Ecobee’s sensible thermostats are constantly amongst our prime picks, and the overhaul that produced this fifth-generation product is as welcome as it’s sudden. In different phrases, we didn’t assume the Alexa-powered Ecobee might get a lot better—but it surely has. And that goes for the distant room sensors, too (extra on these in a bit).
Apart from the glass over its show, the brand new mannequin doesn’t look radically completely different from the earlier one, as a result of a lot of the enhancements are underneath the hood. That show, nevertheless, is much more vivid and responsive to the touch, thanks partially to an all-new quad-core processor. There’s additionally a brand new dual-band Wi-Fi adapter, so you may add the thermostat to your 5GHz community for those who discover the two.4GHz frequency band in your setting to be too crowded.
An up to date microphone makes it even simpler to summon Alexa’s, and the addition of a Bluetooth radio provides you the choice of pairing exterior audio system to the Ecobee within the pursuit of higher-quality audio streaming. The new Ecobee can do just about something an Amazon Echo sensible speaker can do.
A bigger speaker and a extra delicate microphone render Ecobee’s newest sensible thermostat a greater Amazon Alexa host.
Well, nearly something. If you have already got a bunch of Echos in your house, you would possibly discover it to be a crapshoot as to which one solutions if you utter the Alexa wake phrase. An straightforward repair for this is able to be to vary the Ecobee’s wake phrase, however Amazon apparently reserves that function for its personal {hardware} (you may configure any Echo speaker to answer “Amazon,” “Echo,” or “Computer” as an alternative of “Alexa.” The Ecobee is caught with the default.)
What’s that? You don’t dwell in an Alexa family? Take your decide of a number of different sensible dwelling integrations then. The new mannequin additionally helps Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, and IFTTT.
An easy-to-use sensible thermostat
Jason D’Aprile / IDGIf you don’t need to speak to your thermostat—otherwise you don’t need it listening—you may simply flip its microphone off.
Every Ecobee mannequin we’ve handled has been straightforward to put in and simpler to make use of, and this fifth-generation mannequin is not any completely different. The firm does recommend you’re taking a fast compatibility take a look at to ensure your HVAC system is appropriate (you’ll discover that here), however all Ecobee thermostats are typically appropriate with a variety of central HVAC methods, together with warmth pumps, two-stage set-ups, and different frequent configurations.
An influence extender equipment (PEK) for methods with out a C-wire is included within the field. One different minor inclusion we appreciated was the surprisingly detailed paper guide masking your complete bodily set up course of—we a lot want printed documentation over counting on simply the cellular app for directions.
Once you’ve wired it up, powered it on, and the brand new Ecobee has confirmed your HVAC setup, you want solely inform the thermostat of your most popular temperature consolation ranges for if you’re at dwelling, away, and sleeping. It will then set up a primary schedule that may robotically alter because it learns each your day by day exercise and any tweaks you make whereas utilizing the app, by way of Alexa instructions, or by working the thermostat itself.
An onboard movement sensor and any distant sensors you deploy in different rooms (the equipment comes with two) helps the thermostat decide which rooms are occupied. Geofencing can also be supported, so you may program the thermostat to robotically alter goal temperatures to keep away from needlessly heating or cooling your house whilst you’re not in it.
Ecobee’s sensors have been overhauled, too
Ecobee was one of many first sensible thermostat producers to assist distant sensors, in order that your house’s local weather will likely be snug wherever you’re in it. More standard thermostats merely the monitor the house the place the thermostat itself is situated—which is usually a hallway that individuals solely move via. Remote sensors are much less distinctive than they as soon as had been, nevertheless, as opponents together with Nest and Honeywell have adopted Ecobee’s lead. Ecobee has responded in flip, making its all-new SmartSensor even higher.
EcobeeEcobee’s new SmartSensors are more practical and ship even higher vary than the earlier era.
Despite being smaller, the brand new and extra enticing SmartSensor can detect movement throughout a wider subject of view. It additionally attracts much less energy—Ecobee says you may count on as much as 5 years of battery life—and it delivers considerably higher vary (from about 30 toes to raised than 60 toes, though partitions and different obstacles will scale back that vary). During my exams, the brand new sensor by no means misplaced its connection to the thermostat, together with when it was positioned in areas the place the previous-gen machine was unreliable at greatest.
Ecobee thermostats can assist as much as 32 SmartSensors (add-ons are available in two-packs that value $79 each at Amazon), and these new fashions are backward appropriate with Ecobee3, the Ecobee 3 Lite, and the Ecobee 4. Over time, any of those Ecobee fashions will be taught which rooms you spend essentially the most time in and attempt to have your HVAC system heat or cool these rooms to your most popular temperature. You can even arrange the thermostat to common the measured temperatures in a number of rooms to eradicate cold and hot spots in your house.
Ecobee continues to be on prime
As a lot as we dig the brand new mannequin, there’s not fairly sufficient of a bump in efficiency to justify changing a fourth-generation Ecobee—and even one of many Ecobee 3 fashions for those who don’t care about having a sensible speaker in your sensible thermostat.
But for those who’re trying to change a dumb thermostat or an early sensible hone, the all-new Ecobee GoodThermostat with voice management is the mannequin we’d advocate, palms down. It’s lovely to take a look at and simple to make use of, its AI will be taught your patterns and preferences extra shortly than the rest, its Alexa implementation is even higher than what’s on supply with the fourth-generation mannequin, and the brand new SmartSensors carry out higher and ship longer vary. Highly beneficial.