Honeywell RTH8500D vs Honeywell TH2110DV1008: Touchscreen or Dial Control

The Honeywell RTH8500D and the Honeywell TH2110DV1008 are both programmable thermostats from the same brand, but they are built for different households. The RTH8500D is the touchscreen model with a full seven-day schedule and a required C wire. The TH2110DV1008 is the vertical PRO 2000 unit with straightforward push-button programming and a lower price point. This comparison breaks down wiring, scheduling, display and installation so a buyer can settle on one in a few minutes.

Honeywell RTH8500D 7-Day Touchscreen Programmable Thermostat

Model: RTH8500D1013/E1
Type: 7-day touchscreen programmable thermostat
Wiring: "C" wire required
Color: White
Package: Single thermostat
ASIN: B0026ES9UQ

The RTH8500D is the more feature-dense of the two. Its seven-day programming lets a household set a separate schedule for every day of the week, which suits people with irregular routines — shift workers, remote employees, families with different weekday and weekend patterns. The touchscreen interface is the headline here: instead of scrolling through menus with physical buttons, the user taps directly on a lit panel, and the display is large enough to read from across a hallway.

The catch is the wiring. Honeywell states plainly that this model requires a C wire, the common wire that supplies continuous power to the thermostat. Homes with a spare blue wire at the wall plate are fine; older homes without one need a power adapter or a professional install, and that changes the total cost of the project considerably. Buyers with a two-wire or three-wire setup should check the wall plate before ordering anything.

Trade-off: The touchscreen and full seven-day scheduling are genuinely useful, but the mandatory C wire can turn a simple swap into an electrician’s visit in older homes.

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Honeywell TH2110DV1008 PRO 2000 Vertical Programmable Thermostat

Model: TH2110DV1008
Series: PRO 2000
Type: Vertical programmable thermostat
Orientation: Vertical mount
ASIN: B00HX1ZNJ2

The TH2110DV1008 is the workhorse option. It belongs to Honeywell’s PRO 2000 line, a series aimed at straightforward residential control rather than smart-home features, and it is a vertical-format unit — the housing is taller than it is wide, which matters in narrow wall spaces or where an existing thermostat cutout is oriented that way. Programming runs through physical buttons rather than a touch panel, a layout many people find faster for a one-time schedule setup and forget about afterward.

Because it is a programmable thermostat in the conventional sense, it does the core job well: set a wake, away, home and sleep pattern and let the unit handle the rest. What it does not offer is the day-by-day flexibility or the visual polish of the RTH8500D. It is also the more affordable of the two, which is the whole point of the PRO 2000 tier — dependable scheduling without paying for a touchscreen.

Trade-off: The button-driven interface and simpler scheduling are easy to live with, but buyers who want per-day programming or a modern-looking panel will find it dated next to a touchscreen model.

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Side-by-Side Specifications

Feature	Honeywell RTH8500D	Honeywell TH2110DV1008
Control type	Touchscreen	Push-button
Programming	7-day	Programmable (PRO 2000)
Orientation	Standard horizontal	Vertical
Wiring requirement	"C" wire required	Not stated in model name
Color	White	Not stated in model name
Series	RTH8500D	PRO 2000
Price tier	Mid-range	Budget
ASIN	B0026ES9UQ	B00HX1ZNJ2

How the Two Thermostats Differ

The first difference is control. The RTH8500D uses a touchscreen, and that changes how the unit feels day to day — tapping a temperature directly is quicker than stepping through button menus, and the display is easier to read in a dim hallway. The TH2110DV1008 relies on physical buttons, which some users prefer for durability and for the tactile feedback, but it is a more utilitarian experience overall.

The second difference is scheduling granularity. Seven-day programming on the RTH8500D means each day can hold its own setpoints, which pays off for households where no two days look alike. The TH2110DV1008 is programmable but built around a simpler pattern, and that is fine for anyone with a regular weekday routine who wants the thermostat set once and left alone.

The third difference is installation risk. Honeywell flags the C wire requirement in the RTH8500D’s own product name, which is a strong hint that it matters. The TH2110DV1008 does not carry that warning in its model description, so it is the safer bet for a home with limited wiring — though any thermostat swap should start with a look at the existing wall plate.

Finally, there is the physical format. The TH2110DV1008 is vertical, which is a practical advantage in tight wall spaces and a cosmetic mismatch in a hallway where every other fixture is horizontal. The RTH8500D follows the conventional horizontal layout.

Which Should You Buy?

Choose the Honeywell RTH8500D if the household has a C wire available (or is willing to add one) and wants day-by-day scheduling with a touchscreen panel that is easy to read and operate. It is the better fit for irregular routines and for anyone replacing an older programmable unit who wants a visible upgrade on the wall.

Choose the Honeywell TH2110DV1008 if the priority is a simple, affordable programmable thermostat that fits a vertical opening and does not demand a C wire. It suits rental properties, second homes, garages and anyone who sets a schedule once and never touches the unit again.

FAQ

1. Does the Honeywell RTH8500D really need a C wire?
   Yes. Honeywell states the requirement in the product name itself. Homes without a spare common wire at the wall plate need a power adapter or a professional install.

2. Is the TH2110DV1008 a smart thermostat?
   No. It is a conventional programmable thermostat from the PRO 2000 line, with push-button control rather than app or voice control.

3. Can the TH2110DV1008 be mounted horizontally?
   It is a vertical-format unit, so the housing is designed for a vertical opening. Buyers replacing a horizontal thermostat should check the wall cutout before ordering.

4. Which one is easier to install?
   The TH2110DV1008 carries no C wire requirement in its model description, so it is generally the lower-risk swap. The RTH8500D is straightforward when a C wire is present.

5. Does the RTH8500D support separate weekend schedules?
   Yes. Seven-day programming means every day, including Saturday and Sunday, can hold its own setpoints.

6. Which thermostat suits a rental property?
   The TH2110DV1008. It is the budget pick, simple to operate, and does not depend on a C wire being available.

7. Do both models come in white?
   The RTH8500D is listed in white. The TH2110DV1008’s color is not stated in its model name, so buyers should confirm the finish on the listing.

8. Which is the better value?
   The TH2110DV1008 costs less and covers basic scheduling. The RTH8500D costs more but adds a touchscreen and full seven-day control — value depends on whether those features matter to the household.

Bottom Line

For most buyers replacing a thermostat in a home with a C wire, the Honeywell RTH8500D is the stronger pick: seven-day programming and a touchscreen that is genuinely easier to live with. The TH2110DV1008 remains the right call for tight budgets, vertical openings and wiring setups where a C wire is not available.