Our favorite smart thermostats
Nest Learning Thermostat
Cnet rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 The good: The next-gen Nest Learning Thermostat has a larger display, a better resolution and a new far-field sensor for viewing time and temperature information from a distance. It works with Amazon’s Alexa, too.
The bad: Nest is behind in the accessories department; remote temperature sensors would add a lot to this smart thermostat’s functionality. The cost: $219 to $249
The bottom line: Nest is still our choice for best overall smart thermostat, but it isn’t hugely different from the second-gen model and the gap is narrowing as other brands introduce solid competitors.
Honeywell Lyric T5
Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5 The good: The T5’s geofencing feature worked consistently well, it automated Home and Away settings every time without complaint, and it sent prompt alerts about the changes.
The bad: The font and layout of the touch-screen interface looks dated. It could use integrations with Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, Wink and IFTTT. The cost: $109 to $150
The bottom line: The Siri-, Alexa- and geofencing-enabled Lyric T5 is smart, it works well and it offers a better value than other connected thermostats.
Ecobee3 Lite
Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5 The good: A responsive touch-screen and integrations with Alexa, Apple HomeKit, SmartThings, Wink and IFTTT give the lower-priced $169 Ecobee3 serious appeal.
The bad: “Smart” is a bit of a stretch for the Ecobee3 Lite, since it doesn’t rely on activity-tracking sensors or any other sort of adaptive tech to learn your routine. $169 is still a lot to spend, especially on a programmable thermostat.
The cost: $163 The bottom line: No other Wi-Fi thermostat offers this many smart-home partnerships for this low of a price, but you should weigh the importance of the integrations against the price — many seven-day app-enabled programmable thermostats cost just $100.
Lux TX500U
Cnet rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 The good: A large display, blue backlight and an intuitive control panel make the $30 Lux easy to recommend. The bad: Its plastic covering is flimsy and fell off once during use. The cost: $23 to $27 The bottom line: The Lux strikes a balance between value and function, making it a top pick if you’re in the market for a basic programmable thermostat.