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Nest kicked off the era of smart thermostats in 2011, and since then there have been improved thermostats, new products, and a Google acquisition. Thanks to all of this, Nest thermostats have remained at the premium end of the market. The company’s old “budget” thermostat was still $ 180 at launch. The new Nest Thermostat, however, is undeniably a budget device. There’s the price, of course, at just $ 130. The hardware also looks a lot cheaper in real life, but that’s not entirely surprising given the price.
If you don’t mind the simpler design and missing features, the new Nest still does almost everything that makes other thermostats in the company so great. It works in most homes, it’s easy to set up, it integrates with Google Home, and you can’t discuss the price. Most of my complaints are things you’d expect at $ 130, and I think that makes for a really good smart thermostat.
Design, material, what’s in the box
The new Nest Thermostat has some basic design cues in common with older products: It’s still round, but the brand’s spinning ring is gone. In its place, the thermostat has a touch zone on the right edge. It works pretty well, but the ring was a much sleeker way to control your thermostat. The face of the new unit has a mirror finish, and I mean mirror“You can see if you have anything in your teeth as you check the temperature. Google claims that the thermostat also uses a Soli radar module for presence detection, but that doesn’t seem to make a noticeable difference compared to older thermostats with different sensors.
The display here looks more like Thermostat E than a third-generation “premium” Nest Thermostat. There is a square LCD screen behind the mirrored surface, making the minimalist user interface feel like it is floating in the mirror. Thermostat E did a good job hiding its square screen behind the diffuser, but the new thermostat is far less successful. The edges of the screen are clearly visible from several angles, which ruins any aesthetic effect of the round shape.
Like most people, I found the new Nest Thermostat to look great in the official promo images. However, this is an example of a device that doesn’t look so good in real life. It’s not unattractive home tech, but it looks like a bowl stuck to your wall from the side. I also feel like the plastic body looks cheaper than you’d expect from a Nest device. When paired with the trim plate, the Nest can also appear off-center from some angles. At the same time (and I’ll remind you several times), this device only costs $ 130, so I can forgive some rough edges.
You don’t get much in the box with the new Nest. The days of the free Nest screwdriver are long gone. You get the thermostat with preinstalled batteries, mounting screws, and a few booklets. Keep in mind that Google no longer includes the trim plates with the device. You can purchase them separately and I’ve installed one in all the photos you see in this review. It’s not very attractive, but it will hide unsightly holes or damage from previous thermostats.
Configuration and features
I might not like the new Nest Thermostat at this point, but that’s not true. This thing has incredible value when you look at what it can do. The Nest Thermostat is easy to set up, works reliably, integrates well with my Google Things, and has a hundred times more features than a traditional thermostat. And it looks, you know, Okay.
The new Nest won’t work with as many HVAC configurations as the flagship Nest, but it is about on par with the E thermostat which costs $ 50 more at launch. Google says it should work with around 80% of homes. I had no problem installing the thermostat with my standard 4 wire system with gas heat and central air (wireless C). If you’ve installed a Nest before, you’ll be familiar with the process. However, instead of using the Nest app, everything happens in the Home app. You’ll get step-by-step instructions that instruct you to take a photo of your wiring, label the wires, and then replace the new Nest backplate. The app will even ask you if you are using the trim plate and remind you to put it under the base if it is.
While Google has removed a lot of superfluous features, I’m glad that the bubble level on the backplate isn’t one of them. This makes it easier to align the base before you start screwing it into the wall. Once it’s connected and your wires are plugged in, you can mount the Nest Thermostat on top. The app should immediately detect the device and help you link it to your account. Again, I had no problem here. It only took a few minutes to replace my old Nest with the new one, which includes setting up plan and locate modes in the Home app.
The Nest Thermostat is easy to set up, works reliably, integrates well with my Google Things, and has a hundred times more features than a traditional thermostat. And it looks, you know, Okay.
The new Nest isn’t showing up in the Nest app at all – the best proof yet that Google is going to be ditching that app in the not too distant future. And honestly, that day can’t come soon enough. The Home app interface for the new thermostat is very similar to what you’ll see if you have an older Nest. The thermostat icon appears at the top of the app, giving you access to the current temperature, setpoint, and mode with a single touch. There is also an energy dashboard accessible via a button at the top of the thermostat user interface where you can track your energy consumption. Unfortunately, Nest temperature sensors or central humidifiers are not supported.
You may have noticed that Google still refers to the 3rd generation Nest as a “learning thermostat”, but this one is only a “thermostat”. You don’t get automated schedules based on your presence and activity with the new Nest. However, personally I have never found these very useful. You might want these features if you have a busy schedule, but my schedule was pretty straightforward during the pandemic, and I would bet it’s the same for a lot of people.
There are three default presets for the new Nest: Comfort, Eco, and Sleep. Comfort is what the thermostat uses during the day and sleep turns on at bedtime. Eco, on the other hand, activates when you are not at home. I found the round trip routines to work better through the Home app than they did with the Nest app (you can augment that with Nest-based motion sensors, but I only use phone location). You can also create additional presets to activate on the fly or to program throughout the day. It’s quick and easy to make these changes, and I don’t think you lose much without the “learning” aspect.
Should you buy it?
Nest Thermostat (2020)
8.5/ten
Yes, if you are looking to replace your traditional thermostat with something smarter. This device seems cheaper than the third-gen Nest Learning Thermostat or the Nest Thermostat E, but you should expect it to a certain extent. This thermostat is $ 50 cheaper at launch than Thermostat E, and the current flagship is still $ 250. At $ 130, you get plenty of features, and controlling that feature through the Home app instead of the Nest app is a win in my book. I also appreciate the continued reliability of Nest thermostats. The installation only took a few minutes and it works perfectly.
Most of my complaints are cosmetic in nature. I don’t care much for the reflective face and the screen below is too visible. The shape is also more of a nuisance in real life than you would expect from official images. Maybe you’re feeling differently, or maybe your thermostat isn’t in a high-visibility spot and design isn’t a big deal. Either way, you’re only losing a few niche features from the high-end Nest. If you don’t need extra temperature sensors or a multi-stage heater stand, the $ 130 Nest does the job and more. The functionality is good and the price is right.
But if …
- You don’t need the niche features exclusive to the 3rd gen Nest.
- The Google Home app is already essential for managing your smart home.
Don’t buy it if …
- You have a complex HVAC setup.
- Your thermostat is in full view and you don’t like the design of the new Nest.
Buy
Google, Best Buy, Home Depot
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