Netatmo now heats with Matter
Netatmo renews classics for heating and video surveillance: The thermostats for walls and radiators speak Matter, the outdoor camera films in 2K and HDR.
Staid instead of colorful, but with Matter: Netatmo's new thermostats for radiators and boilers.
(Image: Netatmo)
The smart home brand Netatmo today, Thursday, presented new versions of its long-standing products for heating and video surveillance. The biggest changes are to the thermostats for walls and radiators. They have a simpler design, without the extravagant plexiglass casing with colored rings like the originals from 2016. In contrast to these, the new additions can be integrated into Matter setups via a manufacturer bridge. The new version of the smart outdoor camera looks strikingly similar to the ten-year-old original externally, but films with better optics and additionally transmits recordings via 5 GHz WiFi.
Birds of paradise become staid
The room control unit "Thermostat Original" is narrower, but somewhat more angular than the previous model. It is encased in white, opaque plastic. Instead of an E-Ink display, an LED segment display shows the temperature. It is readable even in the dark, but only when activated by pressing a button. Shortly thereafter, it switches off and thus saves energy. The built-in battery is said to last up to two years on a single charge. The temperature can be manually changed using sensor buttons next to the display. Two additional sensor buttons can be freely assigned control commands for Netatmo's smart home system.
The thermostat continues to be used to regulate individual boilers, heat pumps, and wood or pellet stoves. This can be done with a variant that is wired to the wall outlet, and a wireless variant where a radio adapter coupled to the boiler establishes the connection. For wireless use, the device can be placed on a table or dresser with an optional stand.
In addition, the new addition serves as a room thermostat that controls one or more new Netatmo radiator thermostats in a network. The "Radiator Valve Original" is a slim cylinder that undergoes a similar makeover: matte plastic instead of plexiglass with color accents, LED instead of E-Ink. Instead of a rotary knob, a rotary ring is used. This makes the new Netatmo heaters look quite normal, losing their unique selling point as birds of paradise.
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Finally Matter, but no geo-automation
Instead of "Netatmo Energy", the manufacturer recommends "Netatmo Home+Control" as the standard application. It is the brand's system app. A setup assistant is intended to provide a low-threshold entry with a guided dialogue to automatically create schedules. The software backend considers online weather data or local measurement data from the Netatmo weather station. AI algorithms help with preheating so that it is comfortably warm at a target time.
Monthly reports show trends in consumption and potential savings through the use of smart technology. The internal sensors detect open windows and doors based on temperature drops. Netatmo still does not offer opening contacts for this purpose. True geofencing is also still missing. If you leave the house while the heating is on, you will only be reminded by a push notification on your smartphone to lower the temperature manually, if desired.
Both new thermostats communicate with the home network using the manufacturer's gateway "Thermo Hub". They themselves have a radio protocol "based on" ZigBee built-in, but are not certified for the standard. The use of alternative ZigBee bridges is therefore ruled out. The manufacturer Netatmo, as expected, is keeping its distance from the Thread radio standard, which has been judged insufficient criticized in the same breath, but has apparently made peace with the Matter protocol. Because the Thermo Hub understands this "smart home" world language, the thermostats can be controlled with third-party software via it.
The Thermostat Original is available today in a set with a Thermo Hub for 140 Euros (Wired) and 150 Euros (Wireless). The Radiator Thermostat Original will be available in September, costing 120 Euros with Hub and 60 Euros as an accessory. The Thermostat Original can be purchased as a room thermostat for an optional 90 Euros.
Netatmo's outdoor camera sees sharper and with more contrast
The smart outdoor camera, launched in 2016, receives the addition "Original" and a modernized interior in this year's new edition. The resolution increases from Full HD (1080p) to 2K+, the field of view from 100 to 130 degrees, and the digital zoom from eightfold to sixteenfold magnification. The device films videos at 30 frames per second, even when the high-contrast mode (HDR) is activated. The higher data throughput is handled by a WiFi module that now transmits not only via 2.4 GHz but also in the broader 5 GHz band.
(Image:Â Netatmo)
The WLAN camera is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit – but not with HomeKit Secure Video. The manufacturer has left open to what extent Netatmo will retrofit Matter, which will also support cameras from autumn 2025. Further information on Matter 1.5 can be found here. The aluminum housing is available in white or black. The camera will be available for 250 Euros "from summer". A more powerful floodlight attachment will also be released then as an optional accessory for 70 Euros.
(mack)
