Ember Mug 3 Adds On-Cup Temperature Controls and Three-Hour Battery
Ember Mug 3 adds five on-cup heat settings, three-hour battery life, a spill-resistant lid and dishwasher safety, priced from $129 for hot drinks.
Summary
Ember’s third-generation Mug 3, released October 17, 2026, adds on-mug temperature adjustment to the smart mug line launched in 2016. A bottom button cycles through five presets from 125°F to 145°F in five-degree increments, reducing reliance on an app that some users have struggled to pair or connect. Testing found the control convenient but difficult to press, requiring the hot, filled mug to be tilted. Bluetooth app controls remain, with custom presets and recommendations of 136°F for black coffee, 132°F for green tea and 142°F for lemon water.
A charge maintains the selected temperature for up to three hours. The Mug 3 adds a sliding spill-control lid and becomes Ember’s first top-rack dishwasher-safe mug, but remains unsafe for microwaves. The 10-ounce model costs $129 in black, white or stainless steel. The $149, 14-ounce version comes in sage green, lavender, powder blue, salt blue, sandstone, white, black and matcha green. Ember also launched the $179 Tumbler 2, a slimmer, taller 16-ounce replacement for the Travel Mug 2 and original Tumbler, designed for standard car cup holders and available in black. The Travel Mug 2 remains on sale while supplies last. Mug 3 and Tumbler 2 are available through Ember, Target and Amazon.
Positives
- Five physical presets adjust the Mug 3 from 125°F to 145°F without opening Ember’s app.
- Up to three hours of temperature control extends use between charges.
- Top-rack dishwasher safety makes Mug 3 the first Ember mug designed for easier machine cleaning.
- A sliding lid helps prevent spills while Bluetooth controls retain custom and drink-specific presets.
- The 16-ounce Tumbler 2 has a slimmer profile designed to fit standard car cup holders.
Risks & concerns
- The bottom-mounted control can require tilting a mug full of hot liquid and pressing firmly.
- Some Ember app users have experienced connectivity or Bluetooth pairing problems.
- Mug 3 is not microwave-safe despite gaining top-rack dishwasher compatibility.
- Prices start at $129 for 10 ounces and rise to $179 for the black Tumbler 2.
- Travel Mug 2 will remain available only until existing supplies run out.