Image: Ecobee
Ecobee is launching a new entry-level smart thermostat that costs $129.99. The Smart Thermostat Essential comes with a full-color touchscreen and supports Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, and Google Assistant.
Just like Ecobee’s other smart thermostats, the Essential adjusts the temperature of your home based on the schedule you set, allowing it to conserve energy while you’re away. It ensures your house reaches an optimal temperature by the time you return by learning how long it takes to heat or cool your home.
The Essential can be paired with the company’s SmartSensors to optimize the temperature in specific rooms. The smart thermostat, which can be controlled through the Ecobee app, is compatible with most conventional HVAC and heat pump systems but doesn’t support HVAC accessories or multispeed fan systems.
The Essential will replace the $150 Ecobee3 Lite when it launches in March 2025. The lower $129.99 price makes it more of a rival to the basic Google Nest Thermostat, which costs the same. However, the Nest works with Matter, whereas Ecobee still hasn’t added support for the new smart home standard, despite saying they would.