Google’s entry-level Nest Thermostat is selling for $79 at Amazon in white, a $50 discount from its listed $130 price. The Verge’s Sheena Vasani reported that the sale matches the device’s lowest price of the year.
For people trying to get a smarter handle on heating and cooling without buying Google’s pricier thermostat, the 2020 Nest Thermostat is the basic option in the lineup. It is the model built around remote control, scheduling and energy-use nudges rather than the more automated learning features Google reserves for its flagship hardware.
The mechanism is straightforward: the thermostat connects to Google’s Home app, which lets users change temperature settings from a phone. That means adjustments can be made from another room or while away from home, assuming the system is installed and connected properly. The Verge says installation is quick, though compatibility with a given HVAC setup still matters with any thermostat swap.
What the cheaper Nest model includes
The discounted thermostat supports schedules, so users can set temperature changes for different times instead of treating the wall unit like a dumb dial from 1998. It also works with voice control through Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or another Matter-compatible voice assistant, according to The Verge.
Matter support is the interoperability hook here. In plain terms, it is meant to let smart-home devices work across different ecosystems with less vendor lock-in theater. The thermostat remains a Google product, controlled through Google’s app, but Matter support gives it a broader smart-home path than older devices that depended more tightly on a single platform.
Google’s energy features are the other pitch. The Nest Thermostat can lower temperature use when it detects that the home is empty, which is meant to cut waste rather than magically shrink a utility bill on command. The Verge also notes that Google’s Savings Finder can recommend changes over time.
The device can monitor an HVAC system and send alerts if something appears abnormal. That is not a replacement for maintenance or a technician, but it can flag a problem earlier than waiting until the house feels wrong and the compressor is already having a bad week.
For eligible users, Nest Renew can shift some heating and cooling to times when electricity is cleaner or less expensive, according to The Verge. Availability and usefulness depend on eligibility and local electricity conditions.
What buyers give up
The discounted model is not Google’s latest Nest Learning Thermostat. The 2020 Nest Thermostat does not automatically learn a household’s schedule over time, The Verge reports. Users who want that behavior need to look at the higher-end model.
It also does not support Nest Temperature Sensors, which are used to prioritize the temperature in a particular room. That missing feature matters in homes where the thermostat is in a hallway but the room people actually care about runs hotter or colder.
At $79, the deal is mainly for buyers who want remote controls, schedules, Matter support and Google’s energy prompts without paying for the more adaptive Nest model.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.
