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Nest Learning Smart Thermostat

Last updated: October 13, 2023


There's no need to schedule the Nest Learning Smart Thermostat. It learns your preferences and automatically adjusts the temperature throughout the day. Due to its popularity, it's compatible with a wide range of smart home devices, including Google Assistant and Alexa.

Nest Learning Smart Thermostat
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We looked at the top Smart Thermostats and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Smart Thermostat you should buy.

DEAL
Google Nest Learning Thermostat - Programmable Smart Thermostat for Home - 3rd Generation Nest Thermostat - Works with Alexa -...

Google Nest Learning Thermostat - Programmable Smart Thermostat for Home - 3rd Generation Nest Thermostat - Works with Alexa -...
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$190.16
$249.00

Product Details

Key Takeaway: The Nest Learning Smart Thermostat not only learns your preferences, but it displays a leaf when your system is at an energy-saving temperature.

In our analysis of 124 expert reviews, the Nest Learning Smart Thermostat placed 1st when we looked at the top 9 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

Google Nest is a smart thermostat that learns what temperatures you like, turns itself down when you’re away and connects to your phone. It has a big, sharp display. And it’s proven to help save energy. In independent studies, the Nest Thermostat saved an average of 10% to 12% on heating bills and 15% on cooling bills. We’ve estimated average savings of $131 to $145 a year.

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Our Expert Consultant

Vicki Liston 
Home Improvement Expert

Vicki Liston writes, produces, and narrates “On The Fly…DIY,” an award-winning home improvement and DIY show of unique project tutorials for the casual DIY’er.

Home improvement and all things DIY have been Liston’s passion since she bought her first house in 2007 and she started making video blogs in 2014. She’s performed hundreds of DIY projects, from small ones to major, wall-smashing renovations and can teach you how to make a trendy DIY barn door for cheap. The proceeds earned from “On The Fly…DIY” are donated to no-kill animal shelters and rescue organizations.

Expert Reviews


What reviewers liked

The $249 Nest Learning Thermostat has a larger display, a better resolution and a far-field sensor for viewing time and temperature information from a distance. It works with Google Assistant and Alexa -- and Nest *finally* sells a temperature sensor as an optional accessory.
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Nest's minimalist design makes it one of the most convenient wireless thermostats we tested. You can select menu items, change preferences and adjust the temperature by turning the device’s outer ring or pressing it to the wall.
- Top Ten Reviews
You can change all of the same settings in the app from the main thermostat, too. The beautifully smooth interface and the 480 x 480 display looks fantastic.
- Trusted Reviews
There are five different color options you can choose from to allow you to pick the best look to match your home and décor. The color options are black, silver, stainless steel, white, or copper.
- Official Top 5 Review
Remote temperature control
- Tech Radar
The Auto-Schedule feature did a great job of creating a schedule that followed my daily routine, and the thermostat followed that schedule to a tee. It responded to my Alexa voice commands to raise and lower the heat without fail, and the Farsight feature and large display made it easy to check the thermostat from across a large room.
- PC Magazine
Learns your behavior, creating automatic heating and cooling schedule
- iMore
Has password protection to prevent unauthorized changes using the thermostat - app remains fully capable.
- Consumer Reports
The best feature of Farsight, we think, is the capability to choose what the screen displays when it’s not in use: You can opt for the temperature, weather, or time (using a digital or analog clock face), which you can’t do on other Nest models
- New York Times Wirecutter
Offers a compelling combination of DIY-friendliness, sophisticated design, easy-to-use features, and automatic energy-saving settings.
- BestReviews
The ring design is a standout, evoking the look and feel of the classic Honeywell thermostat popularized last century. The display is crisp and elegant, and the twist ring comes in seven different colors (you have to make your choice at the time of purchase, you don’t get all 7 rings in the box).
- Smart Thermostat Guide
It is a great thermostat because it shows you when you are choosing the best temperature for energy savings. It will feature a little leaf when your temperature is set at an energy-saving temperature. This means that you are saving money and the planet at the same time.
- Home Climate Center
Its exceptional learning ability decreases the time you need to fiddle with temperature adjustment all year long
- Great Smart Gadgets
Installation – of the Google Nest is pretty easy. You can not expect plug an play like with other home tech devices, because you have to connect different wires. But everything is perfectly labelled and described.
- Smart Home Tech Reviews
Another nice feature is that the current temperature is always displayed in the middle of the thermometer in large digital numbers, so it is easy to see, even for those with vision impairments. And for those who are wary of connecting to the internet, Nest now allows for two-factor authentication through the Nest app so your info will always be protected.
- Energy Destination
One of the other benefits of the Wi-Fi function with this thermostat is the manufacturer can automatically send software updates as and when they decide to release them which eliminates the need to go hunting for them manually.
- Thermostat Center
This Nest thermostat comes with a number of impressive features. The Safety Temperature Notification alerts users whenever a home is getting too hot or too cold. Filter Reminders alert users to change the filter regularly and keep track of how many hours your system runs so you get accurate measurements.
- HVAC Ninja

What reviewers didn't like

The Nest Learning Thermostat isn't compatible with Apple HomeKit.
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The company’s two-year warranty is shorter than the industry average.
- Top Ten Reviews
Nest has a lot of competition now, and the Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd Generation isn’t quite the easy choice that it once was, particularly since there’s no option to expand the system with individual radiator controls.
- Trusted Reviews
This product is more expensive than the other options we reviewed.
- Official Top 5 Review
It still doesn't offer remote room sensors, but it works with numerous third-party devices and supports voice commands via Google Home and Amazon's Alexa voice service.
- PC Magazine
Notably more expensive than the Thermostat E
- iMore
May use "power sharing" when connected to a 2 wire system.
- Consumer Reports
One of the priciest models, but its high quality will end up saving you money in the long run.
- BestReviews
Herein lies the problem for some users: they find their heat running when it shouldn’t, or the heat never turns back off, or the “pulsing” (as it’s called) damages their system in some way. Every setup is different, but we’ve noticed that the Nest has trouble holding a charge when coupled with an HVAC system that just isn’t run that often.
- Smart Thermostat Guide
Even after the initial learning period is over, the Nest sometimes wants to push temperatures that are a few degrees warmer / colder than you’d like
- Great Smart Gadgets
The only problem you may come across with this function is that if you install the device in a place the motion detector won’t notice you, you might find the auto-away setting will activate when you don’t want it to.
- Thermostat Center
Like any other thermostats, this should be located on an inside wall, about five feet up from the floor and must be protected from any liquids or excessive moisture.
- HVAC Ninja

Smart Thermostat Rankings

Nest Learning Smart Thermostat

1. Nest Learning Smart Thermostat
Honeywell Color Touch Smart Thermostat

2. Honeywell Color Touch Smart Thermostat
Honeywell Home Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat

3. Honeywell Home Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat
Mysa Smart Thermostat

4. Mysa Smart Thermostat
Emerson Sensi Touch Smart Thermostat

5. Emerson Sensi Touch Smart Thermostat
ecobee lite Smart Thermostat

6. ecobee lite Smart Thermostat
Honeywell Color Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat

7. Honeywell Color Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat
Emerson Sensi Touch Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat

8. Emerson Sensi Touch Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat
GoControl Smart Thermostat

9. GoControl Smart Thermostat
View our Smart Thermostat buying guide for in-depth advice and recommendations.

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