- Cheaper: price difference The reviewer notes Premium usually costs more than the ecobee smart thermostat enhanced.
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium Review
Bottom Line
Choose the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium for polished design, easy controls, strong sensors, and useful energy data. Skip it if you want the cheapest thermostat or do not need premium extras like air quality, voice assistant, or added HVAC accessory support.
Best for
Best for smart-home users with multi-room comfort issues, HomeKit/Alexa setups, or an interest in energy data and room sensors. It also fits homes where the premium finish and broader HVAC accessory support matter.
Not for
Not for budget-focused buyers who only need basic scheduling and remote temperature control. It may also disappoint users expecting one included sensor to make Follow Me or Smart Home/Away reliable across a larger home.
Verdict
Reviewers consistently present the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium as a polished, capable thermostat with an upgraded look, readable display, intuitive app, strong smart-home support, and useful room-sensor control. The strongest praise centers on everyday usability: remote temperature changes, flexible scheduling, HomeKit/Alexa control, energy reports, and room sensors that can improve comfort in uneven homes. The tradeoff is that the Premium model’s extras are not equally valuable for every household. Reviewers like the included sensor, air-quality tools, and broader HVAC accessory support, but one reviewer found the sensor ecosystem limited by range and needing more Ecobee sensors to make Follow Me and Smart Home/Away work well. Value is strongest for multi-room homes or users who will use the premium features.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
Enhanced model thermostat
- Worse: included SmartSensor value The reviewer says buying Premium upfront can make more financial sense than buying the Enhanced model and adding sensors later.
Honeywell Home ProSeries
- Worse: basic thermostat upgrade The reviewer frames Ecobee Premium as a major upgrade from a no-frills Honeywell Home ProSeries thermostat.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
37 reviewed features- Very positive 4.5-5.0 62% 23 features
- Positive 3.5-4.4 35% 13 features
- Neutral 2.5-3.4 0% 0 features
- Negative 1.5-2.4 3% 1 feature
- Very negative below 1.5 0% 0 features
Pros
-
Touchscreen feedback is strongly positive, with reviewers calling the new interface easier and more responsive.
-
One reviewer credited Ecobee with making a furnace work properly after a previous thermostat failed with the system.
-
Room prioritization is praised by reviewers who use a bedroom sensor at night instead of relying only on the thermostat's hallway reading.
-
On-device controls are repeatedly described as simpler, more modern, and easier to navigate than older interfaces.
-
Reviewers consistently praised the larger, brighter, higher-quality display for being easier to see and read.
-
Design and finish quality are among the strongest positives, with repeated praise for the premium feel, zinc/metal body, and modern look.
-
Reviewers strongly value the broad smart-home compatibility, especially support across HomeKit, Alexa, Google, Siri, and broader smart-home ecosystems.
-
Scheduling is repeatedly praised as flexible, customizable, and easy to tune for different times, days, and energy goals.
-
The app is a major strength across reviews, with praise for intuitive controls, remote access, schedule setup, and consistent design with the thermostat UI.
-
Remote control is praised as convenient and dependable, especially for changing temperature from elsewhere in the home or while away.
-
Reviewers describe broad HVAC compatibility as a strength, including one case where Ecobee solved a furnace problem and another noting expanded wiring capability for more systems.
-
Energy-saving recommendations and automation are praised for reducing runtime, saving energy costs, and keeping the home comfortable economically.
-
Temperature accuracy is praised through SmartSensor control and room-specific readings that reduce mismatch between hallway and room temperatures.
-
Reviewers generally found comfort consistent and easy to maintain, with praise for fewer manual changes and dependable operation.
-
Energy reports are a standout strength for data-minded reviewers, helping explain bills, track usage, and identify energy patterns.
-
The power extender support was viewed positively because it helps installs where a common wire is not already present.
-
Google Home support is part of the praised broad assistant compatibility in one review.
-
Shared household access is positively noted as a way to give additional family members control.
-
Time-of-use support is praised by one reviewer as a way to save money by shifting AC use around peak pricing.
-
One reviewer liked the included trim plate for covering wall blemishes behind the thermostat.
-
The included Room Sensor is one of the most consistently praised features, helping with room-level temperature readings and comfort control.
-
Fan controls are considered useful and easy to access, with one reviewer emphasizing that turning the fan on or off takes only a couple of taps.
-
HomeKit support is mostly praised as useful and seamless, though one reviewer found the initial HomeKit pairing process unclear.
-
Value opinions are mostly positive for users who will use the premium features, but one reviewer says the added features may not justify the price for everyone.
-
Most reviewers found installation easy or straightforward, though one warned that the app missed an important power switch in their home and another said wiring can be tricky for newcomers.
-
Humidity sensing is viewed as a useful input for comfort and energy behavior, with reviewers calling it handy and effective.
-
Alexa support is viewed positively, with reviewers praising built-in Alexa, easy pairing, and voice-assistant compatibility.
-
Reviewers liked that Ecobee includes a power extender/C-wire adapter option, especially for setups without a common wire.
-
Multi-room balancing is praised when sensors are placed well, but one reviewer found it limited by sensor range and the need for more Ecobee sensors.
-
Setup guidance is generally praised as clear and detailed, but one reviewer faulted the instructions for not warning about an additional switch that caused an installation mistake.
-
Voice control gets mixed but mostly positive feedback: reviewers like having Siri/Alexa access, while one criticizes the built-in speaker as weak.
-
The Premium model is recommended for users with HVAC accessories such as humidifiers or air purifiers, suggesting added value for those systems.
-
Occupancy detection is split: reviewers praise the radar sensor's accuracy, but one found presence detection unreliable without enough sensors.
-
Auto-schedule evidence is mixed: one review praises seamless adaptation, another describes pattern-based scheduling, and one says Nest's learning schedule is smarter.
-
Matter support is treated as a future-looking plus, with one reviewer calling the possible Thread/Matter path exciting and more future-proof.
-
Away mode evidence is mixed, with reviewers praising occupancy-based adjustment but one reviewer saying the thermostat falsely treated the home as empty.
Cons
-
One reviewer had a poor experience using the occupancy sensors for Home automations, saying their tests did not work.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Smart Thermostats, this product is above average in utility demand-response support, included C-wire adapter, HVAC system compatibility depth, below average in presence-based automation.
Summary
8 compared features- Above average 0.4+ pts higher 88% 7 features
- Same as average within 0.3 pts 0% 0 features
- Below average 0.4+ pts lower 13% 1 feature
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| presence-based automation | 1.5 | 4.0 | -2.5 |
| utility demand-response support | 4.5 | 2.6 | +1.9 |
| included C-wire adapter | 4.4 | 2.9 | +1.5 |
| HVAC system compatibility depth | 4.7 | 3.3 | +1.4 |
| energy reports quality | 4.6 | 3.3 | +1.2 |
| wall-mount fit and footprint | 4.5 | 3.5 | +1.0 |
| touchscreen responsiveness | 5.0 | 4.1 | +0.9 |
| C-wire requirement flexibility | 4.5 | 3.6 | +0.9 |
FAQ
Is the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium easy to install?
Most reviewers found installation easy or straightforward, and several praised the app instructions. One reviewer still warned that HVAC wiring can be tricky and said their instructions missed an extra power switch in their home.
Do the Room Sensors actually improve comfort?
Reviewers generally liked the included sensor for room-specific temperature readings and balancing hot or cold rooms. The main caveat is that one reviewer found the sensor range and need for multiple Ecobee sensors limiting.
Is the Premium model worth the higher price?
Reviewers often found the Premium worth it when they used the included sensor, nicer design, energy data, voice assistant, or HVAC accessory support. One reviewer argued the premium extras are not worth paying for if you only need the core thermostat features.
How good are the app and scheduling controls?
The app and scheduling controls are a major strength in the reviews. Reviewers described the app as intuitive and responsive, with flexible day-by-day scheduling and useful remote temperature control.
How well does it work with HomeKit and Alexa?
HomeKit and Alexa support are reviewed positively overall. HomeKit setup was seamless for one reviewer but confusing for another, while Alexa pairing and built-in voice support were generally described as easy and useful.
Are the energy reports useful?
Yes. Multiple reviewers praised Ecobee's energy data and reports for helping them understand runtime, energy bills, and where they could save.
Consider This Instead
If you want better Matter support
Choose Google Nest Learning Thermostat 4th Gen. It scores 4.7 vs 3.8 for Matter support, with a 4.2 overall score.
If you want better Apple Home/HomeKit support
Choose ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced. It scores 5.0 vs 4.5 for Apple Home/HomeKit support, with a 4.3 overall score.
Overall Top Smart Thermostats Alternatives
#1
Current product
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
Best for polished design, easy controls, strong sensors, and useful energy data. Skip it if you want the cheapest thermostat or do not need premium extras like air quality, voice...
Pros: conventional HVAC compatibility, touchscreen responsiveness
Cons: presence-based automation
Good if you want an easy, clear smart thermostat with strong app, display, scheduling, and ecosystem support. Skip it if you need Premium-only sensors, built-in Alexa, air-quality monitoring, or deeper...
Pros: Wi-Fi stability, Apple Home/HomeKit support
Cons: utility demand-response support, HVAC system compatibility depth
Choose it if you want a premium-looking thermostat with Matter, strong learning, room sensors, and polished controls. Skip it if the price, Google-account dependence, or occasional setup/presence-sensing hiccups outweigh the...
Pros: temperature accuracy, Apple Home/HomeKit support
Cons: shared household access, touchscreen responsiveness
Best for easy controls, strong smart-home support, and budget value. Skip it if you need Matter, bundled room sensors, advanced learning, or a no-C-wire install without extra parts.
Pros: temperature accuracy, humidity sensing
Cons: included C-wire adapter, Matter support