We've been a Nest smart thermostat household for more than a decade, and in that time, we've been very happy with the product. The Nest Thermostat is a smart thermostat solution that takes smart home devices and automation to the next level, so when Google reached out and offered us a chance to test the 4th Gen and a Nest Temperature Sensor in our own home, we were down to play.
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) differs from other Google Nest models primarily because of its advanced learning capabilities (it also has a pretty slick design) and the addition of the remote temperature sensor to fine-tune your temperature settings. Unlike out previous Nest Thermostat, which focused on manual scheduling and had basic smart features, the Learning model uses AI to adapt habits over time. It also offers more insights through energy usage reports through the Google Home app. While the standard Nest Thermostat is a solid budget-friendly option and, again, a product we've purchased ourselves and used for a long time, the Learning version stands out for homeowners seeking more automation.
4th Gen isn't the cheapest on the market ($279.99 purchase price at time of publishing), but its promise of learning our habits and energy usage reports makes it intriguing. Setting it up in a home that wasn’t exactly built for smart device technology was an adventure in itself, but if you're weighing the pros and cons of upgrading your smart thermostat, here’s a breakdown of what we learned from setting up and using the newest Google Nest Learning Thermostat.
The Setup: From Box to Wall
Installing the Nest Learning Thermostat in our home was relatively straightforward. Having previously used a Nest thermostat, we knew it would work with our home's heating system, so compatibility wasn’t a concern.
Here’s how it went for us:
- Wiring: Swapping out the existing Nest for the Learning model was simple. The wires were already labeled (and we only have 2 wires anyway) and we know what type of heating we have (no cooling).
- Mounting: Its sleek design fit seamlessly onto the wall, and the base plate was able to use the same screw holes as our old nest. If your holes don't line up or you are upgrading from a different thermostat, there is an included trim kit to cover old screw holes for a clean finish. If you're mounting onto an electrical box, there is also a steel plate for mounting.
- Connecting to Wi-Fi: Pairing it with our home network and syncing with the Google Home app took just minutes.
The entire process took about an hour. While our familiarity with the Nest ecosystem made it easier, the detailed app guidance can help any first-time users feel confident.
Google Home app and Nest App
Something to be aware of when adding the fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat is that it lives strictly in the Google Home app, NOT in the Nest app. In other words, we can see both our our Nest thermostats in Google Home, but only our older Nest in the Nest app. Throw a Nest Protect smoke and CO alarm into the mix and you're bouncing between two apps to see your Nest devices. The Nest protect ONLY shows up in the Nest app, NOT in the Google Home app. Got it? Good.
Our Favorite Part: The Nest Temperature Sensor
You're asking "What is the point of the Nest Temperature Sensor?". It helps eliminate cold spots. Here's our heating situation and why we love this extra sensor: The thermostat is in the hallway, and when it's at a comfortable temperature of 68 in the hallway, the bedrooms are still at 64. We put the remote temperature sensor in the cold bedroom and THAT is what tells the thermostat what the "real" current temperature is, so the furnace runs until that remote temperature sensor hits the preferred temperature. If you have additional sensors they stop the heat/cool when the average temperature or the remote sensors is hit.
Living with the Nest Learning Thermostat
From the moment we powered it on, the Nest Learning Thermostat felt like an upgrade. Over the first week, it began analyzing when we adjusted the temperature and automatically built a smart schedule tailored to our daily rhythms. We're a month in now, and these features have come in handy:
- Far Sight Presence Detection: It has a customizable display so when it senses you nearby it displays the time, inside temperature, outside temperature, whatever you set it to be. And the closer you get the more info it displays... pretty neat.
- Auto-Schedule: Within a week, it knew when we were usually home or away and adjusted the preferred temperature to match.
- Home/Away Assist: Its ability to detect when we leave the house and adjust the temperature accordingly feels seamless and adds real energy savings.
- Energy History Reports: We’ve always been curious about how efficient our home is, and the energy usage reports give clear insights about consumption and savings on energy costs.
- Smart Home Integration: With Google Assistant already in our setup, adjusting the thermostat via voice command felt like second nature. Also, Google Home and Amazon Alexa play well together so voice control via our Amazon devices is no problem.
- Natural Heating and Cooling: This is cool because it learns how the outside temperature heats or cools your home – like when it warms up on sunny days. We did notice a few instances where it adjusted temperatures more aggressively than expected when the temperature fluctuated greatly in December; however, fine-tuning its settings in the app was easy, and we appreciated its willingness to “learn” our preferences over time and suggest energy-saving temperatures to us.
Is the Nest Learning Thermostat Worth It?
For us, the Nest Learning Thermostat was more than just a small upgrade—it stands to really enhance how we manage comfort and energy efficiency in our home.
Here’s why it might be worth considering:
- Energy Savings: Over a few months, we noticed a measurable drop in energy usage and heating bills compared to our previous Nest model. The daily, weekly, monthly reports made it easy to track the benefits.
- Refined Experience: The learning model reduced the need for manual adjustments, saving time and offering more convenience than previous models.
- Modern Design: While performance matters most, its polished look made a noticeable difference in our living space.
We found it to be a great fit for our midcentury home, proving it works well in a variety of settings. For anyone comparing smart thermostats, the investment pays off if you value automated convenience and energy insights.
How does the Nest Learning Thermostat compare to other Nest models?
Having previously used another Nest thermostat, the Learning model stood out for its advanced automation in conjunction with the remote sensors. It creates schedules on its own, which eliminates the need for manual adjustments. Of course you do have the option to turn off the "learning" and automation if you please, but then why get the premium model? If you prefer a simpler interface and don’t need the learning capabilities, other Nest models might work just fine; however, the energy savings and hands-off experience make this version feel like a step up.
