Feel closer when you’re away. Get alerts when the kids get home or if there’s unwelcome activity, directly to your mobile device. Smart Focus recognizes when a moving person enters the frame and adjusts SmartCamera’s focus to keep them front and center as they move. With 1080p HD video quality and an expansive 180° field of view, you get a complete and clear view of home from anywhere. Discover details in Ecobee smart camera with voice control review.
Pros and Cons – Ecobee smart camera with voice control review
Pros
1. Design: looks great and fits overall ecobee look.
2. Connectivity: Easy to set up, minimal internet needs. WiFi is simple to connect to initially, although it does get tricky if you change the WiFi password due to needing to reset the device, but the settings stay in the app.
3. Power: long power cord is easy to get to a nearby outlet.
4. Usage: Sharp and crisp picture, quick zoom and adjustment, great detail at nighttime. Can easily tell faces in color and night vision. Wide angle camera is fantastic.
5. Haven – if you don’t mind paying subscriptions it works really well.
Cons
1. No easy method to hard wire power or internet/LAN, thus if you want to reduce your WiFi load, or not use a power outlet, you’ll need to modify your device.
2. The zoom and pan feature can slow or get buggy at times, but that has improved with software updates.
3. The ability to select areas in the app from the camera view to focus on for alerts and motion (i.e. ignoring the areas not being focused on if someone or something moves in the other areas) has never worked for me – beta testing noted the problem and we were advised that this function was being worked on. I haven’t tested it in several months so it may have been fixed, but the sheer number of times the system went off resulted in recording nearly an entire night in two minute increments due to our cat zooming around the house and then sitting cleaning herself on the couch…was annoying to deal with before they added a mass delete function to recorded videos.
4. Haven – neat idea but I would prefer the ability to save the videos to a NAS or security controller hard drive or something to keep it in house.
Specifications – Ecobee smart camera with voice control
Dimensions & weight
Camera
- Camera Height: 107 mm (4.2 in.)
- Width: 57.5 mm (2.26 in.)
- Depth: 44 mm (1.7 in.)
Camera on stand
- Height: 138 mm (5.4 in.)
- Width: 57.5 mm (2.26 in.)
- Depth: 44 mm (1.7 in.)
Camera on wall mount
- Height: 107 mm (4.2 in.)
- Width: 57.5 mm (2.26 in.)
- Depth: 75.3 mm (2.96 in.)
- Camera weight: 0.18 kg (0.4 lb.)
- Camera on stand/wall mount: 0.28 kg (0.62 lb.)
Colors
- Black front, white sides and back
Operating environment
- For indoor use only
Power
- AC power adapter with 10 ft (3 m) white indoor power cord
Image sensor
- 5 megapixels
Lens
- f/2.2 with digital zoom
Field of view
- 180° diagonal, 170° horizontal, 115° vertical
Video
- 1080p (1920X1080) H.264 encoding @ 30 frames per second
Night vision
- 3 high-powered infrared LEDs (850nm) with mechanical ICR filter
Processor & memory
- Octa-core 2GHz
- 1GB LPDDR4 RAM
- 4GB Flash (eMMC)
Voice, audio & lights
- Amazon Alexa Built-in
- Two-way audio with echo cancellation
- 2 far-field microphones
- 5 RGB LEDs
Works with
- Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, iOS, Android
Connectivity & security
- Dual-band Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n @ 2.4GHz, 802.11 a/n/ac @ 5GHz
- Bluetooth 5.0
- WEP 64, WEP 128, WPA, and WPA2 encryption methods
- DHCP (dynamic) or static IP addressing
- 168-bit SSL encryption
- 915MHz radio
Input voltage
- 100–240V, 50/60Hz
Power supply
- 12V @ 1A
Operating temperature & humidity
- Temperature: 32° to 104°F (0° to 40°C)
- Humidity: 85% RH (non-condensing)
Storage temperature & humidity
- Temperature: −4° to 140°F (−20° to 60°C)
- Humidity: 10% to 95% RH (non-condensing)
Warranty
- 3-year limited warranty
Languages
- English
Regulatory certifications
- ROHS compliant
- FCC certified
- IC certified
What’s in the box
- SmartCamera with voice control
- Dual-mount stand
- Power supply
- Quick-start guide
- Mounting guide
- Screw and drywall anchor
Price and availability
Ecobee is selling the SmartCamera by itself for $179. You can also buy it as part of a bundle:
- Total Home Comfort and Security Bundle ($499): SmartThermostat, SmartCamera, SmartSensor 2-pack, and SmartSensor for doors and windows.
- Home Security Bundle ($279): SmartCamera, SmartSensor 2-pack, and SmartSensor for doors and windows.
Additional SmartSensors for doors and windows cost $79 per two-pack, though a Sensor Coverage Bundle ($99) is a better choice, as it includes two SmartSensors and two SmartSensors for doors and windows.
Does Ecobee smart camera have any Haven subscription?
Ecobee is offering two video storage plans: The Essential plan includes Home monitoring + Autopilot video storage for one device for $5/month, while the Extended plan lets you store video from an unlimited number of devices for $10/month. Both plans only store videos for 14 days. And, you don’t get the Autopilot feature unless you subscribe, so you have to manually turn your system on or off.
The Extended plan looks to be a good, but not great deal. Most other home security cameras offer at least 30 days of storage when you sign up for a subscription. However, none offer as low prices for as many cameras. For example, the Arlo Premier Plan for up to five cameras costs $10 per month. So if you want to create a mini surveillance state around your house, Ecobee’s Extended plan could be the way to go.
Get the most out of your home monitoring with ecobee Haven. Connect multiple devices that work together with your smartphone for a complete view of your home.Close
| SmartCamera without Haven service | SmartCamera with Haven service | |
|---|---|---|
| FeaturesSmartCamera without Haven serviceSmartCamera with Haven service | ||
| Enhanced Notifications (video clips included) | No | Yes |
| 14-Days Video Storage | No | Yes |
| Live Video | Yes | Yes |
| Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Smart Focus | Yes | Yes |
| Activity Zones | Yes | Yes |
| Night Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Two-Way-Talk | Yes | Yes |
| Siren | Yes | Yes |
| Alexa Built-In | Yes | Yes |
| On-Device-Processing | Yes | Yes |
| Auto On/Off | Yes | Yes |
| Video Encryption | Yes | Yes |
| Two-Factor Authentication | Yes | Yes |
| Person Detection | Yes | Yes |
| Motion Detection | Yes | Yes |
Ecobee smart camera with voice control review
Color
Ecobee’s SmartCamera is rectangular with rounded corners. The face of the camera is a glossy black, not unlike that of the Ecobee thermostat, while the rest of the case is a matte white. On the top of the camera are two touch-sensitive controls for turning off its microphones and activating Alexa.
Design
The Ecobee SmartCamera stands 5.4 inches tall (with its stand) and is 2.2 inches wide and 1.7 inches in depth. It uses a small silver stand that can be attached either to the bottom of the device for placement on a flat surface or on the back panel for mounting on a wall. Mounting screws are included in the box. The base itself has a small slot where you can hook it onto a screw in a wall, much as you would a painting. The screw, as well as an anchor, is included, as is a reasonably long power cord.
Button
The top of the camera is home to Alexa action and mute buttons, and the front contains the camera itself, a pair of far-field microphones, a camera activity LED, four LEDs that glow blue when processing Alexa voice commands, and a speaker.
Back at the home screen there are four buttons at the bottom. The Home button returns you to the home screen, and the Activity button takes you to a screen where you can view events from all of your Haven devices including camera motion events, arming and disarming events, and triggered sensor events. The Vacation button is used to configure thermostat settings for when you are away on vacation, and the Account button brings you to a screen where you edit your home information, location, and anonymously donate thermostat data for research purposes.
Camera
The camera captures 1080p video at 30fps and has a 180-degree field of view. It offers digital pan and tilt using the mobile app and has an auto pan and zoom feature that zeroes in on moving subjects. The camera uses three infrared LEDs for night vision and is equipped with a dual-band Wi-Fi radio for connecting to your home network and a built-in siren.
Motion detection
Other features in the SmartCamera include person detection, so the camera won’t be triggered by your dog wandering around. And, while the camera is not water-resistant, you can point it out a window and enable Window Mode, which disables the camera’s infrared lights to eliminate reflections at night. You can also create activity zones, as well as adjust the motion sensitivity of the camera.
Storage
It is also equipped with a 2GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM, and 4GB of flash memory for onboard video processing, and it contains circuitry that allows it to serve as an Alexa device that will play music, run Alexa Routines, give you the news, and control Alexa-enabled smart home devices. You can also view video from the camera on a compatible smart display.
Smart home integrations
The Ecobee SmartCamera also has Alexa built right into the device, and is capable of music streaming, calling, and smart home control. In a growing smart home ecosystem, it’s convenient to be able to tap into Alexa. There’s also a feature called SmartFocus, which will leverage the digital pan-and-zoom feature to keep a person focused in the center of the frame when motion is detected. This is especially useful and something you don’t find too often in home security cameras.
Thermostat
One of the best features of the Ecobee smart thermostat is a wireless temperature and occupancy SmartSensor; place this sensor in a room that takes a while to cool or warm up, and you can program the Ecobee to keep the AC or heat on until the remote sensor gets to the desired temperature, but only if it detects a person in the room.
Privacy focused
Ecobee nailed privacy right out of the gate. You are required to use two-factor authentication with the SmartCamera, which shuts out many of the biggest potential threats right away. The video feed is encrypted, and all video is processed onboard the camera, not in the cloud. This means the footage is significantly safer than it would be were it broadcast back and forth. The Ecobee app isn’t password-locked by default, although users can add more security in their phone settings.
Ecobee smart camera with voice control performance review
Night vision is enabled by a trio of 850nm infrared LEDs. These can be disabled in the app so they don’t reflect off a window should you decide to position the camera there to monitor an outdoor space (it is not weatherized and cannot be installed outdoors). The camera’s night vision images are crisp and clear.
The Ecobee SmartCamera’s 1080p video is very crisp, and it has a slick tracking feature that automatically zooms in on any person who enters its broad field of view: 180 degrees diagonal, 170 degrees horizontal, and 115 degrees vertical. The camera will then track that person as they move around the room. There is no pan/tilt motor onboard, so this is accomplished digitally and inside the camera (not in the cloud). You can similarly pan, tilt, and zoom the camera’s focus while viewing a live stream by tapping a directional pad in the app.
Audio is streamed along with video, and two-way audio is supported so you can have a conversation with the person in front of the camera (or yell at them if it’s an intruder). Speaking of intruders, the camera has an onboard siren, but it can only be activated manually by pressing a button in the app, and it’s not at all loud—just 76dB.
As a smart speaker, the Ecobee SmartCamera is almost as effective as an Echo Dot: It dutifully responds to its wake word (there are also touch-sensitive buttons on top for summoning the digital assistant and muting the camera’s mics), and it can execute nearly all the skills of any other Alexa device. I was able to use it to control all aspects of my Vivint Smart Home system (turning lights on and off, opening and closing motorized shades, arming its security feature, and so on).
The siren would be much more useful as a deterrent if it could be set to go off when you’re out of the house and the camera’s motion sensor is triggered. This shortcoming becomes even more glaring when you consider the broader home-security possibilities available within the Ecobee ecosystem.
Ecobee smart camera with voice control customer review
A capable Smart Camera, but it really requires the monthly Haven subscription to be useful
I’ve got to say I really like the SmartCamera. The video is clear, the night vision works well, and the 180° field of view is really nice. The virtual pan it does while following someone’s motion makes it seem like the camera is really physically tracking them (when “Person Detection” is enabled).
The camera integration with Haven (for storing and showing recorded video) is really good. I’ve had no issues with it at all. Upload seems to be happening just fine (I have good WiFi coverage and a fast pipe into/out of the house). Playback is quick with no hiccups. With Haven I can get a notification on my phone when it detects motion, as well as look at past saved clips (2 minutes lone) in the history view.
A nice thing is that the thumbnail image in the history view is from the point of detected motion/person, even though the saved video starts about 5 seconds before that. However, sometimes I see that the thumbnail is about half a second too soon – I have a bunch that just show a person’s arm (as they were walking into view), whereas half a second later the whole person would be in the frame.
A downside is that the Camera seems completely useless without the monthly Haven subscription. I used it that way for a week before I activated the Haven 1 month trial. There seemed to be nothing I could do outside of looking at the camera live. It might have been nice for there to be at least the most recent detected activity available if Haven wasn’t in use. I plan to let the Haven subscription expire after the free month to again compare the available features without it. For instance, I’m pretty sure the ‘Activity’ tab on the app only appeared after I enabled Haven.
I was also very surprised the ecobee.com account portal (non-app) doesn’t include the camera at all. That means the only way to view the camera it is with the phone app.
The built-in Alexa is fine, but we really don’t use it. The camera is in the front hall, and it sometimes picked up us talking to the Echo in our kitchen, so we ended up muting it’s Alexa to avoid that .
2 minor negatives:
(1) the camera gets pretty warm. It pulls about 3.5W continuously while monitoring (during the day; I don’t have the measurement from night vision mode).
(2) it makes a loud click when turning on and off the night vision infrared lights. Turning on the lights near the camera makes it turn off the IR LEDs and make the noise. Depending upon where the camera is located, this noise could be annoying.
I also had a minor issue setting up the camera. When my phone would switch to the temporary WiFi ssid the camera created, it would detect no Internet access and switch to phone data, causing the setup to timeout. Simply make sure your phone doesn’t do that (turn on airplane mode, then re-enable WiFi, and then setup the camera).