TOMMY vs Philips Hue MotionAware
Compare TOMMY's Wi-Fi based motion detection with Philips Hue MotionAware's Zigbee-based motion detection. Technology, setup, and capabilities compared.
Philips Hue MotionAware and TOMMY both detect motion using Radio Frequency (RF) sensing, though they rely on different wireless technologies and target different smart home ecosystems.
MotionAware works within the Philips Hue ecosystem, analyzing how motion affects Zigbee signals between Hue lights. TOMMY uses ESP32 devices to monitor Wi-Fi Channel State Information (CSI) and integrates with Home Assistant or any Matter-compatible ecosystem.
| Aspect | Philips Hue MotionAware | TOMMY |
|---|
| Technology | Zigbee signal fluctuation analysis | Wi-Fi sensing (Channel State Information) |
| Devices | Philips Hue lights (3-4 per motion area) | ESP32-based devices (2 or more per zone) |
| Protocol | Zigbee | Wi-Fi (802.11) |
| Signal Analysis | Measures fluctuations in Zigbee signals | Measures fluctuations in Wi-Fi signals |
| Aspect | Philips Hue MotionAware | TOMMY |
|---|
| Device count | Requires 3-4 Philips Hue lights per zone | Requires 2 or more ESP32 devices per zone |
| Device compatibility | Works with compatible Hue lights | Works with a wide range of ESP32-based devices |
| Device reuse | Lights serve dual purpose (illumination + sensing) | Can add motion detection to existing ESP32 devices through ESPHome without losing prior functionality |
| Aspect | Philips Hue MotionAware | TOMMY |
|---|
| Hub requirement | Requires Hue Bridge Pro (exclusive to this feature) | No hub required, but needs to be installed as a Home Assistant add-on or Docker container |
| Ecosystem | Integrates with Philips Hue ecosystem | Integrates with Home Assistant and Matter ecosystems |
| Privacy | Cloud-dependent (Hue ecosystem) | Runs locally, no cloud required |
| Aspect | Philips Hue MotionAware | TOMMY |
|---|
| Detection area | Motion detection within the area covered by the lights | Motion detection within the area covered by the ESP32 devices |
| Obstacle penetration | Can detect motion through obstacles and walls | Can detect motion through obstacles and walls |
| Motion filtering | Cannot differentiate between human movement and other moving objects (pets, curtains, fans, etc.) | Same limitation - human vs. non-human filtering planned for Q1 2026 |
| Stationary Presence sensing | Not supported | Not supported - stationary presence sensing planned for Q1 2026 |
| Aspect | Philips Hue MotionAware | TOMMY |
|---|
| Upfront cost | Requires Hue Bridge Pro purchase + 3-4 Hue lights per zone | At least two ESP32 devices per zone, available at low cost |
| License model | Motion detection included with Hue Bridge Pro (no subscription). Security alerts and event timeline require subscription (€0.99/month or €9.99/year) | Free Community edition. Pro edition available for $29 one-time purchase (no subscription) |
| System type | Closed-source, proprietary system | Closed-source, proprietary system |
| Support | Support through Philips ecosystem | Community support through Discord channel |
- You already own Philips Hue lights and the Hue Bridge Pro
- Motion detection is needed in areas where you're installing lights anyway
- You prefer managing motion zones through the Philips Hue app
- You don't have Philips Hue lights or the Hue Bridge Pro
- You want flexibility in how you define motion zones
- You have ESP32 devices lying around or want to start with cost-effective hardware
- You prefer local control through Home Assistant or need Matter ecosystem integration