Google Nest Thermostat
Score: 76/100
Honeywell Home RTH9600WF
Score: 78/100Rankings
The Honeywell Home RTH9600WF is an ENERGY STAR-certified smart thermostat featuring a vibrant color touchscreen and extensive smart-home integration. Its requirement for a dedicated C-wire and incompatibility with certain heating systems limit installation flexibility. Ideal for homeowners with compatible 24 VAC systems seeking advanced display and remote control.
The Google Nest Thermostat offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity with a compact 2.4-inch display and Energy Star efficiency. Its main trade-off is occasional C-wire requirement and a modest display size. Ideal for users seeking an affordable, Google-centric smart thermostat.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
1 years | 2 yearsbest | |
2.4 inchbest | — | |
| ↓ lower better | 0.139 kgbest | 0.318 kg |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
General(2) | ||
HVAC Compatibility | Supports heating stages W1-W3, cooling stages Y1-Y2, heat pump with auxiliary and emergency heat (O/B, AUX, E) | Works with 24 VAC systems (forced air, heat pump, hydronic, hot water, steam); requires C-wire; incompatible with millivolt, 120/240V baseboard heat, heating-only oil furnaces without C-wire |
Warranty (years) | 1 years | 2 years |
Connectivity(1) | ||
Smart Home Integration | Google Home | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, iOS, Android |
Power & Installation(2) | ||
C‑Wire Requirement | false | true |
Power Source | HVAC system wiring | Battery |
Display(1) | ||
Display Type | IPS LCD | LCD color touchscreen with backlight |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Device Weight (kg) | 0.139 kg | 0.318 kg |
Device Dimensions (H×W×D) (mm) | 27.2x84.0x27.3 mm | 89x22x114 mm mm |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers such as Consumer Reports evaluate the RTH9600WF on smart-feature performance (Smart IQ), manual operation ease, and automation capabilities, but detailed ratings are behind a subscription wall, leaving only a general acknowledgment of its comprehensive smart-thermostat functionality.
