AI Life / Home / Thermostats
The ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is the top model from the company that made room sensors popular. It comes with a SmartSensor that reports temperature and occupancy from another room, it has Alexa built in so it doubles as a smart speaker, and it works with Apple Home, Google Home and Alexa. Reviewers call it the gold standard for premium smart thermostats.
I have not owned the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium. This review is built from the maker’s published specs and independent reviews, linked below. For more picks, see the Thermostats hub .
How to use it: setup, how the AI works and what it works with, in How to use ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium .
Key specs
| ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium | |
|---|---|
| Room sensor | One SmartSensor included: temperature and occupancy |
| Occupancy | Radar sensing in the thermostat |
| Voice | Alexa built in; Siri through a HomePod |
| Platforms | Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa |
| Control | ecobee app, schedules, remote control |
| Assistant choice | One assistant at a time |
Sources: Android Central , The Verge , TechHive , 9to5Toys , HomeTenet .
What reviewers like
- Hot and cold spots. The SmartSensor is the reason to buy an ecobee, per Android Central: the thermostat can balance the rooms you are in.
- Radar occupancy is more accurate and wider-ranging than motion sensors, per reviewers.
- It works across ecosystems, including Apple Home, which Nest does not.
What to watch for
- Built-in Alexa is a speaker for voice, not for music, per reviewers. Treat it as a bonus.
- Choose one assistant. Siri needs a HomePod, and you cannot run Alexa and Siri on it at once, per TechHive.
- Extra sensors cost extra, and HomeTenet notes trade-offs in how the sensors are placed and used.
Who should buy it
Buy it if you have an Apple Home or Alexa house, uneven rooms, or you want a thermostat that also takes voice commands. Skip it if you are already in Google Home with Nest cameras and doorbells; the Nest keeps everything in one app.
How the sensors change things
Most thermostats measure the hallway they are mounted in. ecobee’s SmartSensor sits in the room you care about and reports both temperature and whether someone is there. The thermostat can then heat or cool for the occupied rooms. Android Central calls it the key reason the Premium suits unevenly heated homes. You can add more sensors later.
Alexa in the thermostat
The Premium has a speaker and microphones, so you can ask Alexa to change the temperature, set a timer or control other devices without a separate Echo. The Verge called the 2022 Premium bigger, better and more beautiful. If you already have Echo speakers in that room, this matters less. If you prefer Siri, you set it up through a HomePod instead.
Ecosystem fit
- Apple Home. One of the strongest thermostat picks for iPhone households.
- Alexa. Built in, no extra hardware.
- Google Home. Works, but Nest is the more natural fit.
Before you buy
Photograph your wiring, check ecobee’s compatibility tool, and plan where the SmartSensor goes. If you lack a common wire, ecobee includes options for many systems, but confirm for yours.
Alternatives
- Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen). Best for Google Home, with a room sensor now included.
- ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced. Same core features, fewer extras.
Quick answers
Does it need a common wire? ecobee includes a power solution for many systems without one. Check the compatibility tool first.
Can I add more sensors? Yes. Extra SmartSensors cover more rooms.
Does it work without Alexa? Yes. Built-in Alexa is optional. The thermostat works on its own and with Apple Home and Google Home.
Is the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium on sale for Black Friday?
It is one of the products I am watching this season. I do not list sale prices here because they change by the hour and differ by color, bundle and store. Compare against the price you see in the weeks before the sale, and check whether a bundle adds things you will not use.
Our take
AI Score note: research-based, not hands-on. The best pick for Apple Home and Alexa homes with uneven rooms. This is my editorial read of published reviews, not a rating.
Check today’s price before you buy: See the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium on Amazon .
Compare
See do AI thermostats save money , or browse the Black Friday smart home deals .