Radiator Thermostat Comparison · UK 2026
Hive Radiator Valves vs tado° Smart Radiator Thermostat X

Specs, pros and cons compared side by side

Both the Hive Radiator Valves and the tado° Smart Radiator Thermostat X are smart radiator valves. This head-to-head sets them side by side using the specs, pros and cons from our full reviews. Hive specs come from Hive’s own pages; tado° specs come from our tado° review, checked against tado°’s own pages.

Quick verdict

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Hive Radiator Valves

Pick it for: Takes 2 x AA batteries, so nothing to recharge (the tado° X: rechargeable pack, charged about once a year)

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tado° Smart Radiator Thermostat X

Pick it for: Rechargeable battery pack, so no disposable batteries (the Hive: 2 x AA alkaline) · Thread and Matter (the Hive: Zigbee to the Hive Hub) · Six adapters that tado says fit 95% of radiator valves (the Hive: M30, M28 and Danfoss RA adaptors)

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Quick comparison

Spec Hive Radiator Valves tado° Smart Radiator Thermostat X
Connection Zigbee to the Hive Hub Thread and Matter
Hub or bridge needed Yes: the current Hive Hub or Hub 360 (not the original Hive Hub) Bridge X or another supported Thread border router
Power 2 x AA alkaline batteries (no lithium or rechargeables) Rechargeable battery pack, USB-C, about once a year
Valve fit M30, M28 and Danfoss RA adaptors included; self-fit where radiators already have TRVs M30 x 1.5; six adapters, 95% of radiator valves
Smart home Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri Shortcuts, IFTTT Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Home
Hive Radiator Valves

Pros

  • Room-by-room temperatures and schedules
  • Three valve adaptors included (M30, M28 and Danfoss RA)
  • Works with or without a Hive thermostat
  • Works with multizone systems, with each valve linked to a thermostat

Cons

  • Needs the current Hive Hub or Hub 360; the original Hive Hub does not support them
  • Without Hive heating control, the valves can only adjust radiators while the heating is already on
  • Not for electric heating systems or electric radiators
tado° Smart Radiator Thermostat X

Pros

  • Rechargeable battery pack, so no disposable batteries
  • Thread and Matter
  • Six adapters that tado says are compatible with 95% of radiator valves
  • Schedules stored on the device keep running offline

Cons

  • Needs a Bridge X or another supported Thread border router
  • USB-C charging cable not included
  • Open window detection is part of the AI Assist subscription

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Which should you buy?

Why choose the Hive Radiator Valves

  • Takes 2 x AA batteries, so nothing to recharge (the tado° X: rechargeable pack, charged about once a year)
Why choose the tado° Smart Radiator Thermostat X

  • Rechargeable battery pack, so no disposable batteries (the Hive: 2 x AA alkaline)
  • Thread and Matter (the Hive: Zigbee to the Hive Hub)
  • Six adapters that tado says fit 95% of radiator valves (the Hive: M30, M28 and Danfoss RA adaptors)

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