Honeywell has been making reliable home thermostats for decades. The Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat (RET97E5D1005/U) is their straightforward, no-fuss entry into smart climate control. It focuses on the core task: automating your home’s temperature from anywhere.

The free app for iOS and Android is the main event. You can adjust your schedule from the couch or while you’re away, which is practical for managing energy use. Its Smart Response Technology learns how long your system takes to reach a temperature, so it starts heating or cooling early to hit your programmed time on the dot. The auto changeover feature seamlessly switches between heating and cooling as the seasons demand, which is one less thing to think about.

Setup is universal for most systems, and the pre-loaded energy-saving schedule is a good starting point. The physical interface is simple, with a permanent hold function for vacations and a temporary override for unexpected schedule changes. It’s a workhorse that handles the fundamentals of remote access and scheduling without unnecessary complexity.