What the difference is between the Nest E and Learning Thermostat?
- nov
- 30
We're always looking to make our homes just a bit smarter with everything from automated lights to internet-connected thermostats, letting us (and you) build the home of tomorrow, today.
Nest Learning Thermostat
Luxury learning
Pros
- Learns your behavior, creating automatic heating and cooling schedule
- Farsight technology automatically lights the display when it detects you in the room
- Compatible with 95% of HVAC systems
- Works with Amazon Alexa
- Works with Google Assistant
- Made from premium materials
- Multiple color options
Cons
- More expensive than the Thermostat E many additional advantages
The Nest Learning Thermostat learns your behavior and temperature preferences, creating an automatic schedule. It's also compatible with the vast majority of HVAC systems, works with voice assistants, and is made of premium materials. But compared to the Thermostat E, you're not getting a lot more for the extra money.
Nest Thermostat E
Learning for less
Pros
- Learns your behavior, creating automatic heating and cooling schedule
- Works with Amazon Alexa
- Works with Google Assistant
- Cheaper than the Learnings Thermostat with most of the same features
- Will work with "most" heating and cooling setups
Cons
- No color options
- Compatible with 85% of HVAC systems
The Nest Thermostat E, like its more expensive sibling, learns as you use it, creating an automatic schedule for heating and cooling. It also works with voice assistants, and features most of the same sensors as the Nest Learning Thermostat, missing only those needed for Farsight. It's missing the metal casing and color options, but the real downside is that it's not compatible with quite as many HVAC systems as the Learning Thermostat.
While the Nest Learning Thermostat does have a few advantages over the cheaper Thermostat E, for most people, the Thermostat E is likely the right choice. As with anything you're going to wire directly into your home, you'll want to check the compatibility of both thermostats to make sure they'll work with your heating and cooling system.
Break it down now...
In many ways, some would say the most important ways, the Nest Learning Thermostat and the Nest Thermostat E are the same thermostat. All things being equal (they both work with your HVAC system, you like the style of either), the biggest difference between the two is the price. The Nest Thermostat E launched for $70 less than the base price of the Learning Thermostat while delivering most of the same features, and as time has passed and sales come and gone, that gap is often much wider.
Truly, the single biggest advantage that the Nest Learning Thermostat has over the Thermostat E is HVAC system compatibility. Spending less money on the Thermostat E won't do you any good if you doesn't work with your system. But that's why you should check compatibility beforehand. But there's a good chance they'll both be compatible, and unless you really need Farsight, which lights up the Nest Learning Thermostat's display to show you information when the thermostat detects that you're nearby, I'd be hard pressed to recommend the Learning Thermostat over the Thermostat E.
| Nest Learning Thermostat | Nest Thermostat E | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | Wired or Battery | Wired or Battery |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty (years) | 2 | 1 |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Web Access | Yes | Yes |
| Humidity sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Accessory control | Yes | Yes |
| Annual fees | No | No |
| Remote sensors | Yes (Sense temperature) | Yes (Sense temperature) |
| Learns habits over time | Yes | Yes |
| Works with Amazon Alexa | Yes | Yes |
| Google Assistant support | Yes | Yes |
| HomeKit-enabled | No | No |
| Amazon Alexa built-in | No | No |
| Price | $203 | $140 |
Given the similarities, unless you absolutely need Farsight or a thermostat with a metal casing, and assuming that it's compatible with your HVAC system, get the Thermostat E. It's less expensive while providing most of the same features as the Learning Thermostat. And honestly, it'll likely blend into the rest of your home better, assuming that's something you want.
If you really like the styling and color options available for the Learning Thermostat, or the Thermostat E doesn't work with your system, then, by all means, get the Learning Thermostat. But unless you need to take advantage of one of the capabilities that it possesses and the Thermostat E doesn't, pick up the Thermostat E.
Nest Learning Thermostat
Luxury learning
A great smart thermostat held back by its price.
The Nest Learning Thermostat is a great thermostat that will learn about your heating and cooling needs as you use it. But it's also pricing compared to the similarly-capable Thermostat E.
Nest Thermostat E
Learning for less
The subtitle is a succinct sentence that clearly states the reasoning for a pick.TKTKTK
The Nest Thermostat E doesn't have every bell or whistle of the Learning Thermostat, but it has most of them, and at a much lower price. It would be nice if it had the same compatibility as the Learning Thermostat and more color options.