Let me start by saying the Hive Smart Thermostat looks and feels premium. The circular design with that protruding center knob gives it a distinct appearance - though some might find it a bit bulky for their walls. Installation was surprisingly straightforward once I figured out the wiring (protip: take photos of your old thermostat's wiring before disconnecting anything!).

The temperature readings are impressively accurate - I cross-checked with professional-grade sensors in my saltwater aquarium and they matched perfectly. That reliability gives me peace of mind when away from home, knowing my house won't freeze or overheat unexpectedly.

However, the hub requirement is annoying. In an era where most smart devices connect directly to WiFi, needing this extra box feels like a step backward. The initial pairing process can be finicky too - if your hub isn't perfectly set up first, you'll just stare at a useless counter on the thermostat display.

Scheduling works well once configured, but getting there isn't intuitive. I spent a frustrating week waking up to a freezing house before finally cracking the scheduling system. Even now, it occasionally ignores my programming for no apparent reason.

The Alexa integration is... disappointing at best. Commands take 10-15 seconds to process - long enough that you'll wonder if Alexa even heard you. And half the time she claims 'zone 1 isn't responding' despite everything being properly connected.

Mobile app control has been hit-or-miss for me. When it works, it's great adjusting temperatures from bed or while away. But too often the connection drops inexplicably, leaving me unable to control my thermostat remotely at all.

Perhaps most frustrating is discovering after purchase that Hive no longer supports North American customers (despite still selling here). This explains some of the connectivity issues but doesn't excuse them.

For those in supported regions who don't mind the hub and occasional quirks, this can be a cost-effective alternative to Nest. But between the connectivity problems and lack of HomeKit support, I'm considering switching back to my old thermostat or trying another brand entirely.