CES 2023: No need for a Play Sync Box with this (surprisingly expensive) app
Good news Samsung TV owners, you won’t need to fork out $250 for a Hue Play HDMI Sync Box to get that Ambilight effect, as Signify has announced a new app that does the job without the need for additional hardware.
However, it’s not all coming up roses as you’ll need to fork out $130 (£115 in the UK) for the Philips Hue Sync TV app.
That seems massively expensive for something that you’d expect Samsung to – probably – bundle in for free in a year or so.
It is, in theory, a saving on the Hue Play Sync Box but I still can’t see many people coughing up $130 for an app.
That’s not to say it doesn’t sound amazing. It does. It essentially means your Samsung TV will be able to act as a Play Sync Box, offering a unique light syncing experience with anything you watch or play on your TV.
In fact, it’s even a bit better than the Box as it not only scans your TVs HDMI ports to detect what visuals to compliment, it also works with the Samsung TV’s native streaming apps, such as Disney+ and Netflix. It also supports all image formats including 8K, 4K and HDR 10+.
Like the Sync Box, you will of course need some Hue lights to create the Ambilight effect.
It works with a range of Hue bulbs – you configure the layout in the Hue app – but the best experience (in my opinion) is when you throw a Hue Gradient Lightstrip into the mix.
Whatever your setup, you’ll need a Samsung QLED TVs in the Q60 or higher range from 2022 onwards to get involved.
We’re huge fans of the Hue Sync experience; it really does add an extra dimension to movie watching, or playing blockbuster gaming titles and anything that makes the process easier has to be applauded. But $130… for an app? No chance.
Elsewhere at CES 2023, Signify also took the covers off of the Philips Hue Resonate downward wall light, the Philips Hue Tap dial switch with mini mount and the Philips Hue PAR38 floodlight bulbs.
