Indoor Motion Sensor
Philips Hue Motion Sensor Review

0-5 m detection  |  Daylight sensor  |  Adjustable sensitivity  |  2 x AAA batteries  |  Hue Bridge required

Overview

The Philips Hue Motion Sensor is a wireless, battery-powered indoor sensor that triggers Hue light scenes when it detects motion. Hue lists a detection area of 0-5 m. A built-in daylight sensor can be set so lights only come on when the room is darker than the level you choose, and motion sensitivity is adjustable. One sensor can control up to three Rooms, a Zone or your entire lighting setup, with different scenes at up to ten times of day. It measures 55 x 55 x 30 mm and can be wall mounted or stood on a surface.

It runs on 2 x AAA batteries, which are included, and the Philips Hue app shows the expected lifetime of the current batteries. It uses Zigbee and Bluetooth, but Hue says it needs a Hue Bridge-controlled setup as well as the Hue app (Android 12.0 or above, iOS 17 or later). It works with Matter through a Hue Bridge. You can combine up to 12 sensors, indoor or outdoor and including Hue Secure cameras, and this indoor sensor can also be used for security monitoring. It is rated IP20 and works from 0°C to 40°C.

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Key Features

✓Detection area 0-5 m
✓Built-in daylight sensor with a threshold you set
✓Adjustable motion sensitivity
✓Controls up to three Rooms, a Zone or the whole setup
✓Different scenes at up to ten times of day
✓Combine up to 12 sensors, including Hue Secure cameras
✓Can be used for security monitoring
✓2 x AAA batteries included; expected battery lifetime shown in the app
✓55 x 55 x 30 mm; wall or standing; IP20, 0°C to 40°C
✓2-year warranty; minimum support period of 60 months from purchase

Pros & Cons

Pros

+ Wireless and battery powered, so no wiring
+ Daylight sensor keeps lights off when the room is bright enough
+ Different scenes at up to ten times of day
+ Can also be used for security monitoring

Cons

− Needs a Hue Bridge
− Indoor use; Hue points to its outdoor sensor for outdoor areas

Setup & Installation

Add the sensor in the Philips Hue app: go to Settings > Devices and tap the + button. Place it within range of your setup with the front facing where you expect motion; Hue says the higher you place it, the wider the range it can detect. Test it before you mount it permanently.

If lights don’t come on in a bright room, check the daylight threshold in the app; if it is slow to detect you, increase the motion sensitivity. If problems continue, use Reset on the sensor’s edit screen in the app, or delete it from the app, press the setup button/pinhole for more than 10 seconds and add it again.

Common Problems & Fixes

Running into issues? Our Philips Hue troubleshooting guide covers step-by-step fixes taken from Hue’s own support pages, including motion sensor not working.

Who Should Buy It

Anyone with a Hue Bridge who wants indoor lights to switch on or change scene when someone walks into a room.

Verdict

The Hue Motion Sensor adds motion-triggered scenes, a daylight sensor and adjustable sensitivity to a Bridge-based Hue setup. For outdoor areas, the Hue Outdoor Sensor is IP54 rated with a 0-10 m detection area.

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