For this new, more economical model, Google used cues from its earlier thermostats where appropriate but made some significant upgrades. In comparison to the $169 Nest Thermostat E, the company’s previous mid-range thermostat, this new version, simply named the Nest Thermostat, is thinner and has a sharper design overall. Check out more details about nest thermostats for sale.
It also has a touch interface on one side, which simplifies the hardware into slide and tap controls so you don’t have to press down on the whole gadget to make a choice or spin the whole thermostat ring to look at the many options. While the Ecobee smart thermostat with Voice Control has a smart speaker built right in, the Nest Thermostat is compatible with both Alexa and Google Assistant and can be controlled remotely through the Google Home app.
The new thermostat is notable because it can be controlled via the Google Home app. In contrast to all other Nest-branded thermostats released since Google’s acquisition of Nest in 2014, this one does not work with the original Nest app. Though the Nest app will continue to function for older Nest products, with the 2019 alignment of the Nest and Google Home brands, Google essentially “retired” the Nest app for new products.
Google’s newest Nest Thermostat features a new app and a new style, but the best part is the price: just $130, which is far less than previous models. True, $130 is still a lot to spend when you can find super-affordable nonsmart thermostats for under $30, but the new Nest brings the price gap a little closer and offers a tonne of extra features. The Nest Thermostat is my go-to cheap smart thermostat, therefore I had to give it my highest recommendation.
A primer
There are four colour options for the newest Google thermostat: snow (white), sand (rose gold), fog (light green/blueish-gray), and charcoal (dark gray). It has a diameter of 3.3 inches and a depth of 1.1 inches, and weighs little under 5 ounces. Although it shares the same diameter as the $249 Nest Learning Thermostat that Google will continue to sell, the new model is thinner and lighter.
Google has discontinued its do-it-yourself sales of the $169 Nest Thermostat E, although the product is still available via professional installers for an extra cost. Visit this link to learn more.
The stainless steel ring on the Nest Learning Thermostat gives it the most expensive appearance of the three thermostats we tested. The new Nest Thermostat, on the other hand, has a mirror display and costs almost $100 less. It’s a big upgrade in terms of aesthetics compared to the frosted plastic form of the older, but still attractive, Nest Thermostat E.
The thermostat and its mounting hardware are the only other contents of the box. In case you’re interested, Google does sell coordinating trim kits for $15 each. There are motion, temperature, humidity, and ambient light sensors built into this thermostat, but it isn’t compatible with Google’s Nest Temperature Sensor attachment for coordinating heating and cooling with the temperature in a room other than the one where the thermostat is physically situated.
To control the temperature, you’ll need to download the Google Home app, but other than that, it’s pretty much the same as using any other Nest thermostat. Adjustments to your thermostat’s settings may be made from any location with an internet connection, and you can even set up automated schedules and preferred temperature ranges that change on their own (based on the position of your phone) when you leave and return home. All of these functions performed admirably, just as they had on my old Nest thermostat.
When the thermostat is set to a more energy-efficient setting, a leaf icon appears on the screen and in the app, just as it does with other Nest thermostat models. To get a more in-depth look at your home’s energy usage over days, weeks, and months, open the app’s energy dashboard by clicking on the little chart icon with a leaf.
Switching to the Google Home app also simplifies setting up “Routines” (scenes) using numerous Google Nest products. I have a Nest Thermostat and a Google Nest Hub smart display, so when I say “Good night” to the Nest Hub, the Nest Thermostat sets itself to the ideal sleeping temperature. If I had more Google Nest goods, saying “Good night” would also lock the front door and turn off any lights that were compatible.
In order to install and set up your thermostat in the Google Home app, you will need a Google Home account. A Nest Thermostat can be added to your app by tapping the + sign in the upper left corner of the main screen, and then tapping “Set up device.” This will take you through the setup process.