Honeywell Home Smart Color Thermostat Review (2025): The Trusted Name, Now Smarter Than Ever

You walk over to your thermostat for the hundredth time. The numbers are dim, the buttons are sticky, and you’re never quite sure if you’re programming it right to actually save money. It feels like you’re wrestling with technology from a different century.

You know a smart thermostat could help, but you don’t want something overly complicated. You’re not looking for a gadget that requires a PhD to operate; you just want reliable, easy-to-use control over your home’s temperature that can actually lower your energy bills.

What if you could get a thermostat from a brand you already know and trust, but with all the brains and convenience of the modern smart home?

Enter the Honeywell Home Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat. With its eye-catching color screen and promise of simple scheduling, it aims to be the no-nonsense, powerful upgrade your home needs. But does it live up to the Honeywell legacy in 2025?

We installed it, tested its features, and are breaking down whether it’s the right fit for your home.

👉 Check the Latest Price on Amazon

First Impressions: A Gorgeous Screen You’ll Actually Use

Right out of the box, the difference is clear. This isn’t a drab, plastic box with a green digital readout. The Honeywell Home Smart Color Thermostat features a vibrant, full-color touchscreen that is responsive and easy to read from across the room.

It feels premium, and the interface is intuitively designed—much like a smartphone. This immediately makes it less intimidating than some of its competitors, especially for those who are newer to smart home technology.

Standout Features: Where This Thermostat Excels

1. Geofencing: The True “Set It and Forget It” Feature

This is the Honeywell’s killer app. Using the Resideo App on your phone, you can enable geofencing. This means the thermostat automatically switches to an “Away” mode when the last person leaves the house and resumes your normal schedule when the first person returns.

• No more guessing: Forget to turn down the heat before leaving for work? Geofencing handles it for you automatically.

• Pure convenience: You save energy without ever touching a button or thinking about a schedule. It just works.

2. Incredibly Flexible Scheduling

While geofencing is great for variable schedules, the Honeywell also offers robust 7-day programming. You can set different temperatures for wake-up, leave, return, and sleep for every single day of the week. This is perfect for households with complex, but predictable, weekly routines.

3. Smart Alerts and Maintenance Reminders

This thermostat actively looks out for your home and your wallet.

• Temperature Alerts: Get a push notification if the temperature in your home drops or rises to an extreme level, which could indicate a furnace failure in winter or an AC failure in summer.

• Humidity Alerts: Know if your home’s humidity is too high or too low.

• Filter Change Reminders: Based on runtime, the thermostat will remind you to change your HVAC filter, which improves air quality and system efficiency.

4. Broad Compatibility and Easy DIY Install

The Honeywell Home Smart Color Thermostat works with a vast majority of heating and cooling systems, including:

• Gas, electric, or oil systems

• Forced air, heat pump, and radiant systems

• Systems with or without a common wire (C-wire)

The included step-by-step installation guide in the app is superb. It walks you through identifying your wires with clear pictures and provides wire-by-wire instructions. For most standard setups, it’s a straightforward 20-30 minute DIY project.

👉 See the Easy Installation Guide on Amazon

Real-World Benefits: Why You’ll Love It

• Lower Energy Bills: By using geofencing and a smart schedule, you avoid heating or cooling an empty house. Users often see a payback on their investment within a season or two.

• Total Control from Anywhere: Forgot to turn down the AC before a weekend trip? Adjust the temperature right from your phone.

• Peace of Mind: The smart alerts act as an early warning system for HVAC problems and help you maintain your system properly.

• A More Comfortable Home: Wake up to a warm house in the winter and come home to a cool one in the summer, automatically.

Who is the Honeywell Home Smart Color Thermostat PERFECT For?

• Homeowners who value simplicity and reliability over a flashy brand name.

• Households with predictable or unpredictable schedules thanks to its flexible scheduling and geofencing.

• DIYers who want a clean, guided installation process.

• Anyone who wants a beautiful, easy-to-read display on their wall.

Considerations Before You Buy

• The Resideo App: While functional, the Resideo app is not as sleek or polished as the ecobee or Nest apps. It gets the job done effectively but with less flair.

• No Built-In Voice Assistant: Unlike the ecobee Premium, this thermostat does not have a built-in Alexa or Google Assistant speaker.

• C-Wire or Power Adapter? While it can work without a C-wire in some cases, performance is most reliable with a C-wire. The kit includes a power adapter, but installing it can be more complex.

The Verdict: Is the Honeywell Home Smart Color Thermostat Worth It in 2025?

Yes, for its unbeatable combination of reliability, smart features, and user-friendliness.

The Honeywell Home Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat may not have the same marketing buzz as some other brands, but it is a workhorse packed with intelligent features. It focuses on doing the most important things—saving you energy and keeping you comfortable—exceptionally well.

Its brilliant color screen and intuitive interface make it a joy to use day-to-day, while its powerful geofencing and scheduling work silently in the background to cut your costs. It’s a smart upgrade that feels both advanced and completely familiar.

If you want a no-nonsense, highly effective smart thermostat from a brand that has been in the climate control business for over a century, the Honeywell Home Smart Color Thermostat is an excellent and trustworthy choice.

Ready for a smarter, more comfortable home? Click the button below to see the latest price and customer reviews on Amazon.

🛒 Buy the Honeywell Home Smart Thermostat on Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Do I need a C-wire for this thermostat?
It is highly recommended for optimal performance. The thermostat includes a Power Extender Kit (PEK) that can be used if you don’t have a C-wire, but this requires some extra wiring at your HVAC system. If you’re uncomfortable with that, an electrician or HVAC tech can help.

Q2: Does it work with Alexa and Google Assistant?
Yes! You can use voice commands with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to change the temperature, set modes, and more. The thermostat itself does not have a built-in speaker/mic.

Q3: Is there a monthly subscription fee?
No. All core features, including scheduling, geofencing, and smart alerts, are completely free with no subscription required.

Q4: Can I use this thermostat if I have a heat pump?
Yes, the Honeywell Home Smart Color Thermostat is fully compatible with most heat pump systems, including those with auxiliary heat.

Q5: What is the difference between this and the Honeywell Home T9 or T10?
The RTH9585WF (this model) is a flagship, all-in-one unit with a beautiful color touchscreen. The T9/T10 models often rely more on a remote sensor network for room-specific temperature targeting, but their thermostat unit has a simpler display. This model is generally the best choice for most people who want the full experience in one device.

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The Gift of Comfort and Savings

The Honeywell Home Smart Color Thermostat is a practical and appreciated gift for:

• New Homeowners: It’s a upgrade that improves their daily life and reduces their bills from day one.

• Your Parents: Simplify their climate control and give them the ability to adjust the temperature without getting up.

• Anyone with an Old, Programmable Thermostat: It’s a massive quality-of-life improvement.

Black Friday, Prime Day, and the Winter Heating Season are the best times to buy! Honeywell thermostats are frequently discounted during these peak periods on Amazon. It’s the perfect time to make this smart investment and start saving on your energy bills.

14 min read