Alternatives to Ambilight: smart lights worth connecting to your smart TV

Alternatives to Ambilight: smart lights worth connecting to your smart TV
Smart lights are becoming a must for anyone looking to fix their home theater system. After all, your TV is more than just an audio and visual treat – it's also a part of your home, and you want it to look stylish and have the best features. That's why Philips Ambilight TVs, which project colors onto the screen on the wall behind the TV, are so eye-catching, letting you enjoy a dynamic light show that syncs with what you're watching, adding an extra dimension to your TV. comfort of your life. room. While Philips Ambilight TVs are undeniably fantastic for creating such an effect, there are some great Ambilight alternatives out there too. We've picked four of our favorites available right now, including the Nanoleaf Shapes, Philips Hue Play Gradient Light Strip, and more affordable solutions like Govee and My Lamp. Worried you might be annoyed by the idea of ​​dynamic lighting behind your TV? Don't be. All of these solutions allow you to adjust things accordingly so the lights behind your setup can be as bright or subtle as you like. They usually add to the atmosphere, especially when playing an immersive game or watching a horror movie. They will also make the aesthetics of your living space much more pleasing. Read on as we discuss the best Ambilight alternatives currently available and who they'll work best for.

Nanosheets shapes

(Image credit: Nanoleaf)

1. Forms of nanofilts

A beautiful palette of colors and looks.

Reasons to buy + Very flexible + Easy to use software Reasons to avoid - Expensive setup may require some planning Thanks to Nanoleaf software, all your panels can reflect colors on your TV screen, but we focused on Nanoleaf shapes because to its great flexibility. Nanosheet shapes look absolutely fantastic on your wall. You will need to spend some time arranging them so that you can create the shape you want from the hexagonal pieces. Once you do, they'll look great beyond or on top of your TV, mirroring what's going on during the movie or game and adding much-needed atmosphere to your setup. The beauty of Nanoleaf Shapes is that you don't have to buy a specific size for your TV; you can simply rearrange their appearance to cover a smaller or larger area, which means they will adapt well to any size. I have. in the spirit. If you change your mind about an Ambilight alternative, you can also place them in another room and they'll still look great. If you're on a budget, a Nanoleaf Essentials light strip will work as well, if not in quite the same style. Read Our Full Nanosheet Shapes Review Today's Best Deals On Nanosheet Shapes

Philips Hue Play degraded light strip

(Image credit: Philips)

2. Philips Hue Play degraded light strip

The perfect choice for smart lighting enthusiasts

Reasons to Buy + Looks Fantastic + Philips Hue Integration Reasons to Avoid - Need accessories - Need to commit to a size If you already have a few Philips Hue items in your smart home, the Philips Hue Play Gradient Light Strip is a somewhat straightforward option. In fact, it works perfectly with Hue bulbs and requires the use of the Philips HDMI Sync Box to work properly with the content on your TV. If you're new to Philips Hue, the Philips Hue Play Gradient Light Strip is pricey and requires a few additional purchases to create a working system, but it's certainly the closest you'll get to a true Ambilight-style experience. a non-Philips TV. It only takes about 10 minutes to set up, works with all voice assistants, and did we mention it looks beautiful? You'll need to commit to a set-sized light strip that works for you and your TV (55-inch, 65-inch, or 75-inch), so if you're planning to upgrade soon, it's a good idea not to. until you know what size you are getting. Also, keep in mind that you'll need a few apps installed - Hue and Hue Sync - to fully use the controls, but that's not much of an issue when the results are this good. Read our Philips Hue Play Sync Box review here Today's best deals on Philips Hue light strips

Govee LED

(Image credit: Govee)

3. Govee TV LED Backlight (US)

An inexpensive option for many

Reasons to Buy + Alexa Compatibility + Inexpensive Reasons to Avoid -US Only -Not as smart as the other options If you don't want to spend a fortune on your TV backlight, let's just say if you haven't gotten in In concept, Govee has some great options. The best budget and versatile option is the Govee LED TV Backlight, which takes minutes to connect and is 3 meters long, making it ideal for most TVs. The downside is that it reacts to the music and sounds you're looking at rather than the screen itself, which means it's not as efficient as the Philips alternative. Still, when it's available at such a low price, it's certainly worth checking out, as the colors change depending on the dramatization of the music in whatever you're watching. Compatibility with Alexa and the Google Assistant is also useful if you don't want to keep reaching for your phone to control anything. US customers should give preference to Govee WiFi TV Backlight with Camera, which uses a camera to detect what is happening on the screen, providing more efficient color change depending on the mood. There's voice assistant support, too, and setup only takes a few minutes. Hopefully, it's only a matter of time until the device is released beyond the United States. Today's best deals on Govee LED strips

My led lamp

(Image credit: My Lamp)

4. My Lamp Smart TV backlight

Flexible design but limited functionality

Reasons to Buy + Great for more than your TV + remote as well as app support Reasons to Avoid -Syncs to Music Only -Fairly Basic If you're on the tightest of budgets and just want pretty lights, the My Lamp Smart TV backlight will do the job in a limited way. Like some Govee devices, this one will only sync to the music and sounds you hear, so there's no way you'll pay attention to the images on the screen. Still, it's remarkably inexpensive for what it offers, and its LED strip can be used anywhere, not just on your TV, so it's useful if you're not entirely sold on the mood lighting on your TV while watching your shows. favorites. Its size also means it works for everything from a 40-inch screen to a 60-inch screen, so there's plenty of room for the future. Although there's no voice assistant support, at least the presence of a remote means you're not tied to your smartphone at all times, and you can still pass the remote on to your kids without worrying about them tampering with your expensive iPhone.