Ecobee’s line of smart thermostats can be paired up with either the Smart Sensor or Room Sensor, both of which can boost the efficiency of their Ecobee thermostat. You could say they make the smart thermostat even smarter!
Room Sensors came first, they’re basically the first generation of Ecobee sensors. Smart Sensors are the second generation of Ecobee sensors, they’re newer and have enhanced features!
But what are these enhanced features actually? Is the difference enough to make the pricier and newer Smart Sensor worth it? Or is the older Room Sensor good enough?
Well, we’ll answer all of these questions and more! In this article, we’ll be going over the specs of Ecobee’s Smart Sensor and Room Sensor. We’ll figure out what sets them apart from each other and help you decide which one is worth it.
Having wider viewing angles allows the sensor to more readily detect movement. Installation is even easier when the sensor has better angles too, as it makes their placement more versatile.
As we can see in the spec sheet, this is an easy win for the Smart Sensor. While the horizontal angle is barely improved, it has a much higher vertical viewing angle of 100º. On the other hand, the older Room Sensor only has a vertical viewing angle of 30º.
The Smart Sensor sure has a keen eye! But it’s not just good because of its boosted efficiency.
Having a vertical viewing angle allows you to place the Smart Sensor at any elevation you want within your room, making it easier to place inside your home. Gotta love that versatility!
Winner: Ecobee Smart Sensor
If you wish to keep costs down by not having to replace the batteries constantly, you’ll want to pick whichever model has the longer battery life. Once again, that seems to be the Smart Sensor.
Officially, Ecobee boasts that the Smart Sensor’s battery life can last for 5 whole years, while the older Room Sensor is only meant to last around 1 year. Five whole years is an impressive claim, truth be told, but the Smart Sensor hasn’t been publically available for that long yet.
What we do know, however, is that users of the Smart Sensor report that the improved battery life definitely lasts for at least 2 years so far, so Ecobee’s claims seem to hold some truth to them. In the end, the Smart Sensor’s battery efficiency is nothing to scoff at.
Winner: Ecobee Smart Sensor
Occupancy Detection is Ecobee’s unique feature for their thermostats and sensors. It allows the smart thermostat and its sensors to recognize when someone is inside a room and adjust temperatures accordingly.
The newer Smart Sensor seems to have some key enhancements when it comes to this unique technology. The first one is simple: it’s just faster. Detection takes much less time than it does on the Room Sensor, making the Smart Sensor feel much snappier!
The other big difference is the new Pet Immunity technology, which is unique to the Smart Sensor. It’s not quite perfect yet for sure, but this system makes it easier for the Smart Sensor to differentiate between people and our furry friends.
Don’t want the thermostat going crazy just because your pet walked in front of the sensor, after all!
Winner: Ecobee Smart Sensor
Ecobee clearly stopped at nothing when it came to making the Smart Sensor supersede the older Room Sensor! Pretty much everything about the Smart Sensor is better than the older model, making it an easy choice.
The enhanced Occupancy Detection system is worth it on its own, but it’s aided by everything else being improved as well!
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