Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium Review: The Complete Package

The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium arrives in eco-friendly packaging that contains the thermostat, one SmartSensor, a comprehensive installation kit with wire labels and connectors, mounting hardware, and documentation. The thermostat immediately stands out with its zinc metal construction - noticeably more premium than the plastic bodies of most thermostats. The 3.5-inch touchscreen is bright and responsive, with a modern interface that displays temperature, time, weather, and air quality at a glance. The included SmartSensor is compact and battery-powered, designed to place in a room away from the thermostat to monitor temperature and occupancy. Installation complexity depends on your existing HVAC system - homes with a common wire (C-wire) or compatible systems can complete installation in 30-45 minutes, while others may need professional help or the included Power Extender Kit.

The built-in air quality monitoring is the Premium's most distinctive feature, using sensors to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter, and humidity levels. The thermostat can display alerts and, in compatible systems, trigger ventilation to address air quality issues. The included SmartSensor enables room-priority heating and cooling - place it in the bedroom and schedule it to prioritize that room's temperature overnight. Additional sensors (sold separately) can extend this coverage throughout your home. Built-in Alexa transforms the thermostat into a smart speaker for voice control, music playback, and smart home commands, though audio quality is functional rather than impressive. Compatibility with all major smart home platforms (Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit) ensures the thermostat works within your existing setup. Energy reports track usage patterns and estimate savings from smart scheduling.

Our six-month installation test confirmed the Ecobee Premium as an excellent smart thermostat with genuine differentiating features. Energy savings in our test home averaged 15% compared to the previous programmable thermostat, primarily through smarter scheduling and occupancy detection. The SmartSensor effectively addressed temperature variance between floors, maintaining more consistent comfort throughout the house. Air quality monitoring proved useful during wildfire season and high-pollen days, providing alerts that prompted action (running air purifiers, keeping windows closed) before problems became noticeable. The built-in Alexa worked reliably for voice commands and basic smart home control, though we wouldn't replace dedicated Echo devices for music or extended conversations. The interface, while information-rich, took some adjustment - users accustomed to simpler thermostats may find the data overwhelming initially. Integration with our test smart home platforms (Alexa, Google Home, HomeKit) worked flawlessly.