Philips 2023 Ambilight TVs will drop a key immersive visual feature I loved
Ambilight+Hue? You now have to subtract 2023, sadly
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Until now, I thought 2023 was the year cinema truly came home. Thebest Dolby Atmos soundbarsbring ever more immersive soundscapes to movies, thebest OLED TVsbring bigger and better visuals – and ifGuardians of the Galaxy 3’s final scene didn’t prove most of us prefer staying at home to watch a flick, I don’t know what does.
And then this. 2023 Philips Ambilight TVs are losing a much-loved immersive feature to me personally – namely, the ability to sync withPhilips Hue home lights(aka some of thebest smart lightsyou’ll ever own), typically handled by yourHue Bridge. It seems like a step back in the world of immersive entertainment, no?
The news was first reported by Philips-focussed blogToengel(viaFlatpanelshd) and has since been confirmed by Philips TVs (toHueBlog.com).
In case you’re not familiar with it, Ambilight is a lovely Philips innovation first launched back in 2004. Essentially, it is a TV lighting system built into the back of the set (althoughPhilips Huealso now offers aHue lightstrip to turn any set into an Ambilight TV) that responds to on-screen action, thus extending visuals far beyond your TV’s screen. Previously, this could be enhanced even further by syncing your Ambilight TV with Philips' range of Hue home smart lights (known as the Ambilight+Hue feature), spreading the colors of a movie all over your room.
But it’ll be gone from future TVs. It just seems so odd, especially in light ofSamsung TVs getting Philips Hue support (albeit with a pricey app) earlier this yearand even airplane TVs adding new personalized immersive light shows in 2023 – seePanasonic’s new Astrova in-flight entertainment system, which lets passengers “extend (their) branded environment with integrated LED lighting to create a holistic cabin experience”.
That’s right, you can now make your spot in the cabin an ode to Philips Hue and Ambilight, if you’d like – but you won’t be able to do it with Philips 2023 Ambilight TVs.
Opinion: don’t turn out the lights!
Why has Philips dropped its Ambilight+Hue feature for its newest 2023 Ambilight TVs? According to a spokesperson for Philips, low up-take alongside Ambilight’s increasing sophistication as a standalone feature are the reasons for canning support. And they may have a point, in last year’s fantasticPhilips OLED807, the feature gained even greater color detail and accuracy.
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The spokesperson also said that there’s another “big step” coming in Ambilight next year, although what could be better than extending your screen even further than Ambilight, with actual lights, I cannot imagine.
As we said in our 2022-releasePhilips OLED807 review, Ambilight’s “unique-to-Philips technology spreads light that matches what’s on-screen across the walls, making the TV feel even bigger, and helping with eye comfort and atmosphere… it really is a compelling addition.” So, the fresh crop 2023 TVs mustreallybe able to spread light all by themselves.
Another notable factor as to why the Ambilight+Hue partnership isn’t being continued is that neither product is actually made by Philips. Philips' TVs are made by TP Vision, and Philips Hue lights are actually made by Signify, so perhaps the two different manufacturers have somewhat conflicting visions for the future.
But don’t despair, Hue and Ambilight lover! Other fans of the gloriously escapist Ambilight+Hue experience do still have an option: Signify (the company that actually makes Philips' Hue lights) and itsHue Play HDMI Sync box, which choreographs your smart lights to your TV’s visuals. As we said in the review linked above, it comes at a steep price, but those looking to create a unique and truly impressive entertainment space won’t be disappointed with the purchase.
It’s worth noting that Philips' 2023 Ambilight TVs will continue to support Ambilight with gaming, Spotify and other applications – but I still think dropping Hue support is a sad day, especially whenHue lights are about to get a big free update that’ll fine tune the setup…
Becky became Audio Editor at TechRadar in 2024, but joined the team in 2022 as Senior Staff Writer, focusing on all things hi-fi. Before this, she spent three years at What Hi-Fi? testing and reviewing everything from wallet-friendly wireless earbuds to huge high-end sound systems. Prior to gaining her MA in Journalism in 2018, Becky freelanced as an arts critic alongside a 22-year career as a professional dancer and aerialist – any love of dance starts with a love of music. Becky has previously contributed to Stuff, FourFourTwo and The Stage. When not writing, she can still be found throwing shapes in a dance studio, these days with varying degrees of success.
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