FabianAlmost exactly two years ago, Philips Hue presented the Hue Sync TV app for Samsung televisions at CES in Las Vegas. Since then, an integrated app has made it possible to synchronize up to 10 Hue lights with the current screen content of the TV, regardless of which input source or internal TV app is used. Until now, however, this was only possible on selected Samsung TVs from 2022 or later.
I have now learned that a second manufacturer will soon be on board. The Hue Sync TV app will also be made available for LG TVs in spring 2025. According to my information, the only requirement will be the new webOS 24 operating system. However, LG is not only offering this for new televisions, but also for some models from 2022 to 2024.
Hue Sync TV app also works with internal LG apps
Compared to the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box, the Hue Sync TV app has a decisive advantage: it not only works with external HDMI devices, but also with integrated apps and the TV tuners. I tried the Hue Sync TV app two years ago on a Samsung TV and the experience was pretty simple – as soon as the app is started in the background, the lights in the created Hue Entertainment area are automatically synchronized.
I cannot yet confirm the exact payment model of the Hue Sync TV app for LG televisions. Philips Hue offers two options on Samsung devices: Either a one-time purchase for just under €130, which is tied to a TV, or a monthly subscription for €2.99 that can be canceled. I could imagine that it will look very similar on LG televisions.
Feel free to write in the comments if you have an LG TV in use and it is already running webOS 24. Is the Hue Sync TV app an option for you? Have you already considered buying a Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box? Then the new Hue Sync TV app for LG could be an exciting alternative.
With so many TV manufacturers using Google/Android TV as their OS, I really don’t know what’s Philips waiting for…
Greed is the answer
I don’t think it’s greed, more likely they don’t want to kill off their own product that they just launched (at least until they don’t sell all the stock they have, which could be years).
If you look at it from the profit perspective, there’s certainly more people that would be willing to pay 2.99€ per month compared to the number of people that are willing to pay 349€ for a physical box. Launching the app on all TV brands/operating systems would make them much more money as it would also boost the sales of the physical lights (gradient TV) as you wouldn’t need an additional overpriced box to run them.
I would jump on 2.99€ immediately as it would take 9.6 years(!) for the expense of subscription to be equal to the price of the box (349€ box / 2.99€ per month subscription = 116 months). You would have to be a fool to go for the box (if you can go for the app) as in those 9.6 years the box will get technologically outdated and you will change your TV (maybe even 2 or 3 times) in that period. And let’s not forget that the box is less functional even now when it’s “new” because it can’t do “normal” TV while the app can.
Ridiculous price tag for app that’s sole purpose is to control hue hardware we paid premium price for already. Glad we have community producing free opensource alternatives like PicCap Hyperion and HyperHDR.
I agree and thank you for the open source tips!
Can’t believe that Phillips is not releasing this app for TVs with their own brand name on it.
Yes I know it’s not exactly the same company. But it’s quite strange that customers that bought a TV from another brand are able to do more with Hue then the ones who actually bought a Phillips TV.
Would be more logically if it was the other way around, not that I’m not excited for Samsung and LG users. I think it’s super cool that this feature is available. But I just wish it was more widely available.
That’s what you get for splitting your business into multiple small pieces and selling/licensing every one of them to someone else. Funnily, Philips Ambilight TVs actually had Hue integration until very recently.
Anyway, in other news – I wonder how the Seoul Semiconductor patent lawsuit fiasco affects Hue and Wiz…
Yes, I was just looking into it, but now I’m sure I’ll wait for the app and use that instead of buying a Sync Box.