Livegrid Review – The Most Enjoyable Way to Improve Indoor Air Quality

As an air quality enthusiast, I’ve always felt like there’s been a big knowledge barrier with most of the devices I review on this website. While I might now be all-to-familiar with what every reading indicates and the actions I need to take based on these measurements, I know this can’t be said for everyone. When there’s so much information behind each reading, and so many different levels to understand, this is an ever-prevalent issue.

However, some companies and individuals are trying to change this, and today, I get to review one particularly interesting device working to make the world of carbon dioxide monitoring and ventilation less mystifying. The device in question is Livegrid, a Tamagotchi-inspired carbon dioxide monitor that gamifies improving your indoor air quality.

Resetting every week, Livegrid will show you a whole ecosystem with a range of different and unique creatures within. If your carbon dioxide concentration is optimal, these fish will be large, colourful, and active. However, if your air quality begins to degrade, the fish will lose their colour and, eventually, become lethargic. Other factors like temperature and humidity also play a role in how the aquarium looks and moves, and this creates an exciting cycle where you’re always trying to keep your house well-ventilated to ensure the aquarium remains beautiful and active.

In today’s review, I want to take an in-depth look at the Livegrid carbon dioxide monitor (I’m not really sure how to classify this device!) and discuss its benefits and flaws. For me, this is a super exciting device just because of how unique it is, and I’m always a fan of gamification – especially when it comes to health. Therefore, I’m very happy to present this full review of the Livegrid carbon dioxide monitor.

Oh, one final note before we get started: Dhruv mentions this on the website, but it’s very hard to convey exactly how this device looks through photos. Unfortunately, capturing true-to-life images of this device is very difficult, and despite how hard I’ve tried to edit the photos, I want to note that the device looks much better in real life.

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please refer to my affiliate disclaimer. I was sent a product for review, but the article is not sponsored. All opinions expressed in this post are my honest thoughts. I only recommend products that I genuinely believe in.

Information on this blog is for informational purposes only. Readers are encouraged to confirm the information herein with other sources. Furthermore, this information is not intended to replace medical advice from professionals. This website assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information, and information is subject to change without notice. Devices mentioned on this website are not medical devices and do not guarantee protection.

How Livegrid Works

In the introduction, I mentioned that Livegrid is Tamagotchi-inspired, but I should probably explain a bit more about how the device works for anyone older or younger than me who might not know what a Tamagotchi is! Basically, at the most basic level, Livegrid is a digital aquarium that changes based on the concentration of carbon dioxide, temperature, and relative humidity of your environment. At ideal conditions, the aquarium will be alive and healthy, and as they worsen, you will notice that your aquarium begins to suffer. This is all created in an attempt to gamify air quality because you get visual feedback (and rewards) based on factors that influence your own health.

As mentioned, there are three factors that influence how your Livegrid looks at any given time. One of these is carbon dioxide, and the other two are temperature and relative humidity. While carbon dioxide will impact the fish themselves – the colour they are, how active they are, and how much they reproduce and grow – temperature will change the colour of the water, and humidity will impact seaweed growth. In other words, for your aquarium to look as pretty as possible, you will want to try and maintain ideal conditions for these three factors in your home.

Each fish in the aquarium is on a five to seven-day cycle, meaning that over five to seven days, each fish will grow from an egg through four stages (baby, teenager, adult, elder) before finally having an egg or two (depending on the current aquarium population) and then passing away. This means the tank is always evolving, and it takes around one month to reach its final form. However, even after one month, fish will continue to change and cycle constantly.

Now, it’s worth noting that (as far as I can tell) the fish themselves will never die – at least, not due to high carbon dioxide concentrations. Instead, when the carbon dioxide concentration increases, they will slow down and eventually become lethargic. However, I noticed that they always recovered and ‘came back to life’ once levels normalised again, and I think this also makes the device friendly to everyone. The reality is that we can’t always prevent our carbon dioxide levels from climbing, and it’s nice not to be penalised for this.

Perhaps my favourite aspect of watching the aquarium grow over the weeks was seeing all the new types of fish that appeared. While calling some of these creatures fish may be a bit of a stretch, it was always cool to see what was new on my device every morning. Even my wife was interested, always pointing out when new (and often more colourful and larger) fish suddenly appeared on the screen. It’s this kind of excitement and interest that is Livegrid’s greatest strength and what makes it a great conversation starter.

I hope that this gamification approach keeps getting iterated, and I would love to see some more features introduced. For example, I would love to keep seeing new creature designs added, even if some of them are very rare so that I can continue to discover new fish even months down the line. It would also be super cool to have some more customisation options – such as setting the fish cycle to 30 days instead of the default seven. However, I think this is a fantastic foundation, and I already enjoy how Livegrid functions.

While there are certain users – like myself – who just like having a device like this around the house, I also think it is a fantastic device to teach children about air quality and ventilation. I can imagine that having one of these around a family home would foster interest in air quality, and there’s currently no other carbon dioxide monitor on the market that fills this role, as well as Livegrid.

Accuracy & Sensor

Normally, I’m a stickler for accuracy as I believe it is the most important aspect of any air quality monitor. Being an air quality monitor at heart, the same remains true for the device. With that said, I’m already very familiar with the sensor used in Livegrid and there is so much else to focus on with this device that I don’t want to spend too long on the topic of the sensor and its accuracy. Therefore, this section will be briefer than my usual discussions on accuracy.

At the heart of Livegrid is a Sensirion SCD4x series sensor – I believe currently, the SCD40 is used. This is a well-regarded sensor that uses photoacoustic NDIR technology to be ultra-compact. While that’s not such a big issue in a large device like this, it’s the reason this sensor is chosen for so many ultra-small monitors like the AirValent TravelLite. While it isn’t as good as a high-end transmissive NDIR sensor in my opinion (due to a few caveats with calibrating the sensor), in this case, these shouldn’t make a big impact, and that means the SCD40 is a great choice for this kind of application.

The sensor also includes a temperature and relative humidity sensor which are built-in. While these can suffer from some internal heat generation, which can skew readings, the SCD40 is left exposed on Livegrid which means it should be more reflective of ambient conditions – this is a fantastic approach! In the image above, you can see the exposed sensor (the silver square with a white pad on top of it).

Since I’ve already tested the SCD40 and SCD41 extensively, I’m not going to run a comparison here (also, you can’t export data from Livegrid, which makes a comparison challenging). What I can say, however, is that this sensor generally performs very well, and in my many tests, it gives very similar results to sensors such as the Senseair Sunrise used in the Aranet4 Home. On top of this, I reached out to Dhruv (the creator), to ask if he had made any adjustments to the sensor output and he said that he hadn’t, meaning that any readings from this sensor should be directly in line with what we see with other monitors.

It’s also worth mentioning that the SCD40 has a 7-day auto calibration period. For a full explainer of exactly how auto calibration works, please read below:

On Livegrid, this automatic calibration can’t be disabled and this was done to prevent long-term sensor drift. While in the vast majority of cases, this approach will be fine, it’s worth noting that if you begin to see your fish dying when they shouldn’t be, it could be that the device’s baseline has caused issues with the accuracy of the device.

Overall, the sensor used in Livegrid is a good choice that should ensure the device gives accurate readings. While most people probably won’t be seeing the measurements as they are output by the sensor, it’s still good to know that this sensor is accurate. It’s also worth noting that, if you want, you can actually enable numerical outputs on Livegrid’s screen, meaning you can see exact measurement CO2 concentration if you prefer.

Design

While I typically like to focus on accuracy as the cornerstone of any air quality monitor review (and there’s no denying that it’s still important here), design is really the key focus of Livegrid. After all, it’s entirely through the design of the device that information is conveyed to the user, so it’s a foundational pillar that needs to be implemented well.

At the moment, Livegrid is a 30cm x 30cm device (if you get the framed monitor) with 78 by 78 pixels (6084 total). Now, I say at the moment because Dhruv, the creator, has let me know that there are plans for both a smaller and larger version in the future. However, these versions don’t yet exist and they’re still in the early to mid stages of development so it’s hard to know exactly when it will be ready.

You can choose from three different frames when you purchase the device, or you can opt to go entirely frameless. The frameless version is a bit cheaper, and I’m sure it still looks fantastic, but the framed Livegrid look like a work of art and I’ve been impressed with the quality of the frame on mine. I think that if you can afford the extra cost for the frame (and don’t intend to make your own), one of these three variants is the best choice.

Depending on the aesthetic you are looking for, you can get a natural wood frame, pristine white, or classic black. Personally, I opted for the natural wood frame as I don’t think anything beats the look of wood as it should be. With that said, having a white and black option is great for those who already have certain colour themes in their home. Either way, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the quality of the frame – even if it does come at an extra cost.

Regardless of which device you opt for, you will get a display that is around 25cm x 25cm, with 6000 pixels. As for this screen, I wasn’t sure what to expect at first because I’m generally not a fan of low-resolution LED displays, so I was pleasantly surprised. It’s bright, vibrant, and has fantastic contrast. While it is hard to read up close (I had some difficulty reading the settings menu when holding the device), when viewed from the distance the device is intended to be viewed from (a few metres away), the screen looks fantastic.

While you can adjust the brightness of the screen, I found it to be quite bright at all levels and therefore, you should probably avoid placing this in a bedroom unless you intend to turn it off every night. However, for a room like a lounge, it works fantastically and it certainly makes for a conversation starter! I also found that it doubled as a good nightlight when placed in part of my house that was suitable for constant light.

Turning the device around, you will find a plastic cover that protects the electronics in the frame from being damaged. This piece of plastic is surprisingly solid, and it adds to the overall feel of the device which is that it is built very well. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting this level of build quality from something handmade at relatively small scale, but I have to give kudos to Dhruv for how well made this device feels.

Anyway, before I get too off track, the back of the device has a few features of note. Firstly, it is here that you will need to plug in your USB Type-C cable to power the frame. Unlike some of the pictures on the Livegrid site (I assume these were for an earlier version of the device), the cable doesn’t actually plug into one of the edges of the frame but rather into the back. This means that, while the cable prevents the frame from sitting flush on the wall, it can be orientated anyway – we will discuss this in more detail soon.

Also, on the back of the device are a couple of buttons. Most important is the reset button, which I found myself pressing quite frequently as the screen often wouldn’t turn back on after I had unplugged the device and plugged it back in. This was only a minor frustration, though, as a device like this shouldn’t really be moved much, and I likely moved it a lot more than the typical user as I was in the process of reviewing it. Resetting the device is very straightforward and it would turn on a second or two after pressing the button.

I mentioned that the device could be orientated whichever way you would like, and this stands true because there appears to be an accelerometer inside the device which automatically orientates the screen based on which way the device is facing. This is a small touch, but I really appreciate it! On top of this, the touch buttons which you use to control the device are located on one side of the frame, but these can also be used in any orientation.

The buttons themselves are metal contacts which are touch-sensitive. There are only two, and one is used to select options, while the other is used to scroll. In theory, you shouldn’t need to use these buttons often as there is also a web app for the device, but I appreciate the fact that they are there as they mean that Livegrid can be used entirely standalone if you prefer. The buttons are sensitive, and once I got used to the control scheme, I found navigating the options menu easy – although I did have some difficulties reading the menu up close.

Also near the buttons is a metal square that is exposed through the frame. This is the SCD4x CO2 sensor, which measures not only carbon dioxide concentration but also temperature and humidity, as well as an ambient light sensor. I love the fact that the SCD4x sensor is exposed, as this should lead to more accurate temperature and relative humidity readings that aren’t as influenced by heat generated within the device itself.

One final, but cool note about the buttons: since the actual area that the fish can move is much larger than the screen itself (meaning you will typically only have a few fish on the screen at any given time), you can press and hold one of these buttons to ‘feed’ the fish. This is a great way to bring them all onto the screen at once to show off your aquarium’s ecosystem in all its glory. Very cool!

Connectivity

While it’s important to note (and I do want to emphasise this) that the device can be used without any internet connectivity at all, Livegrid does also offer WiFi connectivity which can be set up by accessing a captive portal that the device opens for five minutes after turning on. Don’t worry, though! If you don’t want to use WiFi, the device will stop broadcasting its signal entirely after this five minute period has elapsed.

If you are interested in connecting to the WiFi, you will need to turn on the device and connect to the hotspot that the device opens within the first five minutes of it being on. A captive portal (an automatically opening page) should appear on your phone or laptop within a few seconds. If it doesn’t, you can visit 192.168.4.1 in your browser to add Livegrid to a local WiFi network. I also found that if the WiFi network connection failed, I had to restart the device by unplugging it and plugging it back in for the hotspot to open again.

The device can connect to any 2.4GHz network, and this will allow it to communicate with a dashboard when accessed via a local IP. While the process of accessing this dashboard isn’t the most intuitive for non-tech users, it’s relatively straightforward and once set up for the first time, you can bookmark the page for future visits.

It’s worth noting that the device also supports Home Assistant and MQTT. This is fantastic to see, and I’m sure many Home Assistant users will be thrilled to hear about this integration. While the integration is not yet native, Dhruv has mentioned that this is on his to-do list. As such, I’m looking forward to seeing this integration get better with time!

Anyway, anyone who uses the device with the included dashboard will see a screen with graphs like the screenshot above. These graphs aren’t adjustable currently, and they show the past 24 hours of data for each of the three parameters measured by the monitor. While I would love to see more options for viewing the graphs, as they are a bit sparse at the moment, I’ve also been told that this is a focus for future improvements.

Something quite cool is that the web dashboard also allows you to upload custom images and text for the device to display. While the resolution will obviously be quite limited, this is an interesting addition, and it’s nice to have a choice. With that said, these will replace the default aquarium view, and this is really the highlight of the device, in my opinion, so I never touched any of these settings past my own testing. I also found that I managed to bug the device when switching through the images, and I had to reset it via the hardware button to get it to display correctly again.

I do appreciate having choice, and I really can’t say anything negative about having more options. However, I also don’t really see the point of these functions as the aquarium aspect is really what makes this device so appealing and I believe the development time and effort could have been spent on refining this part of the device further.

Finally, in the web dashboard, you can also set up integrations for MQTT, Home Assistant and eDMX. While I didn’t really tinker with these much myself (outside of Home Assistant), I appreciate having these options available. To be honest, that’s about all there is to the dashboard except for a few toggles in the corner (dark UI, power, and auto brightness). Overall, it’s very simple, and I would love to see more features added in the future. However, this is a good foundation from which to work!

It’s also worth noting that since this device is open source, you could theoretically adjust it to work with other platforms. However, I have little experience with this, so I won’t speak on the topic. All I know is that I am a big fan of open source, and it’s great to have it with Livegrid!

Pricing

Livegrid is not a cheap device, and I think the price will turn a lot of people off; however, I don’t think it’s overpriced. Is it a niche item intended for a very specific audience? Yes, very much so. However, you have also to remember that each of these devices is handmade in the U.K. by one person. The feel of the devices represents this, as they feel very well made. They also come with a one-year warranty.

Livegrid with a frame (regardless of your chosen colour) comes in at £299, while the frameless version comes in at £249. While it will, of course, come down to your decision, I highly recommend one of the framed versions if you can afford it. They make Livegrid look like a work of art, and I think that the extra 50 pounds is well worth it in this case (unless you intend to make your own frame!).

As for the competition to this device… Well, there is none. As you’ve likely already gathered by reading this article, Livegrid is really only classified as a ‘carbon dioxide monitor’ by myself, as I really don’t know what else to call it. In reality, it’s much more than that – it’s a device that balances air quality monitoring with artistic design while also implementing features like gamification that make it ideal for educating and starting conversations. For this reason, it has a very different appeal than a traditional carbon dioxide monitor.

If you’ve read this article and thought, ‘Wow, that’s cool! I could put that in the lounge,’ then I think this device might be up your alley. However, if you’ve been reading through this article wondering what the point of such a device is, it’s fair to say that you’re likely not the target audience. It’s far from a must-have item, but it is a very cool device to have around the house.

Livegrid has particular appeal to art lovers (especially those who care about air quality), tech enthusiasts (who can use Home Assistant and MQTT) and educators (or families with children). For example, my wife has always taken an interest in air quality because it’s my job – and we have so many devices around the house – but it wasn’t until we put Livegrid on the wall that she really started to care about how well ventilated our house is. This kind of interest that Livegrid can generate makes it ideal for educators and families with children.

Before concluding this article, I want to make one final note about the pricing. While this device has already had a Kickstarter, it is worth noting that there are still bugs, and I don’t think it’s in a final form yet. While it works well, and it’s actually a product that exists (unlike some Kickstarters!), it does still feel like it’s in a bit of a beta phase. This was no big deal to me, and the bugs I found were easily fixable with the reset button, but this is something to keep in mind.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, Livegrid is one of the most unique air quality monitors I’ve ever used. It takes something as mundane as carbon dioxide monitoring and turns it into a visual, interactive experience that makes you want to keep your air fresh. Whether you’re interested in it as an educational tool, a conversation starter, or simply because you like pretty things, it stands out in a sea of generic monitors.

That said, it’s not a perfect device – yet. There are still some small bugs, occasional resets, and a bit of a learning curve, especially if you want to tinker with settings or integrate it into your smart home. It’s also pricey, and if you’re just looking for a standard CO2 monitor, this isn’t what you need. However, if you’re willing to accept a few quirks (such as minor bugs), it’s an incredibly fun and rewarding device to own.

Livegrid already feels like something special, and I’m excited to see how it evolves. I’m really hoping that this device starts a trend towards making air quality fun and accessible to learn about because I can see a device like this spreading awareness in a way that not many other products can. Even for an air quality enthusiast like me, this is just a fun device to have around the house, and it catches my eye many times daily.

With that said, since this device is still being actively developed, I have a few suggestions that I would like to see implemented. On the usability side, it would be great to be able to export data and see more information on the dashboard (such as a 30-day view, but I hear that’s already being worked on). For the aquarium, I would love to see more creatures (such as rare ones) that keep me coming back to check the device every day – even months down the line. It would also be great to have features like auto-dimming based on schedules, where I could altogether disable the device screen between midnight and 8 am (for example). However, these suggestions would only improve an already good product.

If you’ve read this article and still have some questions remaining, please feel free to ask in the comments down below. I always do my best to reply to every comment, and I’m more than happy to help answer any questions that you may still have! If you’ve tried Livegrid yourself, it would also be great to hear more about your thoughts on the product and these are sure to help future readers too. Thanks for reading!

Livegrid FAQ

Livegrid Review - The Most Enjoyable Way to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Livegrid is a Tamagotchi-inspired CO₂ monitor that turns air quality into a game. See your indoor environment come to life with a digital aquarium that reacts to CO₂, temperature, and humidity.

Product Brand: Livegrid

Editor's Rating:
4

Pros

• Unique gamification approach to air quality monitoring
• Visually engaging and makes CO₂ levels easy to understand
• High-quality, handmade craftsmanship
• Can be used offline with no cloud dependency
• Supports Home Assistant, MQTT, and other integrations
• Open-source software allows for customization
• Fantastic educational tool, especially for children

Cons

• Occasional screen flashing and minor software bugs
• Requires a reset every time it's powered on
• Premium pricing compared to standard CO₂ monitors
• Brightness can be too intense at night
• Limited control over aquarium customization
• Not fully plug-and-play; some tech literacy required (for connectivity)