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Philips Hue Sync App Expands to LG TVs

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LG TV owners can now install the Philips Hue Sync TV app to synchronize their lights with content on the TV without the need for an additional set-top box.


Hue parent company Signify said in January that the app would expand to LG TVs in early 2025, and it is now available from the LG TV app store. Previously, the app was limited to Samsung TVs.

The app is priced at $130 without a subscription, or $3 per month, and it works with 2024 LG Smart TVs that run webOS 24. The app is expensive, but it is more affordable than the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box that costs $350.

The Philips Hue Sync app works like the Sync Box, and it changes the color and brightness of Hue lights to match games, TV shows, and movies. There are dedicated movie and game modes to choose from. Using the Hue Sync app requires a Philips Hue Bridge, at least one color-capable Philips Hue light, and an internet connection.

Article Link: Philips Hue Sync App Expands to LG TVs
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/02/25/philips-hue-sync-app-lg-tvs/
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So disappointed I have the lg g3 2023 model and originally they said it would work on any model with webos24 including the 2023 one that now has webos24 but today they stated its only available for the newer 2024 models only, terrible move from lg and hue
 
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I wound up replacing my previous Hue Sync box with the latest version after reading about how overpriced, laggy and limited the app is by comparison. If you search Reddit for user experiences, the news ain’t good.

In any case, I only use it for gaming. For watching movies or television shows, it feels distracting rather than immersive.
 
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Kylo83 said:
So disappointed I have the lg g3 2023 model and originally they said it would work on any model with webos24 including the 2023 one that now has webos24 but today they stated its only available for the newer 2024 models only, terrible move from lg and hue
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Dang. I have a C3 and this feature likely would have pushed me over the edge to get a Hue backlight for it.
 
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I'd rather use lytmi honestly. It's priced right and features are there
 
neilw said:
I have always wondered: is this actually appealing? To the extent that it is worth paying significant money for?
Click to expand...

As opposed to watching in total darkness, some find that SOME lighting- not necessarily just this- around the screen helps them have less eye strain. Others have no trouble with total darkness environments for hours while watching HDR content. To each his own.

Is it worth it? If you get eyestrain watching in darkness, try setting up a little bit of light around the TV (lamps? Even flashlights) and see if you feel less strain. If so, you might want to do SOMETHING that will always give you some light. A popular & cheap option is a strip of LEDs that stick on to the back of the TV to backlight it without otherwise showing. This takes that simple idea towards the MAX by color coordinating that backlight with colors on the screen.
 
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Kylo83 said:
So disappointed I have the lg g3 2023 model and originally they said it would work on any model with webos24 including the 2023 one that now has webos24 but today they stated its only available for the newer 2024 models only, terrible move from lg and hue
Click to expand...

Yeah, I have a C2 and a boatload of Hue lights. Definitely disappointed it's not all webOS24 TVs.
 
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spazzcat said:
Or you can just buy the hardware that works with everything that is plugged in through HDMI.
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The part that it has to go through HDMI kills me, since they sell the box as something that reads the TV screen. I have a lot of files that I digitized and it won't work for them, unless I put them on an HDMI device!
 
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neilw said:
I have always wondered: is this actually appealing? To the extent that it is worth paying significant money for?
Click to expand...
The Hue Sync box, absolutely (maybe not a paid app so much). It's hard to describe in words or a video. You really have to see it in person. Think mono sound compared to surround sound. When the brightness and intensity is dialed in, content just feels that much more immersive. If for example, Dune: Part Two is playing, and there's a desert scene, the matching colors feel like you're watching from within a desert. Music videos with flashing matching color lights are fun too, but watching movies with it is what really sold me.
 
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I’ve got OLED Philips TV with Ambilight (which is essentially a native backlight incorporated into the TV) and love it. That’s linked with Hue lights as well and works seamlessly. My previous TV was also Ambilight. Really like LG TVs (webOS feels great) but I never use the built-in OS anyway as got Apple TV and Xbox plugged in (so the lights work with both). And since Philips uses LG Display OLED panels, you’re getting the same quality. Can’t comment on the app but the native solution works really well and doesn’t require any additional investment.
 
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HobeSoundDarryl said:
As opposed to watching in total darkness, some find that SOME lighting- not necessarily just this- around the screen helps them have less eye strain. Others have no trouble with total darkness environments for hours while watching HDR content. To each his own.

Is it worth it? If you get eyestrain watching in darkness, try setting up a little bit of light around the TV (lamps? Even flashlights) and see if you feel less strain. If so, you might want to do SOMETHING that will always give you some light. A popular & cheap option is a strip of LEDs that stick on to the back of the TV to backlight it without otherwise showing. This takes that simple idea towards the MAX by color coordinating that backlight with colors on the screen.
Click to expand...
I have the sync box and that's why I like it. Before, I needed a fair amount of ambient light in the room to avoid eye strain. With the Hue sync box, I can comfortably watch in an otherwise dark room and the bias lighting creates some extra excitement. That said, I adjusted the settings to make the effect fairly subtle -- my theory is that viewers should notice the vibrancy of the picture but not actually realize there are lights behind the TV.
 
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This is quite annoying, I have a C1,2,3 and 4. So the only TV this will work with is the C4 I have connected in the playroom that has no colour lights!
 
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This would be a great new TV gimmick; RGB LEDs built directly into the back of TVs… The more expensive the TV, the brighter and more color accurate LEDs it has. 🤔

Also, how does the LG App Store work? If you buy it once, can you download it on multiple TVs (all signed in with your account)? No surprise it only supports the current model year. TV models (other than those running using Roku OS), never receive any (notable) new features.
 
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