Smart thermostats do the kind of thinking you often don’t have time to do. The little devices learn your daily routines and create home heating and cooling schedules accordingly. They’ll totally save you some major cash.
They’re like the new kid on the block, but they’re crushing it in the market. Google and Ecobee were the OGs, but now it’s a whole industry worth billions.
Contents
Choosing the Best Smart Thermostat for Your Home
Not all smart thermostats are created equal. Some handle simple heating and cooling functions, basic scheduling, and programming options.
So, you wanna get yourself a smart thermostat? It’s essential to aim for the very best, and fortunately, you’re about to discover the top three contenders firsthand. Dive in!
1. Best Overall: Ecobee Smart Thermostat With Voice Control
The new Ecobee Smart Thermostat With Voice Control is the company’s fifth-generation model. This new version offers more features than its predecessor, the Ecobee4.
The device comes with labels and a detailed installation guide, both of which make the setup process easy. You can use the labels to mark wires when you connect the thermostat to your home’s HVAC system.
The Smart Thermostat with Voice Control looks just like the Ecobee4. You get a device of the same size, the same glossy black screen over a white enclosure.
The latest thermostat features a glass screen spanning its 3.5-inch, 480-by-320-pixel color touch display, complemented by two microphones flanking each side of the screen.
The microphones offer echo cancellation and more advanced audio processing than those of the Ecobee4.
In the rear plate, you’ll find 12 terminals. These allow you to connect the device to your home’s heating and air conditioning, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and other HVAC accessories.
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat comes with a single remote room SmartSensor. This allows the device to keep temperatures uniform throughout your house.
The new sensor offers an extended range and longer battery life than the previous model. You can purchase extra SmartSensors, too, if necessary.
Proximity and occupancy sensors tell the thermostat if you are home or away. The device will consequently switch to a preset target temperature in order to be energy-efficient.
The thermostat’s Wi-Fi circuitry allows you to connect the thermostat to a 2.4GHz or 5GHz Wi-Fi radio band.
Just like the Ecobee4, the Smart Thermostat with Voice supports Amazon Alexa voice technology. This means you can use it as you would an Amazon Echo device.
Ecobee has added support for Alexa Calling, Messaging, and Drop-In for this newer model. Beyond the anticipated choices such as Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, and Pandora, you can now delight in your beloved Spotify tunes directly through your thermostat. Yes, you read that correctly – it’s now a reality.
And what’s even better? You can effortlessly operate the Ecobee4 using the same intuitive mobile app on either your Android or iOS device. How convenient is that? You also have the flexibility to control it through the touchscreen interface, the integrated voice services, or even from a PC using a web console.
The thermostat likewise works with Apple’s HomeKit platform, Google Assistant, and Siri voice commands. The device will communicate with other smart home devices that support IFTTT applets. You can add it to the SmartThings, Vera, and Wink home automation systems.
The app’s home screen shows the current room temperature and has a slider for setting the target temperature.
The thermostat performed well on all fronts during our testing. It responded instantly to temperature change commands. This was true whether we used the mobile app, a PC, or Alexa and Siri voice commands.
The device also followed heating and cooling schedules precisely. As with the Ecobee4, the thermostat worked wonderfully with a HomeKit scene.
Our verdict? We found the new Ecobee Smart Thermostat with Voice Control quite impressive. While it does command a rather steep price, we say it’s the best in the market right now. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a thermostat that offers as many features.
Integrates seamlessly with your preferred smart home system. Compatibility: Gas, Oil, Electric, Dual-fuel, Conventional (2H/2C), Heat Pump (4H/2C), Humidifier, Dehumidifier, Ventilator, HRV or ER
2. Strong Runner-Up: Nest Learning Thermostat
The third-generation Nest Learning Thermostat has all the smarts of its predecessors and adds some new features. This newer model includes a larger display, geofencing support, a furnace monitor, and a few more sensors.
The brushed stainless steel ring of the Nest measures 3.3 inches in diameter and is 1.26 inches thick, nearly identical to its previous iteration. However, don’t be deceived by its appearance; this device surprises you with its substantial weight, especially when you’re adjusting the dial. Prepare to experience the robustness of the Nest!
We encountered no difficulties installing the device in our test home. If you’re familiar with a screwdriver, installing the Nest yourself should take approximately half an hour. Just choose your desired temperature settings and establish an online account to begin. It’s as easy as a leisurely Sunday morning.
This intelligent thermostat typically takes approximately a week to familiarize itself with your heating and cooling preferences. However, once it does, it’s akin to having your very own personal climate concierge. There is the Auto-away mode, which turns the temperature down when it senses you’re not home. The Furnace Heads-Up feature alerts you when the device detects irregular shutoff patterns in your furnace.
Unlike the Ecobee SmartThermostat, the Nest covers only one area. You cannot pair it with sensors in other rooms. But if you purchase additional Nest thermostats, they will work in concert with each other.
While numerous intelligent thermostats stand out in their capacity to effortlessly link with other smart gadgets, it’s noteworthy to point out that this particular product, now under Google’s ownership, does not provide compatibility with Apple’s HomeKit initiative. Nonetheless, the Nest is entirely harmonious with Google Assistant, Alexa, and Nest’s exclusive ‘Works with Nest’ scheme.
The Works with Nest program allows you to connect and control the thermostat with other smart home devices. These include Philips Hue lights, smart locks, and more.
However, Google says it’s phasing out the program. The company is encouraging users to switch their Nest accounts to Google Assistant accounts.
If you currently have a Nest account, we advise against switching over for the moment. Google Assistant lacks most of the functionality found in Works with Nest.
All in all, we say the new Nest Learning Thermostat is an excellent device. It’s easy to install and use, and can connect to a range of other smart home devices.
When compared to the Ecobee, we think the Nest is the more attractive of the two devices. Still, the Ecobee has a slight edge because its secondary sensors let you easily monitor the temperature in other rooms.
But that doesn’t make the Nest any less compelling. This device learns your behavior and automatically adjusts your home’s temperature to suit your needs. That’s as smart as any smart thermostat can get.
- No more programming: With Auto-Schedule, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat learns from you and programs itself.
- Home/Away Assist: don't heat or cool an empty home. Home/Away Assist adjusts the temperature after you leave.
3. Best Budget-Friendly: Honeywell RTH9585WF1004 WiFi Smart Color Thermostat
CNET asserts that Honeywell intentionally designed an earlier smart thermostat to rival the Nest Learning Thermostat. To underscore this rivalry, Honeywell even took legal action by filing a patent infringement lawsuit against Google back in 2012.
Does Honeywell’s newest smart thermostat keep pace with its competitors in the market? We tested the Honeywell RTH9585WF1004 WiFi Smart Color Thermostat for a few weeks to evaluate its performance.
This Honeywell thermostat is a great option for homeowners who want a device that’s easy to use and read.
The experienced DIYer should have no difficulty installing this device. The wiring is the most difficult part of the process. Be sure you have a C wire ready. You should also label the wires correctly based on your old thermostat.
Other than that, you’ll find virtually everything you need to get the unit up and running inside the box. Within this package is the formidable thermostat, boasting a robust width of 4.5 inches and a height of 3.5 inches. Accompanying this potent device, you’ll discover a dependable wall plate, screws, and anchors to firmly affix it.
Additionally, you’ll find useful wire labels, a user guide, and a quick start guide, guaranteeing a seamless installation process. And the only tool you’ll require is a reliable screwdriver to take control of your home’s climate.
Once the thermostat installation is complete, the next step is to connect it to your Wi-Fi network. To unleash the thermostat’s full capabilities and have complete control, you’ll require a Total Connect Comfort account.
For Android users, you can find the app on Google Play. If you own an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you can download it from the iTunes store.
The screen is in full colour. You have several different themes to choose from, too. The screen colour is rich and vibrant, giving the thermostat a sleek, high-tech appearance.
On the app’s home page, you’ll see a list of all of your connected Honeywell Wi-Fi Smart Thermostats.
You can customize the names of each to distinguish among them. Next, you can choose the thermostat you wish to modify, and you’ll receive a brief overview of its current status. By tapping on the Weather option, you can access additional details about the day’s weather forecast.
You can have the system remind you to replace your air filter or your humidifier pad. The device will alert you in the event of extremely high or low temperatures, as well. But probably its best feature is the ability to use your energy company’s peak pricing to save you money.
Using the Smart Response Technology, the thermostat will change settings to ensure maximum comfort when you are home. Accordingly, the device will adjust to save you money when you are away.
SAVE ENERGY AND GET REWARDED by checking with your energy provider about available energy savings rebates to save on your purchase (use rebate finder link above). Plus, eligible customers can enroll in ongoing energy savings incentives with their energy provider to keep saving all year long.
Our take? The Honeywell RTH9585 smart thermostat is an excellent option if you’re looking for a mid-range smart thermostat.
True, with this device, you won’t get the bells and whistles and extra functionalities of the Ecobee or Nest. But an Ecobee or Nest Learning thermostat will command a premium price. For its lower price range, the Honeywell RTH9585 is a fantastic value and selection.
Smart Thermostats for a Cozy, High-Tech Home!
Transform your home’s climate control with these three outstanding smart thermostats, crafted to elevate your living space to newfound levels of comfort and efficiency. Step into a fresh era of temperature management that not only enhances your home’s atmosphere but also leads to cost savings and a smaller carbon footprint.
Ready to upgrade your living space with a brilliant smart thermostat? Yes, make your home smarter and also contribute to a more sustainable, environmentally friendly future!
