Packaging images and a removed FCC filing suggest new Philips Hue bulbs may support Matter natively. Packaging showed a Matter logo, and a leaked FCC screenshot included a Matter setup code alongside Bluetooth and Zigbee logos. Matter supports Ethernet, Wi‑Fi, and Thread; Thread is the logical low‑power choice for bulbs because it creates self‑healing mesh networks. The FCC paperwork reportedly lists only Bluetooth and Zigbee, while a document noted that other functions, bands, and modes were disabled in software, implying potential hidden support for Thread. Hue will likely keep Zigbee while allowing direct Matter control, with the Bridge retaining advanced features.
First off, packaging for two unannounced bulbs appeared on Amazon, with a Matter logo prominently displayed on the box. While Hue devices have been capable of connecting via Matter using the Hue Bridge as a middleman, they've never supported the protocol directly. That's in part because Matter only works via Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Thread; Hue has been a Zigbee and Bluetooth-only ecosystem for years.
Then there's the since-removed FCC filing discovered by . A supposed screenshot of the document shows a label for a new Hue White lightbulb with a Matter setup code under the familiar Bluetooth and Zigbee logos. This almost certainly means the lightbulb will connect directly via Matter. Wired Ethernet would obviously be an odd choice. Wi-Fi is a possibility, but the more logical option would be Thread, which is low-power and can create self-healing mesh networks.
The one issue is, there's no mention of Thread or Wi-Fi in the FCC filing anywhere, only Bluetooth and Zigbee. According to HueBlog, however, one document read (before it was removed), "This product only supports BLE 125k/500k/1M/2Mbps:2402-2480MHz, Zigbee:2405-2480MHz. The other functions, bands and modes was [sic] disabled to use by manufacturer [sic] in the software." What are those other functions, bands, and modes?
Collection
[
|
...
]