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Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen)
#4 in Smart Thermostats·View all 5

Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen)

Scored on 20 verified owner verdicts, from 2,094 comments read across 4 communities
TL;DR
Owners are split on the 4th Gen Nest: many find it reliable, easy to use, and a worthwhile upgrade thanks to Matter support and better scheduling control. The most common complaint by far is the dim display, which has no brightness adjustment and can be hard to read in bright rooms. Others flag the price, occasional programming headaches, and reliance on the Google ecosystem.

40% of 20 verified owners recommend the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen), based on real owner verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube.

See the problems 9 owners report →

What 20 owners say
2,094 comments reviewed · scored on the 20 clearest verdicts
40%
Recommend
8 owners
15%
Neutral
3 owners
45%
Don't recommend
9 owners
Source
Score
N
Counted in the score
Reddit
47%
17
Other forums
0%
3
Reviewed, but not counted — and why
YouTubeiowner comments
30%
40
Affiliate blogsipaid commission
100%
1
No clear verdictiSetup, tips & quirks
—
2

Affiliate blogs here say 100% recommend, while the owner-based score is 40%. They earn a commission on every sale — so we show them for transparency but never let them move the score.

The headline score reflects owners (Reddit, enthusiast forums), independent lab tests, blogs with no affiliate links, and YouTube owner-comments when they line up with owners. YouTube and Affiliate blogs are shown for perspective but kept out here — hover the i for why.

What owners like
  • Runs reliably and is easy to use, with owners reporting it works well and rarely needs attention after install · 4 · 20%
  • Matter-over-WiFi support makes it easy to add to other smart-home platforms like Home Assistant · 2 · 10%
  • More flexible scheduling than older models, including the ability to disable the schedule and hold a temperature · 2 · 10%
  • A clear upgrade over basic builder-grade thermostats, and owners find it attractive · 2 · 10%
  • More stable than the 3rd Gen for some owners, including tricky non-C-wire and dual-transformer setups · 1 · 5%
What owners flag
  • The display is too dim with no brightness adjustment, making it hard to read in bright rooms and even dim at night · 4 · 20%
  • Programming and settings can be a pain, and some automatic adjustments do not work as expected · 2 · 10%
  • Ties you to the Google ecosystem, and owners find the Google Home app frustrating · 2 · 10%
  • Some owners feel it is pricey and the new features are unnecessary versus older Nests · 1 · 5%
  • Single-sensor tracking can blast the whole house to one room's temperature unless you have multi-zone HVAC · 1 · 5%
Who it's for
A great fit if
  • Homeowners replacing basic builder-grade thermostats
  • People wanting Matter support and smart-home integration
  • Setups without a C-wire or dual-transformer systems
  • Installers wanting few post-install support calls
Look elsewhere if
  • Existing Gen3 owners (minimal upgrade benefit)
  • Bright rooms where the dim screen is hard to read
  • Multi-zone homes needing sensors that coordinate

Synthesized from what Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) owners say — not a spec sheet.

How buyers rate it elsewhere
Amazon4.42,418Target4.6Walmart4.2458Newegg4.7

Retailers' own star averages, for comparison — separate from our vetted owner-verdict score above.

Top quotes, sourced

2,094 reviewed · 61 shown
Sentiment
Community
Sort
YouTube▼ don’t recommend

“I hate the fact that the base sticks out the wall so much, compared to the 3rd gen which is flush with the device”

YouTube▲ recommend

“I honestly found the screen awesome”

Reddit— neutral

“I replaced both the sensi and ecobee with Google Nest 4th Gen Learning thermostats. The Google home app is crap, but it’s a matter over WiFi device and you can add it to whatever smart home platform including home assistant easily.”

Reddit— neutral

“I bought 2 new 4th Gen to replace my 2 3rd Gen Nests because they're really pretty and new..... And because I'm a big sucker for new things. Do you actually need these? Nah.”

YouTube▲ recommend

“It’s way better than the 3rd gen.”

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

“Google ruined the Nest thermostats the same way they ruined the Nest cameras.”

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

“there's no reason to go with Nest.”

YouTube— neutral

“The one complaint I have is the trim plate on version 4 is smaller than the trim plate on version 2 so I have to find paint to match.”

YouTube▲ recommend

“I had zero problem installing mine two days ago”

YouTube— neutral

“but the 4th is nice looking barring the decreased ability to read it from the side due to glare and design”

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

“That was the primary reason I switched to ecobee from nest”

YouTube▲ recommend

“great product, easy to install and setup, tons of features and very easy to use.”

YouTube▲ recommend

“So far i'm happy with the upgrade to the Gen 4”

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

“The temperature sensors for the price point should’ve had humidity sensors with them as well.”

YouTube— neutral

“Not everything is rosy.....my remote temperature sensors no longer work”

YouTube▲ recommend

“The display is going to be a huge improvement over version 3 and feeling its a worth while investment.”

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

“Functionality wise, it does not even remotely compare to the eco bee.”

Reddit— neutral

“They are nice devices, but no brightness adjustment is insanity.”

YouTube— neutral

“this seems like same stuff different day”

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

“see nothing in the new Nest to interest me even a little bit.”

Reddit▲ recommend

“it's a product that works and works well enough and it's easy to use for most customers and we get almost no support calls for thermostats after we install a nest”

Reddit▲ recommend

“Only 1 setting applies to all days of the week - I dont have to go day by day like you seem to be stuck doing”

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

“The display is quite dim, I heard a software update is coming to fix that.”

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

“Way too much trouble, if nest does not have a more friendly device for iOS, then not for me.”

Showing 1–24 of 61

Compare owner verdicts

Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) vs Honeywell Home T6 ProGoogle Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) vs ecobee Smart Thermostat PremiumGoogle Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) vs ecobee Smart Thermostat EnhancedGoogle Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) vs Google Nest Thermostat

Similar alternatives owners consider

ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhancedecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced49% of 78 owners recommendAmazon →
Google Nest ThermostatGoogle Nest Thermostat38% of 457 owners recommendAmazon →
ecobee Smart Thermostat Premiumecobee Smart Thermostat Premium61% of 111 owners recommendAmazon →
Honeywell Home T6 ProHoneywell Home T6 Pro87% of 38 owners recommendAmazon →

Common problems & things to know

Practical notes owners raise — setup, quirks, and issues to watch for. They don't say whether the person likes the product, so they're not counted in the score, but they inform the pros, cons, and who it's for.

Redditⓘ good to know

“We have a 3 story house with 4 sensors. You just get the chance to pick which sensor it tracks to. Unless you have a multi zone AC, it'll just blast the entire house until the sensor you pick gets to the desired temp.”

Google Nest Communityⓘ good to know

“The trim plate hole does not have the room for the 2 screws head.”