The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8K is a great gadget to buy if you want to put your Hue lights to good use while watching a movie or playing video games. It syncs with your lights to mirror the colors on your TV, and it’s steeply discounted right now to a slightly more accessible price. You can currently get the box for $269.49 via the Philips Hue store, which is $115 off the going price at most other retailers (including Best Buy). This is part of the company’s ongoing “Bright Days” sale, which includes deals on a host of other lighting products.
The sync box is an HDMI hub that can accept up to four devices (gaming consoles, a PC, streaming devices, etc.), and it supports up to 8K passthrough at 60Hz to your TV, or 4K with a higher 120Hz refresh rate. It also offers passthrough support for HDR10 Plus and Dolby Vision HDR, as well as immersive Dolby Atmos audio.
One important note is that the Sync Box needs a Philips Hue Bridge to communicate with other Hue lights (including the gradient light strips that stick behind your TV). If you don’t have a Bridge, the standalone entry-level model typically costs about $65. However, I actually recommend opting for the discounted bundle on Philips Hue’s site, which nets you both products for $301.93, effectively halving the cost of the Bridge.
