Smart Electric Heaters 2026: Buying Guide and 5 Models

Which smart electric heater should you choose in 2026?

For a permanent installation, the Thermor Equateur 4 is the most complete option: a dual heating system that pairs a cast-iron core with a radiant front panel, open-window and presence detection, and control through the Cozytouch app. If you’d rather have a portable unit you simply plug in, the Mill Gentle Air WiFi oil-filled heater offers a polished app and an open-window function, with no electrician needed.

Between those two, the Atlantic Oniris focuses on design and fast response, the Sauter Orosi 2 on entry-level fluid-filled heat, and the Rointe Kyros WiFi on built-in Wi-Fi that needs no gateway. This guide is based on manufacturer specifications, published independent reviews and verified buyer reviews. For related devices, see our smart space heaters page.

The criteria that really matter

Type of heating element

“Inertia,” or thermal mass, covers several technologies, and marketing sheets often blur them:

• Fluid-filled: an element heats a sealed heat-transfer fluid. The heat is soft and even, and warm-up time is reasonable. This is how the Sauter Orosi 2 and Rointe Kyros WiFi work.
• Cast-iron core: a cast-iron block stores heat and releases it slowly. Paired with a fast-reacting radiant front panel, it is sold as “dual technology,” as on the Thermor Equateur 4.
• Aluminum body with a radiant front panel: less heat storage, faster response. This is the Atlantic Oniris design.
• Dry stone or ceramic core: refractory bricks store heat for longer. Best for rooms heated for long stretches.
• Glass front: ranges such as Campa’s Campaver combine a thick radiant glass front with rear heating elements. The main appeal is design, not stone storage.
• Portable oil-filled: a free-standing oil-filled heater you plug into an outlet. It is a supplementary heater that needs no installation, like the Mill Gentle Air WiFi.

The more thermal mass, the longer the room stays warm after the heater switches off, but the slower it reacts when you change the temperature setting. High thermal mass suits rooms used all day; fast response matters more in rooms you use only now and then.

Built-in Wi-Fi or gateway

This is the most misunderstood point. Thermor, Atlantic and Sauter heaters (all part of Groupe Atlantic) use the Cozytouch app, but depending on the model you need a gateway (the Cozytouch bridge) connected to your router. The Rointe Kyros WiFi and Mill Gentle Air WiFi have Wi-Fi built in: the app is all you need. Check this before you buy, since it affects both the cost and the setup.

Pilot wire

The pilot wire (fil pilote) is a French heater-control system: a dedicated wire sends commands (Comfort, Eco, Frost protection, Off and, on six-command versions, Comfort -1 and Comfort -2) from a central controller. It is specific to France, so it only matters if your home is wired for it; in that case, choose a compatible heater. Plug-in portable heaters don’t need it.

Automatic detection

Two features make a real difference day to day. Open-window detection cuts or reduces heating when the temperature drops sharply while you air out the room. Presence detection lowers the temperature setting when the room is empty. The fixed models in this guide offer both on most versions; the Mill Gentle Air WiFi offers the open-window function and predictive start.

Power

A common rule of thumb is about 100 W per m² (roughly 10 W per sq. ft.) in a home with average insulation, less in a newer, well-insulated home and more in an older building. For accurate sizing, a heating contractor will take into account the room’s volume, its orientation and the actual heat loss.

5 models worth knowing

Thermor Equateur 4: the most complete

The Equateur 4 combines a cast-iron core with a radiant front panel. It comes in low baseboard-style, horizontal and vertical formats from 750 to 2,000 W, and it is made in France. It includes open-window and presence detection and is controlled remotely through Cozytouch, with energy monitoring and voice control through Google Assistant.

Strengths: gentle cast-iron heat, responsive front panel, wide choice of formats, mature app.

Limitations: a fixed heater that needs professional installation, Cozytouch gateway required for remote control, premium price tier.

Best for: homeowners replacing old convection heaters who want durable equipment for their living areas.

Atlantic Oniris: responsive design

The Oniris uses an aluminum heating body and a fast-warming radiant front panel. Its digital touch controls and extra-slim front suit contemporary interiors. It offers open-window and presence detection and is controlled through Cozytouch (optional gateway), including by voice with Google Assistant.

Strengths: refined look, fast response, same ecosystem as Thermor.

Limitations: stores less heat than cast-iron or stone models, gateway needed for remote control.

Best for: living rooms where design matters as much as performance.

Sauter Orosi 2: affordable fluid-filled heat

The Orosi 2 is a fluid-filled heater with a digital thermostat, presence and absence detection, open-window detection and a PIN lock for the settings. Remote control uses a connectivity box from the Cozytouch ecosystem. It carries France’s NF Électricité certification.

Strengths: even heat, a full set of automatic functions, entry-level pricing among French brands.

Limitations: connectivity relies on a separate box, more traditional design.

Best for: households equipping several rooms who want the best balance of features and budget.

Rointe Kyros WiFi: built-in Wi-Fi, no gateway

The Kyros WiFi from Spanish maker Rointe is a wall-mounted, fluid-filled heater with a recycled aluminum body. Its Wi-Fi module is built in: you set it up and schedule it directly in the Rointe app, with energy monitoring, open-window detection and early start. It comes in 600, 1,200 and 1,800 W versions, among others.

Strengths: no gateway to buy, built-in energy monitoring, sold by several online retailers.

Limitations: pilot wire not highlighted, smaller distribution network in France than the Groupe Atlantic brands.

Best for: anyone who wants a smart wall-mounted heater that is simple to set up, with no extra hub.

Mill Gentle Air WiFi: portable, no installation

The Gentle Air WiFi from Norwegian brand Mill is a free-standing oil-filled heater with a closed design. The 1,500 W version has three power levels (600, 900 and 1,500 W) and is meant for rooms of roughly 18 to 22 m² (about 190 to 240 sq. ft.); a 2,000 W version also exists. It connects over Wi-Fi (set up via Bluetooth) to the Millheat app, with scheduling, an open-window function and predictive heating. It has tip-over and overheat protection.

Strengths: no installation, clear app, easy to move from room to room.

Limitations: supplementary rather than main heating, takes up floor space, no pilot wire.

Best for: renters, home offices, guest rooms or rooms that never get warm enough.

Comparison table

Mistakes to avoid

• Forgetting the gateway: a heater sold as “connectable” doesn’t always connect out of the box. Check whether you need a bridge or box.
• Choosing maximum thermal mass everywhere: for a guest room or office used a few hours a day, a fast-response model is a better fit.
• Undersizing the power: an underpowered heater runs constantly without ever reaching the set temperature.
• Plugging a portable heater into a power bar or an undersized smart plug: use a wall outlet, and only a smart plug explicitly rated for the heater’s wattage.
• Buying an unknown brand: without a reliable company behind the app, the smart features may stop working after a few years.

Installation and safety

A fixed heater should be connected by a licensed electrician, on a circuit suited to its power and in line with local electrical rules, including any rules for bathrooms. Those rules are set by each province and territory, so when in doubt, ask your electrician. Never cover a heater, and keep the clearance the manufacturer recommends. Place portable models on a stable surface, away from curtains and laundry, and check that they have tip-over protection. Before plugging one in, read its rating label: Canadian outlets supply 120 V (Europe uses 230 V), and a standard 15 A household circuit delivers up to 1,800 W, shared with everything else on that circuit.

On the regulatory side, the EU’s ecodesign Regulation (EU) 2015/1188 has set efficiency requirements for local space heaters since 2018, which made electronic thermostats and weekly scheduling standard on models sold in Europe. For whole-home heating control, read our smart home energy-saving guide and our article on the smart thermostat with a heat pump.

Our verdict

To replace old convection heaters in a home you own, the Thermor Equateur 4 remains the most complete choice. To equip several rooms on a controlled budget, the Sauter Orosi 2 covers the essential automatic functions. If you can’t do any renovation work, the Mill Gentle Air WiFi is the simplest smart supplementary heater. The Atlantic Oniris and Rointe Kyros WiFi round out the selection for design-led interiors and for anyone who wants to skip the gateway.