I get this question a lot:
I have Hue B30 color lights, but I don’t know which version (generation) I have.
The good news is that you can tell just by looking at the bulb. If you’re shopping online or in the store, you can also tell by the model number. Note: although some Hue lights are currently on their third generation, B30 Hue Color lights are still on Gen 2 (3/5/17).
The bulb:
Generation 1: Even though this is a color and white bulb, it only says ‘Philips’ on the neck of the bulb.
Gen 1 Hue B30
Generation 2: The latest B30 bulbs will say “Hue white and color” on the neck of the bulb.
Hue Gen 2
The Model Number:
All B30s that have 43xxxx in the model number are gen 1 bulbs. Gen 2 bulbs will have 45xxx in their model number. I believe the gen 3 bulbs start with 46xxx, but the B30 version is not available yet.
Overall, the gen 1 and 2 bulbs are very similar, but I’m told you can expect Gen 2 to be slightly brighter and have a little longer life expectancy. Gen 3 is a noticeable jump, with vast improvements in color saturation and accuracy (the Gen 1s and 2s are horrible at reproducing greens).
Leave a Comment