Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Cielo and Ecobee sites.
2026 verdict
On a central HVAC system with uneven rooms, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is the thermostat that bundles a remote sensor and a speaker.
It adds a 4 inch color touchscreen, air quality readings and a 3 year warranty. The Cielo Breez Max is the wall control for a mini-split or window unit that only has an infrared remote, and it is the one here with a system health monitor. Buy the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium for ducted heating and cooling. Buy the Cielo Breez Max when there is no thermostat wire to land on.
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Winner
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| Feature | Cielo Breez Max | Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $114.30 | $249.00 | Cielo Breez Max |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.3 | Cielo Breez Max |
| Warranty | 1 year | 3 years | Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium |
| Included accessories | None | Trim Plate, Temperature Sensor | Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium |
| Connectivity | 2.4 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth | 2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth | Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium |
| Integrations | Google Home, Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant | Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, External Temperature Sensors | Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium |
| Sensors | Temperature, Humidity | Proximity / Motion, Occupancy, Temperature, Humidity, TVOC, CO₂ | Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium |
| Alerts | None | Temperature Alerts, Air Quality Alerts, Fire Alerts, Intrude Alerts | Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium |
| System Health Monitor | YES | NO | Cielo Breez Max |
| Speaker | NO | YES | Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium |
| Screen | YES | YES | Tie |
| Energy Savings | YES | YES | Tie |
What the differences mean
Ducted thermostat or infrared
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium wires into a central system and includes a remote SmartSensor so it can read a room other than the hallway. The Cielo Breez Max talks infrared to a mini-split, window unit or portable air conditioner. It has to face that indoor unit, and it does not support an external temperature sensor.
Air quality, speaker, screen
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium has a 4 inch color touchscreen, a speaker, and sensors for temperature, humidity, occupancy, CO2 and TVOC, plus air quality alerts. Fire and intrusion alerts need a subscription. The Cielo Breez Max has temperature and humidity only, a touch LCD that is not a color screen, and no speaker. Its screen size is not documented.
Platforms and radios
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium reaches Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home, SmartThings and Home Assistant, with 5 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which is why it wins connectivity and integrations. The Cielo Breez Max reaches Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings and Home Assistant, not Apple Home or Matter, on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Neither supports Matter.
Warranty and system health
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium warranty is 3 years and the box includes a trim plate and the sensor. The Cielo Breez Max warranty is 1 year, with no trim plate and no included remote sensor. The Cielo is the one that lists a system health monitor. The Ecobee does not. Both support manual and automatic schedules and energy savings.
Which one to buy if
- the equipment is a central furnace or air handler
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is a wired thermostat with an included room sensor, a speaker and Apple Home, which an infrared blaster does not replace.
- the only control today is a mini-split remote
The Cielo Breez Max learns that infrared remote and holds a set point from the wall, including when the internet drops.
- you want CO2 and TVOC on the thermostat
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium lists those sensors and air quality alerts. The Cielo Breez Max lists temperature and humidity only.
- the thermostat has to show up in Apple Home
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium supports Apple Home. The Cielo Breez Max does not, so an iPhone household is left with shortcuts rather than a Home tile.
$114.30
- + Price: $114.30
- + Rating: 4.6
- + System Health Monitor: YES
- - Warranty: 1 year vs 3 years
- - Included accessories: None vs Trim Plate, Temperature Sensor
Winner
$249.00
- + Warranty: 3 years
- + Included accessories: Trim Plate, Temperature Sensor
- + Connectivity: 2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth
- - Price: $249.00 vs $114.30
- - Rating: 4.3 vs 4.6
What owners say
Owners of both thermostats talk about comfort they did not get from the original control, and the original control is a different object in each case. Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium owners single out the included SmartSensor evening out a hot upstairs and a cold hallway, plus automatic scheduling that cuts extra cycles. They warn that older homes can need a professional to finish the wiring, that the app sometimes glitches, and that fire and intrusion alerts sit behind a subscription. Cielo Breez Max owners single out going from the box to a working control in minutes because the app reads the old handset, and support when a model has to be chosen by hand. They complain that the unit must face the indoor head, that the original remote leaves the app stale, and that the onboard sensor can sit a degree or two off until it is calibrated.
Price history compared
Every price change of both, in the same store, so the gap between the two lines is what one costs more than the other.
- Cielo Breez Max
- Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which thermostat should you buy, the Cielo Breez Max or the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium?
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium for central HVAC. It wins on warranty, the included sensor, radios, platforms, air quality sensors and a speaker. The Cielo Breez Max is the right tool for a ductless unit that only speaks infrared, and it is the one with a system health monitor.
What is the biggest difference between the Cielo Breez Max and the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium?
How they reach the equipment. The Cielo Breez Max is an infrared wall control for mini-splits and window units. The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium wires into a central system and includes a remote sensor and a 4 inch color screen.
Can the Cielo Breez Max replace an Ecobee on a furnace?
No. The Cielo Breez Max is built for equipment with an infrared remote, not for a conventional thermostat cable. The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is the wired thermostat in this pair.
Does the Cielo Breez Max work with Apple Home the way the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium does?
No. The Cielo Breez Max does not support Apple Home or Matter. It does support Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings and Home Assistant. The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium supports Apple Home as well as those platforms.
Who should buy the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium?
Homes with uneven rooms on a central system who want the sensor in the box, a speaker, air quality readings and a 3 year warranty. Installation in older wiring can take more than the afternoon you planned.
Who should buy the Cielo Breez Max?
Anyone whose mini-split, window unit or portable AC still uses a handheld remote and who wants schedules that keep running offline. It has to sit in line of sight of the indoor unit.
Full comparison table
Compare all 23 Thermostats side by side
You are looking at two of them. The full table lines up all Thermostats in the catalog with the same specs, so you can filter by what you need and sort by price or rating.
- 23 Thermostats
- 51 specs compared
- 47 filters
- Cielo
Breez Max
$114.30 
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CieloBreez Eco
$79.00
Honeywell HomeRTH9585WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat
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Smart Thermostat Premium
$249.00 
Honeywell HomeT9 Smart Thermostat
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Honeywell HomeT5 Smart Thermostat
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SensiTouch 2 smart thermostat
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AmazonSmart Thermostat
$120.85
Honeywell HomeX7S Smart Thermostat
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EcobeeSmart Thermostat Essential
$139.99
Honeywell HomeX2S Smart Thermostat
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GoogleNest Thermostat
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Honeywell HomeX8S Smart Thermostat
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Air Quality MonitorsEcobeeSmart Thermostat Premium
4.3(4,183)$249.00
CamerasEcobeeSmartCamera
4.0(1,325)Last priceSep 15, 2026$90.67
Unavailable
DoorbellsEcobeeSmart Doorbell Camera
4.1(1,078)31% OFF$159.99$109.99
Door & Window SensorsEcobeeSmartSensor for Doors & Windows
4.2(1,288)17% OFF$59.99$49.99
Temperature & Humidity SensorsEcobeeSmartSensor
4.6(8,766)$98.25- ThermostatsEcobee
Smart Thermostat Enhanced
4.4(3,724)8% OFF$199.99$184.96 - ThermostatsEcobee
Smart Thermostat Essential
4.2(1,901)$139.99 - ThermostatsEcobee
Smart Thermostat Premium
4.3(4,183)$249.00