Signify this week dropped a new HDMI sync box for TVs, but it’s not part of the flagship Philips Hue range. Instead, it uses smart technology from WiZ rather than Hue, as part of the new Philips Smart Lighting range.
It’s good news for bargain hunters who’re interested in getting a quality mood lighting set up for their TV, because the Hue sync box is a much more premium product with prices that match that positioning. In contrast, WiZ’s tech is much more affordable. Whereas the Hue Play Sync Box costs £299, the new Philips Smart Lighting HDMI Sync Box 2.1 is priced at just £129 to £149, depending on which one you buy.
The price differentiation is because you can choose a bundled lightstrip for 55-inch to 65-inch TVs, or 75-inch to 85-inch models. You pay more for the bigger lightstrip, naturally.
The Philips Smart Lighting HDMI 2.1 Sync Box is based on WiZ’s technology, which means it uses the WiZ application rather than the Philips Hue system. Basically the only thing that wasn’t supplied by WiZ is the actual branding of the product, and that decision was likely taken because the Philips name has more clout with consumers.
But although the technology is different, the end result is more or less the same. Users have to connect the box to their TV, fix the lightstrip around it, and then it will adapt the lighting effects to try and match what’s happening on the screen. It’s all about making the pictures you see feel larger and more immersive, Signify claims. It’s similar to the iconic Ambilight experience delivered by Philips TVs.
Signify is also beefing up the Philips Smart Lighting product lineup with some additional new products to go with the new box. For instance, it’s offering a new table lamp, multiple flexible lightstrips as big as 20 metres long, and gradient floor lights and bars. These products are all much cheaper than their Hue equivalents, with the cheapest lightstrip costing just £23.99.
Signify said the new Philips Smart Lighting HDMI Sync Box 2.1 will be available to buy from next month.
