Signify has taken the covers off a new entertainment-focused lineup under its slightly-awkwardly named “Philips Smart Lighting” banner, which is powered by the existing WiZ platform.
The center of it is a cheap-ish HDMI sync box that is powered by Wiz-tech, rather than Hue’s.
Signify has spent years championing Philips Hue as the premium brand for mainstream consumer smart lighting but it’s a market becoming ever more crowded by more affordable rivals.
The Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8K, which Signify took the covers off at the end of 2024 is the most powerful TV light syncing options available, but it costs $350.
Meanwhile, brands like Govee and Nanoleaf figured out that plenty of people want flashy TV backlighting and reactive room effects, but don’t necessarily want to spend mega bucks to do so.
Signify did react with the Wiz HDMI Sync Box, which went on sale last year for under $100.
The new Philips Smart Lighting HDMI Sync Box 2.1 comes bundled with a TV backlight strip but adds – as the name suggests – HDMI 2.1 skills to the mix; it supports HDMI 2.1 with 4K at 120Hz.
Pricing starts at £129.99 for 55-inch to 65-inch TVs, while the larger 75-inch to 85-inch version lands at £149.99.
Like other TV sync systems, the box mirrors colors and lighting effects from whatever is connected through HDMI.
Movies, sports and games spill beyond the edges of the TV and into the rest of the room through connected lights.
Like the Wiz box from last year, it is a simpler and more approachable setup than Hue, with everything controlled through the WiZ app rather than a dedicated bridge.
These products won’t pair with a Hue Bridge, won’t appear in the Hue app, and won’t sync with Hue entertainment areas. This is effectively WiZ wearing Philips clothing.
Signify appears to be pushing the WiZ name into the background for hardware launches, instead using “Philips Smart Lighting connected by WiZ” branding.
The Philips name carries more weight with mainstream buyers and could help to tap into Philips Hue’s existing smart light reputation.
Beyond the Sync Box itself, Signify is also building out the wider Philips Smart Lighting ecosystem, with a bunch of familiar-looking accessories.
There are new Gradient Floor Lights and Gradient Bars with multi-color effects designed to bounce lighting across walls and around TVs. Pricing ranges from £59.99 to £84.99 depending on the model.
The company is also launching expanded LED strip options including RGB, RGBIC and Neon flexible strips. Lengths range from 3m up to 20m in Europe, while UK models start at 5m. Prices begin at £23.99.
A compact new Squire Lite table lamp arrives in black or white for £34.99, while a new Smart Dial Switch lands for £24.99.
All of these new devices are launching in the UK and Europe in June, with a wider launch happening later this year.