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In the blog post, I compare Philips Hue Calla vs Lily. If you’re looking for two of the best Philips Hue outdoor lights to illuminate your yard, landscape, deck, or patio, you are in the right place.
Which Hue Outdoor Light Hits the Spot?
If you’re looking for the best outdoor smart lights, look no further than Phillips Hue. But you pay for what you get. Yes, they are expensive. One thing to note is that these lights sell out as fast as Phillips can make them so if you want them and they are available to snatch them up.
However, if you are already using a Phillips Hue bridge to control your lights indoors, you can add your outdoor lights to it. You add up to 50 lights on an existing bridge.
Some people find these are larger (and lighter) than they expected after they arrive in the mail (a good thing). Here are the dimensions along with some additional specifications.
While some customers complain that the lights aren’t bright enough for their needs, most customers who purchase these lights love them. You can choose from 16 million colors and all shades of white.
The starter kit for the Lily includes three spots. Great. The starter kit for the Calla includes just a single lamp, but you can buy additional lamps and string up to five extension lights together using a single Base Kit. So for every five lights you want, you will need to purchase a separate Base Kit.
OK, let me break down the differences between Hue Calla vs Lily next in a table.
Hue Calla vs Lily Comparison Table
The following table compares Hue Calla vs Lily side by side taking into account several key specifications:
Last update on 07/11/2025 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Philips Hue Lily Mini Review
Phillips Hue Lily is the best outdoor spotlight you can buy for your yard. The starter pack includes three spots, yard spikes, and wiring required for set up. You will need a Phillips Hue Hub for access to most features. These are expensive, especially if you want to buy lots of them, but you get what you pay for.
The difference in comparing Hue Calla vs Lily is that this one is a spotlight and the other is a pathlight.
Pros
- Starter pack includes three spots, spikes, and cables
- 16 million colors and variant temperatures of white light
- Easily set timers using the Phillips Hue app
- Full control over dimming and brightness
- Total DIY solution
- Alexa Apple HomeHit and voice control
- Mix up to five Lily and Calla lights on one power supply
- Pairs with Nest or Samsung SmartThings
- Weather resistant with 25,000 hour warranty
Cons
- Requires hub for most features
- They aren’t super bright
- Alexa commands are limited
- They are not cheap
Philips Hue Lily delivers vibrant, weatherproof outdoor spot lighting with full smart home integration.
Philips Hue Calla Mini Review
Phillips Hue Calla is the best smart outdoor bollard light that will let you illuminate your way in style. The lights are easy to install and configure using the Phillips Hue app. We will include a basic installation video below. Both Calla and Hue Lily are simple do-it-yourself projects that add huge value and beauty to your yard, deck, pathways, or patio.
Pros
- Adds color to your yard
- Over 16 million colors and all shades of white
- Easily set timers with Phillips Hue app
- Full control over dimming and brightness
- Total DIY solution
- Alexa for voice control
- Mix and match up to five Lily and Calla lights on one power supply
- Pairs with Nest or Samsung SmartThings
- Weather resistant with 25,000-hour warranty
Cons
- Lights must be purchased individually (no starter pack)
- Requires Hue hub
- No Google Assistant or Apple Siri just yet
Philips Hue Calla offers elegant, durable pathway lighting with customizable smart controls.
What’s the Difference Between Hue Calla vs Lily?
So what’s the difference between Philips Hue Calla vs Lily anyways? One is a spot light and the other is a “ballard” light.
The Lily spotlight will illuminate whatever it is pointing at.
The Calla ballard latern makes for great accent lighting in your garden, deck, or patio.
Video Review (with Installation Overview)
Thanks to Erin Lawrence of TechGadgetsCanada.com for the helpful overview and setup comparing both Hue Calla vs Lily:
As Erin points out, both of these lighting systems are super easy to install, and configuring them via the app is also a breeze.
Both lights also offer easy dimming using the app, and the ability to set timers so you can just set and forget it. At least one customer figured out to get the lights to sync up with their music. I’m going to investigate this further and provide an update here soon.
Update! Yes, they can sync with music using a variety of different apps. These include Hue Dynamic, Light DJ Pro, and Hue Disco. The set-up process is relatively simple: you just download app pair it with your hue hub.
Check out this video Hue lights jamming to a reggae beat!
Verdict: Which Philips Hue Outdoor Light Is Right for You?
When choosing between Hue Calla vs Lily, here’s the overall verdict:
Choose Philips Hue Calla if…
You want elegant pathway lighting that adds subtle, stylish ambiance to your garden or deck. Calla’s taller bollard design is perfect for guiding guests with a warm glow while still giving you access to 16 million colors and smart control. Plus, if you love mixing and matching lights for mood lighting, Calla’s got your back.
Choose Philips Hue Lily if…
You need powerful spotlights to highlight your favorite outdoor features — be it a tree, flowerbed, or sculpture. Lily’s trio of adjustable spots delivers precise, colorful illumination where you want it most. It’s a solid choice if you want DIY ease with a starter kit that’s ready to brighten up your yard right away.
Bottom line?
Both lights bring Philips Hue’s legendary color magic outdoors. If you want a single stylish bollard, Calla is your go-to. If you’re all about focused accent lighting in multiple spots, Lily steals the show. Either way, your yard’s about to get a major upgrade.
Philips Hue Calla vs Lily: What Do You Think?
So what do you think of my comparison of Philips Hue Calla vs Lily smart outdoor lights? Do you agree that these are the best Philips Hue outdoor lights for your hard earned dollar?
Do you plan to purchase either of these lights? If so, which one do you like the best?
Do you plan on setting your outside lights to music like the video in this post? That really is a cool reggae jam.
Please let us know by leaving a comment below.
I would love to hear from you!
Related Links
If you liked this post on Philips Hue Calla vs Lily, you might also like these articles from my “outdoor” collection:
- 7 Best Smart Outdoor Lights?
- Hue Indoors: Play Vs Bloom Vs Go Vs Iris
- 7 Smart Landscape Lighting Transformers
- 3 Best Smart Paver Lights
- 7 Best Alexa Outdoor Speakers
Tim Brennan, a tech blogger and host of the @TecTimmy YouTube channel, writes about smart homes at oneSmartcrib, home theaters at UniversalRemoteReviews, and AI in writing at Writeinteractive. He holds a Journalism degree from Northeastern University and has covered technology for three decades. He lives on the ocean in Nahant, Massachusetts.
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