The debut of the Ecobee3 thermostat impressed many with its smart sensors, congenital-in Alexa back up, easy-to-utilize features, and interconnectivity with other smart abode devices. But a $249 Ecobee3 thermostat is not for everyone. So Ecobee came with a lite version of its thermostat, Ecobee3 Lite, that is almost identical to its large brother only less expensive. The lite version has some features stripped abroad to reduce the toll.

Nonetheless, it doesn't mean the Ecobee3 Lite isn't worth ownership, only because information technology has fewer features than the Ecobee3. It consists of all the features, a smart thermostat has, similar a smart recovery fashion, a scheduling system, an app to control the device, and a upkeep cost.

So if you are wondering whether to buy the Ecobee3 Light thermostat or not, we accept got you covered. In this guide, we'll review the Ecobee3 Low-cal thermostat and find out how it stands against its competitors at like prices. Let's dive right into it.

Ecobee3 Lite Thermostat: What's New

The Ecobee3 Lite thermostat boasts of the 'Get comfortable with saving' tagline and showcases a serial of features. When using this thermostat, you tin can await — a bear upon screen display, free HomeIQ service (we'll talk about this later in the part), scheduling system, eco+ characteristic, and Google Banana support. Information technology does support Alexa, merely y'all have to beat out out a few bucks and purchase an Alexa device.

Here are the key specs of the Ecobee3 Lite thermostat:

  • 102.88mm 10 102.88mm x 21.4mm in size
  • Black front and white sides
  • 3.five-inch affect screen display
  • Temperature, Humidity, and Proximity sensors
  • 2.4GHz Wi-Fi support

In the box, you get an Ecobee3 Calorie-free thermostat, backplate, install guide, wire labels, drywall plugs, screws, Power Extender Kit, and a large trim plate.

Similar Design and Interface

The Ecobee3 Lite thermostat looks pretty similar to its expensive large brother, Ecobee3. Both sport a rectangular iii.five-inch touch on screen display with a glossy blackness panel. The sides and back of the Calorie-free are painted white, giving information technology a similar look to the Ecobee3. But the Ecobee3 Light has its sides tapered inwards, making its expanse smaller than the front.

Through the front console, y'all can change and view the set temperature. You tin bank check the humidity level of your firm and the current state of the system like Off, Oestrus, and Absurd. The Lite thermostat also lets you view local weather forecasts, set schedules, and adjust settings.

Cheers to Calorie-free's similar layout on the Android and iOS app, it doesn't feel difficult to control the thermostat via its app. All of the features listed can be controlled through your smartphone. Except for the HomeIQ reports that tin can exist checked by logging into Ecobee's official website.

That said, the Ecobee3 Lite thermostat is easy to use, has a beautiful interface that is extremely responsive. Ezoic

Absurd Ecobee Features

The master indicate which differentiates the Ecobee3 Calorie-free from Ecobee3 is its features.

To reduce costs, Ecobee3 Lite was stripped of a few features that were available in the Ecobee3. But yous are still left with a few advanced features that make it worth considering.

Compatibility

The impressive thing is that the Ecobee3 Low-cal thermostat works with well-nigh everything. If your dwelling house is equipped with other smart home devices, you lot can use them to control the device. That makes sense when y'all see the long history of Ecobee integrating its products with every smart home device. And so whether y'all use your Amazon Echo or Apple Watch, yous can command the thermostat with ease.

If your business firm has a 24V HVAC organization, the Ecobee3 Low-cal is probably uniform with your wiring system. Yous tin can check the compatibility of your organization here. Since thermostats are dependent on C-wires to draw power, if you have one, you're skillful to become. Simply don't worry if you don't have information technology considering the Ecobee3 Lite comes with a Power Extender Kit that replaces the functionality of C-wire by attaching it to the wires inside your furnace.

The disappointing thing is that the Ecobee3 Lite thermostat is incapable of supporting any humidifier, dehumidifier, ventilator, HRV, or ERV system yous might accept.

Smart Recovery Style

You may have seen your old thermostat entering recovery mode. We think it is 1 of the best features of the Ecobee3 Calorie-free thermostat. This characteristic adjusts the temperature scheduled at a time and starts working to achieve it earlier the schedule. That ultimately leads to saving free energy costs, and as per the official website, y'all can save upward to 23% on your bills.

Here'due south an example of how smart recovery fashion works: if you take scheduled a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit at 9 am, the thermostat will enter recovery mode and determine the time needed to reach the desired temperature. The device will and so commencement working towards achieving the temperature before the scheduled time and so it can exist ready at 9 am.

Alerts and Reminders

The Ecobee3 Calorie-free thermostat has this feature of alerting and reminding you of whatever sudden changes in the temperature that might result in frozen pipes. It too alerts y'all in case the system needs maintenance.

You can ready up your thermostat to notify y'all of the following conditions:

  • Maintenance of the HVAC system
  • The temperature is lower or higher than you ready
  • Humidity is likewise high or depression
  • The furnace needs to be replaced or cleaned
  • The ventilator needs to be replaced or cleaned

Y'all tin choose to receive these alerts in your email or view it on the hardware device and app. Decide which alerts you want to be notified of and keep the rest of them off.

HomeIQ Reports

Who doesn't like to view reports of their usage?

HomeIQ Reports

The Ecobee 3 Low-cal thermostat, like the expensive Ecobee3, gives you the gamble to analyze the report of your home'due south data. The study doesn't cost annihilation and is like shooting fish in a barrel to analyze with a breakdown of each 60 minutes at a minute level.

Through HomeIQ reports, y'all can bank check the levels of humidity, the temperature inside compared to outside, the time and date of heat, aux. heat, air-conditioning, and smart recovery manner running. The reports are generated monthly, so make sure you are extracting the total potential of the thermostat to go a detailed written report at the end of the month.

The all-time function is you can compare your habitation written report with other people'due south reports who are using the Ecobee3 Lite thermostat in your area.

Go on in mind that the written report can be accessed merely through the website and not the app. Yous tin practice that by logging into the official site of Ecobee.

Sensors

The Ecobee3 Lite lacks room sensors, but the problem tin be solved by purchasing actress remote sensors and pairing them with the thermostat. This characteristic looks practical every bit you lot can decide how many remote sensors you need co-ordinate to your business firm. But if your business firm is a small flat, at that place is no demand to vanquish out extra bucks on these remote sensors as they tin cost you more than than $50 each.

On the positive side, the Ecobee3 Calorie-free thermostat does accept a motion sensor that wakes up equally soon equally you walk in front of the device. So you don't have to tap regularly on the screen to wake it up.

Installation and Setup

The installation procedure of the Ecobee3 Lite thermostat is pretty simple. If you have already installed a thermostat previously in your home, it won't take more than 30 minutes to become away with information technology. However, if you lot are doing it for the beginning time, professional help will be appreciated.

The general rule of thumb is to turn off the power to your quondam thermostat, remove the faceplate, disconnect the wires, and unscrew the base plate. Practice have a pic of the setup before disconnecting the wires so it can help you lot to connect accurately with the new thermostat. Also, label the wires if non washed before.

At present install the base of operations plate of the Ecobee3 Lite and spiral it to the wall with a drill. Connect the wires to their corresponding positions and cover them with the faceplate. Turn the ability on to your thermostat. Once you are washed with information technology, install the app on your smartphone and connect the thermostat to your account and Wi-Fi. The app will so clarify your location as well as your HVAC system.

Every bit mentioned above, you can use a C-wire or the Ability Extender Kit to power the thermostat.

The Ecobee3 Light thermostat is now agile and you tin can control and suit the temperature of your house with it. If yous are all the same having problems installing the thermostat, you can either call for professional person assist or check out this installation guide here.

The Good

  • Cheap
  • Attractive design
  • Quick installation
  • Compatible with remote sensors
  • C-wire is not mandatory
  • Supports Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and other smart home devices

The Bad

  • Lacks geofencing feature
  • No room sensors
  • Doesn't support humidifier and dehumidifier systems

Should You lot Purchase the Ecobee3 Light Thermostat?

The Ecobee3 Lite thermostat is a budget smart thermostat with few features removed from its expensive counterpart. However, it'due south still a worthy selection if you are looking for an inexpensive smart thermostat.

Non to mention, the Ecobee3 Lite is compatible with all the smart home devices similar Amazon Alexa, Google Dwelling, Apple tree HomeKit, IFTTT, etc. Other thermostats at a similar toll range don't support all of them.

That said, if you don't want to pay for all the features that Ecobee3 has, you can opt for its lite version — Ecobee3 Low-cal. Information technology's perfect for someone who has a i-bedroom apartment or a studio. If yous are comfortable without built-in Alexa and room sensors, you tin can save yourself a few bucks by opting for this thermostat.