Philips Hue Tento: How to install the affordable ceiling panel

Philips Hue introduced the new Tento series last year and all variants are now available in stores. However, sales have so far been limited to mainland Europe; the ceiling panel is not yet available in the UK or the USA.

In Germany, Philips Hue is limiting sales of the Tento series to a few selected DIY stores, where prices have been very stable so far. Of course, you can also buy Hue Tento in the Philips Hue online store, where there is a 15 percent discount until March 31 if you use the coupon code HUE-FLASHSALE15. In other European countries besides the DACH region, there is even a 25 percent discount with the voucher HUE-FLASHSALE25.

The Tento series is comparatively inexpensive, even if you buy it at the normal list price. The cheapest model with a fixed warm white starts at just €69.99, and with up to 1,560 lumens it is also significantly brighter than conventional E27 bulbs, which also disappear behind a lampshade. The most expensive Tento model including colored light costs 199.99 euros. It’s best to take a look at the different versions and the technical data on the product page – up to 3,500 lumens are possible.

How to mount Hue Tento on the ceiling

While modern technology is used around the LEDs, which is also used in other Hue products such as Surimu or Datura, a lot has been saved in other respects. The frame and bracket of the Hue Tento are made of simple plastic. However, it is well made and once the ceiling panel is mounted, you don’t usually touch it again.

Three screws must be used to attach the bracket to the ceiling. The Tento is then clicked into place with a carabiner to make cabling easier. The final boss is then waiting for you: The lamp, which is only around 4 centimeters high, has to be turned onto a small ring. This really is a very fiddly affair, which I only managed after a few attempts.

I would have been delighted if it had somehow been easier, especially as the flat design means you can hardly see whether you have “hit” the bracket on the ceiling correctly. But once the Hue Tento has been hung, you don’t usually touch it for several years.

Great light with a little surprise

A white Hue Tento with a diameter of 42.1 centimeters and White Ambiance technology now shines in my hallway. The maximum brightness at 4,000 Kelvin is 3,100 lumens; with standard white, this version of the Hue Tento produces 2,350 lumens. This is significantly brighter than the previous classic ceiling light with three E27 bulbs behind frosted glass.

What I think is really cool is that there is a small “slit” between the ceiling and frame of the Hue Tento, from which light can shine outwards. Although no different color settings are possible here, the effect is still quite nice. Just make sure that you remove the small warning sticker before installation, as it cast a small shadow in my case. And once you see this shadow, you will see it every time.

Another thing surprised me when I switched the Hue Tento off completely using the classic light switch, which had not yet been converted: It briefly glows green. However, this error has since been rectified, and after I installed two software updates, it no longer appeared.

Hue Tento is fiddly once and permanently cheap

When it comes to lighting technology, there’s nothing to complain about with the Hue Tento. There are different shapes, sizes and color variants available, so you can choose the model that suits your needs. The “cheap” plastic material doesn’t bother me, especially as no compromises have been made with the LED technology. The only thing that was a little annoying was attaching the panel to the ceiling bracket. Overall, I give the Philips Hue Tento a clear thumbs up.