Philips Hue owners can now sync their smart lights to a TV display for far less than before. What once required the EUR 331 Sync Box 8K can now be done for as little as EUR 103, thanks to two new devices. In addition, a separate accessory now brings Nanoleaf wall panels into the Philips Hue ecosystem.
Two cheaper ways to sync Hue lights to your TV
Synchronizing Philips Hue lighting with your TV creates an immersive effect for movies and games. The existing Sync Box 8K reads HDMI signals to detect the colors on screen, then adjusts every Hue light in the room in real time. That approach carries a steep price: nearly EUR 344 for the box alone, with Gradient Light Strip bundles for large TVs climbing past EUR 560.
Two new options lower the barrier to entry. The Sync Box 4K also relies on an HDMI signal and sells for EUR 129. It cuts costs by reducing support from four HDMI feeds down to a single input, with a maximum supported resolution of 4K at 60Hz. The second device, Play Screen Sync, uses a camera instead of HDMI and costs EUR 103.
HDMI-based syncing remains the more accurate method for matching on-screen colors. The Play Screen Sync works with anything shown on the display, but its color-matching accuracy is compromised compared with HDMI. Similar camera-based products already exist from companies such as Govee.
Nanoleaf joins the Hue ecosystem
Philips and Nanoleaf have jointly launched a new Wall Light Module priced at EUR 34. The box makes any Nanoleaf product appear as a Philips Hue device within the Hue ecosystem.
Nanoleaf panels already support HomeKit, but adding Hue compatibility opens the door to third-party apps that offer more flexibility with features like animated scenes and music syncing. The addition gives owners of both brands a way to manage their lighting through a single platform.
Pricing at a glance
The lineup now spans a wide range of budgets. The camera-based Play Screen Sync sits at the entry point for EUR 103, followed by the Sync Box 4K at EUR 129. The original Sync Box 8K remains the premium HDMI option at EUR 331, while the EUR 34 Wall Light Module extends Hue support to Nanoleaf hardware.
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Image: 9to5mac.com
