
This auto Philips Hue smart light might replace all my home lights
Philips Hue's new Wall Washer smart has me seriously reconsidering every boring white wall at home. This isn't just another smart light you chuck behind the telly and forget about – it's aiming to be the centrepiece.
Hue's calling it 'immersive entertainment lighting,' which might actually check out. The Wall Washer throws out rich colour gradients using something Philips dubbed ColorCast projection. This shines beams of light up on to your wall to perfectly coat it however you'd like. It plays nice with the Hue Sync box, the app, your computer, even Alexa, but you can also just switch it on.
Design-wise, it's made from aluminium with a matte finish that even looks good even when it's turned off. That's a win, because I've got more than enough plastic glowing tubes already. You get proper control here: drag-and-drop light positioning, customisable intensity, and even the ability to angle the thing however you'd like.
Since we're living in 2025, Philips is about to release an AI assistant for Hue Lights. This can supposedly take your vague description ( think 'cosy Sunday', 'disco kitchen', and so on) and turn it into a custom lighting scene. If nothing in the app fits the bill, it'll just make something up on the fly. I'm not sure how useful it'll be, but if that's your thing, it can now take over your walls entirely.
The Philips Hue Play Wall Washer is available now in the UK, US, Canada, and EU in black or white. A single unit will cost you $220/£170/€200, while a 2-pack goes for $385/£300/€350. The AI assistant is rolling out in the UK this July, with global access coming by the end of August.

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Stuff.tv
6 days ago
- Stuff.tv
This auto Philips Hue smart light might replace all my home lights
Philips Hue's new Wall Washer smart has me seriously reconsidering every boring white wall at home. This isn't just another smart light you chuck behind the telly and forget about – it's aiming to be the centrepiece. Hue's calling it 'immersive entertainment lighting,' which might actually check out. The Wall Washer throws out rich colour gradients using something Philips dubbed ColorCast projection. This shines beams of light up on to your wall to perfectly coat it however you'd like. It plays nice with the Hue Sync box, the app, your computer, even Alexa, but you can also just switch it on. Design-wise, it's made from aluminium with a matte finish that even looks good even when it's turned off. That's a win, because I've got more than enough plastic glowing tubes already. You get proper control here: drag-and-drop light positioning, customisable intensity, and even the ability to angle the thing however you'd like. Since we're living in 2025, Philips is about to release an AI assistant for Hue Lights. This can supposedly take your vague description ( think 'cosy Sunday', 'disco kitchen', and so on) and turn it into a custom lighting scene. If nothing in the app fits the bill, it'll just make something up on the fly. I'm not sure how useful it'll be, but if that's your thing, it can now take over your walls entirely. The Philips Hue Play Wall Washer is available now in the UK, US, Canada, and EU in black or white. A single unit will cost you $220/£170/€200, while a 2-pack goes for $385/£300/€350. The AI assistant is rolling out in the UK this July, with global access coming by the end of August.


Stuff.tv
21-05-2025
- Stuff.tv
The WiiM Sound does a pretty convincing impression of Apple's long-rumoured next HomePod
If rumours are to be believed Apple has had a HomePod with a screen in the works for a couple of years now, and at first glance you'd be forgiven for thinking this is it – but the WiiM Sound is more of a Sonos rival than a smart speaker. With its HomePod-esque chassis and 1.8in touchscreen, the WiiM Sound could certainly pass for a new version of Apple's original smart speaker, but the only microphone you'll find is built into the remote (although you can use Alexa or Google Assistant via your phone). Inside there's a 4in woofer and a couple of tweeters, with 100W of amplification to push your choice of tunes out of them, and Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3 and ethernet to pipe them into it in the first place. If that WiiM logo at the bottom wasn't enough of a giveaway that this isn't a new HomePod, perhaps the fact that AirPlay 2 and Apple Music are absent is, so you'll just have to make do with Spotify Connect, Chromecast, Tidal Connect, DLNA, or Alexa Cast. Support for hi-res files up to 24-bit/192 kHz is also present and correct. It'll automatically make sonic adjustments to compensate for the acoustics of the room you put it in, but there's also an EQ you can fiddle with in the WiiM app if you're not happy with how it sounds. Buy two WiiM Sound speakers and you can connect them together to form a stereo pair, plus it's also possible to use them as part of a 5.1 surround-sound setup. With the price yet to be revealed it's impossible to say how affordable that will be, although WiiM kit tends to be pretty reasonably priced. We'll find out for sure when the WiiM Sound goes on sale in the second half of this year. Could we still see Apple's own version before then? Related: Best wireless speakers in 2025 for music streaming via Wi-Fi


Stuff.tv
15-05-2025
- Stuff.tv
This box is a cheaper way to get a Philips Hue-style TV lightshow
Phlips Hue has enabled you to sync your lights with your TV for a little while now but it can be an expensive system. Hue's cheaper stablemate from owner Signify is Wiz. The company also does a truckload of smart lights sat a more modest and it's now turned its attention to the TV with a similar product to Hue's HDMI Sync Box (now also available in a tasty high-end 8K flavor). The HDMI Sync Box with TV Backlight is a cheaper alternative to the Hue Sync Box available in two sizes for £80/€90 (55-65in TVs) or £100/€110 (75-85in). It comes with an LED lightstrip that you add to the back of your TV to produce an Ambilight-style effect. The Sync Box is basically like an HDMI switcher between your devices – like a set top box or streaming stick – and your TV. The Sync Box reacts to what's coming to your screen and changes your lights accordingly to match the colors and brightness of your TV. Unlike some products such as the Nanoleaf 4D Screen Mirror, you don't have a camera pointed at your TV. Everything is controlled via the Wiz app so the Sync Box will 'know' where your Wiz lights are and be able to adjust colours accordingly to what's on the screen. You're also able to control the lights with Google or Alexa voice control and there's a remote control for the box, too. The Wiz HDMI Sync Box with TV Backlight supports HDMI 2.0 and works with pictures up to 4K 60Hz with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. The lightstrip is three-sided and is designed for easy mounting on the back of your TV. Sadly even Philips Hue no long syncs with Philips Ambilight TVs out of the box now (they're made by different companies). So even if you have a 2023 Ambilight TV or later you need an alternative solution. The HDMI Sync Box works with any WiZ color-capable light that supports both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. You can link as many lights to the Sync Box as you like as long as they're on the same Wi-Fi network. A built-in microphone can also capture audio playing from any source and make your lights change color and brightness along with music playing in the room. Hue has also debuted new Gradient Light Bars and a Gradient Floor light (check it out below) that can be used to 'wash' your walls in light to match your TV. Play