If the Best Smart Thermostat in your mind is one that fits within a fair budget, you might be interested in the Nest Thermostat E. Google has come far from the original Nest thermostats: better performance and efficiency, while also bringing in sensors to aim at being the Best Smart Thermostat For Multiple Zones.
Why We Like It – Nest Thermostat E
The Nest Thermostat E is a great budget option for those who fancy Google Home or Amazon Alexa. It mixes a traditional dial design with modern technology, like Home/Away Assist, fine tuning HVAC systems, and easy-to-learn interface.
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- Works w/ 85% of HVAC systems
- Easy to install
- Affordable
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- Temperature sensors sold separately
- Lacks compatibility w/ Apple Homekit
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Performance
The Nest E Thermostat works with up to 85% of HVAC systems, and aims to be efficient. Scheduling, for example, is more than picking days, but also times. Ever heard of Early-On? You can specify a time in which to kick on the heat or AC, in conjunction with your preferred wake-up time. There’s even notifications and reports if your furnace filter needs replacing.
Advanced Features
The star of the show are the Nest E’s temperature remote sensors. Unfortunately, they’re sold separately. But if you do get your hands on one, it can greatly fine tune the way your home uses its multi-stage heating and cooling. While it doesn’t have a proximity sensor, like the Ecobee SmartThermostat With Voice Control, it does come with a Home Away Assist to prevent heating and cooling an empty room. Overall it helps you save energy.
Ease of Use
Unlike the Glas Smart Thermostat, the Nest Learning Thermostat E favors a tactile dial as opposed to touchscreen. This makes it more inviting to a range of users, especially those just dipping their toes into smart home devices. Don’t want to get up? Use the Nest app or, better yet, shout a command or two at it using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. It’s quick to react regardless of which method you use, but it doesn’t work with Apple Homekit.
Ease of Install
Like most competent smart thermostats, the Nest E makes it incredibly easy to hook up the device to HVAC systems. It uses a color-coded system, so a simple color-to-color match and you’re good to go. There’s even a C wire bundled inside. Also, you can check out the iDevices Thermostat, which is easy to install and affordable too.
Value
Both the Nest Thermostat E and Honeywell Home T9 are fantastic budget options, but the Honeywell might exceed the Nest by just a small amount. This is because the Honeywell’s sensors have proximity sensors. If you have a need to use sensors, the Honeywell is the way to go; otherwise the Nest Thermostat E will do just fine.
Nest Thermostat E Wrap Up
If you’re on the fence about smart thermostats, the Nest Thermostat E offers one of the easiest systems to get yourself acquainted with. It isn’t wholly versatile—seen by the lack of Apple Homekit compatibility—but holds onto the essentials: voice control, scheduling, notifications, and reports. There’s also room to grow if you get your hands on sensors.
