Philips Hue Play Light Bar

Quick verdict

The Play bar is Hue's dedicated TV and desk accent light. It mounts behind a monitor or TV and throws color onto the wall behind it. Each bar is one color at a time, so do not confuse this with the Gradient strip that shows multiple colors simultaneously. For a TV setup, you will want at least 2 bars. Pair them with the Hue Sync Box or desktop app to match your screen content, or just set static colors through Home Assistant. They are overpriced for what they are, but the form factor is well-designed and they look clean behind a display.

Standout: Purpose-built for TV and monitor bias lighting with a compact mounting system and daisy-chain power.

Last checked: 2026-03-23

Compatibility snapshot

Why it stands out

• compact form factor designed specifically for mounting behind TVs and monitors
• works with Hue Sync for screen-matched ambient lighting if you want that
• power supply daisy-chains up to 3 bars, reducing cable clutter

Reasons to hesitate

• each bar is a single color zone, unlike the Gradient strip which displays multiple colors at once
• you need 2 or more bars for a decent TV bias lighting effect, sold separately or in double packs
• not bright enough for room lighting, this is purely accent and bias light

Best for

• TV and monitor bias lighting setups where you want color behind the screen
• desk setups and entertainment centers where a compact form factor matters

Avoid if

• you want multi-color gradients behind your TV. The Hue Gradient Lightstrip does that instead
• you need actual room lighting. These are accent-only brightness levels

Privacy and local-control notes

Through the Hue Bridge, control is fully local. No cloud needed for operation. The Hue Sync desktop app does phone home, but the light bar itself does not require it.

Home Assistant support: supported · integration path: native hue integration (via bridge) or zigbee2mqtt / ZHA.

Buying reality check

Price notes: Sold as singles or doubles. The double pack is better value. You will typically want 2 for a TV or 1 to 2 for a desk monitor.

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