Skip to main content

The Meri is a $99 smart thermostat for a smart home on a budget

Smart thermostats have been a popular entry point for smart home technology for a long time, but the price has always been a prohibitive factor. Many people are hesitant to spend $250 on a thermostat, especially if they have never worked with a company like Nest or Ecobee before. Momentum hopes to reach this demographic with Meri, an affordable, full-featured smart thermostat.

Meri is available nationwide at Walmart or via Walmart.com for $99. The thermostat has customizable seven-day schedules for heating and cooling. Users can also control Meri through their smartphone or by the built-in touchscreen. The thermostat features two built-in modes: Eco for energy-saving functionality, and Away for those times when the thermostat doesn’t need to work as hard.

A built-in humidity sensor is rated for 99% accuracy. After all, everyone knows that humidity is the actual problem — a dry heat is far more bearable than a humid one. Between the three heating stages and two cooling stages, the Meri looks like it can keep a home just as comfortable as one of its more expensive cousins.

The Meri mobile app is compatible with both Android and iOS. It comes with the standard features you would expect a smart thermostat to have, but it also includes a few interesting bits of data like a room temperature history. This mode helps users pinpoint the time of day when their room is at its warmest or coldest and provides the data users need to save money on their utility bill.

The scheduling system gives users the ability to schedule on a daily and hourly basis. Users set intervals during which time the room should be a specific temperature. For example, someone could set their home office to remain at 75 degrees between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. After that time, Meri could shut off the HVAC system to keep cooling costs low.

The Meri smart thermostat also includes a high-definition color display and a modern design that makes it fit right in with any modern home. The Meri also ships with screws and a mounting bracket to streamline the installation process. Momentum is not new to the smart home market, but this is its first foray into the world of smart thermostats.

Editors' Recommendations

Patrick Hearn
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…
Alexa vs. HomeKit: which smart home platform is best?
Apple HomePod 2023

When it comes to building a smart home, few steps are as important as choosing your smart home platform. Pick the wrong one, and you could be left using dozens of separate smartphone apps to control all your gadgets.

Apple HomeKit and Amazon Alexa are two of the best options available today -- but which one is better for you? Here’s a comparison of the two platforms to help you decide.
What is a smart home platform?

Read more
EcoFlow launches Delta 2 Max solar generator for home emergencies and outdoor adventures
ecoflow's delta max portable power station on a table

EcoFlow, a manufacturer of portable energy solutions, has announced the launch of the Delta 2 Max -- an eco-friendly solar generator that could replace your current gas generator. The device clocks in at 2,048 watts and should deliver enough power to keep your home running for two days as an emergency backup (or many more if you’re using it as an off-grid power source).

The original Delta Max was a popular item for outdoor adventures, as it could connect to the existing lineup of portable EcoFlow solar panels to juice up gadgets while out in the backcountry. That legacy continues with the Delta 2 Max, which features an upgraded lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery for a longer life cycle and faster charging.

Read more
Smart lock buying guide
Side profile view of August smart lock on a door.

Smart locks are an important part of any smart home. Not only do they give you useful features like the ability to unlock the door with a passcode or remotely with your smartphone, but they’re the first thing visitors see when coming to your home. Because of this, smart locks need to be both functional and appealing to the eye.

That’s a tall order for what’s essentially just a lock -- but there are tons of great products to consider in 2023. But if you need some help with your search, this smart lock buying guide will teach you what a smart lock is, factors you should consider when shopping for a smart lock, and everything else you need to know about these popular gadgets.
What is a smart lock?
A smart lock is not all that different from a traditional lock. What makes it smart is typically a Wi-Fi connection that allows you to link the physical lock to a companion app. The app allows for activities like remote access, geo-location features (to have your door unlock automatically when you pull into the driveway, for example), and even creating digital passkeys for other family members, friends, contractors, or visitors.

Read more