The brand new Nest Studying Thermostat (4th Gen) arrived in late August as a significant improve to the earlier “Studying” mannequin, in addition to the mid-range Nest Thermostat from 2020. The brand new mannequin brings a hanging new design, full compatibility with the Google Dwelling app, ships with the newly launched Nest Temperature Sensor included within the field, and has extra settings and smarts than I feel most of us will know what to do with.
I’ve had the chance to check the brand new Nest Thermostat (4th Gen) for a strong couple of months now and have tried to take my time with it. This isn’t precisely the kind of machine you take a look at battery life on for a few weeks, snap a bunch of images with, swipe round for efficiency and run apps on, after which push out a bunch of phrases to explain how the expertise can be in others’ lives. It is a thermostat. It lives in your home, solely it’s out of the best way, doing issues behind-the-scenes to maintain you snug and never one thing you essentially should work together with usually, assuming it’s doing its job correctly.
So I’ve gone all this time, tweaking settings right here and there, ensuring the temperature sensor is part of my system, twisting the satisfying body of the machine to often alter temperature, and so forth. I’ve let it create schedules that I’ve up to date a time or two, checked out my vitality dashboard simply because, that kind of factor. I’ve used it, let’s simply put it that means.
What’s it prefer to have lived with this $280 high-end sensible thermostat for a full two months? Let’s speak about it in our Nest Thermostat (4th Gen) evaluate.
What do I like concerning the Nest Thermostat (4th Gen)?
Setup is simple sufficient. Like different Nest Thermostat units, this one needs to be a self-install factor for most individuals. Whereas messing along with your heating and cooling system will be hectic in the event you aren’t an HVAC skilled, Google and Nest embody each written and video directions (with the Google Dwelling app serving to too) that can assist you get setup. For this new Nest Thermostat (4th Gen), that’s the case once more and I used to be in a position to simply get this machine up and operating very quickly alone. I’ve additionally put in 3 or 4 of those over time, however belief me, you’ll be able to most likely do that.
Within the field, this Nest comes with the face plate in whichever coloration you select (Polished Silver, Obsidian, or Gold – I went Polished Gold for this evaluate unit), together with the brand new Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd Gen). You additionally get the bottom plate (the place the wires connect), a steel plate for particular set up varieties, a trim plate (if that’s your fashion), and the entire screws wanted. Once more, it’s all there and I feel most individuals can do that.
That stated, I lately needed to change my 12-year outdated HVAC system (ahhh…dwelling possession) and my new system is a 2-stage system that my earlier Nest Thermostat E didn’t assist. So as soon as I obtained this new Nest Thermostat (4th Gen) put in on my wall, I needed to have an expert come out and alter settings on my new system for this thermostat to correctly work together with it. The earlier Nest Thermostat (2020 mannequin) and Nest Thermostat E solely assist 1-stage heating methods, however this new Nest Thermostat (4th Gen) helps as much as 3 phases. I’d guess that’s a giant a part of the worth you pay for this over different fashions.
Design is unimaginable. It’s not usually {that a} piece of sensible dwelling tech is usually a showpiece in a house or an object that may enhance the design of an area, but that’s precisely what I feel this Nest Thermostat (4th Gen) does. Once more, I went with the Polished Gold mannequin for evaluate functions and it’s so pretty on my wall.
This upgraded design with its large domed crystal show (60% larger than earlier mannequin) and small bezels actually does appear like a chunk of high-quality jewellery in your wall, particularly with out the trim plate behind it. It’s this bulb of floating reflective glass that has this mysterious cloudiness or magical depth to it that may seize your consideration as you move it by. Earlier Nest fashions all had this distinguished edge or bezel that you just interacted with, whereas this one virtually has a hidden bezel that the domed glass blends into to present it this rounded look. It comes off as one thing you possibly shouldn’t contact, as a result of it’s too fairly, however you do as a result of it’s additionally enjoyable to play with.
This machine does have a rotating piece to it that lets you bounce by way of settings and alter the temperature. You may push the machine too, like if it had been a large button, to pick gadgets. It needs to be a well-recognized set of interactions you probably have used earlier Nest fashions, though this new model feels upgraded or extra satisfying to make use of at occasions.
Digital clocks and Farsight. After which you’ve gotten this new factor that Nest is looking Farsight. It’s a bit like a cellphone’s all the time on show that you could customise on some degree. In contrast to earlier Nest fashions that solely confirmed you present temperature as they sensed you close by, this one can present you the time by way of a few clock faces, present climate exterior, and extra particular gadgets like humidity ranges, “seems like” temperatures, outside air high quality, and the date.
Now, if you stroll as much as your thermostat, you get extra info on a small display screen that may inform you concerning the day. Whereas your cellphone might be useful with this information, a number of what Google and Nest are displaying right here makes a lot sense that after you employ it you marvel the place this characteristic has been all of your life.
Included temperature sensor. The truth that Google is together with their new Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd Gen) within the field is definitely considered one of my favourite issues concerning the new mannequin. Positive, you’re possible paying for it with that $280 price ticket, however I’d have purchased one anyway and now it simply comes as part of the expertise out of the field.
With my earlier Nest Thermostat models, I had related them to the outdated Nest Temperature Sensor as a result of I’ve a 2-story dwelling and you may have the thermostat alter temperatures based mostly off the temperature on the sensor as a substitute of the particular thermostat. Since I don’t have multi-level heating and cooling in my home, the temperature sensor permits me to a minimum of kind of act like I do and have the thermostat bear in mind my upstairs temperatures to then cool or warmth at a sure time of day relying on the 12 months. It’s considered one of my favourite sensible dwelling options of all time.
And it does extra too. You probably have scorching or cool spots in your house, you could possibly basically carry the temperature sensor with you all through a day and the thermostat ought to alter temperatures accordingly to get that room the place you need it, which is fairly cool. It’s also possible to inform your whole completely different schedules to make the most of the sensor or your thermostat or each to keep up a cushty degree of warmth or cool.
I’d have instructed anybody with a Nest Thermostat to purchase the brand new temperature sensor, but with this new 4th Gen model you don’t should.
Google Dwelling app is fairly good. I’ve been utilizing the quite-old Nest Thermostat E up till I made the change to this new 4th Gen mannequin as a result of…I simply appreciated it. However as a result of I used that outdated mannequin that was constructed initially to work with the outdated Nest app, it by no means felt fairly prefer it was ever going to work correctly with the Google Dwelling app. I critically held on to the outdated Nest app for so long as I might and solely lately gave in to Google Dwelling.
For this Nest Thermostat (4th Gen), you solely get to make use of the Google Dwelling app and I fairly prefer it for probably the most half. The setup was straightforward sufficient, however as soon as you’re setup and letting it do its sensible studying factor, stepping into its settings and adjusting something is kind of easy. Google presents all the things in a bubbly, easy-to-touch structure with a giant temperature wheel, together with shortcuts for heating/cooling modes, sensors, your fan settings, schedules, the vitality dashboard, and tells you different information, like what the humidity in your home is.
Tapping on virtually something will get you extra information or choices. your schedules to see if the thermostat has created ones that give you the results you want is as clear as will be. Should you ever used the outdated Nest app schedule web page, you’ll know instantly how huge of an enchancment that is. Man, I nonetheless have nightmares about adjusting schedules within the outdated app after it took a one-time adjustment in the course of the night time to imply I wished a everlasting schedule change. Yikes.
However if you wish to alter Farsight choices, share the machine with others in your house, alter notifications for issues like your air filter reminders, set temperature preferences and the assorted associated settings there, or permit your cellphone to inform the thermostat if you’re dwelling or away, that’s all a settings click on away on the prime of the app.
I used to be hesitant to completely dive into the Google Dwelling app, an app I don’t essentially assume is nice, however up to now issues have gone properly.
All the modes and supposed smarts. You probably have a tool with the phrase “Studying” within the title, you hope it’s smarter than simply any outdated sensible thermostat. For this 4th Gen mannequin, Google says it needs to be smarter due to AI and since it’s higher at studying your schedule, which all ought to then result in a extra environment friendly and eco-friendly vitality utilization from your property.
That is the place reviewing a tool like this turns into troublesome in a brief period of time, as a result of even after 2 months, I don’t know if this machine is doing all the things it supposedly can. That stated, I just like the concepts it’s pushing and might’t wait to additional stay with it and hopefully report again.
I’m speaking about options just like the Pure Heating and Cooling mode, the place the Nest Thermostat (4th Gen) will use exterior temperature information to doubtlessly flip off your HVAC unit when that exterior temp might naturally warmth or cool your property. You may even set window reminders that notify you when it is likely to be a superb time to open your home windows as a substitute of operating your system. This appears so much like a summer-related characteristic, and naturally, simply as I started testing we began transitioning to fall right here within the northwest.
This Nest Thermostat has adaptive modes too, that attempt to replace temps to environment friendly ranges if you depart or are in your means dwelling. You may have it modulate the humidity in your house or allow you to perceive in your dashboard why your every day use declined or climbed from one month to the following.
One different factor I’d observe with this new Nest Thermostat is that I really feel like I’ve adjusted it lower than different fashions I’ve had in my home. It does appear to get my preferences in temperature and maintains temperatures all through a day that I discover to be snug. As somebody who has labored from dwelling for the previous 15 years, this is a crucial piece of the sensible thermostat expertise.
I do know that I simply obtained executed saying that I want extra time testing to see if the smarts listed here are really sensible, however after writing all of that out and explaining that I’ve touched this machine lower than my earlier Nest, I assume possibly that’s an indication that it’s improved? Proper? Up to now so good.
What else ought to ?
There isn’t actually something I dislike about this new Nest Thermostat (4th Gen). Positive, it’s certainly costly at $280, however if you’re out there for a wise thermostat, I feel that value might be justified due to this upgraded design, the entire sensible options (which might be included with out subscription), and the included temperature sensor that I feel everybody ought to have as part of the Nest expertise.
I did wrestle for a while to determine how you can connect the sensor to particular schedules and a few settings are buried in odd locations, so the app does take some getting used to. Once more, the Google Dwelling app is just not my favourite. When you dive in a bit, I feel you’ll have the ability to discover what you want, plus Google consistently hyperlinks to their Nest assist pages that can assist you discover extra information about settings or options you encounter.
Setup was largely easy and compatibility with my home wasn’t a problem, however that needs to be anticipated since I occur to have a model new HVAC system for the time being. And due to that, I haven’t had any points in any respect with this new Nest. It could deal with my 2-stage system, it hasn’t instructed me about any issues with my {hardware} (which Google says it could actually detect), and the machine itself simply works flawlessly if you work together with it. Google did should subject a software program replace shortly after launch to permit for brighter screens and guide brightness adjustment, so a minimum of perceive that Google can proceed to enhance this over time and has proven curiosity in doing so out of the gate.
Chances are you’ll be questioning in the event you ought to improve from an older mannequin. That’s not a straightforward query to reply, as a result of even older units just like the Nest Thermostat E I had nonetheless work simply high-quality. These aren’t the forms of units we consistently use all through a day and they also don’t precisely put on down. A sensible thermostat isn’t usually a tool you’ll improve commonly. In the event that they work, they work, and you could possibly hang-on to 1 for years with out ever altering one out. For me, switching to this new 4th Gen mannequin was going to be crucial due to an HVAC system improve. For you, you’ll actually need to need the additional sensible options or simply to have a tool on the wall that’s this stunning. Or possibly you’re feeling prefer it’s time since you had been utilizing a extremely outdated mannequin like I used to be and also you need to be set for the longer term. That was most likely going to be my different motive to leap in direction of upgrading.
Right here’s only a little bit of a observe I discovered humorous after I had an HVAC tech over to regulate some stuff in my system. He noticed a “For Sale” signal close to my home for my neighbor, however requested if it was me who was promoting. After I stated “No,” he was a bit stunned and introduced up the Nest set up in his response. Because it seems, his trade will get a number of calls to come back out and set up Nest Thermostat units for people who find themselves promoting homes as a result of a Nest a minimum of provides the looks of the home being newer and having a more recent HVAC system even when it isn’t. One thing to consider the following time you go dwelling buying.
Total, this new Nest Thermostat (4th Gen) is acquainted to somebody like me, who has had a Nest on the wall for a minimum of a decade or longer. It wakes if you strategy it, permits you to twist to set temperatures, has a companion app for controls from the sofa (or anyplace), and is a minimum of making an attempt to be extra environment friendly always. After I reviewed my first Nest Thermostat again in 2013, I known as it “my favourite Android accent.” In 2024, I feel the machine has modified for me some and is now a tool I can’t stay with out.
Do you have to purchase the Nest Studying Thermostat (4th Gen)?
On the planet of sensible thermostats, there are a selection of gamers. Honeywell might be king with their numerous fashions and designs, however firms like Ecobee and Amazon are nonetheless part of the house. Google’s Nest model has lengthy been a pioneer within the sensible thermostat enviornment and has all the time produced what I’d think about to be high quality fashions that lean into being smarter than the remaining, whereas having a novel design that may stand out on a wall.
For this Nest Thermostat (4th Gen), there’s a lot good occurring. That is the very best design of a wise thermostat you’ll discover and it’s not significantly shut. The class of this unit in your wall is one thing else – what a gorgeous piece of {hardware}. But it surely isn’t nearly appears right here. The brand new Nest Thermostat is easy to setup and use, but has smarts to enhance your property’s effectivity, straightforward controls over your schedule, may let you know in the event you system is having points, and the Google Dwelling app has gotten to a spot the place it’s usable, a minimum of with this thermostat.
$280 is so much to swallow for a tool that’s simply going to take a seat in your wall and that you just may not often work together with, however it does include a temperature sensor that I feel virtually everybody will get use from and, properly, it’s a stunner.
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