Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium Review: Sensor-Driven Comfort With a Few Rough Edges
A voice-ready, sensor-packed thermostat that evens out room-to-room temperature swings, though setup and support can test some owners' patience.
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium pairs a color touchscreen with an included remote SmartSensor to fix the classic too-hot-upstairs, too-cold-downstairs problem, and its automatic scheduling learns household routines to cut unnecessary heating and cooling cycles. Owners with older or more complex HVAC systems consistently describe the day-to-day experience as noticeably more comfortable and hands-off once it is wired in, and its wide platform support makes it a natural fit for Alexa, Google Home or Apple HomeKit households. The trade-off is a premium price and an installation and support experience that a meaningful share of buyers found trickier than expected, from wiring quirks in older homes to occasional app bugs. For anyone comfortable with a DIY thermostat swap (or willing to call an electrician), it is a real upgrade over a basic stat, just not a completely plug-and-forget one.
- Multi-room comfort with an included sensor
- Alexa, Google Home or Apple HomeKit households
- Older or more complex HVAC systems
- Upgraders from a basic non-smart thermostat
Pros
- Included remote SmartSensor helps even out temperature between rooms
- Works with Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, SmartThings, Home Assistant and IFTTT
- Automatic scheduling learns household routines to save energy
- Color touchscreen wakes on approach and includes a built-in speaker for voice control
- 3-year warranty, longer than many competing thermostats
Cons
- No Matter support
- Fire and intrusion alerts require a subscription
- Installation can be trickier than expected in older homes, sometimes needing a professional
- Premium price point compared to basic smart thermostats
- Some owners report occasional app glitches and slower customer support response
Who is the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium for?
It suits homeowners dealing with uneven heating or cooling between rooms, since the included temperature sensor can be prioritized by presence so the system reads the room people are actually in rather than the hallway near the thermostat. It also fits households already invested in a smart home ecosystem: the thermostat works with Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant and IFTTT, so it slots into most existing setups. Reviewers moving off older mechanical or basic digital thermostats, and some switching from a competing smart thermostat brand, describe it as a meaningful step up in comfort and control, particularly on ducted systems and heat pumps.
What buyers love
The most consistent praise is for the remote SmartSensor bundled in the box: placing it in a bedroom or living area lets the thermostat balance temperature across the home instead of relying on one reading near the wall unit. Owners also highlight the automatic scheduling that learns routines over time to reduce how often the furnace or AC cycles, which several credit with tangible energy savings. The touchscreen display draws compliments for looking sharp and waking on approach thanks to the built-in proximity sensor, and voice control through Alexa or Siri Built-in adds a convenient hands-free option. Several reviewers who switched from another smart thermostat brand call the app and on-device controls a clear improvement.
What to know before you buy
Installation is the recurring sticking point: several owners in older homes needed extra wiring work or ultimately called in a professional electrician even though the box includes a trim plate for a finished look. The device does not support Matter, so it will not join a manufacturer-agnostic Matter fabric the way some newer thermostats do. Two of the deeper security features, fire alerts and intrusion alerts, only work with an added subscription rather than out of the box. A handful of reviewers also reported temperature readings skewing off when a nearby vent, fan or draft hits the thermostat directly, along with occasional app glitches (like the fan-speed control not always syncing) and slower-than-expected responses from customer support when troubleshooting.
Is the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium worth it?
For the price, you get a color touchscreen thermostat, an included remote sensor, broad ecosystem compatibility, automatic energy-saving scheduling, and a 3-year warranty that runs longer than many rivals offer. Sentiment among reviewers is mixed but leans strongly positive, with the most common regret being installation friction rather than the thermostat's day-to-day performance. If your home has uneven room temperatures or an HVAC setup a basic thermostat struggles with, and you are comfortable with a DIY install or hiring an electrician if needed, it is a strong buy; if you want a simple swap-and-go experience or a manufacturer-agnostic Matter device, it is worth weighing those trade-offs first.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium require a subscription?
No subscription is needed for core features like scheduling, temperature and air quality alerts, or energy-saving automation. A Smart Security subscription is only required to unlock fire alerts and intrusion alerts.
Does it work with Apple HomeKit, Alexa and Google Home?
Yes. It integrates with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa and Google Home, along with Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant and IFTTT for further automation.
Does the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium support Matter?
No, this model does not support the Matter smart home standard.
Does it come with a remote temperature sensor?
Yes, a temperature sensor and a trim plate are included in the box, and the sensor can be set to prioritize readings by presence in a specific room.
Do I need a professional to install it?
Not always, many owners complete a DIY install, but reviewers in older homes with non-standard wiring more often needed an electrician or professional installer to finish the job.
Does it have a screen and voice control?
Yes, it has a color touchscreen display that shows time, temperature and weather, plus a built-in speaker with a choice of Siri or Alexa Built-in for voice control.














