I’ve been a big supporter of smart homes for over 5 years. Since then, there has been no stopping me from reviewing and owning tons of smart products ranging from smart alarms and robot vacuums to light bulbs.
Unsurprisingly, when it came time to upgrade my thermostat, I had quite a difficult task trying to figure out which was best. Nest was definitely at the top regarding aesthetics and its outstanding learning abilities. But then I heard about this new Ecobee with “Alexa” and “Siri” baked right in.
Gosh, a voice assistant on a thermostat? Count me in!
Let me tell you: between Nest and the Ecobee, I was more baffled than a chicken at an algebra lesson. Yet, after trying out Ecobee for weeks, I decided to go with Nest.
Ecobee is such a great device that in this Ecobee 5th gen review, I’ll share all the juicy information about this smart thermostat. So you can decide if it’s worth removing your old one.
You don’t want to miss out on my take on one of the greatest devices for controlling the climate in your house!
Ecobee 5th Gen

ย Analyses your habits delivers tailored comfort
- Build-in Alexa and Siri
- Geofencing
- Scheduling
- Measure Air Quality
- Weather Tracking
Pros
- Control the temperature in your house using voice commands thanks to built-in Alexa and Siri voice assistants.
- Adjusts the temperature automatically by detecting the presence with remote room sensors
- Understand air quality in your home with a built-in air quality sensor
Cons
- Extra features require a subscription
- Expensive compared to other brands
Quick Verdict โ Is Ecobee 5th Gen Thermostat Worth the Money?
Are you thinking about spending your cash on an Ecobee 5th Gen thermostat?
Comparing the price, Ecobee 5th Gen is indeed on the higher end than its competitors. However, let me tell you, it’s one of the few models with full built-in Alexa and Siri support. This means that adjusting temperatures is no longer restricted to using just your phone โ now, it can be done using voice commands!
Just imagine how great those lazy Sunday mornings could beโฆ
Ecobee smart thermostat is not just a pretty device; it’s one of the top thermostats that doesn’t need a c wire, and it’s packed with unique features:
- Use its built-in speaker and play your favorite music on Spotify whenever you like.
- Breathe in clean air with a built-in air quality sensor to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and calculate CO2 levels in human breath.
- It has an attractive design that will complement any home decor.
- Save money on heating with a presence detection feature. With the help of remote sensors, the Ecobee smart thermostat can lower home temperature in rooms not in use.
- The included power extender kit ensures the device can be installed in homes without a C wire.
Also, consider this: you don’t need to buy additional devices for voice control since it already has Alexa and Siri integrated. And with constantly rising energy prices, the Ecobee smart thermostat has the potential to pay for itself after around a year.
Who is Ecobee 5th Gen Thermostat For?
Youโll love the Ecobee 5th Gen Thermostat if:
- If you’re obsessed with tech and smart home gadgets, you’ll love it! It has a classy glass front, an awesome speaker, and beefed-up Alexa voice control – if talking to your thermostat sounds like something exciting to do or show off in front of family/friends, then this one’s the right choice.
- You want to reduce your energy bills without compromising on comfort. This device has been crafted with one goal in mind – helping consumers manage their electricity consumption without compromising comfort.
- You have a busy, ever-changing schedule and want the smart thermostat to take charge of your HVAC system. You are keeping it cozy when at home and off when away.
You wonโt love the Ecobee 5th Gen Thermostat if:
- You don’t want to spend that much on an Ecobee smart thermostat premium model and may consider cheaper options that also provide smart features.
- You already use Google Assistant at home and don’t want to introduce additional types of smart assistants (Alexa and Siri).
- You don’t have a Wi-Fi connection at home and won’t be able to utilize most of the device features.
Ecobee 5th Gen Thermostat Overview

- Warranty: 5-year warranty with professional installation
- Power: Wired
- Weight: 499 g
- Dimensions: 10.4 x 10.4 x 7.4 centimetres
- Special Features: Presence detection
- Smart Voice Assistant: Build-in Amazon Alexa and Siri
- Multi-zone Control: Yes,ย temperature and occupancy smart sensors
- C-Wire Solution: Power Extender Kit (PEK) included
Design and User Interface

The Ecobee 5th Gen Smart Thermostat brings a high-class style and premium functionality. With an eye-catching glass front side and a user-friendly interface – it’s sure to be aesthetically pleasing and practical.
Think of how crazy impressive you’ll feel when you use such an advanced thermostat, which will make that old one look outdated.
Build Quality and Material
No doubt, there is no scrimping here: the build quality of the EcoBee5 proves itself worthy.
Ecobee 5 – it’s an impressive, durable smart device
Superbly crafted using top-notch materials, the Ecobee thermostats boast an eye-catching glass facade and a robust body. It’s not just designed to look great, but it’s also built with future-proof technology that will last for years.
The warranty says it all: up to five years if installed by a professional.
Ecobee Mobile App
Download the mobile app to conveniently control all aspects of the climate inside your house from wherever you are. Adjust temperatures according to preference almost instantaneously while keeping tabs on energy usage, too โ how modern can you get?
You can even set up personalized schedules for optimum living conditions whenever needed, so thereโs no need to get worried about coming back into an uncomfortable environment ever again. Plus isn’t having full command over our own homes pretty awesome?!
Smart Features Breakdown
Presence Detection
The Ecobee 5th Gen has improved its presence detection with smart room sensors.
These little gadgets can detect who’s home and the temperature in a given space, so you don’t have to worry if you leave on your heating when no one is around!
The motion detectors built into these room sensors will kick start energy-saving mode when everyone is gone.
Measure Air Quality

The integrated air quality sensor that monitors indoor air quality. It measures indoor air pollution, including dust, pollen, smoke, and other particulates. The air quality is displayed on the screen on a scale from 1 to 500, where a lower number indicates cleaner, better-quality air.
In the Ecobee app, you can see historical air quality readings and trends over time. This allows you to track how different activities or seasons affect indoor air.
Thermal Protect
Your comfort comes first for Ecobee 5th Gen – it offers thermal protection that ensures an even temperature throughout your house.
Keeping your space comfy and toasty, or chilly and refreshing – it’s all possible with the Ecobee 5th Gen. What’s more is that this smart thermostat also monitors humidity levels so you can be sure you’re getting the utmost in climate control.
Geofencing

No need to fumble around trying to adjust your temperature every time you leave or enter your house. Ease into energy savings mode when away from home, thanks to geofence. It uses location information from our smartphones to help determine when we are leaving/arriving home.
This way, by the time we get close by, comfort level returns ready for us without any manual input โ isn’t modern technology amazing?
Build-in Voice Control
Say goodbye to fiddling around with apps for you to adjust the temperature at home.
The Ecobee 5th Gen has your back, as it comes equipped with an integrated voice command feature that lets you control the thermostat using nothing but your voice – thanks to its compatibility with Alexa!
Weather Tracking
Never worry about Mother Nature’s mood swings again when an Ecobee 5th-generation smart thermostat is installed in your house.
It automatically tracks and keeps tabs on local weather conditions to adjust accordingly. So if things start getting too hot outside, rest assured knowing walking into a lovely, calm sanctuary is just one step away from reality.
Tired of the snowstorms making you shiver?
The Ecobee is here to ensure your temperatures stay comfortable no matter what. This smart device can heat a room on those freezing days, so you don’t have to worry about heading out in snowy weather.
Automation and Scheduling

Take command of how warm or cool your home gets with the power of automation and scheduling from this thermostat.
Set it up so that before you wake each morning, your place will already be cozy – then dial down when everyone’s away during work hours and crank back again for movie night fun time. You’ll save energy while always having just the right temperature.
Compatibility with Other Smart Home Devices
The Ecobee understands compatibility โ easily fitting into any existing setup like Google Assistant or SmartThings, without needing extra devices or complex configuration. All these different devices come together nicely under one roofโultimately creating a convenient and united smart home experience.
Ecobee Device Ecosystem
Ecobee’s device ecosystem doesn’t stop at smart thermostats. If you want to create an integrated smart home experience, there is our range of smart devices available:

Smart Video Doorbell Camera
Get live footage of your front porch regardless of where you are.
Ecobeen smart doorbell camera is an excellent replacement for your standard doorbell.
It has a large color video screen, an integrated speaker, and a microphone, so you can talk to people at the door even when you’re not home. Think about how awesome that would be – no more missed calls from delivery folks anymore.
Plus, it’s Wi-Fi connected, which means you can get live footage of your front porch whenever via the Ecobee app. You’ll know whoever is outside immediately, whether you’re at work or out on vacation halfway across the planet. This camera works with smart assistant programs like Alexa, Google Home Hub, and Siri.

Smart Room Sensors
Temperature and presence detection in any room of your house
The sensors in each room of your house measure the temperature and send it back to your Ecobee thermostat. This way, you can create a comfortable atmosphere without hot or cold spots. And these devices don’t stop at just measuring temperatures – they also come fitted with passive infrared (PIR) motion detectors! It means that when somebody is occupying one of the rooms, the sensor will detect this and inform your Ecobee accordingly so it can adjust itself for optimal efficiency.

Window and Door Sensor
Improve further energy efficiency by alerting when doors or windows are open.
The Ecobee Smart Window and Door Sensor is an awesome way to improve your home energy efficiency. It can detect when exterior doors or windows are opened and alert you on your phone if they’re left open for too long (usually 5 minutes).
That’s great news because it stops heat or AC from being wasted!
It can also hold the thermostat temperature setting when doors or windows get opened. This means no more needlessly heating/cooling a house with open doorways! Several throughout the home can be paired to one thermostat so that if any doors or windows are opened, you’ll get a notification right on your phone.

Indoor Security Smart Camera
Security camera with infrared night vision, two-way audio, and build-in Alexa
The Ecobee Smart Indoor Camera takes security up another level; think about seeing whatโs going down around 180ยฐ wide angle lens from wherever you are – no stone unturned, as they say.
The Ecobee Smart Camera has some amazing features. It includes infrared night vision to see up to 20 feet, even in low-light conditions. Plus, the two-way audio lets you talk and listen with whoever is given that camera.
A significant element of this camera is it comes equipped with Amazon Alexa built right into it, making it also a smart speaker so that your voice commands can do things like show live streaming from the device, play music for you, or give out weather updates as well as control other smart home devices.
Awesomely enough, there’s motion detection and person detection, which only record when motions are detected; plus, a subscription allows more advanced options such as facial recognition or offsite video storage usage.
Final Verdict โ Should I buy an Ecobee 5th Gen?
If you’re in the market for a top-notch smart thermostat, then Ecobee’s 5th Gen is worth it. It has all the smart features you may want in a smart device.
What sets it apart is the air quality sensor.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think I’ve seen another thermostat with that built-in. Being able to monitor the indoor air is a great feature. Who wants to breathe junk air all winter long?
Buying this model will cost around ($249 / ยฃ268). If you are trying to justify this high price tag, consider this:
It has built-in Amazon Alexa and Siri. You don’t need to spend extra on a separate Echo device to yell at your thermostat. Plus, if you already have Alexas around the house, you can move on to a different room once you get the Ecobee. And with the money you’ll save on energy bills once installed, it’ll practically pay for itself over time.
Yet, if you are still not convinced, here are some alternatives.
Are There any Alternative Smart Thermostats?
Would you like something other than the Ecobee 5th Gen?
Lucky for you, there are plenty of great smart thermostats out there. So, let’s take a quick look at some of them:
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat has been getting raves from many who love their smart devices. It looks great, is user-friendly, and will pick up on your routine to adjust to fit your lifestyle.
Honeywell Home T9: People have been praising the Honeywell Home T9 for its modern included remote sensor tech. You’ll feel completely secure knowing that this device can measure temperature and humidity all over your house, making sure you’re as comfy and efficient as possible.
Amazon Thermostat: If Alexa is a must-have in your home automation setup, then Amazon’s affordable thermostat should be at the top of your list. This thermostat works seamlessly with other smart devices from Amazon, making it an obvious pick if you prefer to stick with one brand.
Here is a quick breakdown of each device:
Brand/Model | Compatibility | Installation | Features | Price |
![]() Nest Learning Thermostat | Gas, oil, electric boilers, underfloor heating, heat pumps, radiant systems | Wired or wireless | Self-Learning, Geofencing, Scheduling, | |
![]() Honeywell Lyric T9 | Gas, oil, electric boilers, underfloor heating, heat pumps, radiant systems | Wired or wireless | Geofencing, scheduling, | |
![]() Amazon Smart Thermostat | Gas, oil, electric boilers, underfloor heating | Wired or wireless | Geofencing, remote access, energy-saving reports, Scheduling |
Daniel Barczak is a software developer with over 9 years of professional experience. He has experience with several programming languages and technologies and has worked for businesses ranging from startups to big enterprises. Daniel in his leisure time likes to experiment with new smart home gadgets and explore the realm of home automation.
Leave a Reply