Michał Wołoszyn
If you're following the TV market, you'll definitely remember the moment a few years ago when Philips (TP Vision) suddenly 'parted ways' with the Ambilight+Hue feature. For many brand fans, it was a shock – a feature that allowed colours to stretch from behind the TV across the entire living room using smart light bulbs suddenly disappeared from new models. In the meantime, Samsung and LG teamed up with Signify (the maker of Philips Hue) and introduced paid applications for light synchronisation. Philips was left behind, but 2026 brings the long-awaited answer. The feature is back under the new name AmbiScape and, most importantly, is no longer limited to just one expensive lighting brand.
The new AmbiScape system is largely thanks to the development of the proprietary TitanOS system. Philips needed a moment to recreate what worked on Android a few years ago after transitioning to its own software. Instead of locking itself into one ecosystem, AmbiScape will initially support bulbs from Wiz, NanoLeaf, Ikea (Trådfri), and of course Philips Hue. This is great news, as it allows for the creation of an immersive home cinema without spending a fortune on the most expensive bulbs on the market.
How does it work?
The biggest issue with light synchronisation systems has always been delay. Philips claims that in the AmbiScape system, the delay between what we see on the screen and the response of external bulbs is around 0.5 seconds. This means that the glow on the wall and the light in the lamp next to the sofa should respond almost simultaneously. The system allows for the connection of four additional lighting points.
The setup process is designed to be as simple as possible. On the TV screen, we display a QR code, scan it with our phone, and using a straightforward wizard, we indicate where the lamp is located in the room. We can also select the operating mode: classic video tracking, music mode (responding to sound), or set a single, fixed colour for the entire room. Interestingly, this feature will be available not only for televisions but also for monitors from the Philips Evnia series.
Who will get AmbiScape and when?
In 2026, the AmbiScape feature will be a standard in almost the entire offering of the manufacturer. The system will be found in all OLED models from the 2026 range, the new flagship Mini-LED 981 (the one with the RGB matrix), and in all televisions from the 8000 series and above. If you have a model from late 2025, you may have already seen a test version of this feature, as the manufacturer has quietly been testing it.
AmbiScape is a clear signal that Philips has regained its confidence in the battle against Samsung and LG. Instead of forcing users to purchase the expensive Hue Sync app or (heaven forbid!) the Hue adapter, they are offering a free tool that will "communicate" with the most popular and cheapest bulbs on the market. It’s a return to the roots of Ambilight, but in an open format. And honestly? This is exactly the kind of decision we’ve been waiting for from the engineers at TP Vision.
