Philips Hue Play White and Color Ambiance Light Bar

Set the scene

Adding colorful backlighting behind my TV really upped my entertainment game. And the LED strip I have back there isn't even smart — I have to turn it on with a chintzy remote. Play from Philips Hue makes it so much easier (and more fun). Like the rest of the "white and color ambiance" collection, this light bar lets you choose from over 16 million colors and 50,000 shades of cool to warm white light.

To set up the Play, you'll need a Philips Hue Bridge (sold separately). Then, you can use the Hue mobile app to select color and brightness, right from the palm of your hand. Use it from anywhere in your home, or even when you're not at home. The HDMI Sync Box (sold separately) even lets you synchronize your lights to your movies, music, and games.

Mounting options

The Play light bar can be attached to the wall behind your TV or directly to the back of your TV using the included mounting clip. It also comes with a stand that lets you place it upright for a bit more directional flexibility. Or you can simply lay it flat on a table or TV stand.

You can choose a single light bar or a pack of two. But the wall adapter included in either kit can actually support up to three bars. That means you can expand your smart lighting later with the add-on Extension Bar (sold separately). And if you need a little extra line between a bar and the wall adapter — you can pick up an Extension Cable.

Control it with your voice

You can control your lighting system hands-free if you've got a voice assistant. Play works with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant. That means you can turn your lights on or off, dim them, and recall your favorite presets just by asking.

Other control options

Operating your lights with an app or your voice is fun, but you might find that some members of the household prefer a good old fashioned wall switch. If so, you can pick up a Hue dimmer or Tap. Or, if you've got a lot of smart gadgets you want to easily operate from one place, try replacing a wall outlet with a Brilliant Smart Home Control.