Orbit Clear Comfort Review

The Orbit Clear Comfort's simplicity, durability, and adaptable scheduling make it stand out from similar options. It lacks smart features, an accompanying app, and any remote access capability, but the price is right, and the interface should be familiar to many.

Performance Comparison

Ease of Use

This metric is all about the everyday user experience of a thermostat. The Orbit Clear Comfort does well in some areas and is mediocre in others, but it should generally be a familiar format for many compared to more nuanced smart thermostats. The temperature setting was familiar and intuitive, with dedicated physical up and down arrows on the right side; however, the heat/off/cool slider is off to the left side, which you can't see from the front of the thermostat. We found it slightly inconvenient. We did like that it was a physical slider and not a soft toggle button, though.

Since this is not a smart thermostat, there is no mobile app to report on. Fan control modes are basic, with Auto and On being the only control you have for it. Temperature-holding settings are bare-bones as well but easy and simple to operate. Pushing the Hold button will keep the current temperature until you push the button again or until the next scheduled event.

The clarity and visibility of the information on the screen were really good on the Orbit Clear Comfort. Everything is clear and logically placed. The current temperature dominates the center of the screen in large font, while the set temperature and clock are off to the right. Fan and Heat/Cool status are displayed to the left. Our temperature-sensing data loggers were within 0.279 degrees Fahrenheit of what was displayed on the thermostat on average — making this one of the most accurate in our testing (though admittedly all thermostats are fairly accurate). We also appreciated the plexiglass screen covering to protect the display from damage and lend a sturdier feel to the product. It's the only thermostat we've seen with a design like this, and it's a nice touch.

DIY Installation

Installation of the Orbit Clear Comfort isn't the easiest we've encountered, but it's certainly doable with the included paper instructions, as long as you are a least a little handy and have some basic tools. Unfortunately, Orbit didn't point us to any video guidance for this thermostat's installation, and there is no accompanying app to offer any help either. However, you might search around the web for some video help from other DIY users if you're having trouble with the instructions included.

We were slightly bummed but unsurprised that this Orbit thermostat came with the screw-in rather than the push-in wire connectors, which we strongly prefer as they're easier to manage. The screw-in wire connectors are more tedious to configure, generally requiring some precision work with a tiny screwdriver. However, we appreciated that Orbit reminded us to snap some photos of the old thermostat's wiring in case we need to reference it later. The wires connecting the HVAC system to the Orbit Clear Comfort are secured using a small screwdriver that conveniently locks and unlocks the wire ports. If this step presents difficulties, the Orbit Clear Comfort includes a comprehensive booklet with installation instructions and troubleshooting advice. This guide covers each installation step and addresses setup for less common HVAC systems — that said, we felt it could be a bit more clear, as we found ourselves sometimes struggling to follow the guidelines. There was no built-in level or wall plate included with this thermostat, which you will sometimes find on premium units. Again, this isn't a smart thermostat, so there was no accompanying app, WiFi, or tedious extra account creations needed to set this thermostat up, which is a big time save.

Scheduling

While it isn't a smart thermostat, the Clear Comfort has pretty decent and flexible scheduling. Seven individual days can be scheduled with up to four events per day. This was probably the best scheduling among all the non-smart programmable thermostats.

We especially appreciated the ability to copy a schedule from one day to another without having to manually program it. Still, this whole process is a bit tedious compared to thermostats with an accompanying smartphone app or a touchscreen interface dedicated to scheduling. The last thing we'll mention here is that there is no 'vacation' mode for when you are away for long periods of time. Some thermostats have it, many don't. Usually, we are able to find a workaround by either scheduling or holding functions.

Smart Capabilities

The Orbit Clear Comfort isn't billed as a smart thermostat, and therefore, it doesn't have any smart features like geofencing, schedule learning, or smart home ecosystem compatibility.

If you're looking for a smart thermostat, we recommend skipping over to our thermostat review, where we tested many more feature-rich models with remote capabilities.

Energy Saving

Our energy savings metric is developed to test and evaluate features and practices that reduce strain on the electrical grid and lower environmental impact. The Orbit Clear Comfort Pro didn't score any points here, as it falls short in terms of energy efficiency features and sustainable packaging, and there are no published carbon offsets associated with its production.

Unlike modern smart thermostats, this basic model lacks eco-friendly modes, energy consumption reporting, and optimized grid usage. Nor did Orbit emphasize any sustainable packaging or carbon offset efforts for this product. You'll need to manually manage your temperature adjustments with the Orbit if you want to maintain good energy efficiency and keep power bills low.

Should You Buy the Orbit Clear Comfort?

If you're looking for a basic programmable thermostat with flexible scheduling, this is the one to get. The price is right, and we prefer its looks and sturdy feel to those of other traditional thermostats like it. However, if you're looking to upgrade to a more feature-rich product than traditional thermostats, this might not fit the bill.

What Other Thermostat Should You Consider?

If you want to go beyond basic thermostats, we recommend the super smart Nest Thermostat. It can do everything a traditional thermostat does but also offers a ton of great convenience and energy-saving features. If you'd like something even more basic than this Orbit, you might like the Honeywell Home CT87K1004 The Round - Heat Only, which works best for those in cold climates who don't require AC. With this unit, you can simply turn the dial to your desired temperature and walk away — no fiddling with buttons or an app.