The New Ecobee3 Lite Smart Thermostat is Reasonably Priced and Siri Enabled
The Ecobee3 Smart Thermostat with HomeKit support was my favorite accessory of 2015 and for good reason. Along with being able to change the temperature at your home with a simple Siri command, the device was easy to install and is a great way to start building your smart home.
Siri, is it getting hot in here?
And the just announced Ecobee3 Lite brings a large majority of the same features for an even more reasonable price.
The headlining feature on the new device is still support for Apple’s smart home protocol. Using Siri, you’ll be able to do a number of different tasks including checking the thermostat temperature, changing the temperature in your house, and more.
It’s also compatible with Amazon’s Echo, IFTTT, and other smart home services.
You can also operate the thermostat with the 3.5-inch touchscreen or through the companion app.
The major difference compared to the Ecobee3 is that the Lite version doesn’t offer support for remote temperature sensors. Each sensor on that model acts as a small temperature reporting station and can also detect any motion, helping to address hot or cold spots in your house.
Arriving in two weeks
You can purchase the thermostat for $169.
When it arrives on Monday, Oct. 31, the Ecobee3 Lite will retail for $169 and be available to purchase at Home Depot stores, and online through Amazon, Best Buy, Home Depot, and Ecobee.
It’s designed to be compatible with 95 percent of residential heating and cooling systems. To check your system’s compatibility, head to the company’s site.
While I was a big fan of the remote sensors in the Ecobee3, the Lite version of the thermostat looks to be perfect for anyone with a smaller house or apartment. And coming in $80 less than the Nest, it should be high on the list for any with an Apple device.