Expert Rating

91

If you’re looking to add smart home devices, one of the first devices to consider are smart thermostats. But of course, you want the best smart thermostat that provides the necessary smart home integration while being good for your budget. That’s where the Honeywell Home RCHT8612WF T5 Plus Wi-Fi Touchscreen Smart Thermostat comes into play.

Why We Like It – Honeywell Smart Thermostat

The Honeywell Home RCHT8612WF T5 Plus Wi-Fi Touchscreen Smart Thermostat is the next step towards smart home integration by giving you access to the temperature, even when you aren’t home.

Pros
  • Smart home integration
  • Energy Star certified
  • Utility rebate programs available
Cons
  • No G wire extension
  • Lacks room sensors

Performance

The Home RCHT8612WF will adjust your HVAC systems—heating cooling systems—for optimal comfort. With Smart Response and Alerts, you’ll know when to change filters and when the heating or cooling is too high or low.

Furthermore, make changes anytime with the Honeywell Home mobile app, even when you aren’t home with Auto Home and Auto Away which uses Geofence technology to sense when your device is nearby or away rather than remote sensors, which is akin to a motion sensor.

Voice control is also an option. With a voice assistant like Amazon Alexa Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit, use voice commands to make changes on the fly. You’ll need the proper devices, however, like a Google Home Mini.

Design

The Honeywell Lyric T5 Plus is rocking a more sleek and modern design than its cousin, the Honeywell Home Wi-Fi 7-Day Programmable Thermostat, which resembles old thermostats. It even went as far as to remove all physical buttons and fully embrace a touchscreen, like the Emerson Sensi Touch. You can adjust settings along the bottom, like your heating, cooling, and fans (with the proper wiring).

Missing from its design are room sensors—similar to the Ecobee4. The T5 lacks room sensor support, but the Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat, and the T10 Pro do. Additionally, the thermostat comes with a C wire adapter since, to most homes, this isn’t a common wire available. If you prefer to control your thermostat with voice commands using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistance, click our Glas smart thermostat review.

Value

The Home RCHT8612WF is packed full of smart home functionality. It performs well; it has a sleek, modern design; it’s affordable; and it’s Energy Star certified. With all that considered, this smart home thermostat has superb value, especially compared to the 3rd generation Nest Learning Thermostat.

Not only is the T5 Plus Smart Thermostat Energy Star certified, you can also dive into rebate programs, provided it’s compatible. So you’ll save a bit of money while having a more positive impact on the environment. If you like a thermostat that is customizable to match the color of your decor, read our Honeywell home rth9585wf1004 review.

Honeywell Smart Thermostat Wrap Up

This Honeywell Smart Thermostat proves that you can have all the fantastic smart home functionality you’d see with Nest thermostats, without paying outrageous prices. There’s even the possibility to qualify for utility rebate programs. Doesn’t hurt that it’s Energy Star certified as well. Even though it’s missing a G wire extension and room sensors, so long as you have the proper wiring, that won’t be a problem.

Brady Meyers Avatar