What Philips makes

Origins. Philips was founded in 1891 in Eindhoven by Frederik Philips and his son Gerard, to make light bulbs. Gerard's brother Anton joined a few years later and made it a global company. Philips brought the radio into the living room, invented the compact cassette in 1963 and developed the CD together with Sony. The football club PSV began as the company's sports club.

What it stands for. Today's Philips calls itself a health technology company, aiming to improve people's health through meaningful innovation. That explains a change you cannot see on the box: Philips sold its lighting, now made by Signify, and in 2021 its kitchen and household appliances, now owned by Versuni. Both use the Philips name under licence, as do the televisions and monitors from TP Vision and MMD. Philips itself still makes personal care: shaving, toothbrushes and baby products.

Reputation. Philips has a name for dependable personal care and practical household appliances, and in 2010 it introduced the Airfryer, which started a whole product category. The televisions are known for Ambilight, the light behind the screen. The biggest dent came from the medical side: in 2021 Philips had to recall millions of sleep apnoea devices. The appliances and personal care were not involved, but the name was hurt.

Sub-brands. Sonicare for electric toothbrushes, OneBlade for trimming and shaving, Lumea for light-based hair removal, Avent for baby bottles and products, Senseo for coffee pods, and Saeco and LatteGo for espresso machines. Philips Hue is the smart lighting, from Signify, with a page of its own: Philips Hue.

Examples. Below, a few products that show what the Philips name stands for. The wider range: airfryers, electric toothbrushes with brush heads, shavers, beard trimmers, steam irons and televisions with Ambilight.

From the kitchen: a Philips Airfryer, the appliance with which Philips made the hot-air fryer known in 2010. For frying without a pan of oil. More airfryers.

From Sonicare: an electric toothbrush that cleans with fast vibrations rather than a rotating head. Count on brush heads as a repeat purchase. More electric toothbrushes.

From Lumea: an IPL device for hair removal with light at home, a gift that suits someone who has asked for one rather than a surprise. More IPL devices.