Cielo Breez Max vs Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential

The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential wins overall, ahead on warranty, integrations, sensors and alerts, with connectivity tied between the two. The Cielo Breez Max keeps a higher owner rating, a lower price and built-in voice control.

The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential is a wired thermostat for ducted, central heating and cooling. The Cielo Breez Max is an infrared controller for a ductless mini-split, window unit or portable air conditioner, so it has no wiring into a furnace at all.

Both have touch controls, but they differ in kind. The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential has a color touchscreen; the Cielo Breez Max has a monochrome LCD with touch buttons for menu, temperature and mode rather than a full touch display.

The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential, which adds Apple HomeKit and Home Assistant on top of Google Home, Alexa and Samsung SmartThings. The Cielo Breez Max covers Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant, but has no HomeKit profile.

Homeowners with a standard ducted furnace or heat pump who want a color touchscreen, occupancy-aware scheduling and support for Apple HomeKit alongside Google Home and Alexa.

Anyone cooling or heating a room with a ductless mini-split, window unit or portable air conditioner that came with an infrared remote, since the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential cannot control that equipment.