Aqualisa Optic Q Smart Showers

If your home has a combination boiler that heats mains-pressure water and supplies taps instantly, you need an HP / Combi Optic Q model; these are designed for mains-pressure systems. If your hot water comes from a cylinder and you have a cold water tank in the loft, pick a Gravity Fed (or pumped gravity) Optic Q so the unit can work with the lower incoming pressure. A practical check is whether you already have a combi boiler (use HP) or a hot water cylinder and loft tank (use Gravity). Aqualisa offers both supply options across the Optic Q range, so you can match the model to your system.

Concealed controls sit flush in the wall and give a cleaner, minimalist look that suits new builds or full refurbishments where you can hide pipework. Exposed controls are surface-mounted and are easier to retrofit because they connect to wall-fed pipework without chasing. If you want a sleek rainfall head with hidden valves, go concealed; if you need a quick upgrade in an existing bathroom, an exposed unit lets you modernise without major works.

One outlet gives you a single fixed head or handset, ideal for a simple showering setup and saving space. Two outlets typically combine a fixed head and a handset so you can switch between a relaxing overhead spray and a handheld for rinsing or cleaning. Three outlets add a third function such as body jets or a bath filler, which is useful if you want simultaneous or separate use of multiple functions, for example a rainfall head plus handset and a bath filler on a family bathroom.

Optic Q’s digital controllers let you preset temperatures and switch between outlets quickly, so each family member can get their preferred shower without fiddling with valves. The system is described as fully customisable, so you can choose configurations like dual-head concealed units or rainfall options to match how your household uses the bathroom. For instance, a parent might set a lower temperature for kids while another user keeps a hotter preset for a fast morning shower.

Entry-level single-head Optic Q concealed or exposed units start around the mid-£600s, while dual-head or pumped gravity models typically sit from roughly £790 to just under £1,000. Rainfall heads, bath-filler combinations and pumped gravity variants tend to be at the higher end rainhead; concealed models start from around £700 and a complete shower with bath filler around £935. Expect the price to rise with additional outlets, pump compatibility and premium concealed finishes because those add components and functionality.