Tado’s New Thermostat Challenges Nest Dominance
▼ Summary
– Tado’s third-generation thermostat sales have increased significantly due to Google shutting down servers for older Nest models.
– The new Smart Thermostat X features a slim white design and supports Matter-over-Thread connectivity for better smart home integration.
– Pricing for the wired and wireless starter kits ranges from £159.99 to £199.99, with a battery version lasting up to a year.
– Tado is introducing multi-home management in its app and has received TÜV certification for its hydronic balancing system.
– The company offers an optional AI Assist subscription that optimizes heating and promises significant annual energy cost savings.
Tado has introduced its second-generation Smart Thermostat X, a device explicitly designed to capitalize on the instability surrounding Google’s Nest ecosystem. Following Google’s decision to shut down servers for its first- and second-generation thermostats, Tado reported a surge in demand. Christian Deilmann, cofounder and managing director of Tado, highlighted this shift in an interview with The Verge, noting that the third-generation Nest thermostat maintains at least ten times the market penetration in Europe compared to previous iterations. However, he remains skeptical about the long-term viability of Google’s hardware strategy.
“At some point, I think they will continue their strategy,” Deilmann stated. “There’s nothing we know for sure … but it doesn’t make too much sense to pull out of some generations and not others.” This sentiment underscores Tado’s confidence that users seeking reliability will migrate toward competitors who offer consistent support.
The new Tado unit features a sleek, minimalist aesthetic that marks a departure from its predecessor’s all-black design. Measuring just 17.8mm thick, the device is significantly slimmer than both the original Tado model and the third-gen Nest. It is available in two configurations: a wired starter kit priced at £159.99 or €179.99, and a wireless kit costing £169.99 or €199.99. The wireless version utilizes a USB-C rechargeable battery capable of lasting up to a year. Visually, the thermostat presents a white square form factor with a circular interface that illuminates only upon touch, allowing it to blend seamlessly into home decor rather than dominating it. A customizable action button sits atop the device for quick manual control.
Connectivity has been upgraded through the adoption of Matter-over-Thread technology, replacing the proprietary 6LoWPAN standard used in the first-gen Tado X. This change facilitates smoother communication with receivers installed near boilers in basements and ensures compatibility with most major smart home platforms. The Smart Thermostat X supports various heating systems, including boilers, heat pumps, and underfloor heating, though it does not currently support air conditioning units.
Alongside the hardware launch, Tado is expanding its software capabilities to include multi-home management, allowing users to control multiple thermostats across different properties within a single account. Furthermore, the company’s hydronic balancing system, which works in tandem with the Smart Radiator Thermostat X to digitally balance radiator heat distribution, has achieved TÜV certification. This certification makes the system eligible for government heat-pump subsidies in specific European markets.
These advanced features rely on AI Assist, a subscription service priced at £3.99 per month or £29.99 annually. The service automates heating optimization based on local weather conditions and specific home characteristics, offering tools such as automatic geofencing, open-window detection, adaptive heating, and preheating before the user arrives home.
Demonstrating strong faith in its product’s efficiency, Tado has introduced a bold energy savings guarantee. Deilmann emphasized the company’s commitment to delivering tangible financial benefits to customers.
“We’re so confident about the benefit of our products and the value which we’re delivering in terms of energy cost savings , a few hundred euros every year for all of our customers,” Deilmann explained. “If in the first 12 months you believe you haven’t saved enough energy or energy costs, then you can return all your products and get your money back, no questions asked.”
The second-generation Smart Thermostat X is available for purchase starting today via tado.com and select European retail partners.
(Source: The Verge)
