Is Ecobee smart thermostat premium worth it?

Released in May 2022m the Ecobee Smart thermostat premium is the highest-end model in Ecobee’s line and one of the best smart thermostats on the market today. Considering this unit is the 6th gen of Ecobee’s thermostats, it’s equipped with some notable improvements and brand-new features, making it a great upgrade option. For instance, it features a glass touchscreen display that is almost 50% larger than the previous model and a zinc body. In addition, it has added new features such as onboard radar and an air quality sensor.

But, is the all-new Ecobee smart thermostat premium really worth it? Check out the article to find as we review some features of this device as well as some of its notable drawbacks. Hopefully, this will help you make a decision on whether Ecobee smart thermostat is the right option for your home or not!

Ecobee Smart thermostat Premium Review

1. Design

While other Ecobee thermostats have always featured attractive designs, this Ecobee thermostat premium is their most aesthetically pleasing model yet. It measures 4.1 X 4.1 X 2.9”, meaning it’s slightly smaller than the Ecobee smart thermostat with Voice control, which measures 4.2 X 4.2 X 2.9”.

Interestingly, despite the small size, it comes with a larger 4” color glass touch screen with a resolution of 540 X 540 pixels, making it easy to see from a distance. On top of that, it has a black display face and a zinc trim with rounded corners, instead of the plastic body used in the Ecobee Enhanced model.

Moving on, both sides of the screen have echo-canceling microphone holes, making it easy for the device to understand when controlling it with voice command. Moreover, the device has inbuilt smart speakers at the top and bottom that you can use to stream music from Spotify, Amazon Music or through AirPlay.

Even better, the top of the thermostat has a small LED light that indicates when the microphones are actively listening or off. While the back of the device has a mounting mechanism that attaches to the mounting plate on the wall.

As for the internal product design, the Ecobee smart thermostat premium model is powered by 512MB DDR4 RAM, 4GB of flash memory and 1.5GHz quad-core CPU. Moreover, the device has a dual-band Wi-Fi circuitry, allowing you to connect it to a 2.4 GHz/ 5GHz Wi-Fi network.

2. Compatibility

One of the most interesting features of the Ecobee Smart thermostat premium model is that it’s compatible with almost all HVAC SYSTEMS. Nonetheless, it’s important to confirm that the device will work with your HVAC systems using the manufacturer’s online compatibility checker (link:). More importantly, this Ecobee smart thermostat requires a Common wire (C-wire). 0However, if your existing thermostat doesn’t have a C-wire, this unit comes with a power extender kit. All in all, this device is compatible with single & dual-stage furnaces, ventilators, air conditioners, heat pumps, dehumidifiers, humidifiers, etc.

3. Smart Home Connectivity

In addition to being compatible with most HVAC systems, the newer Ecobee thermostat works well with various smart home systems. To start, it supports Amazon voice technology, meaning you can use the thermostat as an Amazon Dot/ Echo device. Even better, this allows you to stream music from Amazon music and other platforms like Spotify, Pandora and iHeartRadio. In addition, this device is compatible with Apple Homekit ecosystem such as Siri Voice commands.

However, if you don’t like voice commands, Ecobee has a free mobile app for both iOs and Android devices. That way, you can easily control the thermostat settings right from your smartphone. On top of that, the device also works with Google Home, IFTTT and SmartThings, making it one of the most connected smart thermostats available. As an alternative, you can control this device using its touch screen or from a web browser on a computer. In short, this thermostat provides great versatility in how you can interact with or control it.

4. Installation

Ecobee smart thermostat is quite simple to install, especially seeing that Ecobee’s app will guide you through the entire installation process. Also, you can refer to this helpful page of the manufacturer’s websites for extra guidance.

Some of the items you’ll need to install this device are; a flathead screwdriver, Phillips-head screwdriver, and a drill with a 3/16” bit. You may also need a wire stripper, pencil and a hammer, but those are optional.

In addition, as mentioned earlier, this unit comes with a power extender kit. However, if the existing thermostat uses a C-wire, your installation doesn’t have to use the power extender kit. That’s because the C-wire will supply constant power to the device, thus eliminating the need for a power adapter. Alternatively, you can simply hire a professional to install the device for you, especially if you don’t have any prior experience working with an HVAC system.

To install this Ecobee thermostat, first attach a base plate to the wall using 2 screws. Next, attach the wires from your HVAC systems to the base, and then connect the face of your devices to the base plate.

5. Remote Sensor

After installing the thermostat, put the included smart sensor in another room that is usually too cold/ too warm or where to spend a lot of time. This sensor is intended to increase the device’s range, especially in a room where you want more direct control.

More importantly, the smart sensor is equipped with both a motion sensor and a temperature sensor. As a result, it informs the thermostat whether the room is occupied and in need of temperature control. On the other hand, the thermostat monitors its temperature and in the room with a smart sensor, then controls the HVAC system to achieve a temperature that is ideal for both locations. This allows the thermostat to detect if you’re at home or away and switch to a preset temperature to conserve energy. According to research, smart thermostats using properly configured sensors can reduce energy use by up to 28%.  

If you have cold spots in various rooms within your house, you can use up to 32 smart sensors with this Ecobee smart thermostat. However, this smart thermostat only comes with one remote sensor. So, if you need more sensors, you’ll have to buy them separately on Amazon (link: ).

Another issue with this remote sensor is that it doesn’t measure humidity in the room where it is located. Therefore, if you want to measure humidity in a 2nd room, you have to buy another Ecobee thermostat.

Highlighted Features

•    Inbuilt air quality monitor.
•  Works with Siri & Alexa
•  Dual-band Wi-Fi
•  Doubles as a smart speakers & home security device
•  Compatible with most major smart home systems

Pros

• Updated, more attractive design
•   Extremely easy to install & configure
•  Incredible user interface
•  Larger screen
•  Nice premium materials

Drawbacks

•  Some of its features require a subscription
•  A bit pricey
•  Air quality sensor doesn’t trigger the HVAC system’s fan to circulate air

Final Word: Is the Ecobee Smart thermostat Premium worth it?

With its 6th generation of smart thermostat, Ecobee has really improved upon its previous models by adding more incredible features to this premium model. For instance, the device features a more powerful speaker, dual-band Wi-Fi, echo-canceling microphones and works with multiple 3rd party devices and systems. However, compared to other smart thermostat on the market, you may find the price of the Ecobee thermostat Premium model to be a bit high. However, it’s certainly worth the price, especially considering that it’s difficult to find another device that offers most of its features.

So, if you don’t have a smart thermostat yet or you’re looking to upgrade from Google Nest to a device that supports Homekit and serves as a smart speaker/ air quality monitor, Ecobee smart thermostat might just be the perfect option for you!

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