Philips Hue Play Smart Wall Washer Review

Philips Hue launched the Play Wall Washer back in June and is apparently designed to replace the Play Lightbar.

This is a multi-purpose ambient light, but it will likely be popular with those wanting to create ambient lighting effects for TVs, and this would be a perfect addition for the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box.

Related Reviews

• Philips Hue Datura Ceiling Light Review
• Philips Hue Twilight Review
• Philips Hue Floodlight Camera Review
• Philips Hue Smart Wall Switch Module Review
• Philips Hue Surimu Rectangle Panel Review
• Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box Review

Specification / Features

Unboxing / Design

The Wall Washer single-piece aluminium construction feels substantial at approximately 700 grams, providing confidence in long-term durability.

The overall appearance of the Wall Washer is unremarkable but inoffensive. It is designed to sit facing your wall, so all you really see is a black or white tubular-shaped object.

On the front side, the Wall Washer has three distinctive LED sections, which look a bit odd when faced at you, but you shouldn’t ever see them.

Three small rubber feet on the base ensure stable positioning on smooth surfaces. The feet provide sufficient grip for typical usage scenarios.

The power lead runs out under the LED side, which seemed odd at first, but it makes hiding the cable easier when it is wall-mounted.

The included power adapter remains unchanged from previous Hue generations. I would love it is brand like this adopted USB-C to provide some more flexibility, plus the power adaptor is quite bulky for a low powered device.

Set Up

Integrating the Wall Washer into your Hue system is the same as most Hue products. I went into the settings to add a new light, scanned the QR code, waited for Hue to find it, then selected the light and assigned it to a room.

Installing the Play Wall Washer is straightforward if you are already in the Hue ecosystem. Using the Hue app, scan the lamp’s QR code, the light is automatically detected, and after assigning it to a room, it is ready for immediate use. If you do not have a Bridge, pairing by Bluetooth is also possible, though this limits access to advanced automation and effects.

The light must be plugged in, so proximity to a socket is necessary. Setup took only a few minutes, and the lamp was quickly integrated into larger scenes with my other Philips Hue lights, including floor lamps, light strips, and bulbs across multiple rooms.

The angle and position are key to achieving the best effect. I was only sent one Wall Washer, but a two-pack would likely be better for most scenarios. For a TV setup, I’d ideally have two wall washers on either side of the screen to achieve the best light spread, avoiding dark shadows above or below the TV when used in conjunction with corner lamps and light strips.

For my situation, I used the Wall Washer in two different places. I started with using it behind a speaker in my office, with it providing a pleasant ambient light. I am very sensitive to light, so I prefer to avoid any bright lights pointing directly at me, so this set-up is ideal for me.

I later moved the wall washer behind my TV. It is probably not the ideal location, but it is the best compromise for a single device.

Performance

Brightness and Light Distribution

The Wall Washer’s 1,035-lumen output delivers genuinely impressive results across diverse lighting scenarios. In completely dark environments, the device provides sufficient illumination for comfortable navigation whilst maintaining the indirect, non-glaring characteristics essential for ambient lighting applications.

Light distribution patterns exceed expectations, particularly when positioned 20-30 centimetres from target walls. The three-LED arrangement creates smooth coverage extending from floor level to typical ceiling heights, with intensity remaining remarkably even across the projection area. This performance represents a clear improvement over Light Bar configurations, which often create hotspots and uneven coverage patterns.

The ColorCast technology’s effectiveness becomes apparent when cycling through colour transitions. Where competing products display visible banding or abrupt colour changes, the Wall Washer maintains smooth gradients even during rapid colour cycling. This technological advantage proves particularly valuable during TV synchronisation, where frequent colour changes could otherwise create distracting visual artifacts.

TV Synchronisation Performance

Testing with the HDMI Sync Box reveals the Wall Washer’s capabilities in home entertainment applications. Latency remains imperceptible during normal viewing, with colour changes tracking on-screen content accurately across diverse content types. The three-zone configuration allows more nuanced colour representation compared to single-zone alternatives, creating more believable ambient effects.

However, the Wall Washer’s vertical orientation limits optimal positioning options for TV setups. Unlike horizontally mountable Light Bars, the Wall Washer must stand upright, restricting placement to surfaces beside or behind viewing positions. This limitation often necessitates purchasing multiple units to achieve comprehensive room coverage, significantly increasing total system costs.

The gradient effect works particularly well with landscape content – nature documentaries, films with prominent sky elements, and similar material benefit from the vertical colour transitions. Content with predominantly horizontal colour elements may not showcase the Wall Washer’s capabilities as effectively.

Ambient Lighting Applications

Beyond entertainment applications, the Wall Washer excels as a general ambient lighting solution. The ability to dim to extremely low levels whilst maintaining colour accuracy makes it suitable for bedroom applications, particularly as a wake-up light alternative to dedicated products like the Twilight.

Wake-up automation sequences demonstrate the ColorCast technology’s sophistication. Gradual transitions from deep red through orange to bright white create convincing sunrise simulations. The three-zone arrangement allows subtle colour variations that enhance the natural effect beyond what single-zone devices can achieve.

Temperature range spanning 2000K to 6500K provides versatility for different times of day and activities. Cool white output at maximum brightness proves sufficient for casual reading when positioned appropriately, though the Wall Washer should not be considered a task lighting solution.

Price and Alternative Options

The Philips Hue Play Smart Wall Washer is available as an individual unit for £170 or a two-pack for £299.

Products from the Hue range, which you may use for similar purposes, include:

• Play Light Bar for £120 for a two-pack
• Play Gradient Light Tube compact for £170
• Play Gradient Light Tube large for £190
• Iris Table Lamp for £95
• Signe Gradient Floor Lamp for £280

There are not really any like-for-like alternative options, but Govee has some night products that paint walls with light, including:

• Govee Uplighter Floor Lamp for £150
• Govee Torchiere Floor lamp for £98

Overall

The Philips Hue Play Smart Wall Washer is another great addition to the Hue product lineup. When used with a TV, I would say I definitely prefer it to the older Light Bar, as it is easier to position, significantly brighter, and produces better lighting effects with a wider light spread.

As always with Philips Hue, the Wall Washer has a premium price tag for what you are getting, but I have yet to use a smart home lighting ecosystem that comes close to Philips Hue.

Overall, if you are already invested in Philips Hue and are looking for an impressive ambient lighting experience, then the Wall Washer is an excellent choice and is perfect for TV and gaming setups.

James Smythe( Editor-in-chief )

I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.

As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.

In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.