If you want to control your thermostat with Siri or Apple’s new Home app, the ecobee3 smart home thermostat is one of the best HomeKit models on the market. Today the smart thermostat maker is announcing a more affordable version of their HomeKit-enabled thermostat with the new ecobee3 lite version.
The new model retails for $169 versus the $249 price tag of the version 9to5Mac reviewed earlier this year. The primary difference is the lack of support room sensors bundled which help ecobee better understand your whole home’s temperature (these are sold separately but not compatible with the new lite model). You also lose smart occupancy detection and accessory support for humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and ventilators.
The new ecobee3 lite model will be available starting October 31 just in time for the holidays. A new version of the ecobee iOS app will accompany the launch. Full press release follows:
Connected Home Leader ecobee Launches New ecobee3 lite Smart Thermostat
October 13, 2016
At $80 less than leading competition, ecobee3 lite delivers unrivaled quality and value in the smart thermostat market
TORONTO (October 17, 2016) – ecobee Inc., maker of the world’s first Wi-Fi smart thermostat and the top-rated ecobee3 thermostat, today announced the launch of ecobee3 lite. The new device gives consumers the greatest value on the market, delivering superior comfort, control and energy savings at $80 less than devices from leading competitors. The device will be available for purchase across North America on October 31, 2016.
“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.”
Like the company’s flagship product, ecobee3, ecobee3 lite features a beautiful and easy to use touchscreen interface and pays for itself in less than a year. Building on the company’s reputation as a market leader in smart home integrations, ecobee3 lite also integrates with Amazon Echo, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Wink and IFTTT.
Since introducing the world’s first smart thermostat in 2007, ecobee has enabled consumers to control their home comfort any time and from anywhere, while reducing energy use. Since day one, ecobee has remained committed to continuous innovation – from developing the first smart thermostat with room sensors to being the first in its category to offer smart home integrations with Apple HomeKit and Amazon Echo. Today, ecobee continues in that tradition by delivering a premium smart thermostat at $80 less than leading competitors.
“ecobee is committed to driving meaningful cost savings without compromising on quality, and ecobee3 lite is a great example of that innovation at work,” said Casey McKinnon, Vice President of Product at ecobee. “Ease of use, stunning design, interoperability and category-leading savings were our top priorities while developing ecobee3 lite, and we’re excited for consumers to experience these benefits at a better value than ever before.”
The ecobee3 lite launch is accompanied by a new mobile application from ecobee, which will be available on Apple and Android devices. The application includes a new Installation Wizard, providing homeowners with step-by-step installation support and videos in the palm of their hand.
Pricing, Availability and Compatibility
Beginning October 31, 2016, ecobee3 lite will be available for $169 (USD) in the U.S. exclusively at Home Depot stores and online at Amazon.com, HomeDepot.com, BestBuy.com and ecobee.com. In Canada, the device will be available exclusively on ecobee.com for $219 (CAD). Utilities are also making rebates available to customers to save even more. To learn if you are eligible for a rebate from your local utility, visit ecobee.com/rebate.
ecobee3 lite is designed to be compatible with 95 percent of residential heating and cooling systems in North America and does not require a C-wire when using the included Power Extender Kit. To ensure ecobee3 lite will work in your home, visit ecobee.com/compatibility.
About ecobee
ecobee Inc. introduced the world’s first smart Wi-Fi thermostat to help millions of consumers live better and save more. With the introduction of ecobee3, the company has been praised for its pioneering room sensor technology to deliver comfort in the rooms that matter most, enabling it to become a top-selling smart thermostat on the market today and achieve a No. 1 ranking on Navigant’s Smart Thermostat Leaderboard. Find out more at ecobee.com.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Comments