Hands up if you've ever tried to spice up movie night by sticking some IKEA strip lights behind your telly, hoping to conjure a bit of mood lighting magic? No shame, we've all been there. But if you’ve ever wished those lights actually reacted to what was on screen—rather than just glowing in a vague rainbow—WiZ’s new HDMI Sync Box might just be the upgrade your setup’s been waiting for.

WiZ, the more budget-friendly sibling to Philips Hue (both Signify-owned), has officially stepped into the home cinema space with the WiZ HDMI Sync Box with TV Backlight. Like Hue’s own HDMI Play Sync Box, WiZ’s version mirrors your TV’s visuals in real time by syncing colours across a back-mounted LED strip—and any other compatible WiZ lights on the same network.

Its biggest draw? Price. It significantly undercuts Hue’s equivalent—and that’s before you even add Hue’s light strips to the bill. WiZ’s box comes bundled with its own segmented LED strip and is offered in two sizes: one for 55–65" TVs, and another for larger 75–85" screens.

That said, there are some compromises. The WiZ box is limited to HDMI 2.0 (compared to Hue’s HDMI 2.1), which means it tops out at 4K/60Hz video pass-through. That’s adequate for most streaming content, but less appealing for gamers chasing high frame rates on the latest consoles.

It also includes just one HDMI input, whereas Hue’s model supports four. Those with multiple source devices will need to consider adding an external HDMI switch to keep everything connected.

Still, the WiZ Sync Box brings plenty to the table. The included LED strip mounts to three sides of your TV, and the system can link with any number of WiZ lights that support both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. There are four preset sync modes—Cinematic, Vibrant, Relaxation, and Rhythmic—or you can fine-tune brightness, saturation, and intensity via the app. A built-in microphone also allows for music-reactive lighting, extending the mood lighting beyond the screen.

Because the box reads the HDMI signal directly (rather than relying on a front-facing camera), so it avoids the latency issues in some rival systems. The result is smoother, more responsive ambient lighting to match your viewing.

WiZ is also expanding its smart lighting range with the launch of the Gradient Floor Light and Gradient Light Bars, both of which can be added to the setup for a more immersive experience. These are Matter-compatible and support control via the WiZ app, voice assistants, or the brand’s optional remote.

WiZ’s HDMI Sync Box might not match Hue spec-for-spec, but it brings enough smarts and simplicity to make ambient lighting feel like a natural extension of your home cinema setup. For anyone chasing that extra layer of immersion without getting lost in the weeds—or the cost—it’s a welcome addition to the smart lighting space.

WiZ’s HDMI Sync Box with TV Backlight, Gradient Floor Light, and Gradient Light Bars are expected to ship globally starting in May 2025.

For more information visit WiZ