Image of a smart thermostat depicting the best smart thermostat in the market
Image of a smart thermostat

Thanks to advancements in smart home technology, we now have a wide range of smart appliances and devices in our homes, such as smart locks, smart lighting, smart security cameras, smart humidifiers and smart thermostats. In the middle of winter, when you’re using your heat more, it might be a good idea to invest in the best smart thermostat to ensure you’re not wasting money. Not only does a smart thermostat control your home’s heating and cooling system, it fulfills a great deal more. To name a few: you can adjust your thermostat from anywhere your phone has a Wi-Fi or cellular connection because it’s an app-enabled device, it lets you control your heat and air conditioning whether you’re at home or not.

How to Select a Smart Humidifier?

If you’re not familiar with smart home technology, it can be challenging to comprehend. As a result, before purchasing one of today’s smart thermostats, we’ve compiled a list of things to consider. So, before you go out and buy a smart thermostat, here are some things you should know about them and how to select the best one for your home.

1. Home design

The type of home you have will determine whether you need a smart heating system. As a result, the size of your home and whether or not any rooms have trouble reaching the ideal temperature are important factors to consider. If so, a model that includes or supports a wireless sensor may be a good option.

2. Budget

Another factor that decide the best smart heating system is how much money you are willing to invest in long-term savings.

Less than $100: Such models will support the essentials while still allowing you to connect to your smartphone. However, they aren’t as appealing to the eye.

Between $100-$200: The majority of smart thermostats will be in this price range, and their features will be adequate for most homes. However, premium features including voice assistants and two-stage heating will be unavailable to you.

More than $200: These are the best smart thermostats for your home if you have two-stage heating and cooling. Most of the premium models are available at this price point. These will have the biggest range of features and will also appear to be the most impressive. 

3. Existing smart-home system

Most of the smart thermostats are compatible with popular smart-home voice assistants including:

  • Amazon Alexa
  • Apple HomeKit
  • Google Home
  • Logitech Harmony
  • Microsoft Cortana
  • Samsung SmartThings
  • Wink

If you already have a voice assistant in your home, be aware that not all smart thermostats are compatible with it. So, before you go out and buy a new thermostat, make sure it’ll work with your current smart-home system.

4. Additional features

Next, consider which extra features are important, such as geofencing. Geofencing allows you to set the appropriate temperature when you’re out of the house and when you return. However, it’s pointless to go with a system that focuses on location services if someone is usually at home.

Nest Learning Thermostat (third generation)

The Nest Learning Thermostat is an energy-saving smart thermostat that learns your routine and programs itself. It’s also thoughtfully made, with a big, vibrant display and metal finishes to match any home’s style. Moreover, the Nest Learning Thermostat (third generation) achieves the ideal balance of style and functionality, earning its place as the best smart thermostat available according to our point of view.

When you buy Nest Learning Thermostat (third generation), you’ll get:

  • Display
  • Base
  • Optional trim kit
  • Mounting screws and labels
  • Nest screwdriver
  • Installation Guide
  • Welcome Guide
  • Nest Pro installation card

Product Specifications of Nest Learning Smart Thermostat (third generation)

Manufacturer‎Google
Item Weight‎1 pounds
Product Dimensions‎3.3 x 3.3 x 1.21 inches
Batteries‎1 CR2 battery
Size‎1
Finish‎Stainless Steel
Material‎Metal
Pattern‎Minimalistic
Shape‎Round
Power Source‎Battery Powered
Voltage‎24 Volts
Type of Bulb‎LED
Display Style‎Digital
Certification‎Energy Star, UL
Special Features‎Wireless: Working Wi-Fi connection: 802.11b/g/n @ 2.4GHz, 5GHz, Wireless interconnect: 802.15.4 @ 2.4GHz, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
Batteries Required?‎No
Battery Cell Type‎Lithium Ion
Product Specifications of Nest Learning Thermostat (third generation)

Design of Nest Learning Smart Thermostat (third generation)

The third-generation Nest thermostat features a round design with a familiar display.  In terms of size, the third-generation Nest is similar to the previous model. It comes with a stainless-steel ring with a diameter of 3.3 inches and a thickness of 1.26 inches. There are, however, some significant differences. Firstly, it has a 40% bigger display and better resolution for better visibility all around. The display has 229 pixels per inch, which is 25% more than the previous model and should result in a sharper image on the screen. In addition, Nest reduced the profile of the thermostat so that it would not push out from the wall. You can now select from four different dial finishes, stainless steel, black, white, or copper. All of which are priced the same.

Features of Nest Learning Smart Thermostat (third generation)

Along with its incredible features, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat consistently ranks first in smartest thermostat reviews. So let’s take a look at what they have to offer.

1. Learn your routines

It picks up on your habits and adapts to them by programming itself to help save energy. This means that your heating system will adapt to your needs over time without your involvement. It takes a couple of days for the Nest to remember what temperatures you prefer when you’re at home and at what times you’re at home. In addition, Auto-away mode lowers the temperature when it detects you are not at home. Nest will ask you after a few days if you want it to automatically go into “Away Mode” when it detects you are not at home (you decide to opt in or opt out). For greater energy savings, we recommend turning on “Away Mode.” You have complete control over when you are at home and when you are not home during those few days if you turn off “Away Mode.”

2. Farsight

Farsight is a feature exclusive to the third-generation Nest. This feature detects your presence from a longer distance than previous models, allowing you to see your thermostat’s target temperature or current time in “analog” or “digital” modes from up to 20 feet away. This allows you to see the time and temperature from afar without having to stand on top of the Nest.

“The new “Farsight” feature is awesome and can catch me at approximately 10 feet away even in the dark. When Nest detects any motion it will illuminate with what the current temperature is. So this is how it can tell if you are home or not and can automatically place itself in “Away Mode” for energy savings.” – Happy customer on Amazon

3. Furnace Heads-Up

For those who have a forced-air furnace, the Furnace Heads-Up feature is available. This feature essentially keeps track of when your forced-air furnace switches off to avoid overheating. If it detects a problematic situation, it will notify you via the Nest app, the thermostat displays, and your monthly energy consumption via email.

4. Location-based features

Location-based features track your phone’s location and turn the heat on or off depending on where you are. This one uses built-in sensors to track your location, as well as algorithmic intelligence to create a custom, self-adjusting temperature plan based on if you’re at home or away. You can still make manual adjustments to your settings using the Nest app or the thermostat itself if you have a Wi-Fi or cellular connection. But don’t worry about it turning off the heat and leaving your guests freezing while you’re away; it has built-in sensors that allow it to detect whether anyone is at home.

5. New sensor

It now has a new sensor that can detect your presence from a long distance and display the time, indoor temperature, or current weather forecast. Also it works with the Nest temperature sensor. The temperature sensor can be purchased separately or together with the thermostat. Put one in your child’s room, the basement, or any other room that gets particularly hot or cold so you can use it instead of your thermostat’s built-in temperature sensor as the default temperature readings for your home.

6. Connects with other smart home products

Any smart thermostat’s ability to communicate with other smart home devices is one of its main benefits. Google Assistant, Alexa, and Nest’s own Works with Nest program will all be compatible with the Nest. Although this Google-owned product is not compatible with Apple’s HomeKit, it is a great addition to any home.  Working with Nest enables you to link and control the Nest thermostat with a variety of smart home devices, including Philips Hue lights, smart locks, and so more. But keep in mind that Google is discontinuing the Works with Nest program and encouraging users to migrate their Nest accounts to Google Assistant accounts.

Installation of Nest Learning Smart Thermostat (third generation)

The third-generation Nest Learning Thermostat is simple to set up if you know how to use a screwdriver. After all, it comes with:

  • Small but functional screwdriver
  • Built-in level
  • Basic rectangular base plate for concealing any unappealing gaps or patchy paintwork from previous installations
  • Steel plate for mounting your thermostat to an electrical box

Here’s a quick rundown of the steps, where you can get through the majority of them quickly:

  1. Turn off the power to your heating and air conditioning system.
  2. Disconnect and remove your old thermostat.
  3. Attach the new base plate (optional) and thermostat base to the new base plate. Using the included hardware, secure them in place.
  4. Attach the wires to their appropriate ports. This included Y, G, W, Rh, and C wires in my case.
  5. Place the faceplate on top.
  6. Turn on the power.

You’re all set to set up your Nest now. Your unit will turn on and guide you through the steps to

  • Set your language
  • Connect to your local Wi-Fi network
  • Update any out-of-date software
  • Set your location
  • Answer some basic questions about your HVAC system (If you’re not sure what type of HVAC system you have, choose “I don’t know” and come back to it later)
  • Input your preferred temperature ranges for heating and cooling
  • Perform a quick system test (optional)

If you don’t have a Nest account, feel free to download the app to your Android or iOS device of choice and customize your settings, including Farsight, vacation modes, and integration with other Nest products and third-party smart devices.

Setting Up of Nest Learning Smart Thermostat (third generation)

You can install up to six Nest sensors in your home, each of which is powered by a single CR123 battery with a two-year lifespan. Simply remove the battery tab, enter the sensor’s code, wait for it to connect, and assign it to a specific room, such as “Nursery”, “Reading Room”, “Master Bedroom”, “Kitchen” etc.

Then you can choose one of the sensors to be the app’s default temperature reading. The “Manage sensors” section of the app settings menu also allows you to create custom schedules for the morning, daytime, evening, and night.

Install a temperature sensor in your reading room, for example, if you work in the evenings frequently. You can set the “Reading Room” sensor to be the default temperature reading between 4 and 9 p.m if that room/area is likely to get warmer during that time. As a result, your heating and cooling systems will adjust to the temperature in the reading room rather than the lower temperature where your thermostat is.

Furthermore, keep an eye out for the Nest Leaf, which appears when you select an energy-saving temperature. Also note that energy savings are not assured and are dependent on factors such as energy usage, weather, and other variables.

Smart Thermostat | Conclusion

You can opt for a smart home system that lets you monitor and manage your home according to your preferences. If you might not want to think about the whole system, you can control your home from your smartphone or tablet with standalone devices such as motion sensors, smart security cameras, smart doorbells, smart locks, and smart thermostats. However, proper heating and cooling are critical in a connected home. It keeps you warm, but there’s a clear distinction between comfort and cost-cutting. While traditional thermostats are adequate, the next generation of smart thermostats aims to provide you with even more control over your surroundings.