Amazon has announced its first smart thermostat, which it developed in partnership with Resideo – the makers of Honeywell smart heating products.
The company didn’t go into much detail about the device during its annual devices launch but did say that it has deep integration with Alexa. Using Alexa Hunches, the thermostat can control your heating based on whether you’re home or not. Similarly, if no-one says Alexa for a while in the late evening, she will have a hunch everyone is asleep and can turn the heating off automatically.
You can also include it in Alexa routines.
For example, you could add it to your “Alexa, goodnight” routine so the heating turns off, or reduces to a temperature you specify.
Alexa can also program the heating for you, using ‘intelligence’ – possibly factors such as when you’re usually home and the temperature you like. We’re waiting for more details on exactly how this works along with the other features it offers.
Amazon said that it will work with most HVAC systems in the US – there’s no word on whether it will be available in other countries just yet.
Note that the price doesn’t include a power supply or C-wire adapter, and you’ll need one of those to make it work. A bundle including the C-wire adapter is available from Amazon for $74.99, discounted from $84.98.
It has a clean, white design with a LED display that shines through the plastic front, displaying the temperature and allowing you to turn it up or down.
When is the Amazon Smart Thermostat release date?
You can preorder a thermostat from Amazon today, and it costs $59.99 – much less than most smart thermostats, and undercutting the Nest Learning Thermostat and the Hive Active Heating.
Rebates will be available for eligible customers from energy suppliers as well, so it could cost you just $10 or even nothing at all. And being Energy Star certified, it’s claimed to save an average of $50 per year on your heating costs.
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Author: Jim Martin, Executive Editor
Jim has been testing and reviewing products for over 20 years. His main beats include VPN services and antivirus. He also covers smart home tech, mesh Wi-Fi and electric bikes.