In case you’re available in the market for a smart thermostat, the Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control and the Ecobee3 Lite Smart Thermostat are two stable choices. These app-enabled thermostats provide intuitive know-how so adjusting your property’s temperature is a breeze whether or not you are at house or a whole lot of miles away. Whereas each fashions share the same design and fundamental lineup of options, they’re priced $80 aside.
To search out out the place the 2 thermostats diverge — and which one may be finest for you — we’re taking a better take a look at how the premium Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Management compares to the extra reasonably priced Ecobee3 Lite Sensible Thermostat.
Chris Monroe/CNET
The $249 Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Management is the corporate’s most costly sensible thermostat. You’ll be able to management it in your cellphone by way of the Ecobee app, however this mannequin additionally has a built-in Amazon Alexa speaker. You need to use Alexa voice instructions to make cellphone calls, reply to texts and play your favourite music. You can even use the built-in Alexa to manage your Ecobee thermostat, some other Alexa-powered gadgets.
Ecobee’s SmartThermostat with Voice Management additionally performs nicely with different smart home ecosystems past Alexa. It is suitable with Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, IFTTT and Samsung SmartThings. This mannequin works with Spotify and may pair with a Bluetooth speaker.
This thermostat has built-in temperature and occupancy sensors that mechanically regulate your temperature primarily based on whether or not you are house or away. Your buy additionally features a distant sensor known as a SmartSensor. You’ll be able to place the sensor in any room of your property, the place it might probably learn the ambient temperature and detect occupancy. Just like the thermostat itself, the sensor’s Sensible Dwelling & Away function could make temperature adjustment coincide with whether or not you are house or away. You should purchase further SmartSensors for $80 (pack of two).
Read CNET’s review of the Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control..
If you would like a mixture of financial savings and comfort, the Ecobee3 Lite may be the proper match for you. At $169, this thermostat is probably the most reasonably priced providing from the corporate.
The corporate provides you quite a lot of methods to observe and make modifications to your Ecobee3 Lite. You’ll be able to management your property’s temperature with a faucet, both on the thermostat itself — or by way of the Ecobee app. It additionally helps voice management and sensible house integrations through Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, Samsung SmartThings and Android and iOS gadgets just like the Apple Watch.
In case you plan to go on trip, you’ll be able to activate trip mode to maximise its power effectivity. The system can assist you detect speedy temperature variances, permitting you to react shortly to forestall your pipes from freezing.
The thermostat additionally will get to know you. Every month, you obtain a free power audit full with comparisons of your power utilization with others in your space. And with a seven-day scheduling operate, the Ecobee3 Lite gives an reasonably priced and handy solution to observe your property’s heating and air con. Not like the SmartThermostat, this one would not have a built-in occupancy sensor. It is suitable with SmartSensors, however you aren’t getting one together with your buy.
Options
The Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Management is extra superior than the Ecobee3 Lite. With the SmartThermostat, you obtain entry to all the Eco Plus advantages. These advantages embrace temperature change suggestions primarily based in your exercise, both on the thermostat or in different rooms, whenever you join your SmartSensor to the Ecobee app.
In case you purchase a SmartSensor for the Ecobee3 Lite, you do get a few of those self same advantages, however this cheaper mannequin would not have an occupancy sensor constructed into the thermostat. And, whereas the Ecobee3 Lite works with all the main sensible house platforms, the SmartThermostat has voice management built-in. That {hardware} integration permits you to make temperature changes everytime you want it by way of a verbal command, with out proudly owning a separate Alexa-enabled sensible speaker.
The SmartThermostat additionally works with Spotify — and you’ll pair it with Bluetooth audio system to stream your favourite music, podcasts, and extra in your house everytime you need. You can even make calls and hearken to texts all hands-free.
Equipment
Ecobee’s SmartSensors work with each fashions. Your SmartThermostat comes with one SmartSensor; the Ecobee3 Lite would not include any. You should purchase SmartSensors a la carte in an $80 two-pack.
The SmartSensors have temperature- and occupancy-sensing know-how. When you’ve got rooms in your house that run very hot or cool — you’ll be able to place the SmartSensor there and use that location because the default temperature setting to your thermostat. That approach, your property’s set temperature is predicated on the present temperature within the chilly basement workplace — or the recent upstairs bed room as an alternative of on the location of the thermostat.
Which one is best?
Each are succesful thermostats. Whereas the Ecobee3 Lite Sensible Thermostat would not have as many superior options because the Ecobee SmartThermostat with VoiceControl, it provides you a whole lot of management over your warmth and air con. In case you’re in search of a easy solution to handle your HVAC system out of your cellphone, the Ecobee3 Lite is value your cash. You continue to obtain options like Trip Mode, seven-day programming, compatibility with Ecobee’s wi-fi sensors and far more. And in case your thermostat is positioned someplace that is calmly trafficked, the place you would not generally use voice instructions or a wise speaker, the Ecobee3 Lite is a better option.
If you would like a SmartSensor and a thermostat with its personal occupancy sensor, the SmartThermostat makes probably the most sense. It comes with a SmartSensor that makes real-time changes primarily based on a room’s temperature, occupancy and extra. The system also can play your favourite music by way of Spotify. And with built-in Alexa voice management, you’ll be able to command your thermostat with the arrogance of a James Bond villain.
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Ecobee’s new thermostat is a component Alexa speaker
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