Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Smart Home

Amazon’s Smart Thermostat lets Alexa choose the best temp

Michael Bizzaco
By

Amazon is finally hopping on the smart thermostat train. Revealed at the company’s annual fall conference, the Amazon Smart Thermostat, produced in collaboration with Honeywell, will sell for $60.

Compatible with most residential 24-volt HVAC systems, this Energy-Star certified thermostat will go toe-to-toe with the likes of Google Nest, Ecobee, and other competitors. But compared to the rest, Amazon’s offering looks to be one of the cheapest smart thermostats on the market, period. And once you add in things like energy provider rebates and other savings tools, it becomes clear just how great of an investment the Amazon Smart Thermostat could be.

Amazon Smart Thermostat hanging on wall.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Like all things Amazon, Alexa runs the show with the Smart Thermostat. Similar to Google Nest, Alexa will use geofencing and other algorithmic AI tools, in addition to Hunches, to provide a super-intuitive temperature experience. Let’s say that after several weeks of operating the thermostat, Alexa is able to memorize when you’re away for work. This means that without you having to do a thing, Alexa will be able to automatically run your HVAC at an idol temp for when you’re vacant, and then switch over to something more cozy and optimized when you return home.

Related

We’re also big fans of the rather straightforward design and touchscreen interface. It’s not visually bold by any means, and that’s just the point. The Amazon Smart Thermostat will have an easy time blending in with most home decor and wall colors. It’s also near-impossible to not understand exactly how to use the thermostat, simply by looking at it. A main temperature indicator is front-and-center, with up/down buttons for adjustments — and that’s pretty much it. We’re sure that customizations and other settings will be a bit more extensive through the Alexa app, but we can’t confirm that just yet.

Amazon Smart Thermostat hanging on wall.
Amazon

Smart thermostats are one of the best investments you can make for your residence, allowing you to save considerable amounts of money on your monthly energy bill. While we’ve yet to experience the Amazon Smart Thermostat firsthand, it looks like the $60 device will be an excellent addition to Amazon’s already extensive library of web-connected hardware.

Recommended Videos

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Michael Bizzaco
Michael Bizzaco
Michael Bizzaco has been writing about and working with consumer tech for well over a decade, writing about everything from…
Break out of a rut with these useful summer-focused smart home routines
The Amazon Smart Thermostat hanging on wall.

Glorious summertime. Those three to four months of the year when the beach is a constant destination, the kids are free to roam, and your residence becomes the key spot for all your friends and family to hang out. And what better way to amaze your familiars, and build security and efficiency into your life, than with a range of smart home automations?

Whether you're building routines with Alexa and Google Assistant or creating scenes with Apple HomeKit, these if-this-then-that commands are designed to group and simplify a set of smart home actions into one executable -- such as a voice prompt, time of day, or intuitive geofencing that automatically adjusts your thermostat when you leave for work.

Read more
GE Lighting launches Smart Hexagon Panels with support for Alexa and Google Home
The GE Lighting Smart Hexagon Panels installed in a game room.

Cync by GE Lighting has officially launched the Dynamic Effects Smart Hexagon Panels, making it the latest member of the ever-growing Dynamic Effects family. Compatible with both Alexa and Google Home, the panels are designed to offer a highly programmable lighting solution for home theaters, game rooms, or anywhere else in your home that might benefit from a pop of color.

The Hexagon Panels clock in at $190 for a pack of 10 -- putting them above similar products from Govee and other lighting brands. However, the GE Lighting panels are well specced, featuring 16 million colors, six controllable zones within each hexagon, and directional control for music and light shows. If you don’t want to create your own light shows, you can choose from a list of pre-built options.

Read more
U.S. government to launch a new cybersecurity program for smart home devices in 2024
The US Cyber Trust Mark logo on an off-white background.

Smart home devices are only becoming more popular, and it seems they’ve now piqued the interest of the U.S. government. On July 18, the Biden administration announced a new cybersecurity certification and labeling program for smart devices that will help customers find devices that are “safer and less vulnerable to cyberattacks.”

The so-called U.S. Cyber Trust Mark program is intended to get manufacturers thinking more carefully about the cybersecurity of their products and ensure they’re safe for the general public to have in their homes. It’s not expected to roll out until 2024, but the program would cover a wide range of products, including smart refrigerators, smart microwaves, smart televisions, smart thermostats, fitness trackers, and more.

Read more