Philips TV has finally replaced Ambilight+Hue, its retired Hue lamp management and synchronization platform, with the Matter-compatible AmbiScape, which also supports Thread.
What happened to Ambilight+Hue TVs?
If you own an Ambilight+Hue Philips TV, while you can still have your televisual entertainment enhanced with Hue lights, support from newer models is gone. The Ambilight+Hue line was retired in 2023, as part of a revision to Philips operations in Europe.
While the TVs retain Ambilight branding and features, the connectivity for Hue lights is gone, removing network control for satellite lighting systems... until now.
Which Philips TVs have AmbiScape?
Toengel’s Philips Blog, an independent Philips blog and support resource, reports that the system has been added to Philips TV’s 2025 Titan OS range of high-end TVs so far:
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OLED: OLED760/OLED770
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QD-MiniLED: MLED950
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QD-MiniLED: MLED910/MLED920
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LED LCD: PUS9000/PUS9010/PUS9050/PUS9060/PUS9080
If you own one of these Philips TV, you’ll need to ensure the latest update is installed before pairing a light using Matter.
Budget TVs don’t currently have AmbiScape, and it isn’t clear if later Android and Google TVs previously released with Ambilight+Hue support will get the necessary firmware update. However, this is unlikely.
Further Ambsicape compatibility is expected across Philips TVs in future generations.
However, keep in mind that this is a lighting solution. Unlike a Samsung SmartThings TV, it does not turn a Philips TV into a Matter hub.
What does Matter compatibility mean for your RGB lights?
Because AmbiScape uses Thread and Wi-Fi for Matter control, older lights should be supported, although some bridging hardware may be required. Matter compatibility should deliver simple control options, with the possibility of more complex integrations as the platform evolves.
The real benefit is the support for Thread. Because Thread is faster than Zigbee, the time between command and response (whether switching on lights using an app or voice assistant) should decrease considerably, perhaps to a point where there is no noticeable lag. However, color control will be limited over Matter until greater control is added in a future update.
A short list of AmbiScape compatible smart bulbs has been published. At the time of writing, these are:
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Nanoleaf: Wi-Fi E27 Smart Bulb (NL75K1E200)
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OSRAM: Smart+ LED Bulb RGBW E27 60W
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WiZ: Wi-Fi BLE 60W A60 E27 822-65 RGB
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IKEA: DIRIGERA hub + TRÅDFRI LED 2109G6 Bulb E27
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Philips: Hue Bridge + Hue White and Color Ambiance E27
Note that bridges like the Hue Bridge and IKEA DIRIGERA hub are required for non-Matter lights.
No doubt the list will be revised to include other lighting systems as they are tested as working.
(Source: Toengel’s Philips Blog)
