As many of us have unfortunately experienced, Google’s decision to discontinue the Nest products has left many homeowners seeking reliable alternatives for their smart thermostats. I’m currently in the process of replacing my Nest thermostats and have narrowed my search down to two promising options: the Honeywell T9 and the T6 Pro Z-Wave models. Both are designed to integrate seamlessly with Home Assistant (HA), though they do so through different protocols—the T9 via HomeKit and the T6 via Z-Wave.
The Honeywell T9 has caught my attention for its native room sensors, which I believe could be a game-changer for my family’s comfort, especially since I travel frequently for work. The added security of knowing that my loved ones can still control the thermostat via the Honeywell app, even if HA were to experience an outage, is a significant plus. Plus, HA has been rock-solid for years, so the likelihood of such an outage is minimal.
On the other hand, the T6 Pro Z-Wave offers 100% local control, which is a feature I highly value. However, I’m a bit hesitant about managing additional sensors through HA. While I already have a robust Z-Wave network with over 30 devices, including some ESP32-based sensors and AWS integrations, I occasionally need to re-add a few devices, which can be a minor inconvenience. My family has also expressed concern about the system’s reliability if HA were to go down while I’m away for an extended period.
I’ve also considered the Ecobee option, but the Honeywell models are currently leading the pack. A few concerns I’m weighing include the availability of the T6 Z-Wave models, which seem to be scarce and only available through eBay, Amazon, or a Pro account. In contrast, the T9s are more readily available at retailers like Lowe’s and Home Depot, currently priced around $160 with an extra sensor. This has made me wonder if the T9 might be nearing its end-of-life, which could impact long-term support and updates.
If anyone in the community has experience with either the T6 Z-Wave or T9, I’d greatly appreciate hearing about your experiences—what you love, what you find lacking, and any insights that could help me make an informed decision. Additionally, if there are other models or considerations I should explore before finalizing my choice, please share your thoughts!
Thank you in advance for your input and insights!