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Philips Hue Go Portable Table Lamp Review Rating
Summary
The Philips Hue Go Portable Table Lamp is similar to the Hue Go but in a more traditional form factor, which will inevitably appeal to a lot of buyers. The IP rating allows you to use it both indoors or out, and you have an extended battery life vs the Hue Go. Overall, this is another excellent addition to the Hue lineup.
Pros
IP54 rating
48 battery life
Charging dock is superior to cables
Cons
Much more expensive than the existing Hue Go
Philips announced the Hue Go Portable Table Lamp, but it has only just become available. While the overall design is very different to the Hue Go 2 I reviewed at the start of the year, it is a very similar product.
Philips Hue Go Portable Table Lamp vs Hue Go
Table lamp form factor
Charging base which is more convenient than the power plug on the Hue Ho
The lamp has an IP54 rating making it suitable for outdoor use and humid environments (such as the bathroom)
Improved battery life 48hr vs 24hr
Higher price point
The similarities are basically they are both battery-powered, and the internal light is identical, with the same colours, lumens and all the same features you expect from Hue.
Specification / Features
Lumen output at 4000K: 530 lm
Lumen output at 2,700 K (out-of-the-box setting): 370 lm
Light colour: 2000-6500 Hue White Colour Ambiance
IP rating: IP20/54
Battery: Up to 48 hours battery life
On-device control
Bluetooth and Hue Bridge compatible
In Use
Aesthetically, I like the lamp, but it is not quite as nice in real life as it is in the photos. I think I may have been better off with the white colour.
The lamp has a plastic construction, and up close, you can tell. I guess it was never going to look as good as a nice wooden or ceramic lamp. On the flip side, this plastic construction means it is more durable than those other materials. I’ve not dropped it or attempted to break it yet, but I am confident it can handle a knock or two.
One thing I really like about this lamp is the charging base. You just plonk it down to charge. There is no faffing around with plugging it in as you do with the Hue Go.
Because the charging works through contact points and then has a rubber-coated button on the top, this has an IP54 rating. You don’t want to drop it into your bath, but it will handle the humidity in a bathroom or be rained on when using it outdoors.
Beyond that, it is largely the same as all other Hue products. This is a White Colour Ambiance bulb, so you have that massive range of hues and the option for some basic effects, including a candle or fireplace.
Setting it up was like every other Hue product. I have the hub, so adding it to my system took a couple of minutes at most. You then just drag it to whatever room you want.
Even though this is rated for the same luminescence as the Hue Go, it does seem less bright. The light is focused downwards, with no light illuminating through the black plastic. Whereas the light shines through the entire Hue Go, and with it being focussed either upwards or at an angle, it projects the light a bit better.
Portability / Battery
Philips Hue claims this will have a battery life of up to 48 hours. I can’t say I have tested this thoroughly. I mainly use it on the battery as and when needed. Like other battery-powered lamps, brightness and colour temperature will reduce battery life. I have used this for a long evening in the kitchen, leaving it on overnight, and it was still running.
As previously mentioned, I love the charger for this. You just pick up the light and go. It is much more user-friendly than dealing with cables. More importantly, I am much more likely to return it to its charging base. With the Hue Go, when I unplug it, I tend to leave it unplugged until I realise it has run out of charge.
Price and Alternative Options
The Hue Go portable table lamp is priced at £140 and is currently only available directly from Philips Hue.
The Philips Hue Go 2.0 is currently just £70 from Amazon and has an RRP of £80.
The Philips Hue Signe is available in a table lamp version, but it is not battery-powered, and this has an RRP of £160
The WiZ Luminaire mobile portable light is the closest alternative product I have reviewed, and this is attractively priced at £80.
Overall
As always, Philips Hue products come at a premium price. I don’t think £140 for a lamp is too ridiculous, but at the same time, the Hue Go 2.0 is about half the price.
As far as lighting goes, they are basically the same; you are paying double for a different form factor, improved battery and the IP54 rating.
I have grown very fond of my little Go portable light. It is a basic design, but I think it works really well, and you have the flexibility of mounting it upwards or at an angle. It lacks the IP rating, but apart from that, I think it is a more versatile product.
However, if you want a more traditional aesthetic and something that you can use outdoors or perhaps when you are in the bath, then the Philips Hue Go Portable Table Lamp is superb.
Originally posted on Mighty Gadget