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Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium Review: The Only Thermostat with Air Quality Radar

Built-in air quality sensor, radar occupancy, Siri/Alexa/Google voice control, and sleek design — the smartest thermostat for healthy homes.

8 min read
4.5
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium on a white wall showing temperature and air quality

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Gallery

Ecobee display showing AQI, VOC, CO2, and humidity readings
Real-time air quality: AQI, VOC, CO2, relative humidity
Close-up of the radar occupancy sensor behind the glass
Radar detects presence up to 15 ft — no motion sensor blind spots
Ecobee Premium installed with C-wire adapter in a standard HVAC setup
Includes Power Extender Kit for homes without C-wire

Pros

  • Only thermostat with built-in air quality monitoring (AQI, VOC, CO2, humidity)
  • Radar occupancy detection — knows you're there even if you're still
  • Native Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant — no hub needed
  • Matter over Wi-Fi + Thread border router for future-proofing
  • Beautiful 3.5" touchscreen with customizable widgets
  • Power Extender Kit included for no-C-wire homes

Cons

  • $279 is premium pricing (vs. $169 Google Nest, $139 Amazon Smart Thermostat)
  • No remote sensors in box (sold separately, $80/2-pack)
  • Radar can't distinguish people from pets
  • App still feels dated vs. Nest's polished UI

Who Should Buy This

  • Health-conscious households (asthma, allergies, wildfire areas)
  • Homes with rooms that stay occupied but motionless (reading, TV, WFH)
  • Apple Home users wanting native Siri thermostat control

Our Verdict

The **Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium** justifies its $279 price with **unique air quality monitoring** and **radar occupancy** — features no competitor offers. If you care about indoor air health or have 'still occupancy' rooms, it's the only choice. For basic scheduling and energy savings, the Nest Thermostat ($169) does 80% for 60% of the price.

Specifications

Display
3.5" 320x480 touchscreen, ambient light sensor
Sensors
Temperature, humidity, occupancy (radar), AQI, VOC, CO2
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 2.4/5 GHz, Bluetooth 5.0, Thread, Matter
Voice
Built-in Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant (always listening optional)
Compatibility
Most 24V HVAC (gas, oil, electric, heat pump, dual fuel)
Wiring
C-wire required (PEK included for no-C-wire)
Remote Sensors
Supported (sold separately, up to 32)
Dimensions
4.3 x 4.3 x 1.1 in
Check Price: $279

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