Philips Hue is planning a 2026 update that should make its newer Matter-over-Thread bulbs less awkward for people who also want to keep the Hue Bridge. The Verge reported on June 24, 2026, that upcoming firmware will let compatible Hue lights run Zigbee and Thread at the same time instead of forcing owners to choose one path and reset the bulb to switch later.
That is a meaningful change for Hue homes because the current decision is messy. Direct Matter over Thread is attractive if you want a bulb in Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings, or another Matter controller without buying a Hue Bridge first. The Bridge path is still better when Hue scenes, accessories, entertainment features, firmware management, and a larger Hue setup matter more than hub-free pairing.
Hue's planned update is not a reason to buy any old Hue bulb and assume it will gain direct Matter. It is a reason to pay attention to the newer Matter-enabled bulb families and to wait for the firmware details before rebuilding a room.
The current choice is too permanent
Philips Hue's own support pages already describe two Matter setup paths. You can use a Hue Bridge and expose Hue lights outward through Matter, or you can pair newer Matter-enabled Hue bulbs directly through a Matter app with a Thread border router. Philips Hue also says a bulb that was previously connected to a Hue Bridge has to be removed from the Bridge before direct Matter pairing.
That setup model creates a real buyer decision. A small apartment with a Thread-capable Apple HomePod mini, Nest Hub, Echo, eero, or SmartThings hub might be fine with direct Matter bulbs. A larger Hue home with dimmer switches, scenes, room behavior, firmware routines, and entertainment lighting is usually easier to live with through the Bridge.
The reported update matters because it could make that decision less punishing. A compatible bulb could stay connected to Hue's Zigbee network while also participating in a Thread-based Matter setup. In plain terms, the same light could remain part of the Hue system and also behave more like a direct Matter light.
Which Hue bulbs deserve attention
The safe shopping rule has not changed: buy by exact product generation, not by brand. Matterhome's current Hue device guides cover Philips Hue Essential A19 and BR30 bulbs, refreshed premium A19 and A21 bulbs, the B39 Candle E12 bulb, and the Hue Bridge/Bridge Pro route. Those are the pages to compare if you are deciding between a direct Matter bulb and a Bridge-first Hue setup.
The Verge says the simultaneous Zigbee and Thread behavior is planned for newer Hue products built on Silicon Labs MG26 and SiMG301 chips, with rollout later in 2026. Silicon Labs describes concurrent multiprotocol technology as a way for a single chip to operate across Zigbee and Thread networks rather than making the device switch between them. That sounds like the right technical answer for Hue's split, but the user-facing answer still depends on Philips Hue firmware, exact model support, and ecosystem behavior after the update ships.
If you are buying today, check the package or product page for a Matter logo and Matter setup code. Older Hue bulbs, non-bulb Hue products, and similar-looking lights should not be assumed to join the same direct Matter path.
What to wait for before changing a room
The update should be most useful for people who want Hue's better lighting system and Matter's cross-platform control without choosing one at setup. It may also help Thread coverage if powered Hue bulbs can stay useful as Thread nodes while still belonging to the Hue Bridge system.
But wait for Philips Hue to publish the actual firmware rollout, supported model list, and setup behavior. The important details are not just whether the feature exists. Owners need to know whether a bulb already paired to a Bridge can gain Thread without a reset, whether multi-admin sharing changes, whether Hue scenes behave differently, and whether every ecosystem sees the same light controls.
For now, do not replace a working Bridge-based room just to chase this update. If you are starting small, buy one current Matter-enabled Hue bulb, confirm your Thread border router is in place, and decide whether the room cares more about Hue features or direct Matter control. The upgrade is promising because it may make that choice less final, not because it makes the choice disappear.
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