Smart home
Wi-Fi air conditioners: what smart control really gives you
Wi-Fi sounds like an extra until you walk into a 35°C apartment. Here is what smart control actually does, which functions get used daily and how to tell a built-in module from an optional one.
3 min readUpdated
The five functions that get used
Of the dozens of options in the apps, these are the useful ones:
- Start before you get home
- Weekly schedule
- Geofencing: on when your phone heads home, off when you leave
- Consumption tracking in kWh
- Several units and a second home in one app
Voice assistants
Daikin Onecta, Mitsubishi Electric MELCloud, Toshiba Home AC Control, Fujitsu FGLair and Gree+ work with Google Home and Amazon Alexa; Apple HomeKit support is rarer.
Built-in or optional
Mid and high series have Wi-Fi built in; entry series take an optional module (40–80 €). Our catalogue Wi-Fi filter shows built-in models only. Universal infrared bridges (Sensibo, Broadlink, Tado) add schedules and geofencing to any older unit but cannot read its state.
Network and security
Most modules need a 2.4 GHz network for pairing. Use a separate app password and two-factor authentication where available.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Wi-Fi air conditioner worth it?
If your schedule varies or you have a second home, definitely. For a unit that runs around the clock, the difference is small.
Does it work without internet?
Yes, with the remote and the buttons on the unit. Internet is only needed for remote control.
Useful links