Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on What Hi-Fi?.
Given the rate at which technology advances, new TVs are inevitably better than those they replace, but sometimes they lose a much-loved feature. That’s what’s happened here: Philips’ latest Ambilight TVs have lost the ability to sync with the firm’s Hue home lights.
Ambilight is a TV lighting system that reacts to what’s happening on screen. The idea is to extend the visuals beyond the confines of the screen to create a more immersive viewing experience. With previous models, this could sync with Philips’ range of Hue home smart lights (known as the Ambilight+Hue feature) to extend the light show even further, but not so with the 2023 models.
This was first reported by Philips-focused blog Toengel (via Flatpanelshd).
Why has Philips canned the feature? According to a spokesperson, it was because of low take-up, coupled with Ambilight’s increasing sophistication as a standalone feature. On last year’s TVs, the feature gained added more color detail and accuracy, and this continues with the 2023 models. The spokesperson added that there’s another “big step” coming in Ambilight next year.
Philips TVs and Hue lights are made by two different companies – TP Vision and Signify, respectively. They’re both marketed under the Philips brand but are developed and assembled completely separately.
Fans of colored light shows do still have an option. Signify’s external Hue Play HDMI Sync box will choreograph your smart lights along with your TV, while TP Vision’s external speakers will create a wider audio stage into the bargain. Philips’ 2023 Ambilight TVs will also continue to add Ambilight to Spotify, gaming and other applications.
About the Author
Joe Svetlik has been writing about tech for 17 years, first on staff at T3 magazine, then in a freelance capacity for Stuff, The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, Men’s Health, GQ, The Mirror, Trusted Reviews, TechRadar and many more (including What Hi-Fi?). His specialties include all things mobile, headphones and speakers that he can’t justify spending money on.
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