New Nest Thermostat is Slim and Bright

Mary H.J. Farrell
0

Nest, which put the sexy in thermostats, is at it again with a newer, slimmer, easier-to-read version of its Learning Thermostat. The third generation Nest is proof that a thermostat can never be too thin or too pixel-rich. Among the enhancements are a larger, higher-resolution screen and software upgrades that will also be available to its two older siblings.

When Consumer Reports tested the first Nest thermostat, we liked its graphic display, ease of setup, and intuitive controls. The next Nest was a little slimmer and a little smarter. Still, other thermostats in our tests topped the $249 Nest with excellent scores across the board including the Honeywell RTH9590WF, $300, American Standard AccuLink AZone950, $450, and Trane ComfortLink II Smart Control TZone950, $550.

We’ve already added the $249 Nest to our shopping list and will include it in our next batch of thermostat tests, which get underway in the coming weeks. So what are the new features?


What's New About the Nest?

The display on the new Nest is 40 percent larger than its predecessor and has 25 percent more pixels, which makes it really pop. Nest has made that display even easier to see by adding a feature, Farsight, that detects motion from across the room and lights it up. In earlier versions, you had to be within three feet of the thermostat. Another new feature is called Furnace Heads-Up and works with your furnace to detect problems. The thermostat also integrates with Nest’s other two products, the Nest Protect CO and smoke detector, and the Nest Cam, according to the Nest press release.

While Nest touts the thermostat’s sleek design, what it’s really selling is savings. Nest, which is owned by Google, claims that the Nest saves consumers 10 to 12 percent on their heating bills and 15 percent on their cooling costs. Nest is also working with power companies and home security firms to offer customers rebates and access to energy-saving programs with the Nest often thrown in at no cost.

We look forward to testing the Nest and its competitors. The thermostat is available today at Nest.com, Amazon.com, and BestBuy.com and will be coming to brick-and-mortar stores soon. If you don’t care about the new bells and whistles, you can buy earlier generations of the Nest for $199 while supplies last.



More from Consumer Reports:
The best energy efficient air conditioners
5 terrific side by side refrigerators
Best places to buy large and small appliances

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

Advertisement

Recommended Stories

  • One More Day, One More Boeing Incident - Senegal Crash Adds to Troubles

    Boeing Co (NYSE: BA) continues to face challenges as a Boeing 737-300 aircraft crashed during takeoff at Senegal’s main airport on Thursday. Air Sénégal flight HC301, operated by Transair with 78 passengers, skidded off a runway before takeoff, injuring 11 people and bringing the facility to a halt. The Blaise Diagne airport said an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the accident, which occurred at around 0100 GM, reported Reuters. Boeing is already under regulatory scrutiny af

  • Billionaire Bill Gates Has 51% of His Portfolio Invested in 2 Brilliant Stocks

    The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Trust outperformed the S&P 500 by a wide margin over the past three years, in part because of these two stocks.

  • Plug Power (PLUG) Reports Q1 Loss, Lags Revenue Estimates

    Plug Power (PLUG) delivered earnings and revenue surprises of -34.38% and 26.18%, respectively, for the quarter ended March 2024. Do the numbers hold clues to what lies ahead for the stock?

  • Can I Use My RMDs to Transfer Money Into My Roth IRA?

    If you're taking a required minimum distribution from an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-deferred account and don't need the money to cover living expenses, where should you stash that unneeded cash? Investors now need to start taking RMDs at age 73 or, if they were born after 1960, at age 75. Depending on the balances of […] The post Can I Use My RMDs to Transfer Money Into My Roth IRA? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.

  • Compared to Estimates, Plug Power (PLUG) Q1 Earnings: A Look at Key Metrics

    While the top- and bottom-line numbers for Plug Power (PLUG) give a sense of how the business performed in the quarter ended March 2024, it could be worth looking at how some of its key metrics compare to Wall Street estimates and year-ago values.

  • ‘Seriously Underwater’ Home Mortgages Tick Up Across the US

    (Bloomberg) -- Roughly one in 37 homes are now considered seriously underwater in the US and that share is much higher across a swath of southern states, according to data out Thursday.Most Read from BloombergMicrosoft’s Xbox Is Planning More Cuts After Studio ClosingsAmericans Are Racking Up ‘Phantom Debt’ That Wall Street Can’t Track‘Seriously Underwater’ Home Mortgages Tick Up Across the USArm Slides as Tepid Outlook Fuels Concerns Over AI SlowdownNationally, 2.7% of homes carried loan balanc

  • How Much Cash Can A $300,000 Annuity Generate For Me Each Month?

    Imagine having a reliable source of income you can count on throughout your retirement. That’s the promise of an annuity. These insurance products have been designed to turn your savings into a steady stream of monthly payments. They guarantee peace of mind and financial security in your golden years. Don't Miss: Are you rich? Here’s what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. Can you guess how many Americans successfully retire with $1,000,000 saved? The percentage may shock you. An

  • Too many tractors: As boom times fade, farm equipment piles up

    DEKALB, Illinois (Reuters) -Falling crop prices are leaving agriculture equipment sellers with an excess of unsold tractors and combines. The slower equipment sales are a knock-on effect of corn and soy prices dropping to more than three-year lows as U.S. farm income plummets and equipment makers and dealers are forced to pivot quickly after a period of booming business. Reuters interviewed ten equipment dealers, mostly in the Midwest, as well as farmers and analysts, who said low crop prices combined with persistently high interest rates are deterring farmers from purchasing machinery.

  • Prediction: This Incredibly Cheap Semiconductor Stock Could Become the Next Nvidia

    This Nvidia peer is benefiting from the growing adoption of AI-enabled smartphones.

  • Here's Exactly When Social Security Recipients Can Expect Benefit Cuts, According to the Latest Trustees Report

    Social Security payments may be subject to cuts. Here's what the timing looks like.