Google nest thermostat review

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Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement. Google borrowed the basics from its previous thermostats for this new, more affordable model , but added in some notable improvements. It also features a side touch interface that streamlines the hardware into slide-and-tap controls so you no longer have to turn the entire thermostat ring to browse through the settings -- or press down on the entire device to make your selection.

Google nest thermostat review

Dan has covered the technology world for over a decade at The Verge. If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. Ten years ago, Nest introduced its first smart thermostat, the Nest Learning Thermostat, and showed the world what a smart thermostat is capable of. The most obvious thing Google did was change the design and functionality of the thermostat itself. Instead, you use a touch strip on the right side to adjust temperature and navigate the interface. Also different are the materials: the Nest Thermostat is made entirely of plastic that you can get in four different colors, as opposed to the metal finishes of the older models. Aesthetics are certainly a personal preference, but I like the look of the brushed metal of the older Nest models much better. The front of the Nest Thermostat has a mirrored finish, with a display that shines through it when you are in front of the thermostat or interacting with it. This is not a touchscreen — all interaction on the thermostat is done through the touch strip — and most of the time, it just sits there on the wall not displaying anything. When the screen is on, it looks like information is just floating on the mirrored front, a neat effect. Tap the side, and you can scroll through the menus to adjust modes, set a hold temperature, and view other settings, though most of the adjustments to scheduling and such are handled through the Google Home app on your smartphone. But if you look at it from the right angle, mostly from the left side, you can see where the square display is centered under the mirrored panel, breaking the illusion a bit.

My initial apprehension over integrating a smart thermostat into such an old system led me to Google's Thermostat Compatibility Checker. The Verge homepage. Nest's third-generation thermostat also has google nest thermostat review 40 percent larger screen and an improved resolution for better all-around visibility.

Smart thermostats are the gateway to smart-home life. The problem with many smart-home devices is that the learning curve is difficult, so you never really get the most out of them. Nest smart thermostats make it easy. For as long as we've been reviewing smart thermostats , a Nest device has always ranked among our favorites. Both current Nest models install just like any other thermostat and even come with the screwdriver , but unlike other models, which tend to have confusing menus and complicated programming, a Nest thermostat programs itself. The flagship Nest Learning Thermostat learns your temperature preferences based on your usage, and then it creates a schedule for you.

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement. Google borrowed the basics from its previous thermostats for this new, more affordable model , but added in some notable improvements. It also features a side touch interface that streamlines the hardware into slide-and-tap controls so you no longer have to turn the entire thermostat ring to browse through the settings -- or press down on the entire device to make your selection. The new thermostat's use of the Google Home app is notable. This is the first Nest-branded thermostat to ship without support for the Nest app that existed before Google acquired Nest in The Nest app still works for legacy Nest devices, but Google essentially "retired" the Nest app for new products when Google aligned its Nest and Google Home brands in -- more on this below.

Google nest thermostat review

Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more. If you ask me, a refresh to the lineup was long overdue. The housing is made of plastic, and it has a nice mirror-like finish on the front. I love the way it looks. Previous Nest models had you rotate the housing to adjust temperature and scroll through menus, while a push-in would act as your select button.

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Of course, installation will vary widely depending on your heating and cooling system, but the third-gen Nest Learning Thermostat is by far the easiest model I've ever installed. If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. While I noticed the updated display size and resolution instantly, the "thinner" depth was much less obvious. You can still make manual tweaks to your settings on the thermostat itself -- or on the Nest app anywhere you have a Wi-Fi or cellular connection. Nest used to promote wide compatibility with other products, but Google ended that in , and integration capabilities such as the ability to work with Philips Hue Lights were scuttled. It comes with the same tiny, but functional screwdriver and built-in level as well as a basic rectangular baseplate for covering up any unsightly holes or patchy paintwork from previous installs and a steel plate for mounting your thermostat to an electrical box. And, if it senses that there's a potential issue, it will alert you in the Nest app, on the thermostat screen and in your monthly energy usage email. Like the first, it's worked extremely well, and unfortunately replicated all of the same minor annoyances. This thermostat has built-in motion, temperature, humidity and ambient light sensors, but it isn't compatible with Google's Nest Temperature Sensor accessory for automating your heat and air conditioning around the ambient temp in rooms other than the one where your thermostat is installed. It works with more smart home partners including Apple HomeKit and comes with a temperature sensor at no additional cost. It's a definite design improvement over the frosted plastic design of the still-nice-looking Nest Thermostat E. I also tested the thermostat's voice compatibility with my Nest Hub, using the command, "Hey Google, set my thermostat to 68 degrees" or "turn the heat down two degrees," as well as the "Good night" command I mentioned earlier, and they all worked as expected. Reviews ethics statement. Given the prevalence of Google and Amazon-branded devices already available in my home, it's not something I've pursued, but it is available as an option if you are one of the few users out there entirely locked into Apple's HomePod ecosystem, or a person that relies exclusively on your phone to control your smart home devices. In all, it takes about 15 minutes to install and set up the Nest Thermostat, though you can also pay a professional to do it for you.

When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. Learn more. The newer Google Nest is essentially a WiFi-enabled programmable thermostat, requiring you to program it when you initially set it up.

Tom's Guide Verdict. Our process. In my experience, it's done an excellent job of tailoring heating in my home over the past fall and winter to keep the whole house comfortable. But those once-revolutionary features are now par for the smart-home course, with brands like Ecobee and Honeywell offering smart thermostats of their own designed to compete alongside Nest in the DIY market. Even though this is the first Nest thermostat to require you to use the Google Home app out of the box, the experience is still largely the same as before. Here's a running list of the smart thermostats we've reviewed to date, regularly updated as we review new products. All of these features worked well for me, and similarly to previous Nest thermostats I've tested. Eventually I verified I had enough extra slack in the wire and chose to clip the kinked ends off and use a straighter portion to better seat into the Nest's spring-loaded, pushbutton contact clamps. Row 0 - Cell 0. See full bio. Look for the green leaf in your app to make sure the temperatures you set are optimizing your energy savings. Related links Nest who? Given the prevalence of Google and Amazon-branded devices already available in my home, it's not something I've pursued, but it is available as an option if you are one of the few users out there entirely locked into Apple's HomePod ecosystem, or a person that relies exclusively on your phone to control your smart home devices. And, Nest slimmed down the thermostat's profile so it won't stick out from the wall as much.