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Smart thermostats have proven themselves to be efficient smart devices that not only save on power bills but also add a touch of comfort to your daily life. Imagine walking into your home and being welcomed by a comfortable temperature that is unparalleled in regions where the climate is too cold or too hot.
Additionally, they help you reduce the power bills drastically. This is just one of many reasons why you should have one of these in this day and age. We will explore many more later in the article.
You know the era of traditional thermostats or programmable thermostats is long gone past. It is time to pick up the smartest thermostat available in the market right now. A simple google search will reflect that it is not as simple as it sounds.
With so much awareness and information available at your fingertips, it should take a few minutes of research to find the best smart home thermostat. But that is far from the truth. There are some minute intricacies of little hidden features that can shift your buying decision.
We reviewed some of the best smart thermostats available today to help you choose the right one for your home. Our picks are based on the reliability, features, and quality of the hardware.
List of Best Smart Home Thermostats
Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control
Ecobee makes the top of the list for its outstanding performance and latest features. It neatly learns the heating and cooling preferences of your home and adjusts automatically. Ecobee was the early adopter of working with remote sensors. It detects if the room is occupied and changes the temperature accordingly.
Most thermostats are installed centrally in your home, e.g. in your main entrance hall, and all the adjustments are made according to the temperature at that location. It’s not only outdated but inefficient as well. The Ecobee’s easy multiroom support through remote sensors sets it apart from its competitors.
The remote sensors are a bit affordable in comparison to competitors. 32 sensors can be added to the setup and one sensor is already bundled with the device.
It has voice control capabilities that let you give commands using your voice. And more importantly, it supports all key players in the market including Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings. As Alexa is inbuilt into the device, it does give you an edge as you don’t have to worry about buying an Echo speaker.
Things You May Not Like
The learning ability somehow does not match the level of the Nest Learning Thermostat. The tech geeks and fans may find themselves shifting towards Nest.
Google Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Generation)
Google’s Nest smart home ecosystem is one of the strongest among its competitors. If you are new to making your home smarter, you may not want to buy a smart device before considering how it will work with other smart devices.
This fact along with its superior automation and learning capabilities makes it a strong contender on our list.
For those of you who do not enjoy programming their thermostat manually, Nest should be at the top of your list. Its learning capabilities are the strongest attribute among its competitors. As a result, it automates heating and cooling in a precise manner.
Another notable feature is geofencing which does come in handy as it notifies the device and adjusts temperature settings as soon as you are in the vicinity.
Looks can be subjective but arguably it does look the smartest when it comes to look and feel. Being a smart thermostat, it is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings.
In our review, it was indispensable in the Nest network and works wonderfully with other Nest products. Hence if you already own or planning to invest in the Nest ecosystem. It is a must-buy.
Things You May Not Like
There are some limitations that you should know before you jump into shopping this one.
- You need to know your wiring at home as it requires C-wire(blue) to power itself. Although it is not a deal-breaker because even if your wiring system does not have a c-wire, it can still work if you add a Nest Power Connector ($24.99). Make sure to check the compatibility (here) if you need a connector.
- Apple ecosystem or HomeKit is not supported.
- Comes with Nest Temperature Sensor and supports up to 6 sensors but these sensors lack motion detection.
- Absence of smart speaker capabilities.
- Multiple rooms or Multiple Zone support missing.
Honeywell Home T9 WiFi Thermostat
The Honeywell Home T9 is another great contender for the top pick in this list. The device comes with a remote sensor and additional sensors can be placed in multiple rooms to monitor temperature and humidity.
The ability to read humidity remotely is an added advantage that is missing in Nest and Ecobee
Honeywell’s T9 is a reliable performer and is equipped with smart features like geofencing. It works with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, IFTTT, and Google Assistant.
It works with C-wire but frets not if it is missing in your wiring. You can opt for a bundle option that includes a C-wire adapter or buy (~$25) it as an add-on.
The thermostat can be operated through its touchscreen and/or Honeywell Home app. It has an “Active Rooms” feature that senses which room you are in and makes adjustments accordingly.
Things You May Not Like
- The price is similar to Nest and Ecobee, but the sensor included has to be placed next to the thermostat, which makes it look unattractive.
- Geofencing and scheduling features are present but they both cannot work together.
Note: Apple HomeKit is now supported by T9 but most of the articles on the web have advised otherwise. It is old and outdated information.
Emerson Sensi Touch Thermostat (ST75) – Alternative to Best Smart Thermostat
You need to spend more when you are looking for something best. What if you aren’t looking for a costly top pick or a budget smart thermostat that may be missing some features you may not want to miss.
That is where Sensi Touch comes in. It offers the right balance of important features at a reasonable price without sacrificing quality.
Sensi Touch claims to save 23% on HVAC energy which may be a bit exaggeration or under very controlled test conditions. But expect energy-saving as it is the fundamental benefit of any smart thermostat.
It comes with a touch screen that remains dim until you touch the screen. Emerson allows you to set schedules and can control them remotely via a mobile app. It also sends you notifications and reminders if the HVAC is up for maintenance, filter change, or humidifier pads.
Sensi sends firmware updates and these will help your device stay up to date. It supports all major smart home systems like Apple Homekit, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings except IFTTT.
It supports geofencing so that you get an ideal temperature when you reach home.
Things You May Not Like
- Looks can be subjective but it does look a bit old in design. Surely It is not a deal-breaker.
- Does not support remote sensors.
Important Features Every Smart Thermostat Should Have
There are a few features you need to know and why they are essential. This ensures that you get the most value for your money.
Smart Home Compatibility:
It is a no-brainer that your new smart thermostat should be compatible with existing smart home devices. Most thermostat manufacturers ensure that the device is compatible with major smart home technologies like Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, SmartThings, etc. But it is advisable to check for specific compatibility with the latest model.
Energy Usage Savings:
The most important advantage of installing a smart thermostat in your home is that you can save money on your utility bills. Opt for a smart thermostat with energy star certification.
Sensors:
Most families will require remote sensors and motion sensors to leverage their full potential. Cheaper or older models may lack either of these features. Be sure to check the price of the additional sensors and see if it comes with one or if it has a remote sensor capability.
Humidity sensor:
In areas where humidity levels fluctuate significantly, it would be helpful to be notified when humidity levels drop or rise from specified levels. The humidity sensor can be beneficial provided the reading is accurate.
Installation & Costing:
Ease of installation and cost of installation from a professional is another key factor that can contribute to your overall satisfaction. Many thermostats require a c-wire or battery to power them up. So the cost of the c-wire adapter needs to be factored into.
Geofencing:
Geofencing is a feature that allows the thermostat to change temperature settings when you enter the vicinity of your home. Some older models do not have this standard feature, but most of the best smart home thermostats do.
Matter Protocol:
There is a new standard emerging for smart home integrations. It is called Matter interoperability protocol which helps in seamless integration with any smart home manufacturer. Although it is a relatively new protocol introduced in 2022 and most models will support this in the next few months.
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