Question

I am looking at purchasing an ecobee thermostat. My question is, for almost the same price I can get an ecobee4 smart with built in Alexa and a 2pk of smart sensors ($255 total) as opposed to an ecobee smartthermostat with built in voice ($243 total) the biggest difference I can tell between the 2 is 5ghz and some bluetooth stuff. I would have 2 smart sensors and 1 room sensor instead of 1 smart sensor. Am I missing something else between the 2 models?  

Answer 1

Not sure what you're looking at but for me an Ecobee3 was much more cost effective than an Ecobee4 - I care not for Alexa.  

Answer 2

Check with your local power company- the ones in NC and GA resell many different brands for cheaper than you can buy elsewhere.  

Comments

I second this. Ingot an ecobee3 a few months ago from PSE&G for $44

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Got mine for a discount this way in Illinois

Answer 3

I believe the 4 is glass screen vs plastic and the new sensors are supposed to be better/ more efficient as well.  

Answer 4

Go for the deal with two sensors. I have a 4, rarely use the Alexa feature because I have several other Alexa devices The sensors will save you money

Answer 5

+1 for for the two sensors. As @doubler said, also check your local util companies, they may also have rebates.  

Answer 6

Ended up disabling Alexa on mine. Interfered with my other Echo devices.  

Answer 7

Never mind Alexa. If you want to use that you’ll have Echos anyways, the one in the Ecobee is awful quality and limited in use. Mine are disabled too. But sensors you do want!  

Answer 8

Ecobee3 is a better device. no alexa

Comments

You don't need to enable Alexa on the 4, I never did.  

Answer 9

The 4 does have a glass screen which feels nice to me I haven’t touch the 3 tho. But the Alexa sucks on it. I got it on Black Friday for cheap and got a Discount from my gas company too instant rebate bought it from there online store. So I can’t complain.  

Answer 10

I have a 4 and found the Alexa feature annoying because it conflicts with other Alexa enabled devices that have better mics. Then I discovered Echo Speaks and started using it as a dedicated announcement speaker only (mic muted).  

Answer 11

Thanks for all the help, I like the idea of using echo speaks and disabling the mic

Answer 12

The 4 doesn’t have glass. It’s the newest Smarthome thermostat with voice that has glass. The 4 is the same as the 3 with Alexa.  

Answer 13

Alexa is better in 5th ecobee - sound quality, mic sensitivity, you can call using Alexa, etc. Other than that, those devices are pretty much the same. I ended up getting ecobee 5 as Lowes had it in stock when they shutdown their stores here and everything was on sale 30-50%. Ecobee 4 was on sale at costco at the same time for the same $180