Nest releases third-generation Learning Thermostat

Google-owned Nest announced a new version of its smart thermostat on Tuesday with minimal but still welcome changes.

After releasing a slew of new products in June, Nest Labs is releasing a revamped version of its first product: its thermostat.

The updated Nest Thermostat is equipped with an improved display, with a new high res screen that is significantly larger and brighter than previous models.

Another new feature called “Furnace Heads-Up” warns about possible problems with the heating system before they happen.

Nest Learning Thermostat will also come with a feature called Farsight, which makes use of the new upgraded graphics.

Later this year, Furnace Heads-Up will also be made available to Nest Learning Thermostat first- and second-generation units, a welcome addition for loyal users who might otherwise feel left out in the cold. The Nest will display an analog clock, digital clock, or the current temperature; Nest says it can be read from “across the room”.

Third-gen Nest users, meanwhile, can expect familiar features, including integrations with the Nest Protect smoke detector and Nest Cam security camera.

Nest head of hardware product marketing Maxime Veron cited third-party research that found that the smart thermostat cuts users 10 to 12 percent on their heating bills and around 15 percent on their cooling bills. It’ll detect if you’re walking toward it and will automatically illuminate to give you a quick glimpse at the thermostat in case you’re curious about the temperature inside your house. The display has 229 pixels per inch, which is 25 percent more than the second-generation thermostat. Nest 3 is now available on Nest.com and pre-order on Amazon and Best Buy for $249, while Nest 2 is moving down to $199.

“Most heating and forced air furnaces have an automatic shutoff to avoid overheating”, the company writes in a statement.

Although Nest is often touted as the most sophisticated smart-thermostat company, it is facing increased competition from other thermostat makers such as ecobee and Alarm.com that are bolstering their capabilities. It will eventually be sold at 7,000 retail locations and by certified HVAC specialists.