Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium Review, Pros & Cons and Specs 2022

THE BOTTOM LINE for Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium

The feature-packed Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium controls your temperature and cooling, acts as a smart speaker and security device, monitors air quality, and supports many third-party platforms.

Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium PROS

Supports Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, IFTTT, and SmartThings

Doubles as a home security device and smart speaker

Monitors air quality

Dual-band Wi-Fi

Beautiful design

CONS

Pricey

Some features require a subscription

The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium ($ 249.99) is the company's latest and most advanced connected thermostat. It lets you control heating and cooling from your phone, and it supports Alexa, HomeKit, Google Assistant, IFTTT, and SmartThings platforms. In addition, this stylish device has an air quality monitor, comes with a remote room sensor, and can act as both a home security device and a smart speaker powered by Stand Alexa. It's one of the most feature-rich thermostats we've ever tested, and easily wins our Editors' Choice Award for Smart Thermostat.

Amazing design, strong third party support

Ecobee thermostats always have attractive designs, and the Smart Thermostat Premium is by far the most beautiful model. At 4.1 by 4.1 by 1.0 inches (HWD), it is shorter than the AQB Smart Thermostat with voice control (4.2 by 4.2 by 1.0 inches), but offers a large, 4-inch color touch screen made of glass with 540- does. By 540 pixel resolution. Zinc trim with a black display face and rounded corners completes the look. The back includes a speaker that lets you play tunes via Amazon Music, Spotify and AirPlay.

In the box, you get the thermostat. A mounting plate with twelve terminals; An optional white wall trim plate; A remote room sensor and stand; Power adapter kit for homes that do not have a C (common) wire. Mounting screws; Wire label; And installation guide. You can have remote sensors in any room to monitor the occupancy and control the temperature. A pair of additional sensors costs $ 99.99, and you can pair up to 32 sensors with a thermostat to help ensure uniform heating and cooling in your home. The thermostat uses sensors to automatically adjust the temperature based on the occupancy. They also act as safety devices that send alerts whenever they detect movement.

Smart Thermostat Premium works with most 24V HVAC devices, including conventional gas and oil furnaces, air conditioning systems, heat pumps, boilers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and ventilators. It features Ecobee's new radar capture and motion sensing technology in particular, which allows the device to detect motion at a greater distance than the PIR sensor on previous models. It even registers movement from all sides.

Beneath the hood is a built-in Alexa voice assistant, an air quality sensor, a Bluetooth radio, and a dual-band Wi-Fi radio. The air quality sensor monitors the levels of VOC (volatile organic compounds), humidity, and carbon dioxide, and sends alerts when the measurement is in an unhealthy range. It's not as advanced as the Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor or a standalone device like a real air purifier, but it's a nice addition.

You can use the Alexa Voice Control, which is built-in, or Google Assistant / Siri Voice commands with a synchronized smart speaker to change the thermostat settings, receive news, play music and check the temperature in sensor rooms. Can Premium model Alexa Drop In supports call as well as Alexa calling and messaging. It also supports IFTTT and SmartThings platforms.

Alternatively, you can use the device's color display to control the unit, as it offers a wealth of information and settings. In addition to the current indoor temperature, it tells you the indoor humidity level, current air quality rating (clean or bad), system mode, fixed temperature, and local weather. You also get menu and voice assistant buttons.

The thermostat also has the potential to be a home protection center. For example, you could add Ecobee SmartSensors for doors and windows ($ 79.99 for two packets) as well as dressing rooms with Ecobee SmartCamera ($ 99.99). Additionally, with the $ 5-per-month standard smart security plan, you get 30 days of video storage, entry and motion alerts, smoke alarm detection (camera and thermostat for listening to your existing smoke detector) for a single camera. Uses), and freezes. Detection (via thermostat). $ 10-per-month full plan adds 30 days of video storage for 24/7 professional surveillance and unlimited number of smart cameras.

Ecobee app experience

This thermostat uses the same mobile app as the Ecobee SmartCamera and earlier thermostat models. It has a panel on the home screen that shows the name of the thermostat, current room and set temperature, and condition (heat, cold, or hold). Tap the panel to see the current humidity level, air quality, room temperature, and set temperature. Here, you also see the current comfort setting (home, away, or sleep) and the weather, mood, and quick change buttons. Tap the weather button to see current conditions as well as weekly forecasts. Press the mode button to toggle between heating, cooling and off mode. In the Quick Changes section, you can select one of the comfort settings above and see which equipment is currently running.

Tap the gear button in the upper right corner to access the settings menu. Here, you can configure environmentally friendly settings aimed at reducing energy costs by shutting down the system when doors or windows are open and adjusting the temperature based on humidity levels. You can also configure indoor and outdoor settings to create energy saving, heating and cooling schedules and apply for community energy saving rebates. Other settings allow you to add sensors, configure comfort settings, set filters and maintenance reminders and alerts, select a temperature display (Fahrenheit or Celsius), and configure Alexa and Spotify preferences. Gives.

Straight setup, excellent performance

It's easy to follow Ecobee's written and video installation instructions (Opens in new window), but as with any thermostat, the setup process requires you to work with low voltage wiring. ? If this bothers you, seek professional help.

To begin the process, I turned off my existing thermostat in the breaker box, removed the thermostat, and took a picture of the wiring before removing the mounting plate. I run the wires from the back of the AQUBI mounting plate, attaching each wire to its respective terminal, and attaching the plate to the wall with mounting screws. A built-in level assured me that the plate is equal to the floor and ceiling. I removed the thermostat and restored power to the circuit.

Then I selected my wiring configuration on the device and gave it a name. I also connected the sensor by dragging the tab and giving it a name. I then chose Configured Wi-Fi, along with Home, Remote, and Sleep Comfort settings to complete the connection process. I selected the current mode of my system (heat), set my ideal winter temperature, and selected my country and time zone. Finally, I wrote the registration code that appeared on the screen and tapped on Finish.

Next, I downloaded the Ecobee mobile app, created an account and a household name, and tapped the plus button in the upper right corner of the home screen to add the device. I selected the thermostat from the list and confirmed that the device is already installed (you can't say and follow the on-screen setup instructions that cover the above steps at this point). After entering the registration code from the menu screen, everything was ready to go.

The Smart Thermostat Premium worked beautifully in the test and I appreciate that the display is bright enough to read from the whole room. The thermostat did an excellent job of maintaining my desired temperature and followed my schedule. It responded quickly to adjusting temperature changes using the app and on-board controls, as well as Alexa. Prompt action on voice commands. Both the thermostat and the sensor immediately sent alerts when they detected movement.

As Alexa Voice Assistant, Premium had no trouble getting the news, sports and local weather conditions in command. He played songs from my Amazon Music Library without any problems, even though the speaker is very messy.

Worth premium

With the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium, you get a versatile smart home thermostat that also acts as an Alexa voice assistant, air quality monitor, and home security device. It is easy to install, performs well in testing, and accentuates any room with its sleek design. In addition, it comes with a remote room sensor and works with the Google Assistant, HomeKit, IFTTT and SmartThings platforms. At $ 249, we also like the Nest Learning Thermostat, which is a good alternative if you use other Nest devices, but it doesn't act as a smart speaker or monitor air quality like the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium Does not, which makes it the choice of our editors. . If you don't want to spend that much, the $ 73.99 Wise Thermostat does not support Home Kit or IFTTT, but is still a highly viable alternative.