Review: the Nest Thermostat E smart thermostat

01Review Nest Thermostat E thermostat in brief

The Nest Thermostat E is a stripped-down version. The interface is, however, largely the same as on its big brother. But the design is more plastic and you only have the option of putting the thermostat on the stand. So hanging it up is not possible.

02Full review of the Nest Thermostat E

As is often the case, Nest manages to deliver its products in a lot of packaging material. Less nice if you are looking for a smart thermostat to spare the environment a little. On the other hand, it is true that they do not supply parts needlessly. Besides the Nest Thermostat E you receive two screws, two terminal blocks, a cover plate and a little documentation, but for the detailed information you have to look in the app.

As far as the design is concerned, you cannot exactly call the Nest Thermostat E exciting. A boring, white box that you could cover with a cloth if you like, and that is about it. A plus point, though, is that you can also simply put the Nest Thermostat E on a stand so that you do not have to drill into the wall. Do pay close attention to where you put it, because it must not be near heat sources, cold draughts, incident light and so on. Mounting it neatly on the wall after all seems the most practical. But then you first have to manage to get it off the stand, which is easier said than done. What we are enthusiastic about is the display. The frosted display looks really beautiful and is one of the biggest plus points.

Next, we do need to talk about compatibility. Nest has always aimed to be able to communicate with just about everything. Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT compatibility: you can certainly expect something from the Nest Thermostat E. Furthermore, it works with about 85% of all heat sources. It can also work perfectly with district heating. On the other hand, the Nest Thermostat E, a Google product, cannot communicate with Apple's HomeKit. Probably a deliberate choice so as not to strengthen the competition, but a bit childish if you ask us. In any case, you will not be able to count on Siri, and you had better take that into account if you already have a HomeKit. Nevertheless, the Nest thermostats are still your best chance of optimal integration into a smart home.

We discuss the installation of the Nest Thermostat E below. Let it be clear that Nest is quick to come up with the advice to call in an installer, but in practice this will not be necessary for many people. They probably do this to prevent later damage claims, but in principle you can connect the Nest Thermostat E yourself. The most important thing is that you follow the installation steps carefully and don't just get started haphazardly yourself, because then something is guaranteed to go wrong.

Saving with the Nest Thermostat E

A smart thermostat has two functions: saving on the energy bill and increasing living comfort. We will look at the first task first. Thanks to Nest, saving is possible with the help of, among other things, the monthly consumption overviews. Being rewarded with green leaves when you do well helps you with this. As a result, you use energy more consciously. In addition, Nest adapts itself to the temperature characteristics of your home so that it heats more evenly. The whole concept is of course based on maintaining the right temperature, and Nest does this well.

A plus point is the so-called Eco function. Now, you will not always need this function, but it prevents your pipes from freezing by always guaranteeing a minimum temperature in the home. If during a harsh winter you go on holiday to Asmara for a while, the Nest Thermostat E prevents problems without you having to keep the heating on constantly.

Extra living comfort with the Nest Thermostat E

Next, we do need to talk about the Nest Sense. The Nest Sense also simply helps with saving, but is at the same time a way to increase living comfort. This is the self-learning algorithm that learns how and when you heat. The programme is adjusted on that basis. That way you are warm at the right moments, but you do not heat unnecessarily. In doing so, it also takes into account how the heat source heats and how the temperature in your home drops.

Another plus point is the Heat Link option. This means you can still put the smart thermostat in a less suitable place, provided that the temperature at the Heat Link location is correct. A disadvantage, on the other hand, is the lack of presence sensors, which is of course the result of the savings that preceded this stripped-down version. This is quite an important minus point, because in fact it was one of Nest's distinguishing features compared with competitors, who meanwhile increasingly do integrate this function.

Price tag

For just over 200 euros you can get the Nest Thermostat E, which is only a few tens of euros less than the other Nest variants, which are therefore certainly also worth considering. With the 3rd Gen models, however, you do have to take a number of extra costs into account. The stand with USB alone already costs you 30 to 40 euros. Compared with competitors the price is very reasonable, but we would certainly not call it a budget option.

03Checking compatibility

First of all, although you would actually do better to do this before you buy the Nest Thermostat E, Google recommends checking compatibility. For this, Google has developed its own Compatibility Checker, on the basis of which you can check compatibility. This Compatibility Checker is fairly technical, but if in doubt you had better simply ask the local Nest Pro. Via the Nest Pro finder you can easily find a professional in your area. Their phone numbers are neatly displayed there and of course you can also leave the entire installation to the professional.

04Installing the thermostat and the Heat Link

Start by installing the Nest app on your smartphone. Once you have installed it, add the thermostat to the app. To do this, open the app, tap 'settings', then 'add product' and then 'Nest thermostat'. Scan the code of your Nest thermostat. You will find this code on the bottom of the stand. The app will now guide you further through the installation process. Afterwards you can place the Nest Thermostat E. Google recommends doing this in a room where people are most often present, but where pets cannot easily be detected. Google also advises against draughty spots and heat sources. Yet the sun protection function is precisely one of the strong points of the Nest Thermostat E and it can certainly tolerate some sunlight.

05Configuring the smart thermostat

After placing and connecting the thermostat and the Heat Link, a process you carry out step by step via the Nest application, you can configure the Nest Thermostat E. Here too the app provides good guidance. In practice the app will ask a number of installation questions that you have to answer. By doing this step by step, you make the smart thermostat completely your own. You configure, among other things, the language settings, the internet connection, the temperature, the equipment and so on. Later on it will simply keep learning, so that will be fine in any case.

06Programming temperature schedules

Now you can start using the thermostat. It does not have a touchscreen, but by turning the ring you can raise or lower the temperature. In addition, you can also operate the thermostat with the Nest app. What is especially important is that you set a temperature schedule. With this you can configure the desired temperatures down to an interval of 15 minutes. You simply do this in the Nest app.

07How do you install the Nest Thermostat E?

Not only is the Nest Thermostat E a stripped-down version, it is also striking that the installation process has been greatly simplified compared with how smart thermostats used to be installed. The app helps you step by step through the installation process, but via the Google Support website you will find an extra detailed explanation of the installation process. The main points are shown below.

08Frequently asked questions about the Nest Thermostat E

With a price tag of over 200 euros, you naturally prefer to be sure before you buy the Nest Thermostat E. That is why we have collected and answered a number of frequently asked questions below. That makes the choice easier.

There are several differences. For example, the screen of the nest Thermostat E only shows the temperature, while the 3rd Gen can also show the time and the weather conditions. The 3rd Gen is also available in more colours, you mount the 3rd Gen on the wall as standard and installation by a professional is more advisable. Moreover, the 3rd Gen can do just a little more. For example, it can also control hot water production.