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The Philips Hue Light Strip may be worth paying more for if you want adjustable white and colored light, app-based scenes, and schedules—but it is not an automatic buy for every kitchen or painting project. In a review updated September 1, 2021, Bob Vila contributor Stacey L. Nash liked the light output and color options in her kitchen, but said connection problems, weak adhesion in her installation, and the price outweighed those benefits. That is one reviewer’s dated experience, not a current reliability verdict. Philips’ current US listing describes a different, V4 base product and says that listed 80-inch item is no longer available. Here’s how to weigh the review against the current product details and your own lighting needs.
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What did the reviewer like—and why did she decide it was not worth the money?
Stacey L. Nash’s conclusion in Bob Vila’s review, updated September 1, 2021, was that the strip cost too much for a short light that was difficult to control. She rated the product 5.9 out of 10. The score belongs to that individual review; it is not a consumer satisfaction average, a current product rating, or a measure of how often the strip fails.
In the setup she described, the starter kit included an 80-inch coated strip, connection cords, and a hub. Nash found the light bright enough to serve as kitchen task lighting as well as accent lighting. She also valued adjustable white tones, colors, scenes, and schedules controlled through an app. But she reported repeated app-to-hub connection problems, no manual controls on the strip or cord, weak adhesion in her installation, and a length she considered short compared with other strips she had tested. Those are the reviewer’s observations about her setup, not guaranteed outcomes for every home or every product generation. Read the dated review and its full assessment.
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That distinction matters if you are considering the strip now. A favorable feature list cannot tell you whether the particular product listing you find is the same kit Nash reviewed, whether it includes a hub, or whether it will mount well on your cabinets. Equally, one person’s connection difficulties do not establish a general failure rate. The fairest verdict is conditional: the feature set may justify the expense for someone who will use app-controlled color and schedules, but the price is harder to defend if reliable, simple task lighting is the main goal.
What does Philips currently list, and is it the same model the review covered?
Philips Hue’s US product page describes a Lightstrip Plus base V4 with an 80-inch (2 m) strip, power supply, Bluetooth or Bridge control, extension support up to 10 m, and up to 1,700 lumens. The manufacturer marks the listed 80-inch item as no longer available. These are manufacturer specifications, not independent measurements, and the V4 product page should not be treated as a specification sheet for Nash’s 2021 review unit. Check Philips’ US V4 listing for its product details and availability note.
The review discusses a starter kit with a hub; the current US page describes a V4 base strip with Bluetooth control and a separately sold Bridge for the full Hue setup. That difference can affect both what you can do and the total cost. Do not assume a listing includes the same components as the review kit, or that buying the strip alone gives you the same hub-based experience. Check the exact generation, kit contents, and control requirements before you compare prices.
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For context, the Bob Vila review cited historical prices of $96.86 at Amazon and $109.97 at The Home Depot. Those were prices reported in the review, not present-day offers. A current decision should use an active local listing and include the cost of any Bridge, extension, or other accessory you need. The product page’s price, a retailer listing, and the review’s historical price are not interchangeable reference points.
Will it work as under-cabinet task lighting?
It did for Nash’s kitchen, where she reported that the strip was bright enough for both task and accent lighting. That is useful evidence of one possible use, not a guarantee that it will adequately light a particular countertop. Room layout, mounting position, cabinet depth, surface color, and the task itself all affect whether a strip provides enough useful light where you need it.
The V4’s manufacturer page lists output of up to 1,700 lumens. Treat “up to” as a manufacturer specification, not a promise that every strip will deliver that amount in every configuration or that it will be the right brightness for your work surface. The available data does not provide independent measurements, a color-rendering value, or a kitchen-by-kitchen lighting comparison. If you need dependable work light for chopping, reading labels, or detailed projects, check the exact product’s specifications and buy from a seller with a suitable return policy rather than assuming an accent strip will meet the task-lighting needs of your room.
Lighting also changes how paint colors appear. A white tone or colored scene can make the same painted wall, cabinet, or backsplash look different from how it appears in daylight or under another lamp. If you are choosing paint for a room that will use a Hue strip, judge a sample under the lighting conditions you expect to use—not just under showroom lights or a phone screen. For a painting job, the strip is a lighting choice, not a substitute for evaluating the paint finish, preparing the surface, or applying the coating as directed.
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Consider where the strip will sit before buying. Under a cabinet it may illuminate a counter and create a decorative wash, while a hidden edge or recessed position can change the visible effect. The available sources do not establish a universal mounting layout or quantify how much light reaches a given counter, so use the intended placement, surface, and task to decide whether a flexible strip is a reasonable solution.
Are the app, Bluetooth, and Bridge features worth paying for?
They are most valuable if you will actually use adjustable colors, white tones, scenes, schedules, or app control. Nash reported liking those options, even though she also experienced frustrating app-to-hub connection problems. Her review therefore points to the product’s central trade-off: richer controls can be useful, but they matter less if the control experience in your own setup is unreliable or if you prefer a physical switch.
The V4 listing says the base strip can be controlled with Bluetooth or a Hue Bridge. Before ordering, decide which control arrangement you need and verify the details for the exact kit. Bluetooth control and a Bridge-based setup are not the same purchase: a Bridge may be a separate cost, and the sources here do not establish that every feature is available in every control mode. Check the manufacturer’s current setup information and the listing’s included components rather than assuming the older review’s hub comes in today’s base product.
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Nash’s review also notes a practical downside for anyone who wants quick, local operation: in her setup, the strip and cord had no manual controls. If you want an on/off control at the light itself, check the current product’s hardware and the control options offered by its exact kit. An app-first product may be a poor fit if you want to operate it without a phone, networked setup, or additional accessories.
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How should you assess length, extensions, and mounting?
The V4 base strip is listed as 2 m, or 78¾ inches; the product is also described in the US listing as an 80-inch item. Philips says compatible extensions can take the system up to 10 m. That gives you a way to plan a longer run, but it does not mean any Lightstrip Plus extension will fit any base strip. Philips specifies that extensions are for Lightstrip Plus V4, so confirm the generation and connector compatibility before purchase.
Measure the route you intend to light, not just the cabinet frontage. Account for corners, the position of the power supply, the location of the outlet, and any gaps where the strip will not run. Then compare that path with the base-strip length and the exact extensions offered for the model. The available sources do not specify how to handle every corner, cut, or connector arrangement, so follow the installation instructions for the precise generation rather than improvising from a different model’s guide.
Adhesion deserves equal attention. Nash reported weak adhesion in her installation, but that does not prove the adhesive will fail on every surface. Dust, grease, texture, coatings, and a tight bend can all complicate a clean mounting job; prepare the surface and follow the product’s instructions, and avoid installing until you have verified the route and connector fit. If the strip will be placed over a freshly painted surface, make sure the paint has fully cured according to its paint manufacturer’s directions before applying adhesive. Otherwise, removal or repositioning can pull at a finish that has not hardened. The available data does not specify a cure time, so use the paint label’s guidance instead of guessing.
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Use the following checks before buying. They help separate the value of the light itself from the price of a complete system.
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- Define the job. Decide whether you need accent color, adjustable white light, scheduled lighting, countertop illumination, or a combination. If you mainly need a simple light that turns on reliably, app scenes and color modes may not justify a premium.
- Verify the exact product. Match the listing to the product generation and check the length, power supply, controller, and included accessories. A base V4 listing is not automatically the same package as the hub-containing starter kit described in the 2021 review.
- Choose your control setup. Confirm whether Bluetooth is sufficient for your needs or whether you want a Hue Bridge. Check which features require which setup and add the cost of any separate hardware to your total.
- Measure before choosing a length. Measure the intended run, including corners and outlet access, then confirm that any extension is compatible with the V4 generation. Do not buy an extension based only on the Lightstrip Plus name.
- Plan the mounting surface. Check that the surface is suitable for adhesive mounting and clean it as instructed. For recently painted surfaces, wait until the coating has cured according to its manufacturer’s directions.
- Compare the live total. Use an active local listing and include any Bridge or compatible extension you need. The US and UK product-page prices and the review’s retailer figures are snapshots from different dates and regions, not a single current global price.
- Consider your tolerance for setup friction. Nash’s reported connection problems are a reason to examine the current setup requirements and return terms, not evidence that every installation will have the same problem. If downtime or app dependence would be especially frustrating, consider that trade-off before committing.
The strip makes the strongest case when adjustable color and scheduled, app-controlled lighting are features you expect to use, and when the current price and complete system requirements fit your budget. It is a weaker value proposition when you want a long, inexpensive, uncomplicated task light or need certainty about a particular kitchen’s illumination. For a paint-related project, judge the finish and color under the lighting you plan to live with, but do not mistake a product’s maximum lumen specification or a single reviewer’s experience for a guarantee about your room.
What is the fairest verdict?
For the 2021 review setup, Nash’s verdict was no: she liked the illumination, colors, and schedules but found control problems, adhesion trouble in her installation, short length, and price outweighed those benefits. Her exact conclusion was, “In the end, I feel like the price is a lot of money for a short string of lights that’s difficult to control.” That is her conclusion in a review updated September 1, 2021, not a current universal verdict. The current V4 listing provides different product context and says the listed US item is no longer available.
For a buyer today, the practical answer is to decide based on the exact listing and your priorities. If color options, scenes, schedules, and Hue control are central to your plan, the feature set may be worth a higher system cost. If your priority is straightforward task lighting, first confirm output, control hardware, fit, and availability for the local product on offer; the historical review alone cannot establish that today’s model will be a good or bad fit for your installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What score did the Philips Hue Light Strip get in the Bob Vila review?
Stacey L. Nash rated the setup 5.9 out of 10 in a Bob Vila review updated September 1, 2021. That is the score from one reviewer’s assessment, not an average consumer rating or a current retest.
Does the Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus V4 base include a Hue Bridge?
The US V4 base product page describes Bluetooth or Bridge control and identifies the Bridge as separately sold for the full Hue setup. Check the exact seller listing, since a different bundle may include different components.
Can I use an older Lightstrip Plus extension with the V4 base?
Philips specifies that extensions are for Lightstrip Plus V4. Confirm the extension generation and connector compatibility before ordering rather than relying only on the product-family name.
Is the listed US 80-inch Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus available now?
Philips’ US page showed the listed V4 80-inch item as no longer available when the source was checked on November 12, 2026. Availability can vary by retailer and location, so confirm a live listing before planning a project around it.
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