Smartifying an air conditioner has long felt like a choice between two compromises: paying a “brand tax” for a smart module that locks you into a proprietary app, or settling for an infrared controller (IR blaster) that effectively sends commands into the void with no idea if the air conditioner actually heard them.
The Spacemate Smart WiFi Module is a retrofit solution that bridges this gap. By connecting directly to the air conditioner’s internal control board, it delivers full state reporting and bi-directional control, without breaking the bank. The result? Your smart home knows what your air conditioner is actually doing, not just what you last told it to do.
Spacemate provided test units for this review. They have had no editorial input, and no one from the brand has seen this review prior to publication.
TL;DR
Pros
Cons
Who is Spacemate?
Spacemate is a Singapore-based company founded by an aerospace engineer who wasn’t satisfied with his air conditioner’s proprietary smart controller and decided to create a better one. Tapping into his engineering expertise, he developed and released the Smart WiFi Air Conditioner Module for Daikin and Mitsubishi Electric in 2025. Beyond climate control, Spacemate also offers sleek touch-panel smart switches featuring custom laser engravings.
What’s in the box?
For this review, I received a pair of smart Wi-Fi controllers from Spacemate, one for Home Assistant and the other for Tuya. Both versions are physically identical, and each packaging contains the smart module, data/power cable, and 3M double-sided adhesive for mounting the module.
Device installation and setup
Setting up the Spacemate module is a tale of two halves. The app-side onboarding is simple. The hardware side, however, is a bit more involved, though perfectly manageable for anyone comfortable with a screwdriver and a little patience.
To install the Spacemate module, you’ll need to open your air conditioner’s front cover and connect it to the unit’s internal communications port. Although it’s my first time stripping an air conditioner, I managed to do so following this video guide from Spacemate.
For the uninitiated, the physical installation can genuinely feel intimidating. If you are not confident doing this yourself, you could have the Spacemate module installed together with your next aircon service.
Once the covers were removed, it was a simple task connecting the Spacemate module to the CN105 communications port on my Mitsubishi Electric air conditioners (MSXY and MSY series) using the supplied cable. Both the Home Assistant and Tuya versions have identical installation steps.
Which air conditioners are supported?
The Spacemate smart Wi-Fi module currently works with a wide range of Daikin and Mitsubishi Electric wall-mounted and cassette air conditioners that are equipped with an external control interface on the main board. You can find the list of supported models on Spacemate’s website.
Spacemate is working to support more air conditioner brands and also offers smart modules for Toshiba and Carrier air conditioners through custom orders. They are also working on smart controller modules for centralized air-conditioning systems, such as Daikin VRV and Mitsubishi Electric VRF series. If you’re interested in learning more, you can contact Spacemate directly.
Can the Spacemate module be used with heat pumps?
Currently, heat pumps with an internal communications port from Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Toshiba, and Carrier are supported. If you’re not sure if you have a compatible model, reach out to Spacemate for confirmation.
Compatible smart home ecosystems
The Spacemate smart controller works natively with Home Assistant and Tuya, and connecting them to both smart home ecosystems is straightforward. Spacemate provides step-by-step instructions to guide users through the process for both the Home Assistant and Tuya versions.
Home Assistant
Device controls available on Home Assistant mirror those on the infrared handheld remote for my Mitsubishi Electric Starmex air conditioners:
- Power on/off
- Operating mode
- Target temperature setting
- Fan speed
- Vane vertical
- Vane horizontal
In Home Assistant, sensors are available for room temperature, together with energy and power usage. However, these are only available if your air conditioner provides the data.
The Spacemate smart module is also designed to emit audible beeping sounds and flashing LED lights when the module is in use. You do have the option to turn them off in the configuration settings, although I personally keep them on for both the audio and visual feedback.
Tuya
The Tuya version has all the device controls that you would need, similar to the Home Assistant version.
Once you connect the module to the Tuya or SmartLife app, you have the option to control your air conditioners on Google Home and Amazon Alexa through a simple linking process.
Google Home
Unlike in Home Assistant and Tuya, device controls available on Google Home are limited to power on/off and fan speed adjustments. Notably missing on the Google Home app are vane oscillation controls and target temperature setting, although the latter can be adjusted using automations.
Amazon Alexa
Alexa provides basic device controls, such as power on/off and target temperature setting, but no controls are available for selecting fan speed or vane oscillation.
Apple Home
Although the Spacemate module is not officially supported in Apple Home, I could expose my air conditioner on Home Assistant to Apple Home using the HomeKit Bridge integration. With this integration, I get basic controls such as operating mode selection and target temperature setting in Apple Home, but no controls for fan speed and vane oscillation.
Note: You can also connect the Home Assistant module to Apple Home using Homebridge and a MQTT Broker.
Device settings across ecosystems
Here’s a quick summary of what you can expect from the Spacemate smart module on Home Assistant, Tuya, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Home (via Home Assistant HomeKit Bridge).
|
Setting |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Power on/off |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Operating mode |
All modes except Auto |
✓ |
Only Cool mode |
Only Cool mode |
All except Dry, Fan only |
|
Target temperature |
✓ |
✓ |
Only via automations |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Fan speed control |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
||
|
Vane vertical |
✓ |
✓ |
|||
|
Vane horizontal |
✓ |
✓ |
Features and performance
With the Spacemate module installed, my air conditioners can finally move from being standalone appliances to fully integrated components of my Home Assistant smart home. After 4 weeks of testing, here are my observations and thoughts on the device.
Full state reporting and bi-directional control
The primary reason to choose a retrofit module like the Spacemate over an IR-based solution (such as Sensibo, Cielo, or Broadlink) is the move from “guessing” to knowing the state of your air conditioner.
Because it is wired directly into the unit, the Spacemate module provides accurate state reporting and bi-directional control, giving your smart home a true reflection of what the unit is actually doing at any given moment.
If you have ever experienced the frustration of triggering a command from an IR remote only for the A/C to ignore it, you’ll understand what a game-changer having two-way communication is.
A cleaner, “invisible” installation
Unlike IR-based devices that require a clear line of sight and often sit prominently on a wall or side table, the Spacemate module is small enough to be tucked away inside the air conditioner’s chassis. This results in a completely invisible upgrade with no hardware to clutter your furniture or awkward placements near power sockets just to maintain line of sight.
Breaking free from “walled garden” ecosystems
Before Spacemate, my air conditioners were fitted with proprietary smart modules provided by my housing developer. While functional, they were locked inside a proprietary app and couldn’t “talk” to the rest of my smart home.
Compatibility with Home Assistant finally brings them into the fold and unlocks possibilities for scenes and automations that involve all my other smart home devices, not just the air conditioner.
Automations for smarter living
Moving beyond simple on/off schedules or timer-based automations, the Spacemate module in Home Assistant and Tuya enables you to create routines that elevate daily comfort, save money, and reduce maintenance. Imagine these possibilites:
Dynamic climate control: Automatically turn the air conditioner on/off or adjust temperature and operating mode based on data from temperature and humidity sensors. Perfect for humans, pets, and even artwork.
Energy savings: For those on time-of-use billing plans, you can easily automate heavy usage during off-peak periods to reduce energy costs.
Welcome Home routine: Turn on lights, air conditioners, and play your favorite music when you arrive home after dark.
Anti-mold routine: Dries out internal components in fan-only mode before powering off the air conditioner. This helps prevent mold growth and moisture buildup, leading to cleaner air and a longer lifespan for your air conditioning system.
Reliability and stability
Throughout four weeks of daily use, the Spacemate controllers have been rock-solid. Neither unit dropped off the Wi-Fi network unexpectedly, and commands from any smart home ecosystem app were executed instantly with no noticeable lag.
In the world of smart home retrofits, the best compliment you can give a device is that you forget it’s even there.
Can I still use my handheld remote?
Absolutely. The Spacemate smart module does not change your air conditioner’s behavior, and your original remote will function exactly as it did before.
If you use the physical remote, there is a slight delay before the new status reflects in Home Assistant (5 to 15 seconds) or Tuya (2 to 5 seconds). For most users, this is a non-issue, but if you have a use case that requires immediate status feedback, I’d love to hear about it. Drop a comment below.
Pricing and value
The Spacemate smart air conditioner modules are competitively priced against alternatives in the market. They are significantly cheaper than proprietary modules from brands like Daikin, and more affordable than premium IR-based solutions from the likes of Sensibo and Cielo.
That said, the true value of the Spacemate controller isn’t just the sticker price; it’s the reliable two-way feedback, cleaner aesthetic, and the limitless automation possibilities it brings to your smart home.
Is this right for you?
If you use Home Assistant or Tuya and want direct, two-way control over your air conditioner, the Spacemate smart Wi-Fi module is a perfect match. You can do pretty much everything a handheld remote can, and much more with automations.
Google Home and Alexa users can get basic controls through the Tuya version, as long as you don’t mind creating a separate Tuya account and linking your device through the Tuya or SmartLife app.
Apple Home users can use the Home Assistant version via the HomeKit Bridge integration, or alternatively via Homebridge with an MQTT Broker. If you don’t use Home Assistant or Homebridge, or are looking to integrate with SmartThings or Homey, skip the Spacemate module for now, as native support for these ecosystems is currently not available.
Spacemate is considering adding native support for more smart home ecosystems. Until then, your options are to pay the brand tax for a proprietary solution or settle for an IR-based controller if you want to turn your regular air conditioner or heat pump smart.
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