Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) Review - 6 Months Later

Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) Review

Key Concepts:

• Matter support
• Temperature sensors
• Dynamic Farsight
• Smart Schedule
• Adaptive Comfort and Eco features
• Energy Dashboard
• Nest Renew
• Airwave
• Humidity Helper
• Away mode

Matter Support

The fourth gen Nest Learning Thermostat supports Matter, allowing integration with various smart home platforms like Apple Home and Home Assistant. Adding the thermostat involves scanning a QR code in the thermostat settings and following on-screen instructions.

Temperature Sensors

The thermostat includes one temperature sensor, with the option to purchase additional sensors (three-pack for $99). These sensors can be placed throughout the home to provide a whole-home temperature reading. Users can configure the thermostat to use all sensors for an average temperature, specific sensors at certain times, or disregard them entirely.

Design and Dynamic Farsight

The thermostat features a design with improved bezel hiding and a better software interface. Dynamic Farsight uses Google's Soli radar chip for presence detection, displaying basic information from a distance and more details as the user approaches. The display turns off when no one is nearby. Users can customize the Farsight display to show temperature, weather, an analog clock, or a digital clock. The weather animations are highlighted as particularly useful.

User Experience and Setup

The thermostat requires pressing the screen for adjustments, as it's not a true touchscreen. The thermostat accounts for sunlight with a setting to compensate for direct sunlight warming the sensors. The Google Home app provides explanations for the thermostat's actions, detailing why it's currently on and the adjustments it's making. Setup took approximately 40 minutes, including video setup, and a cordless drill is recommended.

Smart Schedule and Learning Capabilities

The Smart Schedule is a key feature, learning user temperature preferences based on adjustments made to the thermostat. It considers factors like external temperature, humidity, time of day, and weather conditions. Users can set comfort and Eco temperatures, with Google providing reminders about pets and plants. The thermostat can automatically adjust comfort temperatures based on user behavior, exemplified by a notification about changing the cooling comfort temp from 74°F to 72°F due to Adaptive Comfort and Eco features. Users can set the Smart Schedule to suggestions mode, requiring approval for changes, or disable it for manual control. The smart schedule can be reset in settings.

Energy Saving Features

The thermostat displays a green leaf to indicate energy savings. The Leaf appears when enabling settings like turning off Early On, which starts heating or cooling early to reach a specific temperature at a specified time. The Energy Dashboard tracks energy usage, awarding leaves for savings. Nest sends monthly email roundups with energy information. Nest Renew helps users identify when cleaner electricity is available and set off-peak hours. Airwave shuts off the compressor at the right time and uses the fan to spread the remaining cool air around your home. The thermostat can intelligently disable HVAC when outside temperatures can naturally heat or cool the home. The Humidity Helper feature helps reduce humidity levels to prevent mold growth, with advanced configuration options for temperature adjustments.

Packaging

The thermostat features plastic-free packaging.

Unused Features and Performance

The reviewer primarily used manual adjustments, allowing the thermostat to learn preferences over time, rather than relying on the programmed schedule.

Energy Savings Results

The reviewer's energy savings were inconclusive due to variations in weather and travel. While September to December showed lower energy usage, January and February 2025 were colder than the previous year. The reviewer suggests the Nest would likely save money compared to a regular or programmable thermostat.

Downsides

Initial issues with Away mode detection, taking over an hour to activate, were resolved with software updates and disabling presence sensing on the thermostat itself. The reviewer now relies on phone data location for Away mode. The screen resolution could be crisper.

Recommendation

The reviewer recommends the Nest Learning Thermostat, citing its convenience, Matter support, and temperature sensor integration. The ability to learn temperature preferences and automatically adjust settings is highlighted as a key benefit.

Conclusion

The Nest Learning Thermostat is a smart thermostat that is a good choice for any smart home. It learns temperature preferences and makes adjustments automatically in the background.