Want to add more natural light to a gloomy room without the expense and faff of major building work? The new Philips fake Skylight is here to save the day.
A ceiling-mounted LED panel designed to recreate the appearance and feel of natural daylight indoors, it uses Signify’s NatureConnect technology to simulate the brightness, colour, and gradual changes of daylight throughout the day, while also creating the impression of looking up at a real skylight.
The idea isn’t simply to make a room brighter, given that lightbulbs seem to have that particular segment covered quite well already. Instead, the system was developed to help people feel more connected to natural light, particularly in spaces with limited access to windows or daylight.
A built-in Auto Day Rhythm mode automatically adjusts colour temperature and brightness as the day progresses, shifting from cooler, blue-enriched light during daytime hours to warmer tones in the evening. There are also five preset lighting scenes if you’d rather choose your own ambience.
Better yet, the Philips Skylight VitaUp version adds a UV-B module that can apparently support the body’s natural Vitamin D production indoors. Unsurprisingly, there are safety measures built in too, including an automatic shut-off after eight hours to reduce the risk of overexposure.
Both versions also carry an IP44 rating, meaning they’re protected against splashes and moisture. But before you start planning voice commands and automation routines, there’s one important catch – despite carrying the Philips name, the Skylight isn’t part of the Hue ecosystem. There’s no Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Matter, or app control. Instead, you’ll need to use the included remote control to manage settings and lighting modes. Boo.
Signify says that the fake Skylight range is expected to become available in parts of Europe this month. US and UK pricing and specific availability haven’t yet been announced, so we’ll have to wait a little longer to find out exactly how much daylight-in-a-box will cost.
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