The Ambient Weather brand has been around for a long time, initially a great place to find deals on all kinds of weather instruments, but now selling its own branded weather instruments and gadgets. That move has paid off: their stations have become a ‘cult favorite’ among weather enthusiasts, thanks to a great mix of functionality and price. While our international readers may recognize some of these as Ecowitt weather stations, they offer some functionality that Ecowitt does not.
Ambient weather stations often have features that other weather stations don’t at the same price point, and the company has fully embraced smart home technology. Every internet-connected Ambient Weather station supports Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT. And the accuracy is surprisingly good for the price. So which one should you buy? Keep reading.
Ambient Weather Stations Currently Available
The WS-5000 is Ambient Weather's top-of-the-line home weather station, and it shows. Accuracy is on par with the Davis Vantage Pro2, and smart home connectivity and a new sonic anemometer make this a top pick.
Ambient Weather WS-5000-IP3 Home Weather Station
If you don't need a console, the WS-5000-IP3 doesn't have one, and saves you $90.
If the WS-5000 is too expensive for you, consider the WS-2000 instead, which features the same higher-end console, but with the WS-2902's sensor suite.
We were surprised with how accurate the Ambient Weather WS-2902 weather station was, given its price. We wholeheartedly recommend this to weather watchers on a budget.
Ambient Weather WS-1965 WiFi Weather Station
The WS-1965 is Ambient's cheapest weather station with internet connectivity.
Ambient Weather Company Profile
Ambient Weather has had an online presence since 1998, when it started as an online shop selling various manufacturers’ weather instruments, gadgets, and accessories. Several years ago, Ambient Weather turned to worldwide digital instrument maker Fine Offset to produce its own branded line of weather instruments (Ecowitt and several other manufacturers also use Fine Offset, too).
While station components are manufactured overseas, Ambient Weather develops its software and assembles them completely in the United States, initially at Ambient Weather’s original Arizona headquarters and later in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania. Boothwyn is home to Nielsen Kellerman, who acquired Ambient Weather in 2019.
Ambient Weather joined two other long-standing names in weather instrumentation, including Kestrel, a brand NK launched in 1996, and fellow American-made professional weather station maker Rainwise, which it acquired in 2020. With the three brands, Nielsen Kellerman is now the largest manufacturer of personal and professional-grade weather stations in the United States, both by volume and market share.
Ambient Weather Station Comparisons
We often get asked about which Ambient weather station a reader should pick. We’ve compared Ambient Weather’s most popular models below to compare the differences between the various models. While we’ve listed all the current main models above, we only currently recommend the WS-2902, WS-2000, and WS-5000 models.
WS-2000 vs. WS-2902
We think that those debating between the WS-2000 and WS-2902 will want to consider their budget first. The WS-2902 is an excellent station for the price. However, the WS-2000 console allows you to add and view additional sensors and is certainly better quality. If you want to observe the weather casually, then the WS-2902 is fine. However, if you think you might have other uses for your Ambient weather station down the road, then the WS-2000 is the better long-term choice.
Who should buy the WS-2902?
The Ambient Weather WS-2902 is an excellent entry-level weather station and is one of our top choices for casual weather observers. In our tests, the WS-2902 performed nearly as well as the Davis Vantage Vue for a fraction of the price. Add the internet connectivity of this station, not something you often see in entry-level stations, and it’s a real bargain, in our opinion.
Who should buy the WS-2000?
The Ambient Weather WS-2000 uses the same sensor suite as the WS-2902. However, the WS-2000 swaps out the LCD console for the much better console found in the WS-5000. This allows the WS-2000 to support the vast array of optional sensors that Ambient Weather provides, but at a much more affordable price.
WS-2902 vs. WS-5000
The WS-2902 and the WS-5000 are aimed at two different types of consumers. The WS-2902 is an entry-level Ambient weather station. The WS-5000 is intended for weather enthusiasts and those looking for better accuracy. If you’re deciding between these two and can afford them, opt for the WS-5000 instead.
The WS-5000’s expandability is a big plus for us. And with a ton of additional sensors available, the WS-5000 is more suited for specific applications, such as agriculture. However, it’s also one of the most expensive weather stations on the market, and we don’t feel comfortable recommending the WS-5000 unless you have the budget for it.
Did the Ambient Weather WS-5000 increase in price?
Yes, this Ambient weather station was once a much better deal. The station initially retailed for $329.00 on Amazon and elsewhere. However, the retail price has increased three times since its launch: by $100 in mid-2021, $10 after Black Friday 2021, and another $10 in late Spring 2022. Component shortages resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation are likely to blame, but there is updated communication hardware that gives it three times the range of previous WS-5000s. Ambient Weather also has the WS-5000-IP, which replaces the console with a Wi-Fi base station — and is about $90 cheaper. The app is fully featured and works as good, if not better, than a console.
WS-2000 vs. WS-5000
While the WS-2000 and WS-5000 share the same console, the WS-5000 introduces an updated (and we’d argue more accurate) sensor suite. This makes the WS-5000 our preferred Ambient weather station for pro-level users looking for alternatives to Davis weather stations.
This said, if you’re looking for true pro-grade accuracy, we’d still recommend a weather station like the Davis Vantage Vue, and especially the Davis Vantage Pro2. Even without decent smart home connectivity, Davis still is the most accurate personal weather station on the market.
Who should buy the WS-2000?
The Ambient Weather WS-2000 uses the same sensor suite as the WS-2902. However, the WS-2000 swaps out the LCD console for the much better console found in the WS-5000. This allows the WS-2000 to support the vast array of optional sensors that Ambient Weather produces, but at a much more affordable price.
Who should buy the WS-5000?
The Ambient Weather WS-5000 is the company’s latest model and includes a new sensor suite. The rain gauge is separate from the rest of the sensor suite for more optimal placement, and Ambient has replaced the traditional cup-and-vane anemometer with sonic technology. Our tests found this station incredibly accurate, although the high price is a significant barrier for most shoppers.
Our Test Results for Ambient Weather Stations
Below we’ve shared our scoring for the Ambient Weather station models that made our rankings for the Best Weather Station of 2023. Three stations made our final rankings for this year, the WS-2902, WS-5000, and WS-2000. To learn more about our scoring methodology, click here.
Ambient Weather Station FAQ
Here are some commonly asked questions from our readers about Ambient weather stations.
Popular Weather Station Mounting Options
Wrapping Up
Ambient Weather stations are outstanding and often surprised us with how accurate they were, which is hard to find in lower-priced weather stations. Plus, they’re future-ready with smart home capabilities that few other manufacturers offer, giving them an advantage in a competitive market.
No matter which one you choose, you’ll be backed up by excellent customer service. In all our experiences with their support team, our customer service representative handled questions and issues promptly. This is one area where the industry could improve, and Ambient Weather is doing it correctly.
