I’ve been on a mission for the past two years to find the perfect smart thermostat for my home.
I researched more than 10 different models, read many reviews, and had heated conversations with my dog (he isn’t too big on tech products).
However, after all that research, I eventually found it – Google Nest Smart Thermostat. And let me tell you, it’s changed how comfortable and energy efficient my house is.
In this Nest thermostat review, we’ll look at what makes it so special. We’ll explore its advantages, disadvantages, and key smart features, like adaptive learning and remote control, and consider the costs.
So please sit back, relax, and prepare to enter the world of smart thermostats with me.
Nest Smart Learning Thermostat
 A stylish and intelligent device
- Self-Learning
- Geofencing
- Scheduling
- OpenTherm Compatibility
- Heat Pump Balance
Pros
- Forget adjusting temperature manually; the Nest thermostat will learn the schedule and preferences over time.
- When you are away from home, it will adjust the temperature accordingly, saving energy and money on autopilot.
- Use the Nest app to adjust the temperature in your home remotely.
- It is highly compatible with most heating systems so it will work seamlessly with your home setup.
Cons
- It’s a bit more expensive compared to the majority of the smart thermostats. You get what you pay for?
- It may take a while to learn your schedule and understand your preferences. So be patient, and don’t be surprised if it takes a few weeks to get everything right.
Quick Verdict – Is Google Nest Smart Learning Thermostat Worth the Money?
After 6 months of usage, I must admit the Google Nest Smart Learning Thermostat is worth the money.
Smart technology should be about adding convenience to your daily routine, and that’s exactly what you get with this device. When you opt for this Nest thermostat, you will get:
- Daily automatic temperature control
- Remote temperature control via the Nest app
- Energy reports about daily energy usage
- It is a sleek and modern device and a conversation starter
You may think it’s expensive, but considering all the energy savings, the device will pay for itself over time.
Nest claims that its Smart Learning Thermostat can save users up to 10-12% on heating and up to 15% on cooling costs. However, the actual savings will depend on various factors, such as your home’s insulation, the type of heating system, and energy usage habits.
The lack of zonal control could be a problem if you want a zonal temperature control for each room in the house. Still, using Google Nest temperature sensors will ensure that any hot or cold rooms are heated or cooled appropriately.
The Nest Smart Learning Thermostat is worth buying if you’re serious about home automation. The adaptive learning feature is a game changer. Plus, the more you use it, the smarter it gets – it’s like having a thermostat that can read your mind!
Who is Google Nest Smart Learning Thermostat For?
You’ll love the Google Nest Smart Learning Thermostat if:
- You want to make your home smarter and more comfortable
- You care about the environment and energy-efficiency
- Trying to save money on energy bills
You won’t love the Google Nest Smart Learning Thermostat if:
- You don’t have or use a heating and cooling system in your home
- Not comfortable with learning using Nest thermostat technology
- Don’t have a Wi-Fi connection
- Are you on a tight budget
Google Nest Thermostat Overview
Technical Specifications
- Subscription: No
- Warranty: 2-year warranty
- Installation: DIY is possible, but professional installation is advised
- Power: 1.5V AAA batteries x2
- Weight: 243 g
- Dimensions: 8.4 x 8.8 x 3.2 centimetres
- Self-learning: Yes
- Smart Voice Assistant: Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit
- Smart Radiator Valves: Not compatible directly; workaround depends on the system.
- Multi-zone Control: Yes, with Google Nest temperature sensors
Display and User Interface
The Nest Learning Thermostat boasts a striking and user-friendly interface, making it an ideal addition to any modern home.
Its transparent display shows all the important info. The muted screen notifies you about your current temperature level and when there’s anything scheduled – so no worrying if something’s been switched on or off unexpectedly.
The controls on the right side of Google Nest Thermostats were made with comfortability in mind; however, one should remember that lefties might find this placement tricky.
Overall, interacting with Nest Thermostat daily is an enjoyable experience.
Build Quality and Material
Their premium parts ensure they’ll be durable enough to last many years while retaining their functionality and modern look.
You may shell out extra money on purchasing a trim plate that can fill in any gaps due to prior thermostat installation – this accessory provides better aesthetics. It will likely match your home decoration style nicely.
Smart Features Breakdown
Self-Learning
Google Nest Learning Thermostat can figure out habits and preferences as time passes, understanding the ideal temperature inside the house. It starts by analyzing how long we’re home during different days of the week, quickly gaining insight into when we’d like it to be warm or cool.
Using this information, the thermostat will adjust according to what temperatures make us comfortable. So, we do not need to manually change settings for our homes to have that perfect atmosphere.
Rest assured that your Google Nest Thermostat has your back when you’re away and will ensure the right temperature for your return.
Energy Savings
The Nest Learning Smart Thermostat works to help us save energy and lower our utility bills by monitoring how often we are home plus what temperatures we prefer. That way, it can be sure not to waste energy on heating or cooling a space.
Smart Home Compatibility
Google Nest Learning Thermostat plays nicely with smart home devices like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, adding voice control so we can use voice commands to change the temperature.
It can also be integrated with different home automation companies like SmartThings or Fibaro, so we don’t have to access multiple platforms when controlling the climate in our homes. For those more advanced integration, though, enlisting help from experts may be necessary.
Scheduling
It is effortless to get your temperature just how you like it throughout the day. Plus, its smart abilities don’t end there.
It also notices patterns in our practices and adjusts accordingly – no more guesswork when regulating your home’s climate!
OpenTherm Compatibility
With the Nest being compatible with OpenTherm, we can easily communicate directly with boilers enabled for this tech, which leads us to serious energy savings.
Partnering with an OpenTherm-enabled boiler, the Nest Thermostat can make tiny adjustments to your gas valve to provide a more comfortable living environment and save even more money on energy bills.
Voice Control
If you have Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant set up at home, connecting it to your thermostat is simple – all that’s needed is to download the Google Home app.
Once connected, users can control the temperature using voice commands such as “raise the temperature to 21 degrees” or “turn off the living room heating.” The smart assistant will then communicate with your thermostat to make necessary modifications so you don’t have to adjust it manually.
Heat Pump Balance
The Heat Pump Balance is an interesting feature that optimizes heat pump systems with other heat sources. Nest Thermostats help reduce energy consumption in homes equipped with a heat-pump system – while keeping our home cozy and comfortable without losing on efficiency.
Leveraging this functionality lets us handle our power use more responsibly – especially during severe weather conditions when our A/C might be hard-pressed to maintain perfect eco temps.
This way, we should observe considerable savings on electricity bills but still feel just as snug inside!
Geofencing
Lastly, injecting even further intelligence into your home’s automation setup comes with geofencing capability. By relying upon GPS data from phones, Nest monitors when no one is home, automatically adjusting their settings according to eco mode standards.
When we get home, the Geofencing feature detects our presence and adjusts the temperature to our chosen degrees of comfort. This eliminates the need to manually regulate the thermostat while leaving or returning home, making our lives easier and more energy-efficient.
Google Nest Device Ecosystem
In addition to Nest thermostats, these additional intelligent Nest products can also be compatible:
Nest Protect
Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors can warn of possible threads at home.
If danger lurks in your house, then the smart carbon monoxide and smoke detectors produced by Nest Protect will alert you immediately. When coupled with a top-notch thermostat from this company, this alarm system might even switch off HVAC systems when sensing smoke or carbon monoxide.
Nest Doorbell
It lets you see and speak to guests at your door from anywhere in the world.
The Nest Hello is a smart video doorbell that allows you to monitor and communicate with visitors at your front door anywhere in the world.
Additionally, when connected to Google Home’s “Home/Away Assist” function, The Nest Learning Thermostat can adjust itself accordingly depending on whether or not you’re present in the house — if, for instance, The Nest Hello senses that somebody has entered their home then automatically set its temperature settings as per user preferences.
Nest Temperature Sensor
Measures the temperature and humidity levels in different rooms of your house.
The Nest Temperature Sensor is a smaller device that measures heat and moisture levels in different house sections. You can adjust each room’s temperatures separately by pairing this with a Nest thermostat.
Finally, Google has a Google Home app portal for managing all smart-home appliances.
It provides an easy display, so many options on your new thermostat and other hooked-up gadgets are easily accessed. Plus, along with being able to schedule stuff out ahead of time and gathering data about how much power you use every day if necessary – making sure everything aligns according to what works best by taking into account daily life activities & preferences.
Final Verdict – Should I buy a Nest Thermostat?
When I look at the convenience introduced to my daily life by having a Google Nest Learning Thermostat installed, I recommend it to anyone serious about home automation.
Adaptive learning has been super helpful – I can now forget about manually adjusting the thermostat, and the house stays comfortable. After 6 months, I have noticed that my energy bills have dropped by about 10% without almost not doing anything. On several occasions, I have used the Google Home app to switch off the heating remotely.
The price is also reasonable, in my opinion, since, at this pace, the Nest thermostat will pay for itself in the next 12 months. Then you will be saving even more.
Still not convinced? Some other alternatives are also worth considering.
Alternative Competitors Overview
Nest Smart Thermostat has strong rivals such as Ecobee, Honeywell, and Amazon’s Smart Thermostat.
Ecobee stands out for its creative temperature control system with built-in Alexa and Google Home assistant integrations beyond what the Nest offers; it can measure temperatures from various rooms and work easily across different smart home ecosystems.
Another worthy contender is The Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat.
This thermostat is appreciated for its remote sensing abilities, allowing it to manage indoor climate with the help of motion detection competently. Even though Honeywell may not be as modern-looking as Nest, it offers a dependable and sensible alternative for people who value personalization and adaptive temperature control.
Amazon has also entered the smart thermostat market, providing an inexpensive yet simplified solution.
Amazon Smart Thermostat may lack some of the more advanced features offered by Nest, Ecobee, or even Honeywell’s products, but it still provides robust performance and remarkable energy savings. Plus, tight integration with Alexa makes this product attractive, especially if you invested in Amazon’s system.
As we dive into the competitive landscape of other smart thermostats on the market. The Nest Smart Thermostat faces strong competition from brands such as Ecobee, Honeywell, and Amazon Smart Thermostat.
Here’s a quick comparison of the key features of each thermostat:
Brand/Model | Compatibility | Installation | Features | Price |
Ecobee Smart Thermostat | Gas, oil, electric boilers, underfloor heating, heat pumps, radiant systems | Wired or wireless | Self-Learning, geofencing, scheduling, smart recovery, weather adaptation | |
Honeywell Lyric T9 | Gas, oil, electric boilers, underfloor heating, heat pumps, radiant systems | Wired or wireless | Geofencing, scheduling, | |
Amazon Smart Thermostat | Gas, oil, electric boilers, underfloor heating | Wired or wireless | Geofencing, remote access, energy-saving reports, Scheduling |
Each smart thermostat has its strengths, and the choice ultimately depends on individual preferences, budget, and specific home requirements. The competition is strong, but the Nest thermostat continues to be a formidable contender in the market.
Daniel Barczak
Daniel Barczak is a software developer with a solid 9-year track record in the industry. Outside the office, Daniel is passionate about home automation. He dedicates his free time to tinkering with the latest smart home technologies and engaging in DIY projects that enhance and automate the functionality of living spaces, reflecting his enthusiasm and passion for smart home solutions.