Smart Home
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium Review: Honest Verdict
“Expensive, but It Does Everything.” — CNET
No single aggregate score — here's what the reviewers agree on, below.
The short version
Reviewers agree that the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is unusually capable. It combines heating and cooling controls with a remote occupancy sensor, broad smart-home support, air-quality monitoring, Alexa and security features. PCMag gave it an Editors' Choice award, while Tom's Guide called it the best smart thermostat it had tested over the preceding few years. The trade-off is clear: it costs about $250, some features require a subscription, and its built-in speaker is better for voice commands than music.
What reviewers loved
- The included remote sensor monitors another part of the home, while occupancy detection can prevent the thermostat from targeting an empty room.
- Support for Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, IFTTT and SmartThings makes it flexible across major smart-home ecosystems.
- Built-in air-quality monitoring, Alexa voice control and security functions replace several separate smart-home devices.
- CNET found the Ecobee app's installation guidance thorough, and a power adapter is included for HVAC systems without a C-wire.
- PCMag reports that it installed easily, performed well in testing and has a sleek design that fits neatly into a room.
What held it back
- At $249.99, it is an expensive thermostat, especially if you do not need its speaker, air-quality or security functions.
- PCMag notes that some features require a subscription, adding a potential ongoing cost.
- Tom's Guide found the built-in speaker weak and tinny, so it is more useful for Alexa commands than music.
- It requires C-wire power; an adapter is included, but older HVAC systems may involve extra wiring during installation.
Buy it if you want one premium thermostat with room sensing, wide ecosystem support, Alexa, air-quality monitoring and security integration.
Skip it if you mainly need remote temperature control, dislike subscriptions or cannot justify paying about $250 for the extra smart-home features.
What the reviewers say
PCMag calls the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium one of the most feature-packed thermostats it has tested and awarded it Editors' Choice. Its review highlights easy installation, reliable performance, attractive design, the included room sensor and unusually broad compatibility. CNET reaches a similar conclusion, describing it as a thermostat that can do nearly everything and praising its ability to monitor more than one part of the home.
The speaker receives a more qualified verdict. CNET considered it a half-decent Bluetooth speaker, but Tom's Guide found it as tinny as a first-generation Echo Dot. The practical consensus is that Alexa access is useful, but this should not replace a dedicated music speaker. Price is the other major reservation: reviewers consistently position it as a premium option rather than the sensible choice for basic temperature control.
⚙ Best settings — dial it in
The supplied reviews do not publish detailed calibration values, so we will not invent them. CNET does provide practical installation guidance for getting the thermostat connected correctly. For fully calibrated values, see CNET.
| Before disconnecting wires | Use the Ecobee app's prompt to photograph your current thermostat wiring so you retain a clear reference. |
|---|---|
| Power connection | Connect the required C-wire. If your HVAC system lacks one, use the included adapter and follow the app's additional instructions. |
| Installation process | Complete setup through the Ecobee app, which CNET says provides thorough step-by-step guidance. |
The competition
Nest Learning Thermostat
PCMag calls it a good alternative for homes already using Nest devices, but notes that it does not work as a smart speaker or monitor air quality like the Ecobee.
Wyze Thermostat
PCMag describes this $73.99 model as highly capable and much cheaper, though it lacks HomeKit and IFTTT support.
Should you buy it?
Yes, if you will use its broader smart-home features. Critics report that the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium combines capable climate control, useful room sensing and excellent platform compatibility with Alexa, air-quality and security functions. Buyers seeking only app-based temperature control can spend far less, and the weak speaker does not justify the premium by itself. RightWei summarizes independent reviewers' hands-on tests and does not test review units ourselves.
Sources
RightWei aggregates and summarizes independent reviews — we link to the original hands-on tests so you can go deeper. We don't test units ourselves.