Table of Contents
Smart heating brand Tado has announced a new range of Matter-compatible smart heating devices that should be easy to install and use.
The Tado X range includes wired and wireless smart thermostats, a smart radiator valve, a temperature sensor, a heat pump optimizer and Bridge They’ll all be available to buy on Amazon from November 1st and we’ve got the prices below.
Truly integrated smart heating
More than 240 smart home brands – including Google, Amazon, Apple, Samsung and Philips Hue – are adopting the Matter connectivity standard, which means that Tado X devices will work with new gadgets from all those companies.
If you’re setting up a Matter-friendly smart home network that includes Tado X home heating, you can use the Bridge as your smart home master controller.
What’s exciting about this is that this could be the first opportunity for non-tech enthusiasts to start building a truly integrated smart home system: as more and more devices work with Matter-over-Thread, you can add them to your network and control them in the same app.
Tado X devices can also be voice controlled by the main home assistants: Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home.
The fact that the new Tado devices are connected via a Thread mesh network and not Wi-Fi should make it a better option for larger homes, with better range and coverage. Tado X devices will also be compatible with heat pumps and underfloor heating.
Can Tado save you money?
However, Tado’s biggest claim has always been that its smart thermostat and associated devices can help save money on electricity bills by making home heating more efficient.
Tado now says its devices can save an average of 19% on users’ bills – but these kinds of savings are only likely if you don’t do anything to control or curb your energy use right now.
Tado’s smart thermostats use a number of energy-saving features and the more you use them, the more likely you are to save money. These are the main features:
- Smart planning
- Geofencing (turning down the heating when no one is home)
- Open window detection (heat your house, not your backyard)
- Adaptation to the weather (taking sunlight hours into account when planning heating)
- Energy IQ information (including tips for reducing heat waste)
Other features, such as Air Comfort, have – as the name suggests – more to do with the comfort of home. This gives you insight into the humidity and temperature in your home, so you can adjust conditions as desired.
These features are not new to Tado
The hardware itself is designed quite simply. The devices are not nearly as nice as, for example, the new Nest Learning Thermostat.
But there are some great features. For example, the smart radiator valve charges via USB. Most smart radiator valves use batteries, so this will be a big upgrade in terms of money saving and ease of use.
Do you need a subscription?
But there is a small catch. Tado doesn’t mention its subscription service in its new product announcement, but it’s very likely you’ll have to pay for Auto Assist to unlock all the features and maximize its money-saving potential.
However, it’s not as expensive as some competing plans, with monthly costs of £3.99 or £29.99 per year.
At this time, you do not need an Auto Assist subscription to use these features: Air Comfort, Smart Schedule, Insightful Reports, Weather Adaptation and smart home integrations. You will also receive push notifications for Open Window Detection and Geofencing.
However, if you subscribe, Open Window Detection and Geofencing will be automated, and you’ll also get Energy IQ and a Care and Protect troubleshooting service.
Tado X Awards
- Wireless Smart Thermostat X Starter Kit (with built-in Thread border router), £159.99
- Wired Smart Thermostat X Starter Kit (with Bridge X), £159.99
- Smart Radiator Thermostat X Starter Kit (with Bridge X), £139.99
- Smart Radiator Thermostat X – €79.99 / Smart Radiator Thermostat
- Wireless temperature sensor, £89.99
- Heat Pump Optimizer X, £229.99
- Bridge X Thread Edge Mill, (RRP) £59.99
You can buy the Tado In the meantime, check out our round-up of the best smart thermostats available in the UK right now.