Google Nest thermostats complete review

Smart home products – or home appliances that can connect to other devices or networks, like smartphones – offer convenience and efficiency, and are becoming increasingly popular. From doorbells and locks to smoke detectors to thermostats, smart home devices can be controlled from virtually anywhere. Google Nest, Google’s line of smart home products, boasts a sleek collection of smart home products that can help manage a home’s energy habits. In this article, we review Google Nest smart thermostats: the Nest Learning Thermostat and the Nest Thermostat.

Google Nest thermostats are smart thermostats, or WiFi-enabled home automation devices that control a home’s HVAC. Just like traditional thermostats, Nest thermostats are wall-mounted control systems that display a zone’s temperature and settings. However, unlike traditional thermostats, Nest thermostats can be controlled remotely, turn themselves down when no one is home, monitor HVAC health, send maintenance reminders and savings suggestions, and more.

Once installed, Nest thermostats connect to either the Nest or Google Home app, allowing users to adjust the temperature of their homes from anywhere and receive alerts to catch potential issues early on. For example, unusual heating or cooling patterns trigger the apps to send an HVAC system alert at first detection. Google’s smart thermostats also send maintenance reminders that can help increase your HVAC system's efficiency and longevity through regular maintenance. Additionally, Nest thermostats can use proximity to automatically adjust temperatures to save energy when no one is home.

Google Nest offers two thermostats: the Nest Learning Thermostat and the Nest Thermostat. Here’s what you need to know about both options:

Nest Learning Thermostat

The Nest Learning Thermostat is Google’s original smart thermostat and is set apart by its advanced features. Named for its learning algorithm, the Nest Learning Thermostat learns your personal temperature preferences to adapt and adjust on its own to save you time on manually setting a schedule. Other notable features unique to the Nest Learning Thermostat include exclusive compatibility with the Nest Temperature Sensor and access to the Nest App.

The Nest Learning Thermostat features a high-res display with Fairsight, which displays the local weather and time when it senses your presence. Available in seven different metal ring finishes, the Nest Learning Thermostat also includes a trim plate for a cleaner look. From its sleek design to its position as the first ENERGY STAR-certified thermostat, the Nest Learning Thermostat continues to adapt its technology to provide comfort, convenience, and savings.

Nest Thermostat

Created to fit a lower budget, the Nest Thermostat provides many of the same features as the Nest Learning Thermostat but at a lower price point. Importantly, the Nest Thermostat delivers the same energy savings and is made to be easily self-installed, monitor HVAC systems and send alerts and reminders, suggest temperature settings to optimize energy savings, and turn itself down when you’re away. But as the budget-friendly model, the Nest Thermostat has fewer features.

The Nest Thermostat only works in the Google Home App, not the Nest App. You can manually enter a schedule for your temperature preferences through the Google Home App, but the Nest Thermostat will not learn and adjust to your personal preferences over time. Similarly, the Nest Thermostat does not work with the Nest Temperature Sensor and lacks the his-res display and Fairsight that comes with the Nest Learning Thermometer.

The Nest Thermostat is available in four of its own unique colors and features a mirrored finish and a plastic setting. Trim plates are sold separately but are compatible with the model and its colorful finishes.

The energy savings for both the Nest Learning Thermostat and the Nest Thermostat are equal, so either way, you’ll save 10-12% on heating and 15% on cooling on average! However, the Nest Learning Thermostat works with a wider array of HVAC systems and comes with more features, like Nest Temperature Sensor compatibility and the ability to learn temperature preferences to automatically set a schedule accordingly. Overall, things like your design, app, display preferences, HVAC system, desired level of convenience, and budget will help you determine which thermostat is right for your home.

Comparing Google Nest thermostats

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