Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium Review

The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is one of the best smart thermostats money can buy, thanks to its excellent interface, advanced features, and compatibility with every major smart home ecosystem.

Performance Comparison

Ease of Use

This metric examines the user experience when interacting with each thermostat. It covers temperature adjustments, hold settings, fan modes, and the clarity of information on the screen. The Ecobee Thermostat Premium performed well in every aspect of these tests.

Adjusting the temperature on its touchscreen was effortless and very responsive. We found the interface to be intuitive and even fun to use; just tap the current temperature displayed in the center of the screen and swipe up or down to change it. Alternatively, you can use the + and - icons for the same effect. Switching between modes was equally intuitive; press the icon in the center to choose from available options or access system modes and comfort settings by tapping the three lines in the top right corner. That intuitive functionality carries over to the mobile app as well, with a nearly identical interface.

This Ecobee has robust fan controls as well, although they can be a bit confusing at first. You can set the fan to Auto mode for continuous operation or to On mode with a timer. Turning the fan on in the thermostat is accessed from the three lines icon and pressing the fan icon on the next menu. From there, you can swap modes from auto to on, and you can adjust the fan runtime per hour in 5-minute increments. Things are much the same in the app, but we couldn't find an option for a circulation schedule there.

There are lots of Hold options on the Ecobee Premium, allowing users to choose preset durations or specify exact hold times. By default, the thermostat maintains the temperature until the next scheduled event. However, hold duration can be customized in the settings, where you select from options such as 2 hours, or 4 hours until manually adjusted, or until the next scheduled activity occurs.

The information displayed on the Ecobee Thermostat Premium's crisp, high resolution screen was well-organized with excellent visibility of the current temperature in various lighting conditions, including close-up and distant viewing. Users can adjust the brightness of both the Active and Sleep screens to suit their preferences. Additionally, the thermostat can be configured to bypass standby mode, displaying outside temperature, room temperature, and time at all times. We appreciate thermostats that have motion-sensing capability to light up when we approach the unit. Temperature accuracy on this unit was good, with a -0.072 degrees Fahrenheit average difference compared to temperature sensing data loggers placed nearby during testing.

DIY Installation

Installation for the Ecobee Premium was generally good, thanks to the app-guided steps and install photos. The Ecobee app told us what tools to bring to the installation, reminded us to take a photo of the old thermostat's wiring for later reference, and Ecobee even included a wall plate and C-wire adapter kit in case it's needed for the installation.

We always appreciate thermostats that have push-in wire connectors rather than screw-in ones, and we were pleased to find that here, as well. All things considered, this was a pretty straightforward install, which also made WiFi connection and registration pretty pain-free.

Scheduling

Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium's scheduling features are good, offering “comfort” based modes such as Home, Away, and Sleep. You can schedule unlimited events for each day of the week, aligning with the chosen comfort mode settings.

To set schedules, begin by configuring your “Comfort Settings” for Home, Away, and Sleep, then specify your preferred heat/cool settings and temperatures. Adding, deleting, and copying schedules is straightforward both on the thermostat and through the app, showcasing the quality of the Ecobee's interface.

Smart Capabilities

In terms of smart capabilities, the Ecobee Premium excels. Its mobile app navigation and smart features, including geofencing, maintenance reminders, safety features, schedule learning, and compatibility with most smart home ecosystems, are commendable. The app's user-friendly layout offers outdoor weather reports and easy control options. Unlike many other thermostats, there is even air quality monitoring and feedback. Geofencing works as expected, triggering thermostat events based on your proximity from home, but requires Apple's Homekit and a Homekit hub or an Android phone with the Ecobee app to function. Maintenance reminders cover filters, UV lamps, and HVAC maintenance. Additionally, the app notifies users of sudden temperature changes and can activate features like freeze protection.

The Ecobee Premium's schedule learning feature is particularly good. It observes users' temperature adjustments and occupancy patterns, learning preferred settings for different times and days to optimize comfort and energy savings. As users interact with the thermostat, it refines its schedule accordingly, providing personalized and efficient heating and cooling. Moreover, the unit has high compatibility with all major smart home ecosystems from Amazon Alexa, Apple Homekit, Google Assitant, IFTTT, and Samsung Smart Things.

Energy Saving

Ecobee thermostats offer fewer eco-friendly settings compared to their competition, but they do good for the environment in other ways. While there isn't a dedicated eco mode on the Ecobee Thermostat Premium, there is Eco+, a smart energy management system that adjusts thermostat settings based on various factors such as weather forecasts, electricity pricing, and occupancy patterns to optimize comfort and reduce energy consumption.

Eco+ includes features like Smart Home & Away and Time of Use optimization, along with insights and recommendations to assist users in saving on energy costs. Users also receive a monthly energy report to track their energy savings compared to other Ecobee users. The Ecobee Premium utilizes recycled packaging and is mercury-free, arsenic-free, PVC-free, and ROHS-compliant.

Should You Buy the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium?

The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium lives up to its name with top-notch features, but it does come with a higher price tag. While it's unlikely that anyone who invests in it will be disappointed, there are comparable options available at a lower cost. Over the past couple of years, smart thermostats have been steadily closing the feature gap with premium units like this one.

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