Philips Hue Essential bulbs are great value and as good as the originals in almost every way

Hue Essential bulbs are excellent in most situations, provided you don't need to dial the brightness right down.
TechHive

Do Philips Hue smart bulbs need a hub? No, but here’s why they’re better with one

As recently as two years ago, Philips Hue bulbs only supported the Zigbee wireless protocol, which meant you needed the Zigbee-enabled Hue Bridge Remove non-product link ($60, although it’s often ...