Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen).

The Gavler Review.

Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) Review: The Icon, Rebuilt for a No-C-Wire World

The Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) sits at number two on our Best Smart Thermostats list with a 9.2, and it's the rare device that lives up to fifteen years of brand recognition. Google's redesign fixes the thermostat's biggest historical weakness — the C-wire requirement that kept it out of older homes — while adding a radar-based display that's a genuine leap over anything else on the wall. Buy it if you're in the Google Home ecosystem, want the best-designed thermostat available, or need the simplest possible install. If your home mixes Apple, Alexa, and Google, or you want the most refined multi-room sensor system, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium at number one is the better fit.

What it actually is

The Nest Learning Thermostat has been the cultural face of the category since 2011, and the 4th-gen version is a genuine redesign rather than a refresh. The new Soli radar sensor — the same radar technology Google first shipped in the Pixel 4 — detects your approach and switches the circular display from a glanceable large-number view to a full interactive interface before you've touched anything. The display itself is larger, brighter, and edge-to-edge now, with subtle weather animations that give it a personality no competitor has matched.

The more consequential change is underneath the glass: Google redesigned the 4th-gen Nest to run without a C-wire in most US homes, removing the single largest smart-thermostat install barrier for the past decade of the category's existence. It ships with a redesigned second-generation Temperature Sensor for reading additional rooms, and it now supports Matter, extending compatibility beyond Google Home to Alexa, Apple Home, and SmartThings. At $279, it's priced right alongside its closest rivals.

In use

The Soli radar display is the feature that shows up in every hands-on account, and for good reason — it's the kind of detail you only fully appreciate after living with a thermostat that doesn't have it. Reviewed describes the thermostat as one that "blends intelligent automation with one of the most recognizable designs in smart home hardware," and The Verge is direct about who it's for: "the Nest 4th Gen is the better pick if you're all-in on Google Home, want the best-looking thermostat on the wall, or specifically value its Soli-radar proximity display."

The no-C-wire redesign matters just as much day-to-day, because it changes who can install this thermostat without an electrician. Tom's Guide calls it out specifically: "the 4th gen finally fixes the C-wire problem that limited Nest installs for over a decade." That's not a minor spec bump — it's the difference between a DIY fifteen-minute install and a service call for a meaningful share of older homes.

The Matter integration is the one area where the picture is more nuanced. It brings the Nest onto Apple Home, but not as a HomeKit-native device — Siri can nudge the temperature through the Home app, but doesn't get the deeper direct control it gets with a native HomeKit thermostat. For a Google Home household, none of this matters; the native integration there is unmatched. For an Apple-first or genuinely mixed household, it's the reason this thermostat ranks second rather than first on Gavler's list.

Where it shines

• The best display in the category. Soli radar proximity detection, an edge-to-edge circular screen, and weather animations combine into a thermostat that's genuinely nicer to interact with than anything else on this list.
• No C-wire, no drama. The redesigned power system works without a C-wire in most homes, eliminating the install hurdle that has historically pushed buyers toward a professional install or a different thermostat entirely.
• Unmatched Google Home integration. For households already running Google Home, Nest's native integration is simply the deepest available — routines, Assistant voice control, and Home app management all work exactly as expected.
• Matter support extends its reach. Even without HomeKit-native status, Matter means the Nest isn't locked to Google's ecosystem the way older Nest generations effectively were.

The trade-offs — who should skip it

This is the best-designed thermostat on Gavler's list, not the most ecosystem-flexible one, and the honest reasons to buy something else are specific:

• You're an Apple-first household. Matter support gets you basic Siri control, but not native HomeKit integration. If Apple Home is your primary hub, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is built for that from the ground up.
• You need the most refined multi-room sensing. The included Temperature Sensor is solid, but Gavler's research found Ecobee's SmartSensor system still has a slight edge in multi-room accuracy and coverage.
• You mix Alexa, Google, and Apple. Nest's deepest strengths are all inside the Google Home walls. A genuinely mixed-ecosystem household is better served by a thermostat built to be ecosystem-agnostic from day one.

How it compares

The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium at number one is the thermostat this Nest is measured against on every roundup, and the difference is ecosystem breadth versus design: Ecobee wins mixed-ecosystem households and multi-room sensing, Nest wins design, Google Home depth, and install simplicity. Further down the list, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced offers a cheaper way into the Ecobee ecosystem if the Premium's price is the sticking point rather than the Nest's design.

The Gavler verdict

A 9.2, reflecting a thermostat that finally closes its own biggest historical gap — the C-wire requirement — while adding a display genuinely worth showing off. The Nest Learning Thermostat 4th Gen is the right buy for Google Home households, design-conscious buyers, and anyone installing in an older home without a C-wire already run. Households split across Apple, Alexa, and Google, or anyone chasing the most refined multi-room sensing, should look one rank up at the Ecobee Premium instead — a genuinely close call, and a good problem for buyers to have.

Common Questions

Is the Nest Learning Thermostat 4th Gen worth it in 2026?

Yes, especially if your household already runs on Google Home or your home doesn't have a C-wire. It ranks second on Gavler's Best Smart Thermostats list with a 9.2, built on a genuinely best-in-class Soli radar display and a redesign that eliminates the single biggest smart-thermostat install hurdle. The main reason to look elsewhere is ecosystem breadth — Apple-first and mixed-ecosystem households are usually better served by the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium.

Does the Nest Learning Thermostat 4th Gen need a C-wire?

No, and that's the headline change in this generation. Google redesigned the 4th-gen Nest to operate without a C-wire in most US homes, which removes the install hurdle that has historically kept smart thermostats out of older houses. Tom's Guide specifically credits this generation with finally fixing the C-wire problem that limited Nest installs for over a decade.

What is Soli radar and why does it matter?

Soli is a built-in radar sensor that detects when you're approaching the thermostat and switches the display from a glanceable large-temperature view to a full interactive UI before you touch it. It's a small detail that adds up to a noticeably more polished daily experience, and reviewers single it out as the standout hardware feature of this generation.

Nest Learning Thermostat or Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium?

Buy the Nest if you're a Google Home household, care about having the best-looking thermostat on the wall, or want the easiest possible install with no C-wire. Buy the Ecobee Premium if you use Apple Home, Alexa, and Google Home together, since Ecobee's SmartSensor multi-room system and native HomeKit support give it the edge for mixed or Apple-first ecosystems — which is exactly why it sits one rank above the Nest on Gavler's list.