Philips says its Hue Sync TV application will be coming to LG Electronics’ 2024 TVs and later its 2025 models, enabling users to string up a Philips Hue lighting system and bring an Ambilight-like experience to their televisions.
The app is said to be available for 2024 LG TVs in the U.S. now, priced at $129.99 (around £103). It’ll come to other regions soon, Signify, the company that manufactures Philips Hue products, said.
The announcement came at CES 2025, where Signify said the app will be coming to all LG televisions that run webOS 24 and above, which means it should also soon be available on LG’s 2022 models, like the LG G2 and C2 OLED TVs.
Using the app, it’s possible to connect a set of Philips Hue lights directly to the TV and synchronize the experience with the content shown on the screen. This experience has already been available on Samsung’s TVs since 2022.
Note that you’ll need much more than just the app. A key requirement is the Philips Hue Bridge, which costs $49.99 in the U.S. and £49.99 in the U.K., plus the actual lights, such as its LED Gradient Strips, which cost $129.99 / £189.99.
Signify said the Hue Sync application will support HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10, as well as 8K resolution pictures.
The app is meant to replicate the experience found on Philips Ambilight TVs such as the Philips OLED909 or OLED+959 which are among the most popular OLED TVs in Europe. For U.S. consumers, it’s a big plus, as Philips does not sell its TVs on that side of the Atlantic.
Ambilight is undoubtedly a cool experience, but consumers will no doubt want to consider if it’s really worth it, considering that buying all of the above products adds up to a sizable investment. All told, you’re looking at spending around $300 or more than £400 to get the app, the Hue Bridge and the lights, which are all necessary.
Add to that, if you think you’ll be able to buy a new TV later and use the app with that one, you’ll be in for a disappointment. When users purchase the Hue Sync app, what they’re actually paying for is a license that’s tied to the specific TV they install it on. So if you later replace that TV, you’ll be required to pay for the app again.
Alternatively, it’s possible to buy a piece of hardware called the Philips Hue Sync Box and use that instead of the app, but it’s more expensive at $249 / £229. But it can at least be used with multiple TVs at no added cost.
