The most innovative thermostat not on the USS Enterprise is now 20% thinner and encased by a premium solid stainless steel ring — designed to reflect the wall colors around it. The Nest 2.0’s ($249) display also ditches the old sensor grill for a smooth lens. Those obvious cosmetic changes are nothing compared to the new easy-to-use press connectors hidden beneath the face, which make inserting HVAC wiring quicker.
If you’ve been waiting for Nest to support your current system, the news gets even better: the latest iteration is now kosher with 95% of low voltage heating and cooling systems in the U.S. and Canada. That added support comes with updated 3.0 software (which is available to all Nest owners) and features notable improvements including System Match, enhanced Auto-Away, increased language support for Spanish and French, True Radiant, Filter Reminders, Heat Pump Balance, Improved Early-On, Auto-Scheduling and even Android tablet compatibility for the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD. Together, the new hardware and software inches the Nest one step closer to becoming the autonomous climate overlord of your dreams. That is, as long you do the programming instead of the missus.
Buy Now: $249
