Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) Review – 6 Months Later
Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) Review – 6 Months Later
How smart is the new Nest Learning Thermostat from Google? Does it actually save you any money? We’ll take you through what’s new with Google’s premium thermostat, all of the energy-saving features you can utilize, the downsides we encountered, and whether or not we recommend this thermostat.
Plus, we’ll take you through the features that make this thermostat a “Learning Thermostat,” including the Smart Schedule, Automatic Adjustments, Eco Temps, Comfort Temps, Humidity Helper, Airwave, Natural Heating/Cooling, and more!
📑Blog Post: https://6monthslater.net/2025/03/nest-learning-thermostat-4th-gen-review/
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🕰️Timestamps:
0:00 – Apple Home support via Matter
0:51 – Temperature sensors
1:16 – Hardware design and Dynamic Farsight
3:33 – Setup experience
4:03 – Smart Schedule, Comfort, and Eco temps
5:45 – Nest Leaf and Energy-saving Features
7:31 – Humidity helper and plastic-free packaging
7:59 – Yes, you can program it with a schedule
8:44 – Did it save me any money?
9:32 – Downsides and Recommendations
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Nope, no longer worth it, they are completely screwing their loyal customers and no longer supporting gen 1 and 2 all in the name of money making.
Temperature sensors was always a thing. Not that they just added it.
Quick question: Does the new Nest thermostat finally allow you to run alternate heat sources on W2 without having to run the heat pump and without using the Nest App? For example, I can walk up to a Sensi thermostat and press a button to switch to running only my air handler as a heat source. But last time I had a Nest thermostat, I needed to use the Nest App and it only worked if I moved the air handler heat source to star (*).
What is included in the one you referenced in the description? It seems $200+ more than anywhere else??
Thos might be one of the worst products of all time. A thermostat is a pretty simple thing. Why would anyone buy one that doesn’t work?
Awesome I recommend it I luv how I can adjust the heat air from my phone
I like the look better of the Gen 2 Nest thermostat. If the gen 4 was a larger version of the gen 2 with improved display and external sensors, yeh i would upgrade.
It pisses me off that I can’t use average temp with my gen 1 add on sensors. The sensor itself has nothing to do with what the thermostat does so why can only gen 2 sensors do this?
How is it with keeping internet connection I have the other version and its horrible it looses connection never to be found again and a known problem they wont fix.
It doesn’t do anything different from the Gen 3 I had in a house I just sold. The Gen 2 doesn’t support the stats, but otherwise again, is almost the same minus the remote sensors. The rest is just looks. I have two Gen 2 they are now disabling in the apps, so I have to buy two Gen 4 to keep things on the same platform. All for a fancy display. Even with the discount they offer, I really have no reason to replace these Gen 2 units. None of them learn anything useful and away home gets turned off immediately because we just don’t constantly walk past these things in our house.
This should have security camera built in.
Can you use this thermostat with the original nest app like the 3rd generation or does it have to use the google home app
⚠ Warning: If you are thinking about buying a NEST thermostat, think twice.
This is my honest opinion as a customer of over 10 years. For many years, my thermostat worked flawlessly. Then, out of nowhere, the company decided to send me an email with the following message (conveniently right before the heating season):
ORIGINAL MESSAGE FROM NEST:
*Starting October 25, 2025, your device will be unpaired and removed from your Nest app or Home app. This also removes third-party assistants and other connected features like Home/Away Assist. Nest Protects will also disconnect from the thermostat and emergency shut off will no longer run. you won’t be able to:
Check the status of your thermostat in the Nest or Home app.
Remotely control the device
Receive notifications
Change settings from your phone or tablet*
In other words, they are removing my access to the app, which also means I lose integration with my other Nest devices such as the smoke detector and Nest camera.
To summarize their email in plain language:
"We know your device is working perfectly fine, but we’re cutting you off from the app anyway. Why? Because we want you to spend more money. Here’s a small discount, now go to the store and buy the newer version. Just because we said so."
Honestly, I would have to be out of my mind to ever buy another thermostat from this company – or any product connected to Google – again.
On top of that, don’t forget the enormous amount of data this company collects about you through these devices.
At this point, my only hope is that some smart developer out there creates an independent mobile app and puts it on GitHub so users like me can keep using devices that still work perfectly well.
2nd generation has a lot of features that he said what he forgot to say is nest is no longer supported for 4th generation
I have a love / hate relationship with Nest. I loved how my Gen 2 worked for well over a decade and aside from some connection issues Nest was going through 15yrs ago. It has been flawless. I hate how they are ending such a simple connectivity part of the device and the entire reason for owning it. These should come with a 20yr promise from the last day of sale. I now have a Gen 4 and it both looks great and at the same time I hate the reflections off it it. Seriously the reflections are insane and I don’t understand how that passed Alpha testing and made it to production. At least it is matter ready but because it connects through Google I’m not sure what that will mean in 15yrs? Nest could have knocked this out of the park. Instead they made a device that really makes you question if you should stick with the brand or switch to Eccobee?
Not worth it. They are bricking the smart features of their 1st and 2nd generation thermostats. So basically, if you buy them when they first come out, expect to have to replace it in 10 – 15 years.
2:33 bro forgot how to look outside or check the device in his pocket
When 1st gen came out, I called nest and told them to create additional sensors. They ignored it … for more than 10 years.
Can i turn the screen to white and setup an automatic night mode to go black at night?
As a HVAC Tech. I do not see the advantage of the remote sensor. Let me explain. It is summer time and you have remote sensor in the Master Bedroom because it gets hotter than the rest. So the cooling comes on and it does cool down the Master Bedroom where you want it, problem is, the rest of the house is freezing because it is going off of the Master Bedroom. It makes your unit run longer because it is trying to lower that room temperature. It solves one problem to add two more. Rest of house freezing and electric cost to run unit longer. The solution is to have your air in your house balanced so each vent gets the amount of air needed for the size of space. That way, your whole house temp will be within a degree or two. If you do not have dampers on your supply ducts, they can use the vents to regulate. It needs to be done by someone who specializes in this because if you do not get enough airflow, you can cause issues or damage to your unit outside. The actual test is called a Test & Balance.
I just bought a house. The house currently has a split system. I believe the current old nest thermostat (which I’ll replace with this) only controls the heat. I assume if I upgrade my split into full central air, Nest would control both hot and cold right?
Being able to get an average temperature is nice. The 3rd gen only lets you pick one sensor at a time and it doesn’t do an average.
Got an email from Google / Nest that support is ending for my Gen 1 thermostat. I’ve been wanting to upgrade anyway and they gave me a nice discount on the new one. Waiting for it to arrive.
Any else get the email from Google saying they’re going to stop all software support for the last 12 year’s worth of nest thermostats? Come *on*!
Pointless to own one given Google is ending its support in Oct 25. After that it becomes an expensive dumb thermostat. Typical google.
How to manually stop /run the furnace fan
I ended up with ecobee premium. I love it as it also uses occupancy sensing. I can also use it as a home alarm with windows and door sensors.
I never touch the actual screen. I just press the whole thing down by the edge. No finger marks. 👍🏻
The way I ran to see if I have been mispronouncing "subsequent" my entire life is no joke. I am not.
If I have the nest 1st gen, can I put the nest 4th gen without having to change any wirings? or the base?
Just curious…. How many of us are here because our devicess coincidentally took a crap? Raise of hands;
10:30 I honestly found the screen awesome and I’m a guy with a 4k oled and hates shitty screens but that’s my opinion
DONOT BUY NEST. They have planned obsolescence built into their business model, and they will not support the online functionality. Any company that does not support their products do not deserve your patronage.
i just watched the whole video, although i live in a tropical climate where the temperature is mild year-round… just LOVE the way it looks but it would be absolutely useless where i live.
Our Nest Gen 2 was working perfectly as a thermostat. Google has no reason to terminate its functionality except for the small cost of server usage and of course forcing people to upgrade. There is no plan for Google to open the API to allow 3rd party support of the thermostats. There should be a class action suit imo. I can understand stopping security and firmware updates (last one being in 2019). But to completely block its access to the app thereby downgrading it to a $20 dumb thermostat? Goodbye Google. I bought an Ecobee and Very happy with it. And I finally have a ‘Hold’ button LOL.
The glare is insane.
The 3rd gen does not require a c wire what about this one
This thermostat is a piece of CRAP. If you like coming home to a hot house in the summer and a cold house in the winter. This is the thermostat for you. I hate it.
4th gen not available in UK yet. My 1st gen is losing support next month. I’m stuck with what I do now. I don’t like any of the other options.
my 2nd generation does have all of these features, then why i am forced to upgrade? Shame on google to choose greed over customers! I will better switch to another brand now forever!
“You’ll want a cordless drill” challenge accepted.
I’m rapidly losing faith in google products. The way they drop support for products such as stadia, chromecast audio and earlier nest thermostats does nothing to inspire customer loyalty. Ill be looking elsewhere when my g3 thermostat is rendered obsolete by google.
This thing has the same stuff as my Gen 2, and I’ll be forced to upgrade in October, seems like a money grab….. Ohh my fault remote sensors, who cares
This thing is a fucking nightmare. Technology should make your life better and easier. This device does neither. My old thermostat took me all of five minutes to set up, primarily because it came with an actual user guide. It was simple, easy and intuitive to set up times and temps and even easier to override. I’ve spent hours trying to figure out how to use the Nest thermostat and have made very little progress. If you love technology for the sake of technology this device is for you. If you’re a normal person who enjoys things that make life simpler and better, the Google Nest is not for you.
This is garbage. Keeping my Nest gen 2. F Google
These devices work great if you have a single stage heat pump or AC. If you have an inverter heat pump or AC like Bosh you need to turn off all the smart’s otherwise it will fight the smarts of the inverter board and cause more energy to be used.
WTH I legit just bought it today LMAO and I love it the animations are so good
The temperature sensors for the price point should’ve had humidity sensors with them as well.
Their forcing us to buy this
How to find the code on Nest 4th gen. Please help