If you want better presence-based automation
Choose Google Nest Learning Thermostat 4th Gen. It scores 3.9 vs 1.5 for presence-based automation, with a 4.4 overall score.
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.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
37 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.023 (62%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.413 (35%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.41 (3%)
Pros
-
Design and finish quality are among the strongest positives, with repeated praise for the premium feel, zinc/metal body, and modern look.
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Reviewers consistently praised the larger, brighter, higher-quality display for being easier to see and read.
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The app is a major strength across reviews, with praise for intuitive controls, remote access, schedule setup, and consistent design with the thermostat UI.
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Reviewers strongly value the broad smart-home compatibility, especially support across HomeKit, Alexa, Google, Siri, and broader smart-home ecosystems.
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The included Room Sensor is one of the most consistently praised features, helping with room-level temperature readings and comfort control.
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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.
Cons
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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, near average in remote control reliability, Apple Home/HomeKit support, below average in presence-based automation, voice control quality, away mode effectiveness.
Comparison summary
32 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher16 (50%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts13 (41%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower3 (9%)
Largest category differences
| 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 | +1.4 |
| 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 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better voice control quality
Choose ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced. It scores 4.5 vs 4.0 for voice control quality, with a 4.3 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Cheaper: price difference The reviewer notes Premium usually costs more than the ecobee smart thermostat enhanced.
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.
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.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - AppleInsider
- Review score
- 4.7
YouTube - One Hour Smart Home
- Review score
- 4.2
YouTube - Andrew's Amazon Finds
- Review score
- 4.5
YouTube - George Langabeer
- Review score
- 4.7
Article Reviews
robbsutton.com
- Review score
- 4.3
9to5toys.com
- Review score
- 4.8
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