Hueblog: Major update: The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box finally gets better

Major update: The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box finally gets better

Voice control, infrared remote controls and Dolby Vision

We’ve been waiting for a really long time, but now it’s finally arrived: In a press release, Signify has announced that the promised major update for the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box is now available. It includes a lot of new features that I will definitely take a closer look at over the next few days.

Personally, I think the HDMI Sync Box is great. Nevertheless, I mothballed it a few days after the installation last fall. For me, one of the major criticisms was the unreliable switching between the different HDMI inputs. And that’s exactly what has been taken care of now.


The IR receiver integrated in the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box has finally been unlocked. Now, it can also be used in conjunction with TV remote controls or, for example, the Logitech Harmony. The Sync Box will be able to detect keystrokes on the remote controls via settings in the Sync App and automatically switch between HDMI inputs.

New voice control offers these possibilities

Voice control via Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri short commands is also possible. This allows the Sync Box not only to be switched on and off, but also to start or stop the synchronization of the light. The different modes can also be changed or HDMI inputs can be switched. Important to know: at first, only voice commands in English are supported. The German commands for Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri are expected to be available by the end of June.

As I could also reveal last week, the Sync Box with the firmware update also offers the possibility to handle content like Dolby Vision or HDR10+.

Unfortunately, I could not test the update myself yet. But you should be able to download it to your Sync Box via the Sync App now or in the course of the day. Feel free to describe your experiences in the comments.

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Check your local Philips Hue Online Store for availability of Hue products in your country. There you will also find all the technical information and prices.




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