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Honeywell Home

Honeywell Home X8S Smart Thermostat: the downsides first

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#3 of 8
$$$Smart (sensor-based)Score 4.0/5
13%
of Amazon ratings are 1–2 stars
(checked 2026-10-10)Very small sample (142 ratings). The listing offers White/Black and with-sensor/no-sensor styles.

Tom's Guide's new best overall and CNET's whole-house pick: a 5-inch smart-display thermostat with room priority scheduling, Matter and Apple Home support, and Ring doorbell video. It requires a C wire (Honeywell sends a free adapter), Tom's Guide's install took about two hours, and doorbell support is limited. It's too new for a meaningful Amazon track record.

Subscription: None required (Tom's Guide says none of its picks need a monthly fee)

Top complaints

  • Fussy, slow installation

    Tom's Guide lists 'installation can be tricky and time-consuming'; its reviewer's install took close to two hours, and the guide suggests a professional for first-timers. CNET lists 'C-wire required'. Tom's Guide says Honeywell provides a free C-wire power adapter via a promo code in the box.

    Source: Tom's Guide, Tom's Guide review, CNET
  • Limited, patchy doorbell feature

    Tom's Guide says only Ring or First Alert doorbells are supported and incoming audio was intermittent. CNET also lists limited doorbell support. One Amazon owner reports Ring integration issues.

    Source: Tom's Guide, CNET, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • Pricey for some

    Amazon's review summary says value for money is mixed, with some owners finding it too expensive. Tom's Guide puts its $220 price at the high end of smart thermostats.

    Source: Amazon.com product page (Customers say), Tom's Guide review

What owners love

  • Room-priority scheduling

    With remote sensors, you can tell it which room to prioritize and when; Tom's Guide's reviewer heated the bedroom before bedtime. The review says the sensors detect temperature and presence.

    Source: Tom's Guide, Tom's Guide review
  • Big, customizable screen

    A 5-inch touch screen with multiple faces (CNET). Tom's Guide calls it large and vibrant, like a small smart display. It also monitors indoor air quality and humidity (CNET).

    Source: CNET, Tom's Guide
  • Works with everything

    Tom's Guide lists Alexa, Google Home, HomeKit and Matter, and CNET adds SmartThings. Amazon owners find it easy to use and setup straightforward.

    Source: Tom's Guide, CNET, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
Good for
  • People who want to prioritize specific rooms at set times
  • Ring doorbell owners
  • Mixed Apple, Google and Alexa homes (Matter)

Scores (tap for why)

  • Scheduling & savings features4.5
    Why 4.5?Advanced scheduling with timed room priorities and presence-sensing sensors (Tom's Guide). It also tracks humidity and air quality (CNET).
    Source: Tom's Guide, Tom's Guide review, CNET
  • App & smart home4.5
    Why 4.5?Alexa, Google Home, HomeKit, Matter and SmartThings, plus Ring doorbell video on the screen, though doorbell audio was patchy.
    Source: Tom's Guide, CNET
  • Easy install & compatibility2.5
    Why 2.5?Requires a C wire (with a free adapter on request), and Tom's Guide's install took close to two hours and was fussy. Some Amazon owners still found setup straightforward.
    Source: Tom's Guide review, CNET, Amazon.com product page
  • Display & controls5.0
    Why 5.0?The biggest screen here: a 5-inch customizable touch screen and a useful temperature screensaver.
    Source: CNET, Tom's Guide
  • Reliability3.5
    Why 3.5?No long-term data yet; Amazon has only 142 ratings (13% at 1-2 stars). Tom's Guide notes Honeywell still supports a model from 2012.
    Source: Amazon.com product page, Tom's Guide

What experts say

  • Tom's Guide: Best overall (updated about 2026-10-08): advanced scheduling and a large, vibrant display, but installation can be tricky, doorbell support is limited and doorbell audio is intermittent.
  • CNET: Best for whole-house control: a 5-inch touch screen, room sensor, broad platform support and air-quality monitoring, but limited doorbell support and a C wire is required.
Check price on AmazonWe don't list prices — they change daily. Paid link.

If that catch is a deal-breaker

Highly ranked smart thermostats whose biggest complaint is something else.

#1 in smart thermostatsecobee Smart Thermostat Premium

Wirecutter's and CNET's top pick and PCMag's Best Overall (4.5/5). Its included room sensor and humidity-aware Eco+ mode kept Wirecutter's test home the most evenly comfortable. It's expensive, though, advanced settings need a web browser, and Wirecutter found ecobee's phone support poor. About 1 in 8 Amazon ratings are 1 or 2 stars.

Its catch: expensive, with paid security extras#2 in smart thermostatsGoogle Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)

The only true learning thermostat here, picked by all four guides. It comes with a room sensor, adds Matter, and Tom's Guide and CNET say it needs no C wire. But it's one of the priciest, Wirecutter had to keep overriding its AI, and its sensor can't detect presence. Google cut off the 1st- and 2nd-gen Learning models on Oct. 25, 2025, which makes Tom's Guide question its long-term support.

Its catch: ai overrides your settings#4 in smart thermostatsecobee Smart Thermostat Essential

The budget pick or runner-up at Wirecutter, PCMag, Tom's Guide and CNET. It has the same core smarts as the Premium for much less, and with add-on sensors it matched the Premium in Wirecutter's tests. It needs a C wire (or a $24.99 adapter kit), its sensors and wall plate cost extra, and some Amazon owners say it stopped working or dropped Wi-Fi.

Its catch: some units fail or drop wi-fi

Head-to-head

See all 8 smart thermostats ranked →