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Honeywell Home X8S Smart Thermostat vs ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Honeywell Home X8S Smart Thermostat ranks higher (#3 vs #4 of 8) and scores better on scheduling & savings features, app & smart home, display & controls. ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential wins on easy install & compatibility.
The biggest complaint about the Honeywell Home X8S Smart Thermostat is fussy, slow installation; for the ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential it's some units fail or drop wi-fi. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Honeywell Home X8S Smart Thermostat | ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in smart thermostats | #3 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$$ | $$ |
| Type | Smart (sensor-based) | Smart (sensor-based) |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 13% | 15% |
| Overall score | 4.0 | 3.7 |
| Scheduling & savings features | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| App & smart home | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Easy install & compatibility | 2.5 | 3.5 |
| Display & controls | 5.0 | 3.5 |
| Reliability | 3.5 | 3.5 |
Price tiers: $ under $100 · $$ $100–200 · $$$ over $200. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Honeywell Home X8S Smart Thermostat
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential
- Some units fail or drop Wi-Fi
Amazon's review summary says reliability is mixed: some owners say it works better than Nest, while others say it stopped working after a month or could no longer connect to Wi-Fi. Some also say it doesn't keep the requested temperature.
- Stripped down; sensors and wall plate cost extra
Wirecutter says it lacks an occupancy sensor, air-quality sensor and microphone, and has no mounting plate ($15 extra). Sensors come only in pairs and add about $100. Tom's Guide lists 'limited advanced features' and 'design feels a bit cheap' as cons.
- Needs a C wire; setup asks technical questions
PCMag says installation requires a C wire, with a $24.99 Power Extender Kit as the workaround. Wirecutter says setup asks obscure technical questions, though the app now suggests likely answers, and support took a couple of tries plus a callback.
Source: PCMag review, Wirecutter
Who should pick which
Pick the Honeywell Home X8S Smart Thermostat if
People who want to prioritize specific rooms at set times
Ring doorbell owners
Mixed Apple, Google and Alexa homes (Matter)
Skip it if: You want a quick, simple DIY install; You need a long reliability track record; You want doorbell video from brands other than Ring or First Alert
Pick the ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential if
Homes with fairly even temperatures
Apple Home, Google and Alexa users on a budget
People who may add room sensors later
Skip it if: Your wiring has no C wire and you don't want to fit an adapter; You need room sensors now (a pair adds about $100); Your Wi-Fi is 5GHz only (it uses 2.4GHz)
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