If you have decided on ducted air conditioning, the next question is how you actually control it. Modern ducted systems are not just about cooling – they are about cooling the right rooms, at the right times, without wasting energy on parts of the house no one is using. That is where the smart controller comes in.

The two big names in Australia are AirTouch (from Polyaire) and MyAir (from Advantage Air). Both are excellent smart zoning systems. Both transform a basic ducted air conditioner into something genuinely intelligent. But they take slightly different approaches, and the right choice depends on what you actually want from your home.

This guide walks through what each does, where they differ, and how to work out which one suits your home.

Why the Controller Matters

A ducted air conditioning system without smart zoning is essentially a one-temperature-everywhere system. You set 23 degrees, the whole house tries to reach 23 degrees, and the system runs until it gets there. That works, but it wastes power – conditioning rooms no one is in – and it ignores the fact that different rooms have different heating and cooling needs.

Smart control changes that. Both AirTouch and MyAir let you:

• Set different temperatures in different rooms
• Open and close zones automatically based on demand
• Monitor and adjust airflow to each zone
• Schedule the system around your daily routine
• Control everything from a wall panel, a phone app, or your voice
• Get energy insights into how the system is actually being used

The result is a more efficient ducted system, lower running costs, and better home comfort overall.

MyAir – The Established Australian Smart Controller

MyAir, made by Advantage Air in Perth, has been the dominant ducted AC controller in Australia for years. It works as a universal smart controller across most major brands including Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Fujitsu, Panasonic and others, which makes it the go-to choice for installers who want one system that pairs with whatever air conditioner suits the home.

How MyAir Works

The control hub is a tablet mounted on a wall in a central location – usually in the hallway or main living area. The MyAir controllers run on this central tablet, and you can also control the system from any phone or tablet via the MyPlace app (the MyAir app brand).

The system uses individual temperature sensors in each zone to track room conditions, and zone dampers in the ductwork open and close to direct conditioned air where it is actually needed. It is responsive, accurate, and surprisingly clever once you spend a bit of time with it.

MyAir’s Smart Home Features

This is where MyAir pulls ahead of just being an AC controller. The MyPlace ecosystem includes optional modules for:

• Garage doors (open and close via the same app)
• Lights and switches
• Other smart home features tied into a single tablet

If you want one centralised system handling your air conditioning, garage doors and basic home automation from one tablet on the wall, MyAir does this well. You can integrate it with Google Home and Google Assistant for voice control, and the app features have matured significantly over the past few years.

Where MyAir Shines

• Universal compatibility with most major air conditioner brands.
• Mature ecosystem with reliable software updates.
• Smart home features including garage doors and lighting.
• Strong installer network across Australia – most ducted installers know MyAir well.
• Whole-house integration if you want air conditioning, garage and lights from one tablet.

Where MyAir Has Trade-offs

• The wall-mounted tablet is large – some homeowners do not love it as a visual feature.
• The deepest smart home automation requires additional modules, which adds to install cost.
• App performance, while solid, is occasionally slower than newer competitors.

AirTouch – The Smart Controller Built Around Sensors

AirTouch, made by Polyaire in Adelaide, has built its reputation on intelligent zoning driven by individual temperature sensors. Like MyAir, it works as a universal OEM controller across multiple air conditioner brands including Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Fujitsu and others.

How AirTouch Works

AirTouch uses individual temperature sensors in each zone – typically wireless sensors that sit discreetly in each room. These sensors feed back continuous temperature data to the controller, which adjusts the system in real time. If one room is hotter than the rest, AirTouch directs more airflow there until it catches up. If a room is already at temperature, it eases off the airflow to that zone and redirects elsewhere.

The newer AirTouch 5 system uses a smaller wall touchscreen than MyAir, with most users controlling the system day-to-day from the AirTouch app on their phone. The app is well-designed, fast, and offers good energy insights showing how each zone is using power.

AirTouch’s Smart Zoning Approach

The defining feature of AirTouch is what they call smart zoning – the system continuously balances airflow across all zones to maintain set temperatures with minimal waste. Rather than running zones fully open or fully closed, AirTouch modulates airflow to deliver exactly what each room needs.

For homeowners who care about energy efficiency, this is a meaningful advantage. The system effectively self-tunes to your home and your usage patterns.

Smart Home Integration

AirTouch integrates with Google Home, Google Assistant and other smart home platforms for voice control. The system focuses primarily on air conditioning rather than building out into garage doors and broader home automation – so if you want one app for everything, MyAir’s ecosystem is broader. If you want the best smart control specifically for your ducted air conditioning, AirTouch is purpose-built for it.

Where AirTouch Shines

• Smaller, neater wall unit than MyAir’s tablet.
• Continuous airflow modulation for very fine zone control.
• Excellent energy insights in the app.
• Fast, modern app experience.
• Strong focus on air conditioning rather than spreading across home automation.

Where AirTouch Has Trade-offs

• Smaller smart home ecosystem – no native garage door integration, fewer add-on modules.
• Slightly smaller installer network than MyAir, though this is closing fast.
• Some older Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric and Fujitsu models may need a check on compatibility before install.

A Quick Word on Daikin AirHub

Worth mentioning because it sometimes comes up: Daikin AirHub is Daikin’s own first-party smart controller for Daikin ducted systems. It works only with Daikin, so it is not a universal OEM controller in the way AirTouch and MyAir are.

For homeowners committed to a Daikin ducted system who want first-party integration, Daikin AirHub is a solid option. For everyone else, AirTouch or MyAir gives you more flexibility because they will work with whatever brand of air conditioner ends up being right for your home.

Direct Comparison – AirTouch vs MyAir

Which One Is Right for Your Home?

The honest answer: both are excellent, and there is no universal best ducted AC controller. The right choice depends on what you actually want.

Choose MyAir if you want:

• A whole-home smart hub that handles air conditioning, garage doors and basic home automation from one tablet
• The most established ecosystem with the broadest installer network
• One central tablet on the wall as a visible feature
• Tight integration with the wider MyPlace smart home range

Choose AirTouch if you want:

• The most advanced smart zoning for ducted air conditioning specifically
• A smaller, more discreet wall unit with most control happening through the app
• The most refined app experience with strong energy insights
• A controller laser-focused on getting your air conditioner working efficiently

For most users, either system will deliver excellent results. The difference is more about how you want to interact with the system day-to-day than about raw performance.

Installation and Cost

Both AirTouch and MyAir are installed as part of a ducted air conditioning install. The controller cost is typically rolled into the overall quote, with the smart zoning system adding a few thousand dollars on top of the base ducted system price depending on how many zones and how many additional sensors you want.

If you are retrofitting smart control to an existing ducted system, that is possible too – though more complex. The wiring, sensors and zone dampers all need to be added retrospectively, and not every existing ducted system can be cleanly retrofitted. A site visit is the only way to know for certain.

At Hello Breeze, we install ducted air conditioning across Brisbane and the Redlands with both AirTouch and MyAir smart controllers. We will recommend the controller that actually suits how you live – not the most expensive option, the right one. Get a free quote if you would like a recommendation tailored to your home.

FAQs – AirTouch vs MyAir