Nest Thermostat 2024 review: a fabulous fourth generation | usagoldmines.com

There have been sure instances in my life through which I’ve seen some new tech product and instantly fallen in love. Or lust. No matter you need to name it, I needed to have it. The Apple IIe in my kindergarten class all these a few years in the past. A Sony Discman. A Palm Treo 750. The Logitech Concord Companion common distant. (I really miss that last one.)

I don’t know if the Nest Thermostat falls into that very same class, however it’s shut — if solely as a result of I’m sufficiently old to have lived in properties whose thermostats used mercury tilt switches to show issues on and off. These beige bins had been terrible in so some ways. So when the original Nest Thermostat came out in late 2011, I knew I’d get one sooner or later.

Greater than a decade later, we’re now on the fourth technology of the Nest Thermostat. A lot has modified, even when the essential performance stays the identical — it nonetheless controls your house heating and cooling system.

I have to preface this evaluation with a fairly large caveat, although: each house is totally different. Each HVAC setup is totally different, and what you could have can differ fairly significantly relying on the place you reside. I’m in Florida, which mainly has 4 seasons which might be various levels of scorching and humid. (And three of these seasons final a complete of 14 days.) You may not have such issues. And we do warmth pumps right here. However, I’ve by no means needed to dwell with a radiator of any kind. So what you’re about to learn is my fundamental tackle the newest Nest Thermostat because it lives and breathes in my house. Your edge instances could — and can — be totally different.

However one factor will stay fixed: Rattling, this factor seems to be stunning.

About this evaluation

I’ve been utilizing the fourth-generation Nest Thermostat as despatched for evaluation from Google, and it’s been on my wall for greater than a month. I’m not new to the Nest ecosystem. This fourth-gen mannequin changed a second-gen mannequin on my wall, and I had a first-gen earlier than that.

I even have a Nest Shield smoke alarm, and varied Nest cameras and doorbells and locks and different issues that tie into the Nest ecosystem. I’ve additionally been utilizing all this lengthy earlier than and lengthy after Google bought Nest and finally began integrating the merchandise into the Google Residence app. That’ll play a fairly large half on this evaluation, really.

In with the fourth-generation Nest Thermostat, and out with my outdated second-generation mannequin. Phil Nickinson / Digital Developments

The setup

HVAC items are (to me, anyway) concurrently easy and daunting. I mainly understand how they work. And on the similar time I do not know how they work. I’ve bought a factor on the wall that controls one other factor in a closet someplace, and in addition a factor exterior that has an enormous fan and makes a bit little bit of noise.

That factor on the wall that controls how scorching and the way chilly (and on the similar time, how humid) my home is at any given time known as the thermostat. Easy sufficient. Open it up and also you’ll discover a bunch of low-voltage wires that go … someplace. Most likely again to the factor within the closet, proper? (And at this level I’ll apologize to any HVAC professionals for my terminology.)

That’s what a Nest Thermostat is tackling. You’ll take the wires off the outdated thermostat, take it off the wall, and exchange it with the brand new Nest hotness. In principle, it’s fairly easy. Nest has all the time carried out a superb job at strolling you thru the method. And, really, earlier than you even buy a thermostat. I can’t stress sufficient how necessary it’s to make use of Nest’s compatibility checker. As a result of in case your system merely isn’t suitable — perhaps it’s too outdated, or simply too totally different — then all the pieces else is moot and it’s best to save your cash.

However assuming you’re good to go and have a system that’ll work, it’s time to set issues up. There are two methods I need to tackle setup right here. First, a brief model for these acquainted with Nest, Google Residence, and simply sensible house stuff on the whole. Then one for everybody else, for many who would possibly want a bit additional reassurance.

For these acquainted with the Google Residence ecosystem and Nest

If you have already got a Nest Thermostat, that is going to be fairly easy. In the event you don’t, however you could have different gadgets that work contained in the Google Residence app, you additionally ought to really feel proper at (apologies) house.

It took me perhaps 10 minutes to take down my outdated second-gen Nest Thermostat and exchange it with this new fourth-gen. You’ll be aware the faux-slate backer plate on my wall — I’ve had it for years. Amazon is awful with them. This new thermostat additionally comes with a boring plastic backing plate, in the event you want one, in addition to required mounting {hardware} like screws and anchors. (The times of a Nest-branded screwdriver included within the field are, sadly, lengthy gone.) Or in case your wall permits, you possibly can go straight in.

I took a fast image of the wires in my outdated Nest setup, killed energy to my HVAC unit, then stripped all the pieces down. The mounting holes within the new thermostat matched intently sufficient, so I didn’t even hassle utilizing the brand new screws or anchors. I plugged all of the wires into the brand new thermostat — and double-checked issues, since this new mannequin really has extra choices for wires than the outdated ones. (That’s factor!)

Then I linked all the pieces by means of the Google Residence app — identical to every other system from the previous couple of years — and all the pieces was up and operating. Easy.

For these new to Google Residence and Nest

In the event you’ve by no means used a Nest Thermostat earlier than or are a youngling within the methods of sensible house merchandise, you’re in for a experience. And there are a few methods you possibly can proceed:

In the event you’re comparatively snug with house improvement-type initiatives, putting in a Nest Thermostat is a comparatively easy one. Nest has all the time had a very good setup course of, and that continues on this fourth-generation system.

Begin by taking your time unboxing all the pieces, and really learn by means of the directions. You’ll be aware how sparse they’re. That’s since you’ll get the complete walkthrough within the Google Residence app.

I’d additionally advocate reading through Google’s support docs, which additionally stroll you thru each step of the method — together with with some nice movies.

The toughest a part of the entire course of is mounting all the pieces on the wall correctly — take your time! — and matching the wires to the suitable locations. Assuming you’ve carried out that proper, your Nest Thermostat ought to energy on when you join it to the bottom on the wall. (If you wish to cheat a bit, you possibly can cost it by way of USB-C earlier than sticking it on the wall, which really is a bit useful as a result of there’s a QR code on the thermostat itself that you simply’ll have to scan.)

That’ll get you going within the Google Residence app. From there you’ll arrange digital rooms within the app, which you’ll need to roughly match the place issues are in your house, simply so you possibly can preserve all of it straight. You’ll then undergo the method of organising the thermostat itself, together with schedules and minimal and most temperatures.

One half to pay a bit consideration to is organising your cellphone to function a mechanism to find out in the event you’re at house, or away from house. The thermostat then adjusts issues accordingly. If no person’s round, it received’t warmth or cool the home. However in the event you’re house, it would. It’s a useful function.

Once more, take your time. Learn the phrases. Watch the movies. (Previous ones mainly have the identical {hardware} set up course of.) And don’t be afraid to ask somebody for assist in the event you want it. And if all else fails, a good HVAC firm might help. (Although that, after all, will value a bit bit of cash.)

Towards the competitors

Huge change No. 1

This brings us to the primary of the 2 largest modifications on this fourth-generation Nest Thermostat. It not requires — and even makes use of — the legacy Nest app. In any respect. That’s each good and dangerous.

It’s good as a result of Google has been consolidating all of its sensible house merchandise within the Google Residence app for some time. So placing the brand new Thermostat there makes complete sense.

It’s perhaps rather less good as a result of the Google Residence app isn’t as elegant because the Nest app — in design in addition to in the way in which it capabilities. It really works, and most all the pieces is there, however it’s not a looker.

This additionally signifies that I now have one system — and one system solely — that requires the outdated Nest app. That’s the Nest Protect smoke alarm. My recommendation at this level could be to have anybody else who lives in your house simply kill their Nest app and allow you to take care of it. (Assuming you’re the keeper of all of the nerd issues at house.)

The beautiful new design

I’ve gone this far with out gushing over the brand new design. Gone is the silver ring that turned across the exterior of the older Nest Thermostat. It’s been changed by a little bit of sorcery that has you flip the whole face of the Thermostat to regulate the temperature or make your manner by means of the person interface.

This fourth-gen mannequin is on the market in three shade: polished silver, polished gold (which is perhaps extra brown than yellow), and the none-more-black polished obsidian, which is what I had Google ship over. It’s beautiful. For as refined because the earlier variations of the Nest Thermostat had been, that is one thing fully totally different. Much less industrial and extra futuristic. It feels a bit bizarre speaking a couple of thermostat in the identical manner we would the newest cellphone, however right here we’re.

Your complete factor is simply shy of 4 inches in diameter and stick about a bit greater than 1 inch. The show itself, although, is simply 2.7 inches. So it doesn’t take up the whole face, however that’s high-quality. Relying on what cellphone you carry round on the each day, you would possibly really be a bit dissatisfied within the display screen at first. It’s a 600×600 LCD show, or not so good as what’s in my iPhone 15 Professional. And I’ll admit, I used to be a bit dissatisfied at first. After which I reminded myself that I used to be complaining concerning the 2.7-inch show on a thermostat. I bought over it fairly fast.

The brand new show additionally homes a “Soli” sensor. That in and of itself isn’t new — it’s what’s baked contained in the second-generation Nest Hub for a function known as Movement Sense that it monitor your sleep and acknowledge gestures. On this context, although, it’s used to mild up the show when it sees you coming.

The temperature sensor

Together with this fully new design is a brand new, second-generation exterior temperature sensor. It’s a bit puck-like system, concerning the dimension of an Oreo. Double Stuf. (Which is the one acceptable reply.) Stick it on a desk, or a dresser, or wherever. Simply perhaps not a windowsill, since that’ll get exceptionally scorching or chilly. There’s a bit notch on the again if you wish to affix it to a wall by way of a screw or hook.

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The second-generation Nest temperature sensor.

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The second-generation Nest temperature sensor.

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The second-generation Nest temperature sensor.

You don’t have to make use of the sensor in the event you don’t need, however it’s a useful little system you probably have a room that’s all the time too scorching or too chilly, however you need to have the ability to cool it or warmth it appropriately. Two of my house’s three bedrooms have that downside, really. (Thanks, Nineteen Eighties building!) So I stashed the puck within the worst-offending room and ensure I don’t boil/freeze the individual there on the expense of everybody else.

One function you would possibly need to contemplate is simply utilizing the sensor at a sure time of day, which is a factor you are able to do.

The sensor comes with a detachable CR2 battery, which most likely isn’t one thing you could have mendacity round. I can’t let you know how lengthy it’ll final, however Google says it must be good for as much as three years.

You may have as much as six sensors in a house. I appear to have misplaced my first-generation sensor, however Google tells me the OG will work with this new Nest Thermostat, too. In the event you want further second-gen sensors, you possibly can snag one for $40, or three for $99.

Huge change No. 2

Right here’s one other cool enchancment that will get its on part: Farsight. Once more, it’s not a brand new function. Nest Thermostats have all the time woke up to point out you info as soon as they understand you’re inside view. However this greater full-screen show comes with some new toys.

You now have 4 Farsight choices from which to decide on. And I’m not too happy with a nerd as to say that this perhaps has been the toughest a part of the entire new Nest expertise: selecting which possibility to make use of. As of this writing, there are 4.

Temperature: Reveals the present temp (mild face on prime), and the goal temp beneath it.
Climate: Reveals you the reported temperature exterior, and whether or not it’s sunny, stormy, and many others.
Analog clock: That’s the sort with fingers.
Digital clock: Numbers solely.

It’s perhaps a bit foolish, however I’m form of dissatisfied. However I don’t know what I anticipated. Temperature appears form of boring, albeit necessary. I actually wished to make use of climate on a regular basis, however there was one thing extraordinarily unnerving about seeing temperatures within the excessive 90s on my thermostat, which has all the time proven the indoor temperature. And I don’t want one other clock in my life (or in that room), although these actually are purposeful and look simply high-quality and would possibly effectively give you the results you want.

There additionally is a few secondary info that can pop up as you get nearer. However I’ve discovered it to be so small that I can’t actually see if except I’m purposefully in entrance of the thermostat and never simply strolling by.

In the long run, I’ve settled on the temperature possibility and determined that is only a downside with my mind, and never one thing that Nest did badly. It’ll be fascinating to see if every other choices emerge, although. (Hurray for thermostats that get software program updates over the air!)

Utilizing the Nest Thermostat

OK, the bread and butter. You should utilize the Nest Thermostat as a lot or as little as you need. Once more, each house is totally different, as is everybody’s tolerances for warmth and chilly. However this Nest Thermostat — like all that got here earlier than it — actually desires to take over for you. It doesn’t need you to have to fret your fairly little head concerning the temperature. The truth is, it goes as far as to mechanically setting a schedule.

I’m nonetheless hit or miss on this. However I don’t contemplate {that a} large strike in opposition to the Nest Thermostat. My use case has all the time been a bit bizarre as a result of I make money working from home. I don’t thoughts if issues are a bit scorching through the day in the summertime, or chilly through the day within the winter. It’s simply me at house, and I’ll be a tad uncomfortable within the identify of saving a couple of dollars on my electrical invoice.

That stated, the Google Residence app handles schedules so significantly better than the legacy Nest app. (Those that know, know.) There’s no extra fat-fingering particular person temperatures at particular person instances on particular person days. By default, the app units two scheduled “occasions”: Consolation and Sleep. These are triggered by time.

You don’t really should ever contact the thermostat on the wall, in the event you don’t need to. It really works nice with a cellphone or pill. It really works nice by way of voice, although not like, say, an Ecobee, it doesn’t achieve this immediately by means of the thermostat itself. Extra on that in a second.

There’s a lot to discover within the Nest Thermostat, although. Press the glass face to get into the in depth menu system, then rotate to scroll by means of the choices. That just about works the identical as earlier than, although I discovered myself attempting to press in particular locations on the display screen, as if it had been a cellphone’s touchscreen. It’s not. There are loads of choices accessible within the settings part, too.

Particularly necessary is the choice that can lock the thermostat — that’s useful you probably have children, or in the event you plan on placing this thermostat in a public place.

Huge change No. 3

Maybe crucial half about any Nest Thermostat is that it’s a sensible thermostat. That’s, it connects to the web. That’s the way it talks to Google. That’s the way it does loads of what it does.

This fourth-generation mannequin additionally features a sensible house protocol known as Matter. It’s not the primary Nest Thermostat to incorporate that — the 2020-year model got Matter support by way of a software program replace in 2023.

In the event you’re new to Nest, or if like me you’re coming from an model from earlier than 2020, it is a large deal as a result of it permits the Nest Thermostat to work natively with Apple’s HomeKit system. And meaning I not have to make use of a bridge service like Residence Assistant (plus a bit hackery) to attach my thermostat to HomeKit. And since it’s now in HomeKit, you should use your voice to have Siri management the Nest Thermostat.

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The fourth-generation Nest Thermostat helps Matter, and meaning it really works natively in Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem.

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You don’t should do any hackery to get the fourth-generation Nest Thermostat to seem in HomeKit — it’s only one step throughout setup.

In the event you solely use Google merchandise, cool. Every part already works simply as anticipated. As long as your Google gadgets are all on the identical Google account, they’ll speak to one another simply high-quality. Management it with a Nest Hub utilizing the display screen or your voice. Similar goes for a cellphone. Or Google TV. Something that has Google Assistant or Gemini or no matter Google desires to rename issues to this week.

However Matter help is necessary for something exterior the Google ecosystem.

Do you have to purchase it?

A flagship Nest thermostat is just not a cheap system. This one retails for $280 as of this writing. That’s $30 greater than the earlier technology, although this new mannequin comes with the exterior temperature sensor. How lengthy it’ll take you to recoup that cash by way of any type of month-to-month financial savings in your electrical invoice depends upon your utilization.

Practically $300 (earlier than tax) to regulate your HVAC remotely is loads of money. That must be stated.

However so does this: This fourth-gen Nest Thermostat is beautiful. I can’t say that sufficient. It seems to be nice on a wall. Possibly too good, really. (My faux-slate plate helps loads.) The setup course of remains to be very effectively carried out — extraordinarily useful for newcomers, and simply skipped for many who have been right here earlier than.

The inclusion of Matter is necessary, and must be anticipated in a tool of this caliber in 2024. You don’t have to know the Matter identify — simply know that it’s what lets gadgets from totally different producers play good with one another.

I don’t suppose I’d advocate tossing a superbly good Nest Thermostat for this one, except you could have $300 to burn and may present the outdated one to a brand new house. It’s simply not essential. And in the event you simply need a thermostat that permits for distant management, you may get one for lower than this — including from Nest itself.

However in the event you’re available in the market for a brand new sensible thermostat and need to play within the Nest house, I can’t advocate this fourth-gen Nest Thermostat sufficient.