Google Nest
Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen)
$279.99
Released 2024-08
Best Smart Thermostats · head-to-head
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat is cheaper at $209.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Google Nest
$279.99
Released 2024-08
Honeywell Home
$209.99Cheaper
Released 2019
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat is the cheaper at $209.99.
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✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | | |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $279.99 | $209.99 |
| Brand | Google Nest | Honeywell Home |
| Released | 2024-08 | 2019 |
| Display | 2.68-inch circular stainless-steel framed display with Farsight (activates when motion detected), 3.9-inch diameter body | Graphical color touchscreen, 4.92 in H x 3.7 in W |
| Sensors included | Temperature, humidity, occupancy (60 GHz Soli radar), ambient light; up to 6 additional Nest temperature sensors supported | Includes one wireless SmartRoom sensor (temperature + humidity); up to 20 additional SmartRoom sensors supported |
| Geofencing | Yes | Yes |
| Hvac compatibility | Most 24V systems: single- and multi-stage forced air (gas/oil/electric), heat pumps (1-3 stage heating, 1-2 stage cooling), radiant, hydronic, boilers; not compatible with communicating HVAC systems | Up to 2H/2C conventional systems; up to 3H/2C heat pump systems; 24V low-voltage |
| C wire required | No | No |
| Voice assistants | Google Assistant (built-in via Google Home app), Amazon Alexa, Matter | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Microsoft Cortana, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT, Ring |
| Energy reports | Yes | Yes |
| Release | 2024-08 | 2019 |
Sources — Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen): en.wikipedia.org (verified 2026-06-15). Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat: honeywellhome.com (verified 2026-06-15).
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (4 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Three whitelisted hands-on reviewers—TechHive, Tom's Guide and TechRadar—tested this exact 4th-gen model and all recommend it. They praise the stunning, art-like redesign with a larger near-borderless display, the smarter weather-aware AI learning with accept/decline schedule suggestions, the glanceable Dynamic Farsight display, and Matter support (Apple Home, Alexa, SmartThings). All three flag the premium ~$280 price. Reviews are largely qualitative—only TechRadar put a number on anything, timing his install at about 15-20 minutes. TechHive still prefers the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium. (3 sourced reviews, 3 lab-tested.)
Praised: Stunning, art-like redesign with a larger, near-borderless display; Quick, easy installation (Tom's Guide notes no C-wire needed for power); Smarter, weather-aware AI learning with accept/decline schedule suggestions.
Flagged: Premium price (~$280), among the priciest in its class; Remote sensor measures temperature only, not room occupancy (unlike Ecobee); Upgrading from an older Nest isn't plug-and-play; needs a new install.
Two whitelisted testers (TechHive, Tom's Guide) reviewed the T9 hands-on in 2019 and rate it a strong, sensor-focused smart thermostat, though neither ran lab benchmarks. Both praise best-in-class remote sensors and easy setup; both flag the missing onboard motion sensor and a less-intuitive app. All six quoted lines verified verbatim against the source text. (2 sourced reviews.)
Praised: Best-in-class remote sensors with long range and quick responsiveness; Easy setup and a bright, responsive touchscreen.
Flagged: The thermostat unit itself has no built-in motion sensor; No auto-away/occupancy triggering and no built-in Alexa speaker or behavior learning; Companion app is less intuitive than Ecobee's and has minor glitches.