The emergence of Tado X marks a significant advancement in the realm of smart home climate control, offering a robust and future-proof solution for managing home heating. This new system, built upon the mesh-based Thread protocol, promises enhanced reliability and near-instantaneous response to manual adjustments, setting a new benchmark for smart heating technology. Its seamless integration with the Matter standard ensures broad compatibility with all major third-party smart home platforms, a crucial factor in today’s interconnected living spaces. Through the intuitive Tado app, users gain access to sophisticated scheduling capabilities, a suite of automated features (available via subscription), and crucially, support for advanced heating technologies like OpenTherm and heat pumps. This comprehensive feature set positions Tado X as the leading overall multi-room heating system currently available.
A New Era for Smart Heating: Tado X Unveiled
While smart heating controls have been a part of the consumer electronics landscape for some time, Tado X represents a fundamental re-imagining of the technology, specifically engineered for the demands of contemporary smart homes. By leveraging the strengths of Matter-over-Thread, Tado X delivers a multiroom system designed for effortless expansion, unparalleled compatibility with existing smart home ecosystems, and a responsiveness that drastically improves the user experience. The system is characterized by its exceptional speed, user-friendliness, and a high degree of customizability, further bolstered by a commitment to regular software updates that promise to enhance functionality and security over time.
Modular Design for Every Home: Thermostats and Controllers
Mirroring the approach of its predecessor, the Tado V3+ system, Tado X offers a diverse array of components tailored to various heating system types and user needs. For users seeking granular control over individual room temperatures without altering their existing boiler setup, the Tado Smart Radiator Thermostat X (£79.99) presents an ideal solution. These devices replace traditional thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) and allow for precise temperature management in each room. This option is particularly attractive for renters who desire enhanced comfort and energy savings without the commitment of a major system overhaul. It is important to note that the operation of these thermostats relies on a Thread Border Router. For households that do not already possess one, Tado offers its own Tado Bridge X (£59.99) to facilitate this connectivity.
For homeowners aiming to cede boiler control entirely to the smart system, the Wired Smart Thermostat X (£99.99) is available. This component replaces existing wired thermostats and, similar to the radiator thermostats, requires a Bridge X if a Thread Border Router is absent from the home network. The Smart Radiator Thermostat X units can also be effectively paired with the Wireless Smart Thermostat X for a comprehensive multi-zone setup.
To achieve maximum flexibility and control, especially for gas boiler systems, Tado X offers the Wireless Smart Thermostat X Starter Kit (£159.99). This kit includes a Wireless Receiver X, which directly interfaces with the boiler to manage heating and hot water. The receiver offers connectivity options for both simple on/off boiler control and the more advanced OpenTherm protocol. Accompanying the receiver is a Wireless Temperature Sensor X, which functions similarly to the thermostat but operates wirelessly, providing flexible placement options for accurate room temperature readings.
A key advantage of the Wireless Receiver X included in the starter kit is its integrated functionality as a Thread Border Router. This eliminates the need for an additional hardware purchase, simplifying the setup process for users. The Heat Pump Optimizer X (£229.99) is a specialized unit designed for the precise control of all types of heat pumps, offering tailored performance for these increasingly popular and efficient heating solutions.
For installations involving zone valves or single-zone underfloor heating systems, users will require either a Wired Smart Thermostat X or an additional Wireless Smart Thermostat X Starter Kit. It is worth noting that Tado X does not currently offer a dedicated heating manifold controller for more complex underfloor heating configurations, a feature present in some competing systems such as the Honeywell Evohome.
A Streamlined Installation Process
The author’s experience of transitioning from a long-standing Honeywell Evohome system to Tado X highlighted the ease of installation. Having utilized the Evohome system since its inception, the author found its performance had become sluggish and its update frequency insufficient. The Tado X installation process was designed with DIY enthusiasts in mind, offering comprehensive, step-by-step instructions tailored to each specific kit and the existing system being replaced. In this particular instance, the installation involved wiring in a Wireless Receiver X to supersede the previous Honeywell BDR91A relay.
While the provided instructions were generally clear, a crucial detail emerged: the instructions suggested connecting Tado X via on/off controls. However, the author’s boiler supported the OpenTherm protocol. Utilizing OpenTherm allows the smart heating system to dynamically adjust the boiler’s flow temperature in response to heating demand. This intelligent modulation can lead to significant cost savings by optimizing gas consumption and reducing overall energy waste.
Upon successful wiring, the Wireless Receiver X was connected to the home Wi-Fi network, paving the way for the installation of the Smart Thermostat X devices. These units are integrated into the system by scanning a unique Matter code located on the back of each device, followed by guided setup within the Tado app.
Tado provides a comprehensive suite of adaptors within the product packaging, anticipating the diverse connection requirements of various radiator types. The installation process typically involves unscrewing the old TRV heads and then fitting the Tado X units.
The Tado Smart Thermostat X features a compact and aesthetically pleasing design with an integrated, fixed screen. During the initial setup, users are prompted to select their preferred language. Furthermore, the screen orientation can be adjusted to one of four positions (90-degree increments), offering flexibility for radiators installed at different angles, such as those where pipes emerge from the wall rather than the floor. Following installation, the thermostats undergo an automatic calibration process to determine the full range of motion for the flow control pin.
A notable design feature is the use of removable, rechargeable battery packs. These batteries, charged via USB-C, are expected to last between one to two years, offering a more sustainable and cost-effective solution compared to the recurring expense of disposable AA batteries found in some competing systems.
Within the Tado X application, each radiator thermostat is assigned to a specific room. Rooms can encompass multiple radiator thermostats if a single space is heated by more than one radiator.
Addressing the underfloor heating in the kitchen, which was controlled by a separate BDR91A connected to a zone valve, involved the deployment of a second Wireless Receiver X and a Wireless Temperature Sensor X. The Tado X app facilitates sophisticated zone control, enabling the Wireless Temperature Sensor X to activate the zone valve and simultaneously trigger a call for heat from the main Wireless Receiver X. A minor caveat to be aware of is that multiple Wireless Receiver X devices cannot be individually named within the app, appearing only by their serial numbers. This can present a challenge when adding new devices in the future, as it may be difficult to ascertain which receiver controls which zone.
Intelligent Features and Uncompromising Performance
The core operational logic of Tado X shares many similarities with its predecessor, a testament to the effectiveness of the Tado app’s design. However, the user experience is significantly enhanced by the system’s speed and responsiveness. The Tado app requires an initial period of configuration to optimize its performance for individual household needs.
Each room within the Tado X system is provisioned with a default schedule, which users are encouraged to customize. The system allows for distinct schedules to be set for each day of the week, with specific temperature targets for different time slots. For instance, a bedroom might be programmed for warmer temperatures in the morning and evening, with a cooler setting during the daytime. Once a daily schedule is established, it can be readily copied to other days, and entire room schedules can be duplicated and subsequently refined for other zones.
Beyond the standard Home schedule, users can define an "Away" temperature, which serves as a fallback when the system is set to Away mode. This mode can be activated manually, or more conveniently, automated through the Geolocation skill. This feature allows the heating to automatically switch off when the last household member departs and reactivate as the first person returns, optimizing energy usage and comfort.
The Geolocation skill, along with other advanced automation features, is part of the "Auto-assist" subscription service, which costs £29.99 annually or £3.99 per month. This subscription model allows users to opt for seasonal coverage, paying only during the colder months if desired. In the absence of a subscription, Geolocation functions as a notification system, prompting the user to manually turn off the heating when they leave.
Subscribing to Auto-assist also unlocks the valuable "Open Window Detection" feature. By monitoring for rapid temperature drops indicative of an open window or door, Tado X can automatically shut off heating in the affected room, preventing energy wastage. While highly effective, this feature can occasionally be triggered by events like opening a bathroom door after a shower. Users can easily override false alerts, restoring heating as needed.
A more recent addition, "Adaptive Heating," employs artificial intelligence to learn the heating and cooling characteristics of individual rooms. This data is then used to precisely time the activation and deactivation of the heating system, ensuring optimal temperatures without overheating or underheating. The system requires a learning period to achieve peak performance, though occasional minor discrepancies may occur during this phase.
To further enhance control, Tado has implemented an update allowing users to specify the type of heating system connected to a Wireless Receiver X. This is particularly beneficial for systems like underfloor heating, which have a slower response time to temperature adjustments.
"Hydronic Balancing" is another innovative feature that automatically adjusts water flow across all Tado devices. This ensures that all radiators heat up uniformly, a task that traditionally requires manual calibration by a professional. This feature is especially advantageous for homes with multiple radiators that are all in use simultaneously, particularly if some radiators tend to heat up slower than others.
"Weather Adaptation" is continuously active, utilizing weather forecast data to proactively adjust heating levels, ensuring consistent comfort regardless of external conditions. Tado notes that this feature requires an OpenTherm connection for optimal performance.
While these automated features provide significant convenience, Tado X also offers extensive manual override options. Users can adjust the temperature in any room directly through the app, specifying the duration of the override: for a set period, until the next scheduled change, or permanently. The app intelligently remembers the last manual setting, and changes are reflected almost instantaneously, underscoring the responsiveness enabled by the Thread protocol, a stark contrast to the minutes-long delays experienced with older systems.
The app provides several global settings affecting the entire home. "Boost Heating," for example, allows users to rapidly increase the temperature in all rooms to a maximum for 30 minutes, ideal for quickly warming a cold house. Users can also revert all rooms to their scheduled settings or turn the entire system off.
Manual adjustments can also be made directly on the smart TRVs by turning the outer dial to modify the target temperature. By default, these manual changes are permanent. However, on a per-room basis, users can configure manual overrides to revert after a set period or at the next scheduled change. This functionality is particularly useful for allowing other household members to set their desired comfort levels without impacting long-term energy bills.
The Tado Smart Radiator Thermostat X units operate with remarkable quietness, surpassing the noise levels of previous Tado models and older Honeywell Evohome devices. The wireless temperature sensor utilizes three AAA batteries and features a straightforward interface. Its screen remains off until a button press illuminates it to display current and target temperatures. Up and down arrow keys allow for manual adjustment of the target temperature.
While the temperature sensors integrated into the TRVs are generally accurate, their placement in certain rooms, such as the bedroom, may lead to less precise readings. In such instances, an additional Wireless Temperature Sensor X can be deployed for more accurate temperature monitoring.
Broad Compatibility and Smart Home Integration
The Matter compatibility of Tado X devices facilitates integration with a wide range of smart home platforms, including Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Homey, and Google Assistant. It is important to note that each device must be individually added to each desired smart home system, a process that can be time-consuming. For example, integrating nine Tado X devices into Apple Home took approximately one hour.
The level of control offered varies across platforms. Apple Home provides basic triggers based on temperature, while Homey offers a more extensive range of triggers, including temperature and humidity. Once integrated, users can control Tado X devices by turning them on or off and adjusting target temperatures. Any temperature adjustments made through these platforms are treated as manual overrides and persist for the duration specified in the Tado app.
Although Matter does not currently support comprehensive system-wide controls, such as activating entire property-wide heating shutdown or switching between Home and Away modes, its value lies in enabling voice control and sophisticated automation routines. Within HomeKit, for instance, a Tado X device can be configured to increase the temperature to 18°C upon motion detection in a room and then automatically turn off after twenty minutes of inactivity.
Reliability and Long-Term Performance
Having utilized Tado X for over a year, the system has demonstrated a high degree of reliability, with only a few minor disruptions. On rare occasions, all devices may appear offline within the app. A simple reboot of the mesh network typically resolves this issue. Importantly, even when devices appear offline in the app, they continue to operate according to their programmed schedules, ensuring uninterrupted climate control.
Conclusion: The Pinnacle of Multi-Room Heating
Tado X stands as a testament to modern smart home engineering, its Matter-over-Thread platform delivering superior responsiveness and broader compatibility compared to many competing systems. Its ability to support a diverse range of heating technologies, from conventional boilers to advanced heat pumps, and its comprehensive control over radiators and underfloor heating, firmly establish Tado X as the preeminent multi-room heating system available today. While its premium pricing may present a barrier for those with perfectly functional existing heating systems, its advanced features, reliability, and future-proof design offer compelling value for those seeking the ultimate in home climate control.
Testing Methodology: A Commitment to Long-Term Evaluation
Our reviews are the product of extensive, long-term testing. Smart heating systems, by their nature, are deeply integrated into an ecosystem of products designed to work in harmony. Consequently, a brief, week-long assessment is insufficient to provide a comprehensive verdict. Our team’s continuous engagement with smart home technology allows us to identify and evaluate the crucial factors that differentiate performance and user experience. Our reviews are characterized by their thoroughness, objectivity, and impartiality, with no direct financial compensation received for device reviews. For further insight into our testing protocols, please refer to our guide on how we test robot vacuum cleaners.
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