Philips Hue Play Gradient Lightstrip for PC Review: Color Syncing for Games, Music, and Movies

It's especially suited to gaming PCs because of the smart lighting. Dynamic accent lighting and colorful light can add to the experience of music, movies, and games. That's what the Play Gradient Lightstrip for PC does. You can use the app on your phone to work with it.

The lightstrip has the ability to display different colors at the same time. The Play Gradient Lightstrip is one of the most expensive smart lighting products on the market and it's because of this. The three lightstrips for monitors are 24 to 27 inches, 32 to 34 inches, and a bundle for a trio of 24 to 27 inch monitors. You need a bridge as well.

Simple setup.

If you want to use smart TV apps, you have to pay a fee for the Sync Box, which isn't compatible with smart TV apps. Even though it's still pricey, the Play Gradient Lightstrip for PC is a simpler and cheaper option.

The lightstrip is made of rubber and flexible material. The guides in the box hold the strip in place on the back of the monitor. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. There was only one hairy moment when I tried to plug the cord in.

I was prepared to tackle the software, but it was easy to set up. The lightstrip was added with a tap of the button on the front since I already have a bridge. It appeared in both my app and the one I use to control my home. Corsair's iCue software can be used to sync lighting effects with your PC components, keyboard, and mouse, if you have an RGB lighting setup on your PC.

The simple app is used by most people. Scenes are suited to different activities or are just a blend of colors. There are different ways to sync with different kinds of content.

There is coordination of color.

The desktop app has modes for games, music, and video, as well as light sync, which is one of the reasons why you should get the Play Gradient Light Strip for PC. You can choose from Subtle, Moderate, High, or Extreme if you want to start sync. The options determine how often the lightstrip tries to match the action on the screen.

You will want to try out new things. I preferred a lower intensity for most content, even though a higher Frequency worked well with action-packed movies, first-person shooters, and electronic dance music. The Extreme mode can be a bit confusing for music and movies, but transitions are smooth and the light strip does a great job of color matching.

The strip is great for games. It was a pleasant addition to Total War: Warhammer III, but it made me want to play more horror games like Alien Isolation.