Philips Hue usually goes big at IFA and this year’s Berlin tech expo is no exception with the smart light specialist taking the covers off of a bunch of new features, as well as some new lights and devices too.

For existing Hue users, the Signify-owned brand announced that it is adding AI-powered automations to the mix; and on the hardware side a cheaper Hue Sync Play box was revealed, alongside a camera-based TV syncing system, a raft of new smart lights… and there was a surprising Nanoleaf compatibility announcement too.

Starting with the new TV syncing options and the entertainment side of the Hue ecosystem is getting a pretty significant shake-up with the brand’s Philips Hue Play HDMI sync box 4K arriving to give users who don’t need the 8K action of the flagship sync box.

At less than half the price (£134.99 / $149.99) of the top model, there’s only a single HDMI on offer and, as the name suggests, the visuals are capped at 4K but it can still get your Hue lights in sync with the action on your screen… without the need for an additional camera as you might require with other brands.

However, on that front, and with native TV apps in mind (rather than an HDMI source), Signify has also taken the covers off Hue Play Screen Sync.

Like models we’ve seen from the likes of Govee, it’s a camera-based system that uses a fisheye lens and automatic calibration to watch the display in real time, analyze what’s being shown and translate the colors into dynamic lighting around the room.

That means it can work with practically anything displayed on the TV, including native smart-TV apps, broadcast television and devices connected through HDMI. If you’re watching Netflix through your TV’s built-in app, for example, Screen Sync can react to what’s happening on screen without needing an external streaming device to pass the video signal through a Hue sync box.

There is already an app for Samsung and LG users that allows you to do this without the need for a camera but, in my experience at least, it’s always been lacking compared to the additional hardware options.

So, hopefully, Screen Sync bridges this gap. It’s £109.99 / $119.99, so is now the cheapest way for Hue TV syncing action.

Signify is also now making it possible to get TV syncing without a Bridge.

One Philips Hue Play gradient strip light can connect directly to either Screen Sync or the HDMI sync box 4K over Bluetooth, allowing the strip to synchronize with your TV without a Hue Bridge.

If you do have a Bridge or Bridge Pro, however, the system can be expanded into a proper surround-lighting setup supporting up to 10 lights.

Switching to software and one of the most interesting announcements from Berlin was Custom AI Behaviors.

Available to owners of the Philips Hue Bridge Pro - which headlined last year’s Hue IFA launch bonanza - the idea is to make Hue’s automation system much easier to use.

Rather than manually combining triggers, conditions and lighting actions in the Hue app, you will be able to describe what you want in everyday language and let Hue’s AI assistant build the behavior for you.

For example, you could ask Hue to make your switches and motion sensors behave differently at weekends, trigger a particular scene whenever it gets dark rather than at a fixed time, or activate a specific lighting setup when your TV starts syncing; all with natural language, without the need to be configured manually.

Custom AI Behaviors are scheduled to arrive in early October for Bridge Pro users.

Hue is also addressing something that has been a longstanding annoyance for some users; what happens when you need to replace your Bridge, or it suddenly stops working.

Back-up & Restore will let users save their setup to the cloud, including lights, accessories, rooms, zones, scenes and automations, and it will work with both the standard Hue Bridge and Bridge Pro, although restoring a saved setup will initially be limited to Bridge Pro.

The last big announcement on the software front is an exciting one for Sonos users, with an integration landing in November that will allow selected Hue switches, including the Hue Tap Dial Switch, to control Sonos speakers.

Buttons can be assigned to Sonos Favorites, while users will also be able to play and pause music, change the volume and skip forwards or backwards through a playlist.

Another partnership announced - and somewhat of a leftfield one (if you didn’t see the leaks, that is) is one between Philips Hue and Nanoleaf (main image, above).

Once big rivals, the two smart light specialists are teaming up with compatible Nanoleaf Shapes (including Hexagons, Triangles and Mini Triangles) able to join the Hue ecosystem using a new Philips Hue Wall Light Module.

The Module (£34.99 / $39.99) - which can be switched out for an existing Nanoleaf one or purchased as part of a bundle with some panels - means Nanoleaf lights can be included in Hue scenes, automations and entertainment setups.

Nanoleaf has shifted towards wellness and other areas in recent years (and is also now merged with SwitchBot) but it’s still an interesting move from Signify to team up with a ‘rival’.

Rounding out the IFA launch announcements and the latest-gen Play Gradient Strip Light and Strip Light Pro are now cuttable, which should make it easier to get a neater fit on different sized TVs and displays, and there’s also a new version designed for TVs up to 100 inches.

Hue is expanding its range of decorative lighting with some more design-focused products, including the Philips Hue Liane 360° rope light, which uses optics designed to produce illumination around the entire circumference of the rope rather than simply lighting one side.

The flexible light can be wrapped around walls, furniture and architectural features, while Hue’s OmniGlow technology is designed to produce an even, diffused gradient rather than obvious individual light points.

It’s not cheap, though, starting at £379.99 /$399.99.

Staying indoors and the new Signe pendant, Signe pendulum and Signe pole models were also all revealed, with prices starting at £309.99 / $319.99.

Moving outside, and the Festavia range, best known for its Christmas lighting, is gaining curtain, net and icicle lights, making it possible to use the system for more than just seasonal displays. These start at £189.99 / $249.99.

Hue is also introducing a cheaper range of outdoor wall lights and spots, including the Semeru, Scenova, Muscari and Struana ceiling and wall models, with prices starting at £69.99 / $79.99.