Review: Wyze Thermostat is a little too basic for $71

6.9

Wyze Thermostat

$79 at Walmart

Like

• Easy to adjust the temperature in the Wyze app
• Good price for a smart thermostat
• Works with Alexa and Google Assistant smart speakers and displays

Don't like

• The hardware design could be better
• You have to have a C-wire or install a C-wire adapter (included)
• No compatibility with Apple HomeKit

I don't recommend the Wyze Thermostat to most folks looking for a streamlined smart thermostat. Its $71 price is appealing for an app-enabled thermostat and the Wyze app's step-by-step tutorial makes it easy to install and set up. You can also control the thermostat using Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands if you have a compatible smart speaker or display. 

While the thermostat looks nice at a glance, the control dial is finicky and difficult to use. You'll also either need a C-wire or to use the included C-wire adapter to install this thermostat, which could complicate things, depending on your level of comfort with electrical wiring. 

It's a fine thermostat for the most part, but this is the first Wyze product I've tested that just isn't quite worth the price. I'd hold off to see how Amazon's $60 Smart Thermostat performs. 

An overview of the Wyze Thermostat 

There are a number of affordable home security cameras, LED bulbs and other home products on the market today. Smart thermostats are still largely stuck in the luxury price tier. Both Nest and Ecobee's flagship app-enabled thermostats cost $250. Their less expensive offerings are priced at $130 and $180, respectively. The Honeywell Home T9 retails for $200 and many other competitors cost at least 100 bucks. 

When Wyze announced a $71 thermostat that works with the Wyze app and Alexa, I had high hopes. The startup's reputation for delivering affordable devices that often perform just as well as (and occasionally better than) their pricier counterparts, made the Wyze Thermostat even more intriguing. 

Unfortunately, the Wyze Thermostat was just so-so overall. I like that the app provides detailed step-by-step instructions to install and configure the thermostat. Learn more about installing thermostats here. Always consult a professional electrician if you have any questions or concerns about your particular setup.

It took me about 10 minutes to install the Wyze Thermostat from start to finish, but I got lucky and didn't have to drill new holes. My thermostat wiring includes a C-wire, too, which also helped things move more quickly. If you don't have a C-wire, you'll have to install the C-wire adapter Wyze includes with your purchase, but that requires more involved electrical work. (Check out Wyze's guide to installing the C-wire adapter.) 

Once I installed the thermostat I tested out adjusting the temperature via the Wyze app, with Alexa voice commands -- and directly at the thermostat itself. It's easy to adjust the thermostat and set heating and cooling schedules in the app. It also responded to my voice commands via an Echo Show 8 smart display. The control dial on the thermostat itself didn't work as well as I hoped. You turn the dial to adjust the thermostat and then press down to confirm the change. Every time I pressed down on the dial it felt flimsy, like it was going to break. 

If you mainly plan to make adjustments in the app or with voice commands, the fiddly control dial might not matter much. 

The verdict

The Wyze Thermostat is a decent product, but it doesn't offer the typical value of some of the company's other devices. If you have a C-wire (and you're comfortable with basic electrical work), this thermostat is easy to install and the instructions in the app are thorough. After the installation, it's easy to change the temperature, check settings and more in the app. The Alexa voice commands I used to adjust the temperature worked well, too. The design is just ok, but if you don't plan to make adjustments at the thermostat, the $71 Wyze Thermostat might be worth it. Otherwise, if you're in the market for a lower-cost connected thermostat, I'd wait to see how Amazon's $60 Smart Thermostat compares.