REASONS TO BUY
Easy to use
Filter change reminders
REASONS TO AVOID
Set temperature and current temperature can't be seen simultaneously
Batteries not included
Heat only
Honeywell Home RTH2300B 5-2 Day Programmable Review
This basic budget thermostat offers straightforward operation, simple scheduling, and not a lot else
Credit: Honeywell
RELATED: Best Thermostat of 2024
Our Verdict
The basic Honeywell Home RTH2300B thermostat offers straightforward operation and fundamental scheduling but lacks advanced features found in more premium models. Its simplicity makes it easy to use, with intuitive temperature adjustments and mode changes facilitated by dedicated buttons and switches. However, the absence of smart features and a mobile app means no remote access, and scheduling must be done manually via the thermostat menus. Make sure to check out the quest for the the best thermostats we tested in our best-in-class article.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product Honeywell Home RTH2300B 5-2 Day Programmable | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Thermostat |  Best Value for a Smart Thermostat | Best Programmable Thermostat | ||
| Price | $44 List $26.79 at Amazon | $130 List $84.98 at Amazon | $80 List $79.99 at Amazon | $55 List $43.91 at Amazon | $54 List $29.98 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This thermostat is about as basic as it gets, but it does offer scheduling and maintenance reminders | This thermostat brings great value thanks to the quality of its features and its excellent design | This is one of the best values in smart thermostats, with a super straightforward install and great features | This is a simple and effective programmable thermostat at a great price | This enduringly classic and uncomplicated thermostat design remains reliable as long as you don't require advanced features or cold air control |
| Rating Categories | Honeywell Home RTH2... | Google Nest Thermostat | Amazon Smart Thermo... | Orbit Clear Comfort | Honeywell Home CT87... |
| Ease of Use (40%) | |||||
| DIY Installation (25%) | |||||
| Scheduling (20%) | |||||
| Smart Capabilities (10%) | |||||
| Energy Saving (5%) | |||||
| Specs | Honeywell Home RTH2... | Google Nest Thermostat | Amazon Smart Thermo... | Orbit Clear Comfort | Honeywell Home CT87... |
| Energy Star Certification | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Learning / Adaptive Controls | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Need a C wire? | Not Required | Generally work without one | Yes or Power Adapter Kit (purchased separately) | Not Required | Not Required |
| Color Options | White | Snow Sand Fog Charcoal |
White | White | White |
| Measured Dimensions | 4.7" x 3.3" x 1.0" | 3.3" x 1.1" | 3.5" x 3.5" x 0.8" | 5.3" x 3.3" x 1.2" | 3.6" x 2.1" |
| Compatible Smart Home Ecosystems | None | Google Assistant, Matter | Amazon Alexa | None | None |
| Model # Tested | RTH2300B1038 | Thermostat - 1.4 | S6ED3R | 83521 | CT87K1004 |
| Able to hook up external sensors | No | No | No | No | No |
| Able to Lock | No | No | No | No | No |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Honeywell Home RTH2300B 5-2 Day Programmable thermostat provides simplicity and ease of use for temperature control, with basic scheduling options that are straightforward to navigate, although a little time-consuming. Its intuitive interface, complemented by dedicated buttons, ensures easy adjustments, while the inclusion of filter change reminders adds convenience for maintenance. However, we don't recommend it to anyone who lives in a warm climate.
Performance Comparison
The Honeywell Home isn't much, but it comes with all the basic necessities.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Ease of Use
This measurement evaluates each thermostat's usability, considering factors such as temperature adjustment quality, hold control, fan mode options, and the clarity of information displayed. The Honeywell Home RTH2300B 5-2 Day Programmable thermostat performed slightly below the mean, with a few noteworthy strengths.
Setting the temperature and changing modes were intuitive on this model, with dedicated buttons and switches for everything. Although the up and down arrows for temperature settings make for slower adjustments than touchscreen sliders, they worked fine with zero learning curve. Mode changes couldn't be any easier thanks to the three-way switch for Heat, Off, and On. And the same goes for the fan, which has a clearly labeled two-way toggle switch for Auto and On.
The display on the RTH2300B can be tough to read from more than a few feet away or at off angles.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
While this is a straightforward thermostat to operate, it comes without any smart features and no available mobile app. That means no remote access whatsoever.
Hold status is pretty straightforward on this unit. It holds the temperature until the next scheduled event or until you disengage the hold via the dedicated Hold button. The display is nearly impossible to read at more than a few feet of distance, but the information is laid out logically. Clarity is fine if you're within viewing distance. We did ding it for not letting us see the current temperature and the set temperature at the same time, though. To reveal the set temperature you have to press an arrow button. The accuracy of the temperature on the screen versus what was recorded on a temperature sensing data logger placed beside the thermostat was within -0.211 degrees Fahrenheit on average, which was fairly consistent and very accurate.
This wasn't the most convenient install, nor was it rocket science, but you'll need to bring a tiny screwdriver and some AA batteries to complete it.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
DIY Installation
Installation of the RTH2300B is less guided than other thermostats, especially those with apps or polished instruction videos. With this one, there are little more than some helpful pictures in the paper manual to get you started. There's no mention of what tools might be needed or any reminders to take photos of the wiring of the outgoing thermostat in case things get confusing, either. And there's no built-in level or packaged wall plate, like on some of the premium models we tested. However, once you get the batteries (not included) inserted and the wiring screwed in correctly using a flathead screwdriver, you're pretty much home free on this install.
Scheduling
With the Honeywell Home RTH2300B 5-2 Day Programmable, you're limited to a 5-2 day schedule, meaning you set the same schedule from Monday to Friday, with a separate one for the weekend. Up to four events are schedulable each day. Since there is no app connectivity, everything has to be done from the thermostat menus with the onboard buttons. Begin by ensuring the thermostat is set to the desired system mode (heat or cool). You can switch between modes during scheduling to program both simultaneously, which is nice.
Here we are checking the average temperature recorded on the temperature-sensing data logger to compare with the thermostat's reading.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Smart Capabilities
Normally, this is where we'd report on things like the quality of the thermostat's app, its schedule learning capabilities, and smart home ecosystem compatibility, but, as a much more basic thermostat, the RTH2300B doesn't provide any of that. It does, however, offer filter change reminders that you can set to Off, 30 days, 90 days, six months, or a year.
It's nice that the RTH2300B lights up when buttons are pressed for those late-night adjustments.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Energy Saving
In terms of energy efficiency features, sustainable practices, and carbon offset initiatives, there's nothing to note for the RTH6580WF. This basic thermostat lacks eco modes, energy consumption reporting, and grid-optimized consumption. Furthermore, we didn't find any information on sustainable packaging or carbon offset efforts for this product.
The RTH2300B 5-2 Day Programmable is a basic thermostat by today's standards, but it has some nice features.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Should You Buy the Honeywell Home RTH2300B 5-2 Day Programmable Thermostat?
The RTH6580WF is about as basic as thermostats get these days. It's one of the most affordable models we tested, we wouldn't say that it's a good deal for everyone. For a bit more, you can get thermostats with companion apps that make them easier to configure and allow remote access, as long as you install them in the range of your WiFi network.
What Other Thermostat Should You Consider?
If you like more basic thermostats but want to kick it up a notch, we recommend the Orbit Clear Comfort. It's more programmable than this one and a bit easier to use at a similar price point. If you want to step into the realm of smart thermostats, we highly recommend the Nest Thermostat. This unit comes with an array of premium features and fits seamlessly into the Google smart ecosystem. It's also very simple to install.
—
Austin Palmer and Adam Stout
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