The Learning Thermostat is Nest’s flagship product, first launched in the early 2010s – years before Google bought the emerging business. Now in its third generation, the $ 249 (£ 219, about AU $ 390) Nest Learning Thermostat remains a staple for the brand. (It’s also on sale for $ 219 through Feb. 17.)
Nest has added more than a dozen other devices over the past decade, including video doorbells, smart speakers, show and routers. It has also made an effort to introduce products for different budgets, especially within the category of smart thermostats.
That brings me to the $ 130 Nest thermostat, announced in 2020. This new thermostat has a lot to offer, though it costs $ 119 less than the original. So which Nest model is the best? Here we look at the main differences between these two Google thermostats.
The Nest Learning Thermostat is Google’s premium smart thermostat. The third-generation leather thermostat is available for $ 249 (on sale for $ 219 through Feb. 17 for President’s Day) and features a metal ring and a high-resolution screen.
With its classic rotary knob design, you can navigate between settings and you can press the thermostat to make a choice. It’s easy enough to use, but I prefer the new Nest Thermostat’s side controls (more on this in the next section). You can still set up this model using the Nest app and control it in the Google Home app. The new Nest Thermostat, on the other hand, only works in the Google Home app.
The Learning Thermostat is available in seven different color finishes: stainless steel, mirror black, copper, polished steel, white, black and copper. It comes with a cutting kit if you need to cover or paint old holes. And it works with the optional Nest Temperature Sensor accessory, which sells for $ 39 each or in a three-pack for $ 117 (currently on sale for $ 99).
The high-resolution screen has a feature called Farsight that displays the weather, time or temperature when it senses your presence. This model also has a learning algorithm that is designed to adapt to your schedule over time and automatically make adjustments on your behalf. It also uses a proximity sensor to determine your home or road status. Read CNET’s review of the Nest Learning Thermostat.
Chris Monroe / CNET
The Nest Thermostat has the same rounded shape as the Learning Thermostat – and both work with compatible smart speakers and screens (sold separately). This is where their similarities end.
Google got rid of the knob on the new Nest Thermostat. Instead, there is a touch bar on the right to adjust the temperature and make other changes to your settings. I like this update, but wish the controls on the right as well as the left were available so that our left could control it more easily. Still, I found the controls responsive and intuitive and an overall improvement over the previous twist approach.
This model is made of plastic and has a mirror finish, as well as other color options like the Learning Thermostat. It is available in snow (white), sand (rose gold), mist (light green / blue gray) and charcoal (dark gray). Matching decorative sets are sold separately for $ 15 each. This one does not work with the Nest Temperature Sensor accessory. It also does not have the high-resolution version and the “Farsight” feature offered with the Learning Thermostat.
The Nest Thermostat is the first of the company’s thermostats that does not work with the Nest app (the original app that still contains legacy products, including the Nest Learning Thermostat). Instead, this model can only be set up and controlled in the Google Home app.
It will also not learn your schedule over time and adjust accordingly. Allows you to enter a schedule and will automatically switch between home and away modes based on the thermostat’s built-in proximity sensor. Read CNET’s review of the Nest Thermostat.
Which Nest should you get?
There is no wrong answer here; both thermostats are excellent. Just consider your specific needs before buying. If you are looking for a more comprehensive, premium design, go for the Learning Thermostat. It has more color finishing options, has a finishing kit and offers some advanced features such as the learning algorithm, the Farsight function and compatibility with the optional Nest Temperature Sensor accessory.
The new Nest Thermostat is significantly cheaper than the Learning Thermostat. It offers an updated mirror design in four color finishes and a refreshed side control thermostat interface. Your purchase does not include a cutting kit and the thermostat is not compatible with the Nest Temperature Sensor. It also does not have the same learning algorithm or Farsight. But for more than $ 100 less than the leather thermostat, the new Nest thermostat is an excellent option that goes against Google’s flagship thermostat.
Read more: Best smart thermostat of 2021
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Google’s Nest Thermostat is $ 130
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