The short version: The Lyric T9 is Honeywell’s strongest non-pro-install thermostat for the Canadian market: a 3.5-inch touchscreen with geofencing and support for up to 20 remote room sensors, with one included. It’s a step up from the T6 Pro on features and a lower-priced alternative to ecobee’s Premium if room-level comfort across a Canadian home — bedrooms that run cold, basements that run warm — is your main concern.

Who It’s For

The T9 suits forced-air homes running a gas, oil, or electric furnace, or a heat pump, where rooms run at noticeably different temperatures and you want the thermostat to prioritize the room you’re actually using rather than the hallway it’s mounted in. That matters more in Canadian homes with finished basements or upper-floor bedrooms that swing several degrees from the main floor. It’s also a sensible upgrade for existing Honeywell Lyric or T-series owners.

It’s not for Apple HomeKit households — no current Honeywell thermostat supports HomeKit — and if you don’t care about sensors, the cheaper T6 Pro handles the basics for less.

Design & Build

The T9 has a white bezel around a 3.5-inch touchscreen, with current temperature shown in orange while heating and blue while cooling, and outdoor temperature in gray text. It’s a meaningfully nicer display than the T6 Pro’s and closer to ecobee’s screen size, with Honeywell’s own interface rather than ecobee’s swipe-based layout.

Setup & Compatibility

C-wire situation: Works without a C-wire in many single-stage setups. Multi-stage systems, heat pumps with auxiliary heat, and humidifier/dehumidifier control — common in Canadian forced-air homes through winter — typically need one. Run your system through Honeywell’s compatibility checker first, particularly if you have a heat pump paired with a gas furnace, an increasingly common setup as Canadian homeowners add heat pumps to existing systems.

Room sensors: The included sensor connects over Honeywell’s RedLINK wireless protocol rather than standard Wi-Fi, which tends to hold up better in homes where Wi-Fi coverage is weak in far corners or basements. You can add sensors up to a total of 20, and choose between “Active Room” (follows occupancy) or “Select Rooms” (manual priority) modes.

Installation: Budget 30–45 minutes for a DIY install using the in-app wiring wizard, workable for anyone comfortable identifying basic furnace wiring.

App & Ecosystem

The T9 connects to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, along with Samsung SmartThings, Logitech Harmony, and IFTTT. Some third-party platforms only integrate the thermostat itself and not the room sensors, worth knowing if you’re planning sensor-based automations outside the Honeywell Home app. There’s no Apple HomeKit support.

The app itself is reliable for scheduling, geofencing, and sensor priority management, though less visually polished than ecobee’s.

Geofencing and Room Sensors: The T9’s Real Advantage

Geofencing uses your phone’s location to detect when the house is empty and adjust the schedule, and reviewers consistently describe it as one of the more seamless implementations available — it requires little manual tuning to work well. Combined with the sensor system, the T9 is generally positioned as the strongest option in Honeywell’s non-pro-install lineup, ahead of the T6 Pro on comfort features, though still behind ecobee’s SmartSensor ecosystem for third-party integration breadth.

Price & Value

Honeywell Home Lyric T9
Price (CAD) ~$150–230
Included 1 room sensor
Warranty 2 years
Subscription required No
Additional sensors Sold separately, up to 20 supported

The T9 is ENERGY STAR certified, the baseline most Canadian utility and provincial rebate programs check for — see Smart Thermostat Rebates in Canada by Province for current program details, since exact eligibility varies by province.

Pros & Cons

Pros:
– One of Honeywell’s most capable non-pro-install thermostats
– Included room sensor, supports up to 20
– Reliable, low-maintenance geofencing
– Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, SmartThings, and IFTTT
– No C-wire needed in many single-stage setups

Cons:
– No Apple HomeKit support
– Some third-party platforms integrate the thermostat but not the sensors
– App is functional rather than best-in-class
– 2-year warranty, shorter than ecobee’s 3-year term

Honeywell Lyric T9 vs T6 Pro vs T10 Pro: features, price, and rebate eligibility compared

The Recommendation

Buy the Honeywell Home Lyric T9 if you want room-level comfort and dependable geofencing without ecobee’s price tag or an Apple ecosystem dependency. If sensors don’t matter to you, the T6 Pro saves money. For a zoned, pro-installed system, look at the T10 Pro.

For a head-to-head against ecobee, see ecobee vs Honeywell: Feature & Price Breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Lyric T9 need a C-wire?
Not always. It works without one in many single-stage setups. Multi-stage systems, heat pumps with auxiliary heat, and humidifier/dehumidifier control typically need a C-wire.

How many room sensors does the T9 support?
Up to 20. It ships with one; additional sensors are sold separately.

Does the T9 work with Apple HomeKit?
No. No current Honeywell Home thermostat supports Apple HomeKit; ecobee remains the main major brand with native HomeKit support.

Is the Lyric T9 eligible for rebates in Canada?
It’s ENERGY STAR certified, the baseline requirement for most provincial and utility programs, but exact eligibility varies by province and sometimes by model number. Check Smart Thermostat Rebates in Canada by Province before buying with a rebate in mind.

How does the T9 compare to the T6 Pro?
The T9 adds a bigger touchscreen, room sensors, and geofencing over the T6 Pro. If room-level comfort matters in your home, the T9 is worth the extra cost.

Where can I buy the Lyric T9 in Canada?
Best Buy Canada, Home Depot Canada, and Amazon.ca.