2017 Best Smart Thermostats Reviews & Comparison

Published by Mike Dufraine at July 4, 2017

Top 5 Smart Thermostats Comparison

	1. Nest Learning	2. Ecobee3	3. Honeywell RTH9580WF	4. Emerson Sensi	5. Vine Wi-Fi Programmable

	BEST MODEL	CUSTOMER CHOICE	OUR CHOICE
Design
Shape	Round	Square	Rectangular	Rectangular	Rectangular
Dimensions	3.3 x 1.2 inches	4 x 4 x 0.9 inches	4.5 x 0.9 x 3.5 inches	5.9 x 0.9 x 3.8 inches	8.5 x 5.3 x 1.8 inches
Weight	1 pound	1.4 pounds	8 ounces	6 ounces	1.1 pounds
Material	Metal	Plastic	Plastic	Plastic	Plastic
Color	Stainless Steel, Copper, Black, or White	Black and White	Silver	White	White
Display	Digital	Touchscreen	Digital	Digital	Digital
Control Panel	Touch-sensitive	Touch-sensitive	Touch-sensitive	Buttons	Dial
Technical Details
Model Number	T3007ES	EB-STATe3-O2	RTH9580WF1005/W1	UP500W	V610
Batteries Required	Built-in rechargeable battery	Lithium-ion battery included		Lithium-ion battery included	Lithium-ion battery included
Battery Life	10 days	35,000 hours	N/A	9,000 hours	N/A
Sensors	Temperature, Humidity, Near-field activity, Far-field activity, Ambient light	Temperature, Occupancy	Temperature, Humidity	Temperature	Temperature, Humidity
Information Displayed	Outdoor temp, Indoor temp, Humidity, Status	Indoor temp, Humidity, Status	Date, Time, Indoor temp, Outdoor temp, Indoor humidity, Outdoor humidity, Status	Indoor temp, Time, Status	Date, Time, Indoor temp, Humidity, Status
Languages	English, French, Spanish, Dutch	N/A	English, French, Spanish	N/A	N/A
C-wire required
Included in the Package	Display, Base, Optional trim kit, Mounting screws and labels, Nest screwdriver, Installation Guide, Welcome Guide, Nest Pro installation card	Thermostat, Sensor Power Extender Kit (PEK), Screws and drywall plugs, Standard and large trim plates, Quick Start Guide, Installation Guide and wire labels	N/A	N/A	Wi-fi Thermostat, Two screws and anchors, Flathead screwdriver, Wire labels, Jumper wire, User manual and Installation guide
Features
Compatible with Alexa Voice
Wi-Fi Compatible
Dedicated App
Auto-Schedule
Programmable
Energy Saving
Remote Controlled	Phone or tablet with iOS 8 or later, or Android 4 or later	Phone or tablet with iOS or Android 4	Phone or tablet with iOS or Android 4	Phone or tablet with iOS or Android 4	Phone or tablet with iOS or Android 4
Heating	3 stages			4 stages
Cooling	2 stages			2 stages
Humidifier/Dehumidifier
Systems Compatibility	Multiple	Multiple	Multiple	Multiple	Multiple
Other Features	Home/Away Assist	It allows you to add up to 32 more sensors	Auto Alerts	Geofencing	Multiple Layers of Security Encryption
	Farsight	Compatible with platforms such as Apple HomeKit, Amazon Echo, Wink and SmartThings	Customizable Color Touchscreen	Compatible with Wink app without Wink hub required	Programmable LED Nightlight
	Energy History		Locking Touchscreen	Outdoor Weather Conditions
	Nest Leaf		You can easily integrate and sync other devices into the system
	ENERGY STAR Certified and UL Listed		Outdoor Weather Conditions
			Restrict access with a PIN and insert designated users
			Smart Response Technology
Warranty&Support
Product Warranty	2-year warranty on parts, no labor	3-year on materials and workmanship	2-year warranty on parts and labor	3-year warranty	30-day guarantee and 3-year warranty
Customer Support

2017 Smart Thermostats Reviews

After intense research, we were able to make a top of the five best thermostats with smart features that customers prefer the most and that met all our requirements. You can find them in the comparison table above and you can also read the brief reviews we have written.

Nest Learning

1. Nest Learning

At the top of our preferences, you will find Nest Learning, a cutting-edge thermostat that incorporates all the best features into a sleek housing made of metal, an innovation in these devices. It’s round, with a frame available in stainless steel, black, copper or white and a black display that lights up whenever it senses you in the room so that you can read the data it displays. It works on a built-in battery that, according to manufacturer’s specifications, lasts for only 10 days. Nest has outcome themselves with this device that not only allows you to monitor the temperature at home from your office but also memorizes your schedule and adjusts its operating. After a few days, it detects the hours you go to bed, when you get up, and when you leave to work and it turns on or off in order to save energy while still maintain the best ambiance at home. It’s available in English, French, Spanish, and Dutch and it displays the outdoor and indoor temperature and the humidity level. Aside from the smartphone control, you can also use the Alexa voice command to program the thermostat. Using the app, you can memorize your energy consumption so you can see what you mostly use energy on and it also helps you save energy with the Eco mode that limits waste. It is, without a doubt, an unmatching home improvement.

Ecobee3

2. Ecobee3

If you want to make sure your house is always warm and welcoming in the winter and cool and refreshing in the summer, the Ecobee3 will make things so much easier for you. This stylish plastic device features a black display that lets you know the room temperature and humidity so you can set it to the best level. For this, it uses a mobile sensor that you can place anywhere in your house to allow it to collect accurate data. The device allows for up to 32 sensors to be connected so that you can monitor the entire house. To power it, you will need a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that is included in the package and that will last for 35,000 hours. Whenever you want to set the temperature, you can either use the smartphone for remote access if you are not at home or the Alexa voice command for when you are at home. It doesn’t self-schedule according to your daily habits, which takes away some of its convenience, but it’s extremely easy to set up and use so dealing with it every day will not be cumbersome. A useful feature is the fact that it senses empty rooms and adapts the temperature to prevent wasting energy so you can limit your consumption. You can connect it to any gas, oil, or electric heating system and it even works with fans so you can always keep the air at a proper temperature.

Honeywell RTH9580WF

3. Honeywell RTH9580WF

Next, we will depict this model from Honeywell that is one of the most affordable and efficient smart room thermostats that can be connected to multiple systems for air or water heating and cooling. The elegant silver design and the changeable color display will make sure the device will fit your house design. It displays many data like time, date, indoor and outdoor temp, and indoor and outdoor humidity so you will have a clear view of the forecast and the ambiance at home. It allows you to program it for 7 days so it will work on its own without you having to interfere. It can be controlled using the smartphone or you can pair it with an Alexa voice command device, either way, it’s hassle-free. It also alerts you whenever there is a drastic change in the temperature at home so you will know if something goes wrong with your heating and cooling system. The Smart Response feature enables it to memorize the most important settings and to optimize its operating. For added safety, you can restrict the access with a PIN code and you can lock the touchscreen to prevent kids from playing with it.

Emerson Sensi

4. Emerson Sensi

Another reliable option is the Sensi thermostat designed by Emerson. Although it doesn’t impress through design with the plain plastic housing, it manages to outcome more sophisticated models with its great features. For starters, it’s compatible with Alexa voice and comes with its own dedicated app so you can control it with any Android or iOS device. Next, it offers Geofencing which means it uses the location of your phone to know where you are so it will optimize its operating. In shorter terms, if it detects you are close to the house, it will increase the temperature to make sure you get home to a warm ambiance. If you are at work or far from the house, it minimizes the energy use. Add to that the extended compatibility with fans, HVAC systems, hot water systems, and more, and you have one of the most versatile thermostats enabled for Home Automation. It’s biggest drawbacks are the facts that it only monitors and shows temperature and that the battery only lasts for 9,000 hours, which is actually very annoying.

Vine Wi-Fi Programmable

5. Vine Wi-Fi Programmable

If you want to limit your investment and still get a very good thermostat, this one from Vine is a great deal at a lower price. It boasts some of the features of the more expensive models, being compatible with any internet connection and easily controllable via smartphone or tablet. It also has an app that allows you to keep tabs on its status. On the other hand, it lacks some of the most important features like the Alexa voice command or the auto-schedule. It measures both indoor humidity and temperature and it also displays the date and time so it can successfully replace a room watch. Moreover, it comes with a convenient nightlight to make the readings more visible. It looks nice, with a white housing and a large display with an easy-to-control knob that you can also use to make the settings, aside from the touch-sensitive display. All in all, it’s a very good choice even if it lacks some of the features you can find in more expensive products.

The term “thermostat” is widely known as the device that connects to a heating or cooling system in order to monitor and adjust its functioning depending on the temperature you set. Smart thermostats are a more complex type that allows for remote control via an internet connection so that you can have access to them even if you are not at home. Moreover, smart models have the ability to adjust their operating according to some aspects like your usual settings or ambient factors. If the subject arouses your interest, keep reading to learn more about this innovative concept.

Differences between Smart and Normal Thermostats

A home relies on various systems that contribute to creating the perfect living environment. Whether we are talking about heating and cooling systems, hot water sources or perhaps dehumidifying systems, these systems need to be controlled to make sure they work in parameters. This is where thermostats come to your help with their ability to monitor and sense differences in air temperature. A regular model simply allows you to measure the temperature and set your systems to work until a certain temperature is obtained. Smart thermostats do much more than that and allow you to have full control of the air and water heating and cooling systems in your house.
Their internet connectivity enables them to connect to your phone and make all the changes remotely. You can even download apps that monitor and keep tabs on the average temperatures and that let you customize the environment according to the season. Moreover, they use multiple sensors that not only monitor air quality but also allow them to adjust their functioning on their own in order to reach your favorite room temperature. A good model can even sense your presence in the room and adjust its operating or memorize your settings and turn on or off depending on your schedule.
Smart thermostats are a component of Home Automation that makes your house smarter and easier to control from a distance. All the devices that are part of the Automation concept are internet-compatible and can be synced so that they can be monitored and accessed using a smartphone, tablet, or computer. The thermostats can be linked to several systems in your house, such as air conditioners, heat pumps, HVAC, hot water tanks, and whole house heating and cooling systems. This way, you can have full control over them using only your phone, which is much more comfortable than having to access each system separately.

Why Choose Smart over Regular Thermostats?

Nonetheless, these smart devices are more convenient and will provide a long-term efficiency but for you to be convinced they are worth their price, you need to find out which are the benefits they bring. Let’s discover the reasons why you should go past the high price and the effort of replacing your old thermostat with a high-end model.

Convenience

Needless to say, this is one of the reasons why they are better than regular thermostats. The fact that you can connect it to multiple systems and that you can access them via the internet is of great help especially if you travel a lot and you need to keep tabs on the energy consumption of your cooling and heating systems. You can also check the indoor humidity level, the outdoor temperature, and customize your setting so your home will always welcome you with the perfect ambiance.

Efficiency

They are more efficient because they provide a wide range of information and they can be synced with many systems. Not only the air will be brought to the right temperature but will be done even without you interfering with their functioning. The smart technologies they use allow them to operate mostly on their own and adjust their running schedule according to your own schedule.

Money saving

The fact that the thermostat will turn on and off whenever it senses it’s right will also lead to reduced electricity usage. Not wasting energy for heating empty rooms and turning off at night or when you are at work means fewer expenses and a 23% lower annual electricity bill. Despite the fact the purchase price is significantly higher than a normal thermostat, the investment will be absorbed in a couple of years.

Versatility

While other types of thermostats can only be connected to one system in your home, this one can handle almost any system you use for heating or cooling the air and the water you use. The wide compatibility makes it suitable for use with whole house air conditioners, heat pumps, ventilation systems, and water heaters. Some can even be linked to air dehumidifiers in order to maintain the proper air moisture level. This way, you will only be using one thermostat for the entire house.

Tips for Choosing the Best

When it comes to purchasing devices you are not familiar with, it’s not easy to pick the one that provides the best price-quality ratio and that will turn out to be the most effective. As such, it’s useful to know which are the details that really matter so you will know you have made the right choice.

Ease in Installation

Since this is an innovative device, the last thing you will want is to get tangled in wires and deal with a cumbersome installation. Therefore, make sure you go for a model that is easy to install, comes with all the necessary components and includes the user’s manual so you will not get stuck mid-installation.

Ease of Use

An intuitive control panel and clear specifications are also helpful because they will guarantee you will not have troubles setting it up and using it. Check the model you laid eyes on to see if it is user-friendly and if it’s available in your language. A large display with night lights and clearly drawn pictograms will be easier to read even from a distance or in the dark.

Multiple Systems Compatibility

Another important specification you need to check is its compatibility with various systems in your house, such as AC or heat pumps. This will enable you to use it for multiple tasks without having to replace your existing system.

Many Parameters Displayed

If you really want to enjoy full convenience, get a model that displays not only the room temperature but also the humidity, outdoor weather, or the date and time. Most of the top products show multiple data on the screen so that you check it, you can learn many parameters.

Voice Control

This is a great feature most high-end models offer via another smart device called Alexa Amazon that allows you to give commands using your voice. This way, even if you don’t have your phone, you can still set the thermostat by simply talking to it.