This app-controlled toilet seat is a cheaper excuse to use your phone in the bathroom

Bemis has announced its Bio Bidet BB-1200 toilet seat is now available, allowing luxuries like unlimited warm water, a heated seat, and an air dryer to be activated using a smartphone app.

The company claims the BB-1200, which first debuted at CES 2024 last January, is "the first North American bidet toilet seat that is controlled by an app and affordably priced." Kohler announced a similar product at CES 2024 with its PureWash E930 bidet seat that can be operated using the Kohler Konnect app or through voice commands. It was immediately available to order in January for $2,149, but its price has since dropped to $1,597.50.

That definitely makes the $399 BB-1200 "affordably priced" by comparison. In addition to controlling the seat using the Bemis Living app (available for both iOS and Android), the BB-1200 lets two users configure profiles with their preferred water pressure, water temperature, and seat temperature. The BB-1200 connects over both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and users open the app when seated to activate their preferred setup.

Guests without a profile can access all of the bidet's functions using an included wireless remote, and the seat can be retrofitted to most existing toilets.

Bemis says its mobile apps don't share users' personal info with third parties, and that any diagnostic data it collects won't be linked to your identity. But if you have privacy concerns and don't want your smartphone connected to your toilet, there are more affordable alternatives. Bemis also sells a $59 seat upgrade that doesn't even need a power outlet, as well as a $309.99 app-less bidet that still includes water and seat warming.