Main points
- The new partnership expands the availability of the Philips Hue TV Sync app and offers recurring payment plans.
- Control your Philips Hue lights with the Samsung SmartThings app for a more synchronized home experience.
- Samsung loyalists should consider using Philips Hue smart lighting to enhance their TV-centric home setup.
Samsung today announced an expanded partnership with Philips Hue to create a more integrated, immersive smart home experience with TV at its core. Philips Hue is the leader in smart lighting, with a range of light strips, fixtures and bulbs designed to illuminate your home and allow for incredibly specific customization.
SmartThings and Philips Hue
The announcement means users will be able to take advantage of Samsung’s SmartThings app and control any Philips Hue lighting accessory. While the Philips Hue Sync TV app was previously compatible with certain Samsung smart TVs, the new integration allows for more convenient control from Galaxy mobile devices. This will make it easier for your smart lights to sync with content on your Samsung TV, whether you’re enjoying dark drama, live sports, or a great video game.
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Essentially, the move brings lighting configurations into Samsung’s growing system of connected smart devices, so you can control lighting as well as any other device already integrated in SmartThings, including cameras, fitness trackers, and home appliances.
Essentially, the move brings lighting configurations into Samsung’s growing system of connected smart devices
Philips Hue TV Sync app extension
As part of the new partnership, users in Brazil, Hong Kong, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia will now be able to access the app. Additionally, the $129.99 Philips app is now available as a recurring plan, as follows: Well, that’s set at $2.99 per month.
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The move is odd, but is likely to cushion the initial price shock for new users and is intended to get more people using the app. It’s much easier to spend $3 a month to test something. Still, after a few months you’ll be in a better position to decide whether to invest in a one-time purchase, because if you like it, you’ll eventually have to pay for it.
Users must purchase the Philips app to enjoy the benefits of SmartThings integration.
Who should take advantage
If you’re a die-hard Samsung fan, this move might prompt you to invest in Philips as your smart lighting company. It’s also useful for those who prefer a Samsung smart TV with a premium sound system, whether it’s a soundbar or a larger surround sound system. If your TV is the centerpiece of your home, playing music, movies, TV shows and video games, then Samsung wants you to upgrade your smart lighting with Philips. It won’t be cheap, but it does sound convenient.