Best Philips Hue Play Bar Alternatives
The Philips Hue Plays bars are great for connecting to the back of your TV or Computer screen, syncing with what is happening on that screen the lights can change color to match.
While The Hue plays bars work beautifully with the Hue Sync app on computer, or using the Hue Sync box it can sync with what is showing on your TV, it is expensive, and while not compatible with Hue itself, there are alternatives that work just like the Play bars.
What do the play bars do? The play bars look like computer speakers, however instead of sound they give off light, positioned either side of your screen or on the back, they produce and shine a light allowing you to create mood lighting, sync with music or the colors on-screen.
Best Hue Play Bar Alternatives
Here are a round up of suitable alternatives to the Hue play bars, please note however these are not compatible with Hue and cannot be used with Hue entertainment areas.
Philips Hue Play Light Bars Alternative includes:
- Corsair iCUE LT100 Smart Lighting Tower Starter Kit
- ZUUKOO LIGHT Smart LED Light Bar
- Magiacous Smart Light Bars
Below we take a look at these in a little more detail.
Corsair iCUE LT100 Smart Lighting Tower Starter Kit
These dynamic stick like light bars are stylish looking and look and work great. They can be linked together in a daisy chain allowing you to expand them, you get two, however you can also buy them individually and link them together.
You can synchronize your ambient lighting to dynamically match the on-screen action in games, movies, and videos, or turn your room into a living visualizer for your music.
With this starter kit you get two connected 422mm-tall light towers that have 46 customisable LEDs each, a 1.5m extension cable, an external power supply, and a removable headset holder which is great extra for the gamers.
ZUUKOO LIGHT Smart LED Light Bar
These light bars are very similar to the version from Hue, there is 2 lights that come on stands, they are wifi enabled and can be set using 27 Preset Modes. You get 2 Light Bars with 60-inch cable, these can be stood up using the included stands or stuck to your screen using the sticky pads.
You can use the app that works on your phone, they are also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant via Wi-Fi, you can easily control the RGBW light bars: power on/off, change colors, or adjust brightness through simple voice commands to create an ideal movie or gaming experience.
Unfortunately these cannot sync with your screen like the Hue Plays bars can, these options can sync with music or be set to a fixed color.
Magiacous Smart Light Bars
In the box you get 2 light bars that can be used to set the mood, with the mounts and stands you can positions these either side of your screen or TV, set the color depending on your mood or game.
Connect with Smart Life APP you can set the color, or use the zestful music and scene modes. Using the app you can have the lights change to the beat of the music or you can just set a standard color. These can sync with music and be adjusted but they cannot sync with your screen.
Hue Iris
This light from Hue is cheaper than the play bars but can still be used with the Hue sync app. You do need a second gen bridge, however it allows you to create and use an entertainment area and for the light to adjust to your screen and the colors on there.
It is not as bright at 210 lumens compared to the Play Bar’s 530 lumens of light, but it is a cheaper alternative and works just as well. It is also compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri like other Hue lights.
If you want to use Hue sync, instead of the Hue play bars you could use other Hue products, such as the Sign light bars, or the Hue Go or bloom either side of your screen.
Which to buy?
The one to purchase depends on your needs and how you intend to use the lights, for mood lighting and syncing with music they are all great options, for gaming the Corsair iCUE is great and can be expanded to make an awesome set up.
If you want to sync your lights to movies then the play bars or the Hue gradient light strip is certainly the way to go, there are cheaper alternatives but for this and if you already have a Hue set up and bridge, certainly look at these.
Founder & Editor
Mike is the founder of Hue Home Lighting, a huge Hue fan with far too many lights, covering home and garden. A smart home gadget addict and also enjoys the odd bit of DIY
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