Big Features, Easy Installation: Honeywell ElitePRO Voted Residential Product of the Year

A trade publication's readers have voted the Honeywell ElitePRO their favorite smart thermostat of the year. It goes beyond basic heating and cooling control: it can answer a video doorbell, track and manage indoor air quality, show weather, send maintenance alerts, and save energy by sensing whether rooms are occupied. The thermostat comes in four models with a 5-inch touchscreen, works with conventional, heat pump, and dual-fuel heating systems, and offers zoning control without needing extra wiring. It's available in black or white, and homeowners can customize the screen's look and manage multiple air quality devices from a phone app.

Two other products were recognized as honorable mentions. The Ecoer TDi Select 2 is a heat pump system rated up to 18.5 SEER2 (a measure of cooling efficiency) that uses R32, a lower-impact refrigerant, and includes remote monitoring for catching problems early. The Samsung WindFree Premium is a ductless mini-split system, meaning it heats and cools individual rooms without ductwork, useful for additions, bedrooms, or home offices that lack existing ducts. It uses a diffused airflow design to avoid direct drafts and has motion sensing that adjusts temperature based on activity in the room.

None of this is tied to a specific rebate or program, but it points to where thermostat and heat pump technology is heading if you're weighing a system upgrade or replacement down the road.