Your subscription has been confirmed. The thermostat is a bit more time consuming to install. In general, if you have questions about your home's electrical setup, consult a professional electrician before you get started -- or hire an expert installer to do it for you. ecobee ecobee. Before we move any further, let’s find out the key features of our smart thermostats. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. Category. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/ecobee-smart-thermostat-with-voice-control. Clear All. Big whop. It's more of a cloud storage subscription plan that also happens to include the ability to arm and disarm the system, the auto-arm/disarm Autopilot feature and alerts. Search job titles. You control the thermostat using the same Android and iOS mobile app as the Ecobee4. Enhanced Alexa and multimedia support, more powerful audio components, and dual-band Wi-Fi are just a few examples of what this thermostat has to offer. ecobee Review: The Best Smart Thermostat For Complete Control. In this training we cover:Learn more about ecobee's latest line of residential smart thermostats! Sign up for What's New Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning. Also under the hood is dual-band Wi-Fi circuitry that allows you to connect the thermostat to a 2.4GHz or 5GHz Wi-Fi radio band (the Ecobee4 is limited to the 2.4GHz band). The Smart Thermostat With Voice comes with a detailed installation guide and is easy to install, but if you're not comfortable working with electrical wires (even low-voltage wires), you should have a professional handle the installation. The thermostat also works with Apple's HomeKit platform, supports Google Assistant and Siri voice commands, interacts with other smart home devices that support IFTTT (If This Then That) applets, and can be added to the SmartThings, Vera, and Wink home automation systems. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. Revamped, flatter thermostat design reduces glare and improves touchscreen sensitivity. I like the updated look and the newer temp sensor. With a quad-core processor, Bluetooth 5.0 compatibility (excellent news for HomeKit users), and dual-band WiFi, this thermostat packs some serious power. So while Haven is technically optional in that it's a month-to-month contract-free service, you really do need it. Ecobee was first mentioned on PissedConsumer on Apr 20, 2017 and since then this brand received 13 reviews.. Ecobee ranks 235 of 1754 in Appliances and Electronics category. The new Ecobee Smart Thermostat With Voice Control ($249) is the company's fifth-generation model, and as is the case with each Ecobee release, this new model offers more features than its predecessor, the Ecobee4. Geofencing. (1,246) $169.99 Your price for this item is $169.99. The SmartSensor did a great job of maintaining a steady target temperature in a basement bedroom, and push and email alerts arrived instantly when the temperature and humidity levels reached my configured thresholds. Basically, you can view the SmartCamera's live feed -- and that's about it. Smart Displays. Start by saying, “Alexa, call … ecobee thermostats work with radiant heating systems, multistage, and dual-fuel heat pumps. In the Comfort Settings menu you can set temperature thresholds for when you are home and away, and you can have the thermostat switch temperatures for when you're asleep or on vacation. The Ecobee now supports both 2.4- and 5-GHz Wi-Fi, which is nice but not a huge deal. Inside are temperature, humidity, proximity, and occupancy sensors, as well as far-field voice technology. It can also be controlled using the touch screen, the above-mentioned voice services, or from a PC using a web console. Setting up the Ecobee system starts with downloading the Ecobee app and creating an account. You wouldn't know it from looking, but the new thermostat uses a glass screen to cover the 3.5-inch, 480-by-320-pixel color touch display. The system works with Alexa and Siri. The gear icon takes you to the Quick Changes screen where you can switch from Home to Away modes, and the microphone icon opens a screen where you can adjust speaker volume, enable or disable the microphone, link Alexa to Spotify, and pair the thermostat with a Bluetooth speaker. User rating, 4.7 out of 5 … At $499, it's expensive -- closest to the Nest Secure Alarm System in terms of style and price. I don't have an Amazon-branded Alexa device to test out whether the Echo Spatial Perception (ESP) feature works with the SmartCamera, although Ecobee tells me it does have ESP. The Ecobee Smart Thermostat With Voice Control is loaded with features including Alexa support, a touch display, a remote room sensor, and interoperability with lots of other smart home devices. This self-sufficient home security system arms and disarms itself automatically, when you pay for a Haven subscription. Ecobee3 Lite Review: Key Takeaway. For that reason, I wouldn't buy these Ecobee devices unless you plan to pay for Haven. Smart Speakers & Displays. You can't do much if you don't pay for the optional Haven service. ecobee Reviews. The ecobee SmartSensors sport a typical all-white two-piece contact sensor design but include nice touches like soft rounded corners. Ecobee’s smart thermostats are consistently among our top picks, and the overhaul that produced this fifth-generation product is as welcome as it is unexpected. Get it fast. Lots of third-party integrations. The Ecobee SmartCamera stands 5.4 inches tall (with its stand) and is 2.2 inches wide and 1.7 inches in depth. The two microphone holes on either side of the screen cover a pair of digital microphones that offer echo cancellation and more advanced audio processing than the analog microphones used in the Ecobee4. Meanwhile Ecobee’s external sensors, which detect temperature and presence, have been redesigned too. © 2020 CNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. Ecobee got its start making smart thermostats. If you already have the thermostat (which comes with one SmartSensor), Ecobee does sell a Home Security Bundle for $279 with just the camera, two door or window sensors and two temperature sensors. Industry-leading reliability But it's a solid system that makes efficient use of each device and automates settings for you based on your phone's location so you don't have to remember to set arm or disarm modes. I like that every device performs multiple functions, from temperature tracking to motion detection and live video streaming. I created a daily heating schedule that it followed to a tee. What I like most about the touch screen display is how convenient it is to navigate through menus and to enter text, such as a long Wi-Fi password. I know what your thinking. Store Pickup at. That said, Ecobee doesn't offer enough free features for this system to be used as a self-installed, self-monitored system. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis, LLC and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. Hands-free calling with Alexa. The Ecobee SmartCamera stands 5.4 inches tall (with its stand) and is 2.2 inches wide and 1.7 inches in depth. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering Labs-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Use the Thermostat Compatibility Checker or reach out to our support team at 1‑877‑932‑6233. I didn’t have a c wire with my old thermostat but the ecobee provided all the materials and detailed instructions to make it work. The Ecobee4 is easy to install. Like the Ecobee SmartThermostat, the SmartCamera has a built-in Alexa speaker. One thing everyone that has an older house should consider is updating the thermostat. As with the Ecobee4, the thermostat worked wonderfully with a HomeKit scene to turn off a porch light when it switches to Sleep mode, and an IFTTT applet to have a TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip HS300 outlet turn on when the humidity hit a certain threshold. Nearly everything I’ve written for the ecobee3 is still true for the ecobee4. * Compared to a hold of 72°F/22°C. Screw on the mounting plate, thread through the wires, and attach the thermostat in place of your old one. Keep an eye on your inbox! Once the back plate was wired, I snapped the thermostat onto the base plate, registered it using the mobile app and the supplied verification code, and installation was complete. Easy to install. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Ecobee's $499 Total Home Comfort and Security Bundle includes one $249 SmartThermostat with voice control, one $179 SmartCamera with voice control, two SmartSensors for doors or windows (also sold in a $79 two-pack) and three temperature SmartSensors (also sold in a $79 two-pack). It'll push the update to its other thermostats -- including the Ecobee 4, Ecobee 3 and Ecobee 3 Lite-- starting in early 2020. All of those devices sold individually would clock in closer to $600, so you're technically getting a deal with this home security and automation bundle. The SmartThermostat has a built-in Alexa speaker that also works with Google Assistant and Siri commands. Ecobee requires two-factor authentication for SmartCamera customers; it's optional for everyone else. I disconnected the old thermostat, fed the wires through the back plate, and attached the plate to the wall using the built-in level to ensure a straight installation. Ecobee’s Haven offers a free 30-day trial, and after that you have two price levels to choose from: Essential: home monitoring + autopilot and video storage for up to one device ($ 5 / month USD, $ 7 / month CAD) Expanded: Home Monitoring + Autopilot and Video for Unlimited Devices ($ 10 / month USD, $ 14 / month CAD) … Moreover, the thermostat had no trouble processing voice commands from across the room, and I was able to control devices linked to my Alexa account just as easily as if I were using an Echo device. The Ecobee Total Home Comfort and Security Bundle works well. If that doesn't bother you, this system might be for you. Like the Ecobee4, it works with numerous third-party smart devices and hubs, supports Apple's HomeKit platform and Alexa, Google, and Siri voice commands, and performs wonderfully. The Settings icon offers multiple tabs for configuring the thermostat. As with other Ecobee thermostats, this one comes with labels that you can use to mark your wires, which makes things easier when it comes time to wire up the Ecobee back plate. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. All ecobee thermostats feature a relatively large, 3.5-inch full-color LCD touchscreen with a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels. In addition to Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, and Pandora music streaming, you can now stream Spotify music and play it directly from the thermostat or stream it to a Bluetooth speaker. Pros: Easy to install and configure. Well, Ecobee brings to you the Ecobee4 Smart Thermostat with a wide range of features starting with the occupancy, … PS5 restock alerts: Get inventory updates for GameStop, Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon and Target, Where to buy the Xbox Series X: Get inventory restock updates for Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart and more. This self-sufficient home security system arms and disarms itself automatically, when you pay for a Haven subscription. Despite a different combination of devices (Ecobee's system doesn't have a keypad and Nest's doesn't have a camera or doorbell, although you could scale up by adding those Nest devices), they followed a similar pattern with door and window sensors that double as motion sensors and security devices that also offer integrated voice assistants. If you don't like the auto-arming and disarming, you can adjust the settings in the app for manual arming and disarming. At $499, this kit isn't cheap -- and you have to pay a recurring monthly fee for some features that should be free. PCMag Digital Group. We need to know the capabilities and key elements of all Ecobee thermostats to differentiate them adequately. The complete system costs $499, not including the optional Haven subscription fee, starting at $5 per month. You can review footage for up to 14 days if you subscribe to Ecobee Haven. 1.0 out of 5 stars I spent some time with the support and they ended up telling me everything with the thermostat seems to be fine and the problem was with my furnace Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2018 The ecobee Smart Pro is a one of a kind thermostat featuring the latest voice assistant technology. Nest's keypad hub, called the Nest Guard, has a built-in Google Assistant speaker. As a Contributing Editor for PCMag, John Delaney has been testing and reviewing monitors, TVs, PCs, networking and smart home gear, and other assorted hardware and peripherals for almost 20 years. My system has a C wire so I was able to attach my wires directly to the back plate terminals. It's also important to consider a company's privacy statement and security policies before buying a device or service. But the company has branched out in recent years to offer a smart light switch, device accessories like ambient temperature sensors -- and now home security devices. 1 Based on internal measurements of thermostat runtime data, ecobee smart thermostats have delivered more than 10.4 TWh of energy savings.. 2 eco+ Schedule Assistant works with SmartThermostat with voice control.. 3 Where applicable. CNET may get a commission from these offers. To see the current weather conditions and five-day forecast, tap the weather icon. If you have a non programmable one … You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. The Total Home Comfort and Security Bundle is a high-end home security and automation kit from Ecobee. 4.5 out of 5 Even with a slightly higher price tag than others, and some occasional app oddities, the ecobee SmartThermostat is simply one of the best thermostats on the market today. Audio output is noticeably louder and fuller than that of the Ecobee4, but still not quite as robust as the output from a dedicated Amazon Echo Plus speaker. For the next five years, he was responsible for buying and configuring IBM PC, XT and AT desktops for many of New York's financial institutions. Android, iOS, and Web browser support. Otherwise, I'd look elsewhere. The larger portion of the sensor houses all of the smart tech, relaying the status of the home directly to an ecobee SmartThermostat or SmartCamera, which is required for operation. © 1996-2020 Ziff Davis, LLC. Use the System tab to enable and disable heating, cooling, and fans. The Reminders & Alerts menu lets you configure low and high temperature and humidity alerts and set maintenance reminders. Categories & Filters. Square with rounded corners, the face of the 3.9 x 3.9-inch Ecobee is glossy black plastic, with a 3.5-inch QVGA touch screen in the middle. You also get alerts when motion is detected or a door or window is opened or closed. It plays songs off my skype account and it’s Alexa enabled. Haven doesn't include professional monitoring, either. As such, it earns our Editors' Choice for smart thermostats. (Nope, that doesn't come standard with the system unless you pay for Haven, although Ecobee tells me this will change "in the next month or so."). Give this surprising, and useful feature a try. Improved installation features and good performance are hampered by a ham-handed Alexa voice integration that frustrates many owners. Dual-band Wi-Fi. They are essentially the same thermostat except the ecobee4 has added an integrated … A sleek, modern design, easy installation, included SmartSensor, high levels of reliability, and compatibility with all of the … The new ecobee SmartThermostat with SmartSensor is available now on ecobee's site (and Amazon, Best Buy, Home Depot, and, yes, Lowe's) for $249. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. As with the Ecobee4, the Smart Thermostat With Voice supports Amazon Alexa voice technology, which means you can use it as you would an Amazon Echo device, but this time around Ecobee has added support for Alexa Calling, Messaging, and Drop-In. Nest's $399 Secure Alarm System starter kit includes a keypad hub, two key fobs and two motion-and-movement-sensing door or window sensors. It doesn't offer professional monitoring, even if you pay the optional monthly fee for the Haven subscription service. Free Shipping by Amazon. All of the devices perform multiple functions and work together to form a dynamic, multitasking system. Remote room sensor. The new sensor offers extended range and a longer battery life (up to five years) than the previous model. Dynamic, multitasking system n't offer enough free features for this system to used... For `` Ecobee 5 is the best yet, not including the optional Haven subscription team. 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