# WiZ Takes on Philips Hue with Budget-Friendly TV Light Sync Box

## WiZ Takes on Philips Hue with Budget-Friendly TV Light Sync Box

WiZ, the smart lighting brand known for its affordability, is launching a new HDMI sync box designed to immerse you in your favorite movies and music. The WiZ HDMI Sync Box promises to bring dynamic, reactive lighting to your TV setup, all while significantly undercutting the price of its competitor, the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box.

Available next month, the WiZ HDMI Sync Box comes in two models: one bundled with a TV backlight strip for 55-inch to 65-inch screens, priced at $89.99, and another for larger 75-inch to 85-inch screens for $109.99. This pricing is a stark contrast to the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box, which starts at $249.99, *excluding* the cost of the necessary light strips. Both WiZ and Hue are owned by Signify, but their lighting ecosystems are not compatible.

The WiZ sync box works by directly reading the HDMI signal from your video source. This approach, also used by Philips Hue, offers a significant advantage over camera-based systems like those from Nanoleaf and Govee, eliminating potential latency issues and ensuring a real-time, seamless synchronization between the on-screen action and your lighting.

While WiZ offers a more budget-conscious alternative, there are some trade-offs. The WiZ box features only one HDMI input, whereas the Hue Play box supports four. This means users with multiple devices connected to their TV will need to manually switch between them, which may be a deal-breaker for some.

In terms of technical specifications, the WiZ Sync Box supports HDMI 2.0 and video formats up to 4K at 60Hz with HDR10 Plus and Dolby Vision. Philips Hue’s more expensive offering, the Play HDMI Box, boasts superior capabilities, supporting up to 8K video, HDMI 2.1, and refresh rates up to 120Hz for 4K gaming. However, the latest Hue Play HDMI Box also comes with a hefty $350 price tag.

Beyond video, the WiZ box also incorporates a built-in microphone to react to audio, allowing your lights to pulse and shift with the beat of your music. Control is versatile, offering options via the WiZ app, voice commands through Google Assistant or Alexa, or the dedicated WiZ remote control.

The Sync Box is compatible with any color-capable WiZ light that supports both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. To further enhance the ambient lighting experience, WiZ is also launching new Gradient Light Bars ($59.99) and a Gradient Floor Light ($89.99). These lights, designed to sit alongside your TV, add another layer of immersive color and atmosphere. All of WiZ’s lighting products are compatible with the Matter smart home standard, ensuring seamless integration with a wide range of smart home ecosystems.

With its competitive pricing and feature set, the WiZ HDMI Sync Box offers a compelling entry point into the world of dynamic TV lighting. While it lacks some of the advanced features of the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box, its significantly lower price makes it an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers looking to elevate their home entertainment experience.