About this review: Build Smart House does not test products in-house. This is a summary of published testing and reviews from independent labs and publications, which we name throughout.
Google’s Nest Learning Thermostat practically invented the smart thermostat category, and the 4th generation is its biggest redesign yet. Reviewers at Tom’s Guide, TechHive and TechGearLab agree it is a meaningful upgrade — with one recurring complaint: the price.
Design and display
The new model is slimmer, with a 60% larger crystal LCD display (2.7-inch, 600 x 600 pixels) behind polished glass. It comes in polished silver, obsidian and gold, and looks more like a piece of jewellery than an HVAC control. A built-in Soli radar sensor detects when you approach and wakes the display with useful info.
Features
The headline is still learning: the thermostat builds a schedule around your routines and can save up to 31% on heating and cooling bills. It works with most 24V systems (gas, electric, oil, forced air, heat pump, radiant), and a Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen) is included in the box to even out hot and cold rooms.
Crucially for 2026, it is Matter-certified: you can control it from Google Home, Apple Home, Alexa or any Matter-compatible app — a first for the Learning Thermostat line.
Price
$279 on its own, or around $435 with professional installation. That is firmly premium territory.
Verdict
8.5/10. The best-looking, smartest thermostat you can buy, with real energy savings and — finally — Matter support that frees it from the Google ecosystem. If your budget is tighter, previous-generation Nest models still work brilliantly for far less.
Buy it if: you want top-tier design, learning schedules and multi-ecosystem support.
Skip it if: a $100 thermostat already covers your needs — the savings math takes years at $279.