Signify used IFA 2026 in Berlin to drop the biggest Philips Hue launch in years: a camera-based TV sync system, a cheaper 4K HDMI sync box, a 360-degree rope light, new Signe fixtures, expanded outdoor lighting, and gradient strips cuttable to fit TVs up to 100 inches. It is a sweeping update that touches entertainment lighting, design pieces, and the outdoors — with availability rolling out through September and October.
Entertainment: sync without the HDMI box
The most interesting new product is the Hue Play Screen Sync camera, priced at $120. It is a small fisheye-lens camera that mounts above your TV and watches the screen, syncing your Hue lights to on-screen content in real time. Because it is input-agnostic — no HDMI passthrough required — it works with built-in TV apps, game consoles, and anything else on screen. Paired with a Hue Bridge or the new Bridge Pro, it can drive up to 10 lights, making it a far more affordable alternative to the HDMI sync box route.
For those who prefer the box, there is a new Play HDMI Sync Box 4K at $150. It supports 4K at 60Hz or 1440p at 120Hz, comes in a slimmer chassis, and — notably — can sync to a single gradient light strip directly without needing a bridge at all. It undercuts the existing $385 8K model substantially, bringing high-quality sync within reach of more living rooms. A software option, Philips Hue Play Screen Sync, starts at $169.99, and bridgeless sync combinations pair the sync box 4K or Screen Sync software with a Hue Play gradient strip.
Speaking of strips, the Play gradient strip light Pro arrives in 65-inch and 100-inch options starting at $249.99, and the whole Play gradient strip line is now cuttable with new size options covering televisions up to 100 inches. An 85-inch gradient strip at $209.99 rounds out the range.
Design: Liane, Signe, and OmniGlow
On the design front, the standout is the Philips Hue Liane 360-degree rope light, starting at $559.99. Using advanced optics, it emits light from all sides of the tube rather than one — a genuine departure from traditional strip lights — and it is flexible enough to wrap around walls, furniture, and architectural details. It uses Hue’s OmniGlow technology for an even, diffused color gradient along its length.
The Signe family grows with a new pendulum and pole, starting at $399.99, joining the existing floor and table lamps. Outdoors, the new OmniGlow outdoor strip light starts at $309.99 in various lengths, and the Festavia holiday line adds new nets, icicles, and curtain lights. The Neon Outdoor Lightstrip comes in 3, 5, and 10 meters (up to 1,100 lumens each), with the 10-meter version already on sale in Europe.
Under the hood: multiprotocol and the Bridge Pro question
Technically, Hue’s 2026 hardware moves to concurrent multiprotocol support — Bluetooth, Zigbee, and Thread running on the same bulb — keeping the door open to every ecosystem while Hue’s own mesh remains Zigbee-based for now. The software story, however, increasingly revolves around the $140 Bridge Pro: upcoming custom AI behaviors and the long-requested Backup & Restore feature are both Bridge Pro exclusives, a paywall pattern that has drawn criticism even from Hue enthusiasts.
There is also a privacy wrinkle worth knowing: new Hue features increasingly require a Hue cloud account, and backup data will live in Signify’s cloud. For a brand built on local reliability, that is a philosophical shift as much as a technical one.
Pricing pressure and the competition
Hue’s 2026 pricing tells its own story. The lineup spans genuine budget plays — a $120 camera sync, a $150 sync box — and unapologetic premium pieces like the $559.99 Liane. But Signify is raising prices in some markets even as IKEA, Govee, and the Home Assistant ecosystem squeeze from below with Matter-native alternatives at a fraction of the cost. Hue’s bet is that its entertainment sync, design catalog, and rock-solid reliability justify the premium. With this IFA lineup, that bet at least comes with the strongest hardware the brand has ever shipped.
A note on regional pricing
One source of confusion in early coverage: prices vary by region, and some figures circulating are in Canadian dollars. The $120 Screen Sync camera, $150 Sync Box 4K, and $249.99 Gradient Lightstrip Pro figures are US pricing; Canadian listings run higher. European pricing for the Neon outdoor strips (€139.99–€349.99) reflects VAT-inclusive norms. The practical takeaway: check your regional Hue store before budgeting, and expect the usual transatlantic gap on premium pieces like the $559.99 Liane.
Availability
Most entertainment and design products go on sale starting September 3, the Gradient Lightstrip Pro follows on September 15, and the 85-inch gradient strip lands October 6, with Signe and OmniGlow pieces arriving in late October. If you have been waiting to build out a Hue entertainment setup, this fall is the moment.