Smart thermostat company Ecobee today announced the launch of a cheaper "Ecobee3 Lite" device that will deliver Ecobee's expected "superior comfort, control and energy savings" at $80 less than similar products from competitors, according to the company.

Similar to the flagship Ecobee 3 model, the Ecobee3 Lite has the same touchscreen controls and black aesthetic, and can be controlled from a smartphone through a connected Ecobee app. The cheaper model will also continue to support Apple's HomeKit platform, as well as Amazon Echo, Samsung SmartThings, Wink and IFTTT.

ecobee3-lite

“The new ecobee3 lite delivers the many features of a premium smart thermostat – beautiful design, superior comfort and an intuitive customer experience – but it’s kinder to our customers’ wallets than leading competitors,” said Stuart Lombard, President and CEO of ecobee. “ecobee3 lite upholds our continued promise to make customer’s lives simpler and better.”

To offset the entry-level cost, the Ecobee3 Lite loses a few features included with its $250 counterpart. Namely, the Lite isn't compatible with the company's room sensors, which Ecobee says help the system become smarter with additional sensors placed in multiple rooms so that the thermostat can accumulate a total view of a home's temperature level. Ecobee3 Lite also lacks smart occupancy detection, and doesn't support accessories like humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and ventilators.

In the United States, users will be able to purchase the Ecobee3 Lite beginning on October 31 for $169. The smart thermostat will be available at retail exclusively at Home Depot locations, and online at Amazon.com, HomeDepot.com, BestBuy.com and Ecobee.com. Canadian users will be able to buy the device for $219 (CAD) on Ecobee's website. To make sure your system is compatible with Ecobee, the company has created a compatibility checker.

Tag: Ecobee

Top Rated Comments

JKColo22 Avatar
114 months ago
I bought an Ecobee3 earlier this year and returned it a week later. I bought it for the concept of the remote sensors all over the house, but every sensor was at least 6 degrees off compared to my infrared thermometer.

Since the thermostat couldn't do something as fundamentally basic as report the correct temperature, I returned it and bought a Nest 3rd gen. Was bummed that I lost Homekit compatibility, but I discovered Homebridge and got it back.
I love my EcoBee. Temperatures seem to be dead on. I'm skeptical how you were measuring ambient air temperatures with an IR thermometer, which are designed for measuring surface temperatures. The walls and floors of a room are not going to give you an accurate reflection of the air inside the room.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PhoenixDown Avatar
114 months ago
Only mildly on topic, but... are these smart thermostats worth buying if you have heat but no central AC?
I have a NEST in an older home with steam heating system (natural gas furnace). I really like the option to log in through the APP and bump up or down the temperature but because my house takes so long to heat up, I found I don't change the temps much. Yes I may have it higher in the morning and lower in the evening but not much outside that.

edit: On the NEST I like the monthly report showing how I am doing on usage against other NEST customers in the area. I also like the web view option for setting tempatures and times - supports a 7 day schedule iirc. It's a huge step up from my old as sin "pin and dial" honeywell unit.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thisisnotmyname Avatar
114 months ago
I'm a big fan of my Ecobee Home Kit capable devices, nice to see them become even more accessible (price-wise).
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Alexlfm Avatar
114 months ago
I bought an Ecobee3 earlier this year and returned it a week later. I bought it for the concept of the remote sensors all over the house, but every sensor was at least 6 degrees off compared to my infrared thermometer.

Since the thermostat couldn't do something as fundamentally basic as report the correct temperature, I returned it and bought a Nest 3rd gen. Was bummed that I lost Homekit compatibility, but I discovered Homebridge and got it back.
I flat out don't believe this. Either you did something massively wrong (apart from using an IR thermometer to measure ambient temps), you used a defective thermometer, your ecobee unit was faulty, and/or you wanted the ecobee to fail from the start. All of my sensors are within .5 - 1 degrees F when compared to a known calibrated thermometer (compared both to higher end HVAC equipment and my fluke IR that I use for my racing car). I don't know what you were measuring with your IR thermometer but unless you measured objects like tables, chairs, etc. it is doubtful you got an accurate reading. Outside walls obviously often leak and inside walls/floors often have poorly sealed HVAC lines which leak causing temp. variations. Compared to my higher end, multi sensor carrier system I had before the ecobee is actually more accurate by around 1 degree F.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Le Big Mac Avatar
114 months ago
Only mildly on topic, but... are these smart thermostats worth buying if you have heat but no central AC?

We're buying our "last house" now and I plan to go deep on smart home automation where possible. Central AC will be added eventually but can't afford it right now.
Yes. You still get the benefits with respect to heat during the winter. Set back at night; warm up during the day; all controllable in the same way as with A/C. Obviously not much benefit during AC season, but that's for the future!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
noah82 Avatar
114 months ago
I bought an Ecobee3 earlier this year and returned it a week later. I bought it for the concept of the remote sensors all over the house, but every sensor was at least 6 degrees off compared to my infrared thermometer.

Since the thermostat couldn't do something as fundamentally basic as report the correct temperature, I returned it and bought a Nest 3rd gen. Was bummed that I lost Homekit compatibility, but I discovered Homebridge and got it back.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...
macbook pro blue green

M5 MacBook Pro No Longer Coming in 2025

Thursday July 10, 2025 12:38 pm PDT by
Apple does not plan to refresh any Macs with updated M5 chips in 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are now planned for the first half of 2026. Gurman previously said that Apple would debut the M5 MacBook Pro models in late 2025, but his newest report suggests that Apple is "considering" pushing them back to 2026. Apple is now said to be...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
iCloud General Feature Redux

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Receive These Five Perks

Wednesday July 9, 2025 9:20 am PDT by
If you pay for iCloud storage on your iPhone, did you know that Apple offers you five perks beyond the extra storage space, at no additional cost? Here are the perks included with all iCloud+ plans:Private Relay keeps your Safari browsing history entirely private from network providers, websites, and even Apple. Hide My Email generates unique, random email addresses whenever needed. Hom...