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The Venstar ColorTouch
Design 8
There are six different models for the new ColorTouch thermostat that you can choose from. Three are residential and three are commercial models. Each one is crafted to appear as a digital picture frame when not being used, sporting identical white plastic encasings. It’s not exactly the most appealing of picture frames—it does look a tad tacky. You can easily upload your own photos onto each model’s colorful display via WiFi or the SD card input. Â
Venstar ColorTouch Product Image
Software 8.1
The software is extremely intuitive and easily controlled via WiFi. The ColorTouch can control a variety of heating, cooling, and humidity-based functions in your household. Unfortunately, the Venstar ColorTouch does not have the ability to control such things as different temperatures in different rooms like competitors such as the Nest.
It’s saving grace is that it contains an API (Application Program Interface) to do a variety of downloadable other options. This innovative addition means that developers (or the tech savvy householder) will be able to add new features over time.
Warranty 9.5
All Venstar ColorTouch models come with a 1 year warranty.
Performance 8.3
The ColorTouch is incredibly easy to use, has an intuitive WiFi connectability and a picture-frame standby setting. The ColorTouch thermostat is both convenient and unobtrusive to the feng shui of your tech’y abode. While it’s somewhat barebones—what it does right it does incredibly well.
Value 7.8
The Venstar ColorTouch goes for $208 on Amazon—the same price of a second generation Nest Thermostat and the current Ecobee3 thermostat. While the Venstar is incredibly intuitive and sleek, it’s a stretch to say it has half as many features and strengths as its competitors. But hopefully, through its API-friendly interface it can make up for its minimalist base functionality.
