Google
Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Gen)
Best smart thermostat for effortless home climate management.
The 3rd Generation Nest Learning Thermostat features a thinner, sleeker design and a bigger, sharper display, making it more beautiful than ever. Independent studies have proven that the Nest saved consumers an average of 10-12% on heating bills and 15% on cooling bills, meaning it can potentially pay for itself in less than two years. It connects securely to your existing home network via Wi-Fi, allowing you to conveniently control the temperature from anywhere using the free app on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. The Farsight feature illuminates the display when it spots you across the room, showing the time or temperature. This smart thermostat monitors your equipment, sends service reminders, and alerts you if the home temperature gets dangerously hot or cold. It accommodates your schedule and temperature preferences by learning what you like within a week and automatically switching to an energy-efficient 'Away mode' when you're not home. Dynamic sensors track activity, manage humidity, and monitor the weather to provide a custom climate for your home. You can also review your energy history and reports to track usage and receive tips for conservation. The Nest Leaf notifies you immediately when you make an energy-saving temperature adjustment.
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
40
/ 255
#40 in Climate Control Appliances
Who it's for
- Homeowners seeking effortless energy savings and reduced utility costs.
- Design-conscious individuals valuing aesthetics and user-friendly smart home devices.
- Tech-savvy users desiring remote access and a connected smart home ecosystem.
Who should skip it
- Budget-conscious consumers looking for a more affordable climate control solution.
- DIY installers with older HVAC systems lacking a common wire.
- Users preferring immediate, straightforward functionality without deeper configuration.
Performance breakdown
Energy efficiency
Smart scheduling significantly reduces heating and cooling waste over time.
Interface design
The rotating dial makes manual temperature adjustments intuitive and satisfying.
Ecosystem integration
Seamlessly connects with Google Home and various smart home platforms.
Installation simplicity
Clear wiring guides make DIY setup manageable for most homeowners.
Learning capability
Automatically adapts to your routine without needing constant manual programming.
Build quality
Premium metal finish feels substantial and looks elegant on any wall.
What customers say
Customers consistently praise this smart thermostat for its intuitive design and ease of use, often highlighting how quickly it adapts to their preferences. Many appreciate the significant energy savings it provides, making it a smart investment over time. The sleek aesthetic also receives frequent commendation, seamlessly blending into various home decors. Users often report a noticeable improvement in home comfort due to its smart scheduling and remote control capabilities. Reliability is a recurring positive, with the device generally performing as expected and enhancing daily living.
Know before you buy
During the first week of use, you manually adjust the temperature when you wake up, leave, or go to bed. The thermostat records these habits and begins to automatically program itself to match your routine, refining its schedule over time as you make further adjustments.
The Nest Learning Thermostat is compatible with most 24V heating and cooling systems, including gas, electric, forced air, heat pump, radiant, and multi-stage systems. You can use the online compatibility checker on the Google Nest website to confirm your specific wiring configuration before purchasing.
While the Nest Learning Thermostat is designed to work without a C-wire in many homes by drawing power from your heating and cooling equipment, some systems may require one for consistent power. If your system lacks a C-wire and experiences power issues, you may need to install a Nest Power Connector or have a professional add a common wire.
Yes, once the thermostat is connected to your home Wi-Fi, you can adjust settings, view energy usage, and change schedules from anywhere using the Google Home app on your smartphone or tablet.
The thermostat itself monitors the temperature in the room where it is installed. To manage temperatures in other rooms, you can pair it with Nest Temperature Sensors, which allow the system to prioritize comfort in specific areas of your home based on occupancy or time of day.
The thermostat will continue to operate based on the last schedule it downloaded, so your heating and cooling will function as normal. However, you will not be able to adjust settings remotely via the app or receive software updates until the internet connection is restored.
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