Today Nest announced their third generation thermostat. It is thinner, has a bigger screen and now displays the time when it’s not doing anything else. As I predicted last week when the rumors were swirling, the new iteration of the Nest thermostat is only slightly different than its predecessor.
The new, larger and easier to read screen is a definite benefit, although I’m sure users of the previous two versions of the thermostat would agree that once the device is set up, you spend very little time ever looking at the display. I’m sure there are users who will benefit from the new clock feature as well, because you can never have enough clocks around the house. As for the device being slimmer, it’s actually .05″ slimmer than the Nest v2. This would make a huge difference if you kept the thermostat in your pocket all day, but on the wall in all but the tiniest micro-houses, this is a difference you will never notice.
There are also a handful of software updates shipping with the Nest v3. The newest feature being touted is the Furnace Heads-Up system, which will alert you if it seems like your furnace is turning on and off too often. There is also a filter change reminder for forced air systems. Last, they finally added hot and cold alerts, which will let you set temperature thresholds to alert you if the house is too hot or cold. All of these software features are slated to be pushed out to the Nest versions 1 and 2 in the coming months.
If you’re in the market for a smart thermostat and don’t mind paying a premium for the best in show products, head over to Nest’s website and buy one now.
BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE!
Savvy shoppers know that when a new product is released, the previous version usually goes on sale. At the time of the Nest announcement, the price of the Nest v2 Thermostat dropped to $199 on Amazon! According to camelcamelcamel, that’s the lowest price the device has sold for since November 27, 2014, and a savings of 20%. You’ll still get all of the great software features in the coming months and basically only miss out on a larger screen and .05″ of living space. It’s a no brainer if you ask me….which you did…..because you’re still reading…..