Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8K

The Philips Hue Sync Box 8K lets my Philips Hue lamps change colour with my TV. You can also play games in 120 Hz at 4K image quality.

I tested the Philips Hue HDMI Sync Box 8K, which lets you change the colour of your lamps with your TV. I have had Philips Hue lamps in my home for a while, but had never connected them to my TV before.

I opened the box and immediately felt like I had a quality product in my hands. The Sync Box has a sleek finish and feels heavy and solid. It is smaller than I expected, but this is an advantage for me.

I scanned the QR code on the packaging, after which I was guided through the installation. I connected the HDMI Sync Box to my TV with the supplied HDMI cable. In the Philips Hue app I set up the Sync Box further and assign an entertainment space. This way you let the app know where the lamps in your room are in relation to your TV.

The Sync Box has 4 HDMI inputs. I only use 2 of them. I use the Google Streamer 4K, the successor to the Chromecast, and a Playstation 5. I immediately go to Netflix and turn on ‘Our Planet’. I expect to be able to test the Sync Box well with this colorful nature series.

I have a number of Philips Hue White and Color E27 lamps in the living room. I have a Philips Hue Solo Lightstrip under the TV. The lighting fills the space and colors beautifully. With action films such as ‘Top Gun’ it gives extra dynamics. With Philips Hue lamps from the Play line I could have gotten even more out of it. Maybe I should replace my Lightstrip with a Gradient variant after all.

The big advantage of the new Sync Box is that it supports 120 Hz at 4K. I tried this with a Playstation 5. This went effortlessly and gave a nice smooth image. I do not have an 8K TV, so I was not able to test this image quality.

I am impressed with the Philips Hue Sync Box 8K. The installation was easy, and it makes even the simplest movies or series more fun to watch. Keep in mind that you only use separate input devices in combination with the Sync Box, such as a Chromecast or console. So you do not use the apps that are on your smart TV. Do you really want this? Then check whether your TV is suitable for the (paid) Philips Hue Sync app.

After a long wait, the time had finally come: the release of the Sync Box 8K.
My old sync box had seen better days and was no longer able to keep up with the latest technologies, so the arrival of this update was a welcome surprise for me.
The Sync Box 8K takes Hue light synchronization to the next level and fits perfectly with the current generation of image technology. What makes this new version so special is the support for 8K resolution and up to 120Hz at 4K, which is a real game-changer for gamers like me. Whether you use a PlayStation 5 or a powerful PC, the difference in frame rate and smoothness is immediately noticeable. It feels like you are being sucked even deeper into your games, with the ambient light that moves perfectly with the action on the screen.
If, like me, you use the Sync Box 8K in combination with an Apple TV, there is one important thing to pay attention to. Make sure you set the Apple TV to "match framerate". If you don't do this, you will experience annoying screen flickering, and of course you want to avoid that.
Although the Sync Box 8K is slightly wider than its predecessor, the design has remained virtually unchanged. Personally, I think that's fine, because the simple and sleek look remains timeless. What I really appreciate is that an HDMI 2.1 cable is included. You need this to enjoy that 120Hz at 4K resolution, and it's nice that I didn't have to search for it separately. In short, the Sync Box 8K is a very successful update of an already innovative product. Whether you're watching movies or playing games, this new version ensures that the experience is taken to an even higher level.

I bought the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8K for the beautiful lighting effects, and the device certainly does not disappoint. The synchronization of the light with what is happening on the screen really creates a special atmosphere. However, because I do not yet have enough Hue lamps that can give fully colored light, the effect is a little less impressive than I had hoped.

A nice addition would be a light rail to further enhance the effect. But if, like me, you are mainly going for the light function, the price of the device is quite high. Nevertheless, it remains a solid product from Hue, with easy installation and a sleek finish that fits well in any interior.