Smart Thermostats / Google
Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)
The only one that really learns your schedule, and it usually needs no C wire.
Overall score 8.4/10
Pros
- + The only thermostat here that genuinely writes its own schedule — install it and you can never open the app again
- + Runs without a C wire in most homes, which no ecobee, Sensi Touch 2, Amazon or Honeywell X-series model here can claim
- + Three stages plus humidifier, dehumidifier and ventilator terminals — the broadest HVAC coverage in this set alongside the ecobee Premium
- + Bundles a temperature sensor at a price where the $199.99 ecobee Enhanced bundles none
Cons
- − 'No C wire required' carries a long asterisk: Google's own page lists heating-only, cooling-only, zone-controlled and heat pump systems as needing the $24.99 Nest Power Connector, which covers a large share of US homes
- − The bundled Nest Temperature Sensor is temperature-only — it cannot tell whether a room is occupied, which every ecobee SmartSensor can
- − Setup and control are locked to a Google account and the Google Home app; the old Nest app and Works with Nest are gone
- − Rush Hour Rewards pays you to let the utility push your setpoint by up to about 4°F for three to four hours at a time
- − Highest list price here at $279.99, on a 2-year warranty that both ecobee and Mysa beat
Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) review: what the specs say
The only one that really learns your schedule, and it usually needs no C wire. At $239.99, Google's 2024 model sits at the premium end of the category — the smart Thermostats we compare run from $79 to $259.99. It scores 8.4/10 overall, calculated from published specifications across 8 categories rather than from a subjective impression.
Its strongest showing is HVAC Coverage at 9.5/10 — stages of heating and cooling, heat pump and auxiliary heat handling, and humidifier / dehumidifier / ventilator terminals. The weakest is Value at 6.5/10, which is the trade-off to weigh before buying: if that is the specification you care about most, one of the alternatives below will serve you better.
Worth knowing before you buy: 'No C wire required' carries a long asterisk: Google's own page lists heating-only, cooling-only, zone-controlled and heat pump systems as needing the $24.99 Nest Power Connector, which covers a large share of US homes; and the bundled Nest Temperature Sensor is temperature-only — it cannot tell whether a room is occupied, which every ecobee SmartSensor can. Every specification on this page comes from Google's own documentation or a verified retail listing — where a figure is not published, the table says so rather than estimating it.
Specifications and price last verified . Report an error
Full Specifications
| System Voltage | Low voltage 24V only — gas, electric, oil, forced air, heat pump and radiant. Will not run 120/240V baseboard or radiant electric heat |
| C-Wire Required | Not in most homes. Google's patented Power Sharing borrows power from the other wires, and the store page claims roughly 85% system compatibility — but it also states heating-only, cooling-only, zone-controlled and heat pump systems need a Nest Power Connector or a C wire |
| Adapter / Power Kit Included | No — the Nest Power Connector is a separate $24.99 accessory, not in the box |
| Heating & Cooling Stages | Up to 3 stages of heating and cooling, plus fan speed control |
| Heat Pump & Aux Heat | Yes, including auxiliary and emergency heat |
| Humidifier / Ventilator Terminals | Humidifier, dehumidifier and ventilation (HRV/ERV) systems all supported — the widest accessory coverage of the Nest line |
| Remote Sensors | One Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen) included; up to 6 more. Google states all generations of the sensor work with this model |
| Occupancy Detection | Soli radar senses presence and proximity at the thermostat itself, plus phone-location Home/Away. The Nest Temperature Sensor reads temperature only — it does not detect occupancy |
| Matter Support | Matter-certified, so it appears in any Matter app including Apple Home. Google does not publish a Thread radio for this model |
| Voice & Smart Home Platforms | Google Home app (required for setup and control — the standalone Nest app is retired), Amazon Alexa, Apple Home via Matter |
| Utility Rebates & Demand Response | Rush Hour Rewards, run by Renew Home with your energy provider, plus Nest Renew Energy Shift. Google's own help page says Rush Hour Rewards makes adjustments 'typically up to 4°F' for 3-4 hours during demand events; enrolment is through the Google Home app |
| Account or Subscription Needed | No subscription. Learning, Savings Finder and Eco when Away are free, but a Google account and the Google Home app are mandatory |
| Connectivity | 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, 5GHz Wi-Fi, Matter |
| Material | Polished metal ring around a 2.7in glass display face; Google does not publish the alloy |
| Warranty | 24 months |
Compare Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) With
Cheaper Alternative
Honeywell Home X8S (X8VMC8B/U) — $219.99
Premium Alternative
ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) — $259.99