Smart Thermostats · owner-verdict comparison

Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) vs Honeywell Home T6 Pro: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Honeywell Home T6 Pro: 87% of 38 owners recommend it, vs 40% of 20 for the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen).

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen)

40%of 20 owners recommend
40% recommend · 15% neutral · 45% don't
Owners praise
  • Runs reliably and is easy to use, with owners reporting it works well and rarely needs attention after install
  • Matter-over-WiFi support makes it easy to add to other smart-home platforms like Home Assistant
  • More flexible scheduling than older models, including the ability to disable the schedule and hold a temperature
Owners complain about
  • The display is too dim with no brightness adjustment, making it hard to read in bright rooms and even dim at night
  • Some owners feel it is pricey and the new features are unnecessary versus older Nests
  • Single-sensor tracking can blast the whole house to one room's temperature unless you have multi-zone HVAC
Full owner report →

Honeywell Home T6 Pro

87%of 38 owners recommend
87% recommend · 2% neutral · 11% don't
Owners praise
  • Excellent Z-Wave and local smart-home control (Home Assistant, SmartThings)
  • Reliable and dependable, with solid uptime
  • Handles almost any HVAC setup (multi-stage, heat pump, humidifier, fan); no C-wire needed
Owners complain about
  • Interface and app feel dated; T6 Pro lags newer models
  • Can be finicky, with the occasional bad unit
  • Temperature and humidity readings can be quirky after configuration
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) if
  • ✓Homeowners replacing basic builder-grade thermostats
  • ✓People wanting Matter support and smart-home integration
  • ✓Setups without a C-wire or dual-transformer systems
  • ✓Installers wanting few post-install support calls
Skip it if
  • Existing Gen3 owners (minimal upgrade benefit)
  • Bright rooms where the dim screen is hard to read
Get the Honeywell Home T6 Pro if
  • ✓Home-automation users on Z-Wave or Home Assistant
  • ✓People who want a thermostat that works without wifi or internet
  • ✓HVAC installers wanting broad multi-stage, heat-pump, and C-wire-free compatibility
  • ✓12V furnace or no-C-wire setups needing local control
Skip it if
  • Buyers wanting a polished touchscreen and app UI like the T10
  • People choosing the WiFi version over the Z-Wave model

What Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) owners say

“I honestly found the screen awesome”
— @JustSenix on YouTube
“It’s way better than the 3rd gen.”
— @matthewmastrobuono582 on YouTube
“I hate the fact that the base sticks out the wall so much, compared to the 3rd gen which is flush with the device”
— @dhanishh on YouTube

What Honeywell Home T6 Pro owners say

“I've had great experience with my Honeywell T6 Pro (Z-Wave). Pros: - It works 100% without internet / wifi - You can still expose it to the internet (and Google Home) via Home Assistant if you want - It works perfectly fine as a 'dumb' thermostat - Honeywell is a reputable thermostat brand compared to some sketchy brands you find in the 'Smart Thermostat'”
— MrKhalos on Reddit
“When I logged into hass the next time it said "We found a new homekit device: Thermostat". Please note, I don't do homekit despite having all apple devices. Two clicks and a code read off the screen and I had a thermostat in hass.”
— MrCharismatist on Reddit
“I have honewellhome app but it doesn’t work.”
— @catherinesmith48 on YouTube

Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) vs Honeywell Home T6 Pro: frequently asked questions

Is the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) or the Honeywell Home T6 Pro better?

Real owners lean toward the Honeywell Home T6 Pro: 87% of 38 owners recommend it, vs 40% of 20 for the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen).

Who should get the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen)?

Owners point the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) at homeowners replacing basic builder-grade thermostats, and people wanting Matter support and smart-home integration.

Who should get the Honeywell Home T6 Pro?

Owners point the Honeywell Home T6 Pro at home-automation users on Z-Wave or Home Assistant, and people who want a thermostat that works without wifi or internet.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) is the display is too dim with no brightness adjustment, making it hard to read in bright rooms and even dim at night. For the Honeywell Home T6 Pro, it's interface and app feel dated; T6 Pro lags newer models.