Brandwave

Philips Hue vs TP-Link Tapo:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, TP-Link Tapo had more branded searches than Philips Hue among smart lighting brands in New Zealand. TP-Link Tapo had about 3,280 branded searches, while Philips Hue had 2,630. TP-Link Tapo made up 14.7% of all smart lighting brand searches we track, and Philips Hue accounted for 11.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about smart lighting brands, both Philips Hue and TP-Link Tapo appeared in all four answers. Philips Hue was mentioned before TP-Link Tapo in three out of four answers.

Among smart lighting brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

TP-Link Tapo, about 25% more searches than Philips Hue

TP-Link Tapo 3.3K searchesPhilips Hue 2.6K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.

Philips Hue in 4 of 4TP-Link Tapo in 4 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

Philips Hue, named ahead of TP-Link Tapo in 3 of 4 answers

Philips Hue first in 3TP-Link Tapo first in 1

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Top smart lighting brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, both Philips Hue and TP-Link Tapo showed up in all four answers. Philips Hue was listed before TP-Link Tapo in three of them.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Philips Hue1st
  2. TP-Link Tapo2nd
  3. WiZ3rd
  4. Nanoleaf4th
  5. LIFX5th
  6. Govee–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • TP-Link Tapo4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Philips Hue4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Nanoleaf2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • WiZ2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • LIFX1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Govee0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

See every answer about smart lighting brands

4 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Is Philips Hue or TP-Link Tapo more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Philips Hue and TP-Link Tapo by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six smart lighting brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Philips Hue and TP-Link Tapo among smart lighting brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for TP-Link Tapo, Philips Hue. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthGoveeTP-Link TapoPhilips HueNanoleafWiZLIFX
Oct 202573.4%11.1%8.7%4.1%1.9%0.79%
Nov 202571.2%11.8%9.8%4.6%1.8%0.77%
Dec 202564%14.7%11.1%6.1%3.2%0.93%
Jan 202669.1%13.2%10.3%4.2%2.5%0.73%
Feb 202671.2%12.6%9.6%4%1.9%0.8%
Mar 202673.8%11.2%8.5%3.7%2%0.77%
Apr 202677.4%9.7%8.1%2.8%1.5%0.49%
May 202669.4%12.8%10.9%4.2%1.9%0.78%
Jun 202667.2%13.4%11.8%4.4%2.3%0.84%
Jul 202668.5%13.7%10.2%4.5%2.2%0.84%
Aug 202663.3%17%10.8%5%3%0.74%
Sep 202665.5%14.7%11.8%4.8%2.5%0.81%

How has the Philips Hue and TP-Link Tapo comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand smart lighting brands in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Philips Hue gained share of searches among smart lighting brands in New Zealand, from 10.8% to 11.8%.

  2. In September 2026, TP-Link Tapo lost share of searches among smart lighting brands in New Zealand, from 17% to 14.7%.

How are branded searches counted?

16 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Philips Hue’s and TP-Link Tapo’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Philips Hue

8 branded search terms

  • bulb philips hue
  • hue bulbs
  • hue lights
  • philips hue downlight
  • philips hue led
  • philips hue smartplug
  • philipshue
  • philipshue led

TP-Link Tapo

8 branded search terms

  • tapo
  • tapo cctv
  • tapo hub
  • tapo plug
  • tapo sensor
  • tapo tp link
  • to link tapo
  • tp link tapo led

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among smart lighting brands

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