Out of the box, the GoControl Z-Wave Thermostat GC-TBZ48 appears to check the right boxes for a simple Z-Wave thermostat. However, what it gives up in simplicity it lacks in usability and feature set. The thermostat doesn’t offer advanced automation features itself — it’s essentially an on/off and set-point device, leaving most of the automation logic to your hub or controller. Interfaces like SmartThings sometimes see the device in a fairly generic way, and you can run into quirks where temperature or set-point changes don’t always report back cleanly without polling or custom device handlers.

Pairing and reliably getting the thermostat to respond in SmartThings can be hit or miss — you may need to experiment with device handlers or even exclude/re-include the device a few times before it behaves. Configuration options (like temperature limits or comfort settings) are minimal compared with more modern thermostats, and the small LCD display is basic at best.

Although this thermostat can be used, we would recommend looking at the ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential or the Honeywell T6 Z-Wave Thermostat instead.