(checked 2026-10-10)2,610 ratings. The listing (thermostat plus Temperature Sensor 2nd gen) offers several colors.
The only true learning thermostat here, picked by all four guides. It comes with a room sensor, adds Matter, and Tom's Guide and CNET say it needs no C wire. But it's one of the priciest, Wirecutter had to keep overriding its AI, and its sensor can't detect presence. Google cut off the 1st- and 2nd-gen Learning models on Oct. 25, 2025, which makes Tom's Guide question its long-term support.
Subscription: None required (Tom's Guide says none of its picks need a monthly fee)
Top complaints
- AI overrides your settings
Wirecutter says the AI sometimes went haywire in long-term testing, forcing manual corrections several times a day, and that other owners report the same. Amazon owners are mixed on temperature control, with some reporting it randomly set itself to 80F.
- Expensive
PCMag, Tom's Guide and CNET all list the price as a con. PCMag gives a $279.99 list price. Some Amazon owners call it a waste of $300.
- Long-term support worries
Google ended support for the 1st- and 2nd-gen Nest Learning Thermostats (2011, 2012, and 2014 Europe) on Oct. 25, 2025: app control, remote access and updates stopped, though on-device schedules keep running. Tom's Guide calls this a reason it's hard to be fully behind Nest and advises not expecting more than about 10 years from a smart thermostat. Some Amazon owners also report it won't connect to the app.
What owners love
- Easiest setup and smartest scheduling
Wirecutter says its AI does most of the setup work and excels at timing heating and cooling. Tom's Guide says Smart Schedule suggests changes you approve and accounts for outdoor weather.
Source: Wirecutter, Tom's Guide - Sensor included, Matter support
It's the only model in Tom's Guide's picks that comes with a room sensor. PCMag notes Matter support for Alexa, Apple Home and SmartThings.
Source: Tom's Guide, PCMag review - Beautiful display and dial
CNET names it the best design, and PCMag praises the large display. Wirecutter likes the easier-to-twist dial and the Farsight screen that wakes as you approach. Amazon owners like the modern style.
- You want full manual control without the AI second-guessing you
- You want room sensors that detect presence
- You worry about Google ending support early
- Google Home and Nest households
- People who want the thermostat to build its own schedule
- Homes without a C wire (per Tom's Guide and CNET)
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Wirecutter (NYT): Best for the smartest thermostat: the easiest to set up thanks to AI, but pricier and prone to glitches. Its sensors don't detect presence, and picky users will still adjust it by hand.
- PCMag: Best for AI-powered energy savings, 4.0 Excellent. Expensive, with no touch screen.
- Tom's Guide: Best Nest: no C wire required and improved Matter support, but one of the most expensive, and Google's track record makes its long-term future uncertain.