Signify, the company behind color-changing Philips smart bulbs, announced at CES 2023 that it will bring Ambilight light-syncing technology to select Samsung TVs.
If you have a Samsung QLED TV model from 2022 or newer and the model number is Q60 or newer (such as Samsung Q60T QLED TV or Samsung QN900B Neo QLED 8K TV), you can download Philips Hue Sync. TV app. With this service, you can sync your TV with Philips Hue smart bulbs and LED arrays for a more colorful home entertainment setup.
The only downside is that the app costs $130. Plus, you need to buy the hardware so you can enjoy Philip’s reactive color experience.
Gimmick or Gimme Now?
Ambilight TV is like no other on the market. TVs don’t just confine color to the screen, they cleverly use flanked LED arrays to illuminate the walls with colors that are in sync with what’s on the screen (movies, shows, games, etc.).
Sure, it all sounds a little gimmicky, but from our experience, this feature actually makes watching content on Ambilight TVs more immersive. The colors in Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse seem to explode from the screen. Plus, you can sync your TV with other Philips Hue smart bulbs so your TV’s colors spread across the room instead of bleeding out behind the display.
However, Philips TVs haven’t always wowed us as much as Samsung and LG in more standard metrics like screen, audio and picture quality. Get the best of both worlds by getting an immersive light show powered by Philips technology.
Even if you have an LG or Sony TV, you don’t have to miss out on the benefits of interactive Hue lights. It just costs a little more. Instead of the app, you can purchase the physical Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box for $229.99 / £229 (approximately AUD 335) and enjoy all the benefits of immersive entertainment. I’ve given the box a 4-star review because, while it’s not cheap, you’re unlikely to be disappointed with what you get.
Assuming the Samsung app works as well as the Sync Box, the low price makes it something you should consider buying if you’re on a budget and want to upgrade your current home setup.
If you’re looking for more ideas on how to improve your home theater, check out our picks for the best TVs. It will have the same power as the image.
Check out the CES 2023 hub for all the latest news and announcements from the show. We cover everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops and smart home gadgets.
