Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera review

About the Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera

• Colors: White
• Connectivity: 2.4 GHz 802.11b/g/n.
• Power source: Wired install
• Resolution: 1080p HDR
• Field of view: 175 degrees
• Audio: Two-way audio
• Smart assistant support: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit Operational temperatures: -13 to 113 °F
• Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Warranty: One-year warranty

How we tested the Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera

To test the Ecobee doorbell, we mounted it outside our home and analyzed how it handled different situations, how easy it was to set up and use, how well it lasted in the elements, and how well its roster of features worked.

This particular camera was installed outside of the front door of my home, tapping into the existing wiring of the house’s previous doorbell. As a painless install (more on that later), we watched and examined how Ecobee approached guarding our entryway.

What we like

The Ecobee doorbell installs in minutes

The very nature of a wired install makes it a daunting, even scary, feat for some. But to Ecobee’s credit, it streamlines the process as much as possible. You will still have to shut your breaker off to avoid dealing with live wires, and you will still have a couple of screws to mess with. But Ecobee’s doorbell makes the whole thing relatively simple thanks to some well-labeled mounting brackets, all the hardware you might need (including wall anchors if your original doorbell’s screw holes don’t line up), and an install guide that walks you through the act itself.

To me, the most tedious part of the whole ordeal is shaping the pre-existing wires into hooks that will grab onto the doorbell’s connectors before you tighten them with a screwdriver. It’s possibly the most delicate step because the cables are prone to falling out of place before you can grab the screwdriver with your free hand. But with some patience, it’s a minor inconvenience more than an actual problem.

You will need to finish the setup on the Ecobee app, which is just as much of a breeze as the rest of the process. If you have used the Ecobee app for a thermostat in the past, you know that it’s a well-designed, easy-to-use tool that doesn’t change with the brand’s new doorbell. Once you are set up and ready to use the doorbell, you can tap into its live view and have simple access to talk, record, take a snapshot, or activate the doorbell’s siren. You can also view its recording history via a tab at the bottom of the screen and play with settings by pressing the icon in the upper right-hand corner.

It looks good and performs well

The Ecobee doorbell has a sleek, glossy black-and-white finish that is an attractive addition to my entryway. And while the 1080p video resolution is average these days, the high-definition video quality is consistent and clear. The Ecobee doorbell camera also utilizes built-in sensors to take advantage of ambient lighting during dark hours to maintain a more detailed, colorful feed for as long as possible.

Additionally, Ecobee incorporated a “Smart Focus” feature that recognizes a person as they enter the doorbell’s 175-degree field of view and automatically pans and zooms in on them to keep them centered. Plus, when a person is in the mix, you can access the doorbell’s surprisingly detailed two-way audio to communicate with the friend (or foe) as needed.

It’s important to note that certain features, including package detection, 30-day video history, and 24/7 professional monitoring, among others, are reserved for Ecobee’s monthly subscription service. The service costs between $5 and $10 per month depending on how many cameras you have.

It works with the Apple ecosystem

The hard truth for fans of Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem is that there are fewer compatible smart home devices than Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant users. Ecobee, however, is doing its part to even the odds, if only slightly.

Other smart doorbells work with HomeKit, with the Wemo Smart Video Doorbell standing out in that small field. By including the Apple ecosystem as part of its compatibility, Ecobee can compete in a far less crowded space while leveraging its reputation as a reliable smart home brand.

What we don’t like

The AI is not always accurate

It was a recurring occurrence. The Ecobee doorbell often mistook our movements for package notifications, a quirk I initially dismissed as a minor glitch. After all, the technology behind these cameras is far from perfect, as evidenced by a backyard camera that once mistook my tortoise for a vehicle. It’s a reminder that these systems are not an exact science.

That said, Ecobee consistently sent us these misplaced package notifications over two weeks. I re-watched the clips it recorded and labeled as package detection to see if we were carrying something that would lead it to believe we were delivering a package. And I found the culprit: the Loxx Boxx that I use for UPS and FedEx drivers to deliver packages into.

The doorbell repeatedly recognized the Loxx Boxx as a delivery at my front door. I could turn off package notifications or set up an activity zone that doesn’t include the box, but both options would limit the Ecobee doorbell's capabilities (and value). It wasn’t the biggest flaw in the world, but it certainly was a peculiar one, especially since package detection is only for Ecobee’s subscribers.

You can't control the clip recording length

Every clip of motion that the Ecobee recorded was precisely two minutes long. In most of those clips, the motion happened in the first 15-20 seconds, leaving me about 90 seconds of nothing. This isn’t an issue with other smart cameras I’ve reviewed because many give you the ability to determine how long you would like the camera to record after detecting motion. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any such setting in the Ecobee app to scale back how long each clip records for.

There's no Google Assistant support

As promising as support for Apple HomeKit is, Ecobee does not include support for Google Assistant in its new doorbell camera. This may not be an issue, depending on who you are and what ecosystem you are invested in, but it could be a significant detriment. Either way, it’s worth knowing that Google Assistant and the Ecobee doorbell don’t mesh.

Privacy

On its website, Ecobee has a specific section regarding the doorbell’s privacy specifications. Ecobee ensures that it believes your data belongs to you as a company and promises never to “sell or misuse your data.” In other words, it's pretty generic stuff that doesn’t hold much weight. On the plus side, Ecobee’s app features two-factor authentication, on-device processing, and end-to-end encryption, which Ecobee says allows it to “send less footage to the cloud.”

Should you buy the Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera?

Maybe, depending on your current smart home ecosystem

The Ecobee doorbell is a functionally sound addition to the front of your home that performs well and looks sharp. It had some weird notification hiccups where it identified people as packages, but other than that, there’s a lot to love with Ecobee’s first foray into the doorbell game.

Perhaps strategically, Ecobee will make the most sense if you’re all-in on Apple HomeKit. Other compatible doorbells exist, but the Wemo Smart Video Doorbell is the main competitor. And while it’s a solid option in its own right, the Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera will have a much easier time stacking up to it than the deep roster of doorbells for folks who don’t need to stick to Apple. Between offerings from Ring, Google Nest, Eufy, and others, there’s a ton to choose from among the best video doorbells on the market today.

The Ecobee doorbell is a great option for HomeKit users who want to stay committed to a single smart home ecosystem. Ecobee makes indoor cameras, sensors, and smart thermostats. Add the Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera, and you'll get a nice little HomeKit-friendly setup. If you don't need an Apple HomeKit doorbell or don't care about the Ecobee ecosystem, a doorbell like the Nest Doorbell (Wired) or Ring Doorbell (Wired) are great front door cameras with features including package and people detection.