After using the Degrii Smart Thermostat for several weeks, I can confidently say it's a solid choice for those looking to dip their toes into smart home climate control without breaking the bank. The $58 price tag is incredibly appealing compared to Nest or Ecobee alternatives.
The geofencing feature works like a charm - my house now starts warming up when I'm within 5 miles of home. The ability to customize this distance in the app means I always walk into a comfortable environment without wasting energy.
Installation was... an adventure. Like many reviewers, I struggled with the wiring initially. The instructions assume you're replacing an existing thermostat, which caused some confusion. However, once I figured out (with some internet research) that I only needed to connect three wires for my system, setup was straightforward.
The app functionality is decent though not as polished as premium brands. It gets the job done for scheduling and remote adjustments, but some icons aren't intuitive - keep that manual handy! On the plus side, customer support was surprisingly responsive when I needed help troubleshooting.
Energy reports are detailed and helpful for identifying savings opportunities. After two months, I've noticed about a 20% reduction in my heating costs - not quite the advertised 27%, but still significant.
A few pain points: The thermostat only supports 2.4GHz WiFi (annoying but common), and some users report software issues after prolonged use. My unit has been stable so far, but buyer beware based on other reviews.
For under $60, you get features that rival $150+ thermostats: geofencing, multi-user access, child lock, and decent app control. Just be prepared for a potentially tricky installation and slightly clunky software.