Ecobee3 Lite Review

The Ecobee3 Lite is a budget-friendly alternative to the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium that still integrates well with the Apple ecosystem without all of the extra frills and features like air quality monitors and an intercom that come with the Premium version. If you don't care about all of the extras but still want to remotely control your thermostat, this could be the right model for you.

Performance Comparison

The Ecobee3 Lite, despite its affordability, competes effectively with higher-end models, providing comprehensive features like vacation mode, various hold options, maintenance reminders, and high compatibility with smart home ecosystems. Additionally, it has smart capabilities such as geofencing, schedule learning, and energy-saving features like Eco+ optimization. While it may lack some of the premium materials found in more expensive models, its performance and feature set make it a compelling option for those looking to upgrade their home climate control system without breaking the bank.

Ease of Use

This metric assesses each thermostat's usability, including the method of temperature adjustments, control of hold settings and fan modes, and the clarity and visibility of information displayed on the built-in screen. The Ecobee3 Lite did very well here.

Setting the temperature on the Ecobee's responsive touchscreen was a picnic. You touch the current temperature, displayed in the center of the screen, and drag your finger up to raise it and down to lower it. Additionally, you can use the + and - icons to achieve the same results. Changing the modes is similarly intuitive; press the icon in the center, which will vary depending on the current setting. Once pressed, you can select the desired mode from the options provided. You can also access the system mode and comfort settings by pressing the three lines in the top right corner. From this menu, you can conveniently adjust the fan settings as well.

Speaking of the fan, you have considerable control over its operation, although it can be slightly confusing due to differences between the app and thermostat interfaces. On the thermostat, activating the fan involves navigating through the menu by clicking the three lines and then selecting the fan icon. You can switch between auto and on modes. You can set the fan's runtime in 5-minute increments in auto mode, potentially running indefinitely until manually stopped. In on mode, you can set a timer for various durations, including 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, or indefinitely.

The Ecobee3 Lite will hold the temperature until your next scheduled temperature change, like bedtime or morning. Also, you can customize your hold duration to options like 2 hours, 4 hours, until the next scheduled activity, or until you change it manually.

The information on the Ecobee3 Lite was excellent and logically laid out, with exceptional visibility of the current temperature in various lighting conditions, including close-up and distant viewing. We also enjoyed that we can change the brightness for different times of the day to suit our preferences.

The Ecobee 3 Lite has a motion-sensing capability that lights up when we approach the unit. Like the more expensive Ecobees, the Ecobee3 comes with this feature; however, the screen is smaller, has lower resolution, and has poorer contrast. Temperature accuracy on this unit was quite good, with an average difference of 1.156 degrees Fahrenheit found by the temperature loggers we used during testing.

DIY Install

The installation for the Ecobee3 Lite was a little lacking for a smart thermostat from such a storied line of smart devices. We were surprised that this thermostat did not immediately ask us to connect to the app for installation guidance. However, the paper manual did point us to some tutorials and how-to videos on Ecobee's support page. The photos in the paper manual were mildly helpful, as well.

The installation wasn't too terrible, though. We always appreciate the push-in type terminals on offer here, but Ecobee made no mention of the tools required for this install in the manual, nor did they remind us to take a photo of the outgoing thermostat's wiring to reference later. Some positives about the installation were that there is a built-in level for getting a good placement on the wall, and Ecobee includes an adaptor plate to cover the hole from the old thermostat, if necessary. App download and registration are required, but they aren't too tedious.

Scheduling

Ecobee's scheduling system is robust, with “comfort” based modes: Home, Away, and Sleep. Scheduling is allowed for seven individual days per week with essentially unlimited events, but they will follow the comfort mode setting mentioned above. To set schedules on this thermostat, first set up your “Comfort Settings” for Home, Away, and Sleep. Then select your preferred heat/cool settings and temperatures. We found deleting, copying, and adding schedules were streamlined. The app's scheduling process is nearly identical to that of the thermostat, which says a lot about the quality of the thermostat's interface.

Smart Capabilities

This metric assesses the navigation of the smart thermostat's mobile app and its smart features like geofencing, maintenance reminders, safety features, schedule learning, and smart home ecosystem compatibility. The Ecobee3 Lite retains nearly all of the smart functionality of the more premium Ecobee thermostats, so it did very well here.

The Ecobee app is nice and straightforward with a good control layout, including easy outdoor weather reports. Unlike the premium Ecobee thermostat, there is no indoor air quality feedback. The geofencing on this unit allows users to trigger events based on their proximity to home, though it does require Apple's Homekit and a Homekit hub (like the HomePod Mini), or an Android phone running the Ecobee app. Maintenance reminders are excellent, with options to configure them for filters, UV lamps, and general HVAC maintenance. The app even notifies you of sudden temperature drops and includes safety precautions like freeze protection.

The Ecboee3 Lite's schedule learning is excellent. Over time, it observes and adapts to users' temperature adjustments and occupancy patterns. This is a premium feature not found on every thermostat that makes the Ecobee unique. This unit also has high compatibility with all major smart home ecosystems, from Amazon Alexa to Apple Homekit.

Energy Savings

Ecobee thermostats, including the Ecobee3 Lite, don't have as many engagable eco features as their closest competitor. There is no dedicated eco mode, but there is an Eco+. The system adjusts its settings based on peak/off-peak electricity pricing, weather, and occupancy patterns to ensure comfort and decrease your energy consumption. It offers features such as Smart Home & Away and Time of Use optimization, usage insights, and recommendations to help users save on energy costs. There is also an available energy report to see how you have saved energy compared to other Ecobee users, which is sent monthly.

Should You Buy the Ecobee3 Lite

This unit is strikingly similar to the premium Ecobee. If you're looking for a smart thermostat with great compatibility with all the major smart home ecosystems for less money than the premium units, this is a great buy. If you're not so smitten with the idea of a smart device and want a more basic thermostat, there are options out there for even less.

What Other Thermostat Should You Consider