ecobee
ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
$259.99
Released 2022
Best Smart Thermostats · head-to-head
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Sensi Touch 2 Smart Thermostat is cheaper at $209.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
ecobee
$259.99
Released 2022
Emerson Sensi
$209.99Cheaper
Released 2023
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Sensi Touch 2 Smart Thermostat is the cheaper at $209.99.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices verified at capture; live price may differ.
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | | |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $259.99 | $209.99 |
| Brand | ecobee | Emerson Sensi |
| Released | 2022 | 2023 |
| Display | 4-inch full-color LCD touchscreen, 540x540 pixels | Color touchscreen (size not specified on product page); Sensi app control available |
| Sensors included | Built-in temperature, humidity, occupancy (radar), proximity; includes one SmartSensor (temperature + occupancy) in box; up to 20 additional sensors supported | Built-in temperature; compatible with Sensi Room Sensors and Outdoor Sensors (sold separately) for temperature and humidity monitoring |
| Geofencing | Yes | Yes |
| Hvac compatibility | Most 24VAC systems: conventional 2H/2C, heat pumps 2H/2C + 2 stage AUX, boilers, PTACs, fan coil units (up to 3 fan speeds); Power Extender Kit included | Universal: single-stage 1H/1C, multi-stage 2H/2C, heat pump 4H/2C; 24V low-voltage systems |
| C wire required | No | No |
| Voice assistants | Amazon Alexa (built-in), Apple Siri (via HomePod/HomePod mini), Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings (no Apple HomeKit) |
| Energy reports | Yes | Yes |
| Release | 2022 | 2023 |
Sources — ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium: ecobee.com (verified 2026-06-15). Sensi Touch 2 Smart Thermostat: sensi.copeland.com (verified 2026-06-15).
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (4 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Three whitelisted testers (Tom's Guide, TechHive, Reviewed) rate the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium a top-tier smart thermostat. Reviewed lab-tested temperature accuracy against a NIST-certified thermometer; Tom's Guide and TechHive evaluated it hands-on qualitatively. All praise the premium redesign, easy app-guided install, broad smart-home compatibility, and the included occupancy-sensing SmartSensor. Shared gripes: a weak built-in speaker, a limited air-quality sensor, and a high price. (3 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Premium redesign — zinc body, glass display, responsive larger touchscreen; Broad smart-home compatibility (Alexa, Siri/HomeKit, Google, SmartThings, IFTTT); App-guided installation is quick and easy.
Flagged: Built-in speaker sounds weak/tinny; Air-quality sensor is limited — no particulate readings, cannot trigger HVAC fan; Expensive / premium price.
Three whitelisted testers (TechHive, Pro Tool Reviews, Reviewed) rate the Sensi Touch 2 among the best simple smart thermostats, praising its responsive touchscreen, easy app-guided installation (Pro Tool Reviews clocked ~10 minutes), and support for remote room sensors that average temperatures across the home. All three note it requires a C-wire. Reviewed lab-tested it on a simulated HVAC system with a NIST-calibrated thermometer but published no accuracy figure; its main criticism is the lack of machine learning at a premium price. (3 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Intuitive, responsive touchscreen and easy-to-use app/interface; Fast, DIY-friendly installation guided by the app; Supports remote room sensors for whole-home temperature averaging.
Flagged: C-wire required; Remote room sensors not included (~$40 each); No Apple HomeKit support.