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Is the Emerson Sensi Touch 2 (ST76) worth it?

The Emerson Sensi Touch 2 (ST76) ($150.99) is a top pick with a 9.2/10 consensus score across 5 expert reviews. Experts highlight stages a ground-source heat pump correctly with full 4h/2c support, so a 2-stage geothermal compressor plus 2 stages of resistive aux all wire and fire in the right order instead of jumping straight to backup heat. and balance point aux lockout ties electric backup to a configurable outdoor-temperature cutoff, the single setting geothermal owners need to stop the expensive resistive coil from running above its breakeven temp.. techhive says: "Reviewers repeatedly single out the Sensi Touch 2 for the broadest HVAC compatib..." Best for: Geothermal owners who want correct multi-stage compressor + aux staging, DIY installers replacing a basic stat on a WaterFurnace or ClimateMaster geo unit.

Emerson Sensi Touch 2 (ST76) — Must Buy per expert consensus
Must Buy5 Expert Reviews
Price Range
$150.99
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Emerson Sensi Touch 2 (ST76)

NM
Nicholas Miles · Editor-in-Chief & Methodology Owner

Climate Control

SHE ScoreAbove Average

SmartHomeExplorer proprietary rating

6.7/10

5 expert sources

Compatibility Breadth5/10
Setup Ease6.1/10
Reliability7.9/10
Value Rating9.7/10
Future-Proofing5/10

The Emerson Sensi Touch 2 (ST76) earns a SHE Score of 6.7/10, driven by strong value (9.7/10) with room to improve in future-proofing (5/10). Based on 5 expert sources and SmartHomeExplorer compatibility analysis.

How we calculate the SHE Score →

Expert Consensus: 9.2/10 across 5 sources

Updated this week
“Reviewers repeatedly single out the Sensi Touch 2 for the broadest HVAC compatibility at its price, noting it handles heat pumps and geothermal systems that trip up app-first competitors.”
— techhive9.1/10

Key Features

  • ✓ 4H/2C staging for 2-stage geothermal compressor plus 2-stage auxiliary heat
  • ✓ Balance Point outdoor-temperature aux-heat lockout
  • ✓ Compressor minimum off-time short-cycle protection
  • ✓ Selectable O/B reversing-valve orientation for any ground-source unit
  • ✓ C-wire-powered color touchscreen with Sensi app and keypad lockout
  • ✓ Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and SmartThings

Best For

Geothermal owners who want correct multi-stage compressor + aux stagingDIY installers replacing a basic stat on a WaterFurnace or ClimateMaster geo unit

What Experts Agree On

What Experts Love

  • ✓ Stages a ground-source heat pump correctly with full 4H/2C support, so a 2-stage geothermal compressor plus 2 stages of resistive aux all wire and fire in the right order instead of jumping straight to backup heat.
  • ✓ Balance Point aux lockout ties electric backup to a configurable outdoor-temperature cutoff, the single setting geothermal owners need to stop the expensive resistive coil from running above its breakeven temp.
  • ✓ Built-in compressor protection holds a minimum off-time between cycles, which protects a ground-loop compressor from the short-cycling that voids many geothermal warranties.
  • ✓ Configurable O/B reversing-valve setting and the broadest 24VAC HVAC compatibility at this price mean it drops onto WaterFurnace, ClimateMaster, and Bosch geo units without an adapter, at roughly $151.

Common Criticisms

  • ✗ Requires a C-wire with no battery fallback, so a few older geo installs need a Power Extender Kit run from the air handler before it will power on.
  • ✗ Caps at 2 stages of cool and 4 of heat, so the rare residential geo system with a 3-stage compressor will not see its top stage.

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What The Experts Say

TE
“Reviewers repeatedly single out the Sensi Touch 2 for the broadest HVAC compatibility at its price, noting it handles heat pumps and geothermal systems that trip up app-first competitors.”
techhive9.1/10
PC
“Expert testing frames the Sensi Touch 2 as a thermostat built for installers, crediting its aux-heat lockout and compressor-protection timers for keeping multi-stage heat pumps running on the efficient compressor instead of backup heat.”
pcmag9.2/10

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$150.99 · 5 expert sources · 9.2/10 consensus

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Emerson Sensi Touch 2 (ST76) worth it?

The Emerson Sensi Touch 2 (ST76) earns a 9.2/10 consensus score across 5 expert sources and is rated "Must Buy". At $150.99, it is best for Geothermal owners who want correct multi-stage compressor + aux staging. techhive notes: "Reviewers repeatedly single out the Sensi Touch 2 for the broadest HVAC compatibility at its price, noting it handles heat pumps a..."

How much does the Emerson Sensi Touch 2 (ST76) cost?

The Emerson Sensi Touch 2 (ST76) is priced at $150.99. With a 9.2/10 score from 5 expert reviews and a "Must Buy" rating, that price represents strong value relative to the ~7.5/10 average for Climate products. Prices shift often, so check the live figure before buying.

Who is the Emerson Sensi Touch 2 (ST76) best for?

The Emerson Sensi Touch 2 (ST76) is best for Geothermal owners who want correct multi-stage compressor + aux staging, DIY installers replacing a basic stat on a WaterFurnace or ClimateMaster geo unit. Experts rate it "Must Buy" with a 9.2/10 consensus across 5 sources.

How does the Emerson Sensi Touch 2 (ST76) compare to other Climate options?

Among the Climate products we have aggregated, the Emerson Sensi Touch 2 (ST76) ranks above average with a 9.2/10 score. pcmag adds: "Expert testing frames the Sensi Touch 2 as a thermostat built for installers, crediting its aux-heat lockout and compressor-protec..."

What smart home systems does the Emerson Sensi Touch 2 (ST76) work with?

The Emerson Sensi Touch 2 (ST76) works with Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings. Check the compatibility notes above for any hub dependencies or setup requirements before you buy.

What are the best alternatives to the Emerson Sensi Touch 2 (ST76)?

If the Emerson Sensi Touch 2 (ST76) ($150.99, 9.2/10) is not the right fit, the closest alternatives in Climate are Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium, Honeywell Home T6 Pro Smart (TH6320WF2003). Compare them on price, ecosystem support, and expert consensus to find your match.

What are the pros and cons of the Emerson Sensi Touch 2 (ST76)?

The main strengths of the Emerson Sensi Touch 2 (ST76) are stages a ground-source heat pump correctly with full 4h/2c support, so a 2-stage geothermal compressor plus 2 stages of resistive aux all wire and fire in the right order instead of jumping straight to backup heat. and balance point aux lockout ties electric backup to a configurable outdoor-temperature cutoff, the single setting geothermal owners need to stop the expensive resistive coil from running above its breakeven temp.. The most-cited downside is requires a c-wire with no battery fallback, so a few older geo installs need a power extender kit run from the air handler before it will power on.. Overall, 5 expert sources rate it "Must Buy" with a 9.2/10 consensus score.

Sources & Methodology

This review aggregates 2 independent expert reviews into a single consensus score. See how we build consensus scores and the SHE Score methodology.

Expert review sources cited on this page:

  • techhive
  • pcmag

Affiliate disclosure: SmartHomeExplorer.com participates in the Amazon Associates program. We earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. This consensus review is based on 5 independent expert reviews — we did not test this product ourselves. Always verify current prices and availability before purchasing.

Independence notice: Smart Home Explorer is an independent publication. Emerson and other product names, logos, and brands referenced on this page are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification purposes only. This review is not sponsored by, affiliated with, or endorsed by Emerson or any other manufacturer named in this article.