bridge, consumers can use Bluetooth to control the smart lights from a close-range.
Philips had launched an upgraded version of their Hue Bridge – the Philips Hue Bridge v2 – in 2016. This is the latest version for which support and internet-connected services will continue as usual.
Philips Hue launched the Philips Hue Bridge v2 with added support for the Apple HomeKit. This was designed to be a sufficient pull for consumers to upgrade to the latest version.
The older version of the Philips Hue Bridge was unable to support Apple HomeKit, as originally, Apple HomeKit had certain restrictions. Apple HomeKit, at the time, required hardware manufacturers to build in a physical authentication chip in the hardware. Apple has now eased these restrictions in the latest Apple HomeKit requirements.
Philips Hue has also reached out to consumers using the Hue Bridge v2. The company has stated that presently there is no plan to replace v2 in the near future. As such consumers can rest assured that the Philips Hue Bridge v2 will continue to receive support and security updates.