Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box

Makes TV and movies more immersive ; Expands from one Hue bulb to ten in a system ; Auto-switching is generally solid

Expensive if you're not already in the Hue ecosystem ; Setup can get complex for more advanced AV rigs ; Only HDR10 support for now

Accurate color syncing ; Low latency ; Automatically switches inputs when a video source is powered on

Expensive ; No physical remote or support for third-party universal remotes ; Can’t sync your lights with Dolby Vision or HDR10+ content

For the time being, we’ll assume you’ve connected your video sources to the HDMI Sync Box. (We’ll cover the AV receiver scenario in a moment.) If that’s the case, you simply power on your TV (the Sync Box can detect your TV’s power state and turn...

Accurate colour syncing ; Can sync 4K HDR content ; An easy way to sync your lights with your TV for an immersive experience ; Four HDMI ports ; Works with almost all Hue bulbs ; Hue Sync app is easy to use ; Disney+ surpasses 50 million paid subscribers

On the expensive side ; It only supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi networks. ; App crashes on certain devices

If you’ve already invested somewhat into the Hue ecosystem, the Hue Play HDMI Sync Box makes a great addition and with recent updates, can now support Dolby Vision and HDR10+ light syncing. Signify has rolled out a that enables the voice control, IR...

out of a mere utilitarian function and into something far more entertaining. Stay tuned for our full review.

Immersive watching experience Sleek and discrete hardware box Four HDMI ports with 4K support

Pricey Needs Philips Hue Bridge to work Requires some furniture rejigging

The Hue Play HDMI Sync Box makes Hue lights explode from behind your TV and shouldn't fail to pull you into most movies and shows. It comes at a steep price, but those looking to create a unique and truly impressive entertainment space won't be...

Works with any HDMI source ; Supports all the bulbs in the Philips Hue range ; Easy to control via dedicated app

Doesn't work with apps already on the TV ; Frustrating to use when you start adding more sources

Living at home with this little box synced to our Hue lights and we've enjoyed watching a number of films, TV shows, and playing games. While the experience is certainly immersive, we find the 'intense' setting too much and there have been issues with...