Google Nest Thermostat Review

The Google Nest Thermostat incorporates key features found in more premium smart thermostats and has the design panache to match. It comes with excellent installation guidance and even outperforms some premium competitors in certain aspects despite its more accessible pricing.

Performance Comparison

Ease of Use

The Nest Thermostat was one of the highest scorers in our ease of use tests, where we evaluated interactions with the thermostat's temperature modes, fan control, hold control, temperature accuracy, and the clarity and quality of information on the built-in display.

Given the circular shape of this thermostat and our familiarity with the original Nest Learning Thermostat, we were surprised that it didn't have a similar rotating dial-based mechanism for controlling the temperature. Instead, temperature changes are made from a touch-responsive portion of the right side of the unit, which we had no trouble working with once we made the mental adjustment. Mode selection is similar to the Nest Learning Thermostat in that you go into the menu options, select Mode, and navigate to the one you want to select. Like the Nest Learning Thermostat, attempting to adjust the temperature when the thermostat is off prompts users to activate heating or cooling.

The Google Home App that pairs with the Nest Thermostat is excellent. It can do anything the thermostat can do, and its more streamlined interface makes setting modes even easier. Fan controls for this Nest are either automatic or controlled by the thermostat. There is no “Fan On” Mode, but you can set timers from 15 minutes to 12 hours from the quick options menu. Temperature hold options are also excellent on this thermostat, with available timer-based holds, the ability to use Eco mode as a temperature holding mechanism, and the capability to set the current temperature to a permanent hold.

Clarity and visibility of information are good on the Nest Thermostat, with a few caveats. The thermostat screen is very reflective, almost mirror-like, which can be a hindrance if you're trying to glimpse information from a distance at the wrong angle. Nest thermostats have a “Farsight” feature that displays useful information like the time, weather, or temperature in large text that is easily read from a distance. It worked well for the most part, but we had trouble seeing the indoor temperature from far away, as it wasn't as large as other information on the screen. Like other premium thermostats, the Nest uses motion detection to wake the display as you approach it. That's always a nice touch.

When it comes to temperature accuracy, the Nest is right on the nose. We used a temperature-sensing data logger placed near the thermostat and measured the average temperature against the reading on the thermostat within -1.022 degrees Fahrenheit.

DIY Installation

The Nest Thermostat landed a perfect score in this metric, thanks to an excellent step-by-step video and superb app-guided installation. There was even a screwdriver included, which was necessary for some of the installation.

We appreciate that the Nest used the preferred push-in type wire connectors instead of screw-in wire terminals and that the instructions reminded us to snap a photo of the outgoing thermostat's wiring for later reference. This Nest also includes a built-in level and wall plate for a clean fit on the wall, which is really impressive for a thermostat at this price point. These nice-to-haves are more common in premium thermostats.

Connecting to WiFi, pairing with the Google Home app, and registration were all very streamlined and as easy as you might expect from a Google product.

Scheduling

The Nest Thermostat has superb scheduling capability. It uses Comfort, Eco, and Sleep modes to program schedules, but you can also set custom temperatures manually and override the mode settings, making this one of the most customizable thermostats in this regard. Nearly unlimited events are available to schedule all seven days of the week.

However, all of this is done in the app, not on the thermostat itself. App-based scheduling is our preferred method because the interface is less tedious, but some people might like to have both. As a bonus, the Nest's schedules can be copied between days to make the process less repetitive and tedious.

Smart Capabilities

This metric evaluates the quality of the thermostat's associated app, geofencing, maintenance reminders, safety features, schedule learning, and compatibility with smart home ecosystems. The Nest Thermostat scores respectably in our smart capabilities evaluation; however, it falls short of the most premium units.

The Google Home app used with this thermostat is excellent, allowing complete and intuitive control of the thermostat and its many features. Geofencing works well, allowing the thermostat to detect your presence in and away from the home to run routines accordingly.

Maintenance reminders are great, too, to help you stay on top of filter changes. Safety mode is a bit confusing and only seems to work with heat pump systems. However, you can use eco mode or a temperature hold to keep the temperature where you want it if you're worried about the temperature dropping too low.

The Nest Thermostat starts to fall behind in this metric due to its inability to learn schedules autonomously and its more limited home ecosystem compatibility. It isn't natively compatible with anything besides Google Assistant. However, it is a Matter (IP-based connectivity protocol for smart homes) capable device that should open it up to other major home ecosystems like Amazon Alexa, Apple Homekit, and Samsung Smart Things, but we were unable to verify this during our testing.

Energy Saving

This metric is focused around energy saving features and environmental considerations associated with the manufacture and shipping of thermostats. The Nest Thermostat stood out amongst the rest in our energy-saving metric.

We appreciated this thermostat's eco mode and its capability to customize the range of eco mode temperatures. When Eco is engaged, a leaf icon pops up on the thermostat to let you know it's active. This unit also has the Nest Renew features. As we understand it, this service shifts energy consumption to optimize your energy use based on the optimal timing with the power grid when power is in lower demand and/or costs less. In addition, Nest sends monthly email updates containing helpful insights into your energy consumption.

Google lists various efforts to reduce environmental impacts by using recycled materials in product design. The Nest Thermostat, in particular, requires 36% fewer parts to manufacture than earlier designs. Additionally, Google emphasizes its goal of achieving carbon neutrality for its shipping operations and promoting sustainable living through its products and services.

Should You Buy the Google Nest Thermostat?

Budget-minded thermostats have come a long way. We highly recommend this one if you're in the market for a smart thermostat at a reasonable price. Its solid feature set, attractive design, and great value make it nearly impossible to beat without spending significantly more money.

What Other Thermostat Should You Consider?