MyAir v MyPlace vs. MyPlaceIQ: What’s the Difference?

MyAir, MyPlace and MyPlaceIQ represent the evolution of smart home technology developed by Australian manufacturer Advantage Air. While they share the same foundations, each was created to offer something new.

MyAir introduced smart ducted air conditioning control, MyPlace expanded that technology across the home, and today, MyPlaceIQ is Advantage Air’s flagship smart air conditioning and home control system, bringing together improved design, reliability and intelligent energy-saving technology.

Here’s how the three systems evolved and what makes each different.

What is MyAir?

Launched in 2011, MyAir was one of the early smart ducted air conditioning systems to combine a dedicated touchscreen with smartphone control.

At the time, being able to control your air conditioning from your phone was a significant step forward. Instead of relying on a traditional wall controller, homeowners could adjust their air conditioning from the couch, bedroom or even while away from home.

Advantage Air continued developing MyAir over the following years, introducing new features and improvements until the launch of MyAir 5 in 2015.

MyAir 5 became the company’s flagship air conditioning controller for approximately a decade, building a reputation for reliability and ease of use.

MyAir’s core features include:

• Control of up to 10 individual air conditioning zones per compatible ducted unit.

• Optional individual room temperature sensors.

• A hardwired, wall-mounted touchscreen.

• Smartphone app control from home or remotely.

• Scheduling and airflow control to improve comfort and reduce unnecessary energy use.

MyAir established the foundations for the smart home technology that followed.

What is MyPlace?

As MyAir developed, Advantage Air began looking beyond air conditioning.

The idea was simple: if you could control your air conditioning from your phone, why not control other parts of your home too?

This led to MyPlace, a broader smart home platform that built on MyAir’s existing air conditioning technology.

Rather than replacing MyAir’s functionality, MyPlace extended it to compatible lighting, garage doors, blinds and other household features, bringing more of your home’s controls into one system.

Two important innovations were MyLights and MyGarage.

MyLights introduced a smart, low-voltage lighting solution that offered an energy-efficient alternative to traditional halogen lighting, while also simplifying installation and reducing associated costs.

MyGarage made it possible to monitor and control your garage door from your phone, wherever you were.

For example, if you’ve ever driven away from home wondering whether you closed the garage door, MyGarage allows you to check its status and close it remotely. It can also notify you if your garage is left open or let you provide access when you’re not home.

MyPlace also introduced broader home automation, allowing different functions to work together through customised scenes and schedules.

The result was a system that went beyond air conditioning to make everyday home management more convenient.

What is MyPlaceIQ?

MyPlaceIQ is Advantage Air’s latest flagship smart air conditioning and home control system, building on the success of MyAir and MyPlace with a renewed focus on design, reliability and energy efficiency.

It represents the next generation of Advantage Air technology, combining the comfort and convenience of its predecessors with new ways to reduce household energy costs.

A new approach to control and design

Unlike previous MyAir and MyPlace systems, which use a hardwired Android-based touchscreen, MyPlaceIQ can operate entirely through the MyPlaceIQ smartphone app.

This gives homeowners the flexibility to control their air conditioning and compatible smart home features without needing a touchscreen mounted on the wall.

For those who prefer a dedicated controller, MyPlaceIQ also offers optional 8-inch and 11-inch wall-mounted touchscreens.

These newer touchscreens use a dedicated, non-Android interface, designed to provide a more streamlined and reliable control experience.

MyPlaceIQ also introduces optional button-press room temperature sensors, allowing users to trigger convenient controls and Actions directly from individual rooms.

Smarter energy savings with IQe technology

One of the biggest developments in MyPlaceIQ is IQe, an energy-saving feature that makes better use of your home’s excess solar electricity.

Rather than exporting surplus solar energy to the grid during the day, IQe can automatically use that energy to pre-cool or pre-heat your home before you arrive.

IQe forecasts your expected solar production and considers your household’s electricity consumption and air conditioner’s power requirements to determine when it makes sense to run your air conditioning.

Independent energy modelling cited by MyPlace has estimated potential annual savings of:

• Up to $617 per year in Brisbane.

• Up to $804 per year in Perth.

IQe can also take advantage of eligible electricity plans offering free electricity hours, even in homes without solar panels.

These potential savings can continue throughout the life of your system, making energy efficiency an important consideration when comparing the long-term cost of air conditioning controls.

Actual savings depend on your home, solar installation, electricity plan and usage.

The smart home benefits of MyPlace, built in

MyPlaceIQ retains the broader smart home approach introduced by MyPlace.

Alongside air conditioning, users can control compatible lighting and garage doors from the same MyPlaceIQ app.

It also offers smart Actions, allowing you to automate parts of your home based on schedules, temperature conditions or a simple button press.

Combined with individual room temperature sensors and smart zoning, MyPlaceIQ helps reduce wasted energy by directing air conditioning to the rooms that need it, at the temperatures you choose.

The foundation of a smarter home energy ecosystem

MyPlaceIQ is also the foundation for Advantage Air’s wider IQ ecosystem, which aims to bring more of your home’s energy systems together.

The vision extends beyond air conditioning and home automation to include solar battery storage, smart hot water systems, pool pumps and electric vehicle charging.

While several of these products are planned for future release, the goal is to connect how energy is generated, stored and used throughout the home.

Rather than each appliance operating independently, the IQ ecosystem is being developed to help these systems work together, making smarter use of available energy.

It’s part of MyPlaceIQ’s longer-term mission to help Australians shred their energy bills closer to zero, without sacrificing comfort or convenience.

MyAir vs MyPlace vs MyPlaceIQ: Feature comparison

All three systems share Advantage Air’s foundations in smart ducted air conditioning, but their main differences come down to how you control your home and which additional features are available.

Feature availability depends on installed hardware, compatible accessories and system configuration. Future IQ ecosystem products will have separate availability dates.

Which system is right for you?

If you already have MyAir, you have a well-established smart air conditioning control system with zoning, optional temperature sensors and smartphone control.

MyPlace builds on those capabilities by extending control to other parts of your home, including compatible lighting, garage doors and additional smart home features.

For homeowners considering a new installation or an upgrade, MyPlaceIQ is Advantage Air’s flagship system, combining the functionality developed through MyAir and MyPlace with a new generation of control technology and energy-saving capabilities.

Importantly, MyPlaceIQ doesn’t abandon the features that made its predecessors successful. It builds on those foundations while introducing new ways to improve comfort, convenience and running costs.

It’s also the platform Advantage Air is building on for the future, with an expanding range of IQ products designed to help manage energy more intelligently throughout the home.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main difference between MyAir, MyPlace and MyPlaceIQ?

MyAir focuses on smart ducted air conditioning control. MyPlace expands those capabilities into whole-home automation, including lighting and garage control. MyPlaceIQ is Advantage Air’s flagship system, offering app-first control, optional dedicated touchscreens, IQe solar energy-saving technology and a pathway towards a wider connected home energy ecosystem.

Is MyPlaceIQ replacing MyAir and MyPlace?

MyPlaceIQ is Advantage Air’s newer flagship platform, building on the technology developed through MyAir and MyPlace. Existing systems can continue to provide smart air conditioning and home control, while MyPlaceIQ introduces newer technology and energy-saving features.

Does MyPlaceIQ need a wall-mounted touchscreen?

No. MyPlaceIQ can be controlled entirely through the MyPlaceIQ smartphone app on compatible iOS and Android devices. Optional 8-inch and 11-inch wall-mounted touchscreens are also available.

Does MyPlaceIQ save more energy than MyAir?

MyAir and MyPlaceIQ both support energy-efficient zoning and individual room temperature control.

MyPlaceIQ adds IQe technology, which can use excess solar energy or eligible free electricity hours to run your air conditioning when electricity is cheaper or already available. This creates an additional opportunity to reduce running costs.

Can I upgrade from MyAir or MyPlace to MyPlaceIQ?

Depending on your existing air conditioning system, hardware and wiring, upgrading to MyPlaceIQ may be possible without replacing your entire air conditioning system.

A MyPlace specialist can assess your current installation and advise on the available options.

Discover the next generation of MyPlace

From the introduction of MyAir in 2011 to today’s flagship MyPlaceIQ system, Advantage Air has continued developing smarter ways for Australians to control their homes.

Now, MyPlaceIQ brings together that experience with a bigger ambition: connecting more of your home’s energy systems to help reduce unnecessary electricity use and running costs.

It’s all part of helping Australian households enjoy greater comfort while getting their energy bills closer to zero.