Google’s new Nest Thermostat has an improved UI and ‘borderless’ display

Google appears to be preparing to launch a fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat. Details about the thermostat were first leaked last week, and now the same leaker has posted more documents in X which show that this new model will have a customizable home screen, a new “Dynamic Farsight” feature and a “borderless” screen.

The leaks detail a “borderless high-resolution display” that appears to allow the Nest Learning Thermostat UI to extend into the area that was normally a black frame on existing third-generation units. Other leaked images show UI elements that also appear much closer to the screen’s bezels.

Dynamic Farsight is mentioned, but the leak doesn’t show how this new feature works. Farsight on existing Nest models allows the unit to wake up when you approach it, to show information like weather, time, or room temperature. Hopefully the dynamic mention means the fourth generation can show a mix of information this time around, rather than being limited to certain options.

The leaked Google documents also mention “natural heating and cooling” and a customizable home screen for the fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat. It’s not clear how natural heating and cooling works, nor how customizable the new home screen is.

The fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat will come with an oval trim plate in the box, along with the usual thermostat base, a steel back plate, and a second-generation Nest temperature sensor. Google only has a very basic integration of its third-generation Nest Learning Thermostat into the Google Home app, but this new model has a full user interface within the app that lets you change all the settings and control schedules without having to switch to the Nest app .

There’s no mention of hardware upgrades beyond the screen changes, but I hope Google has greatly improved the internals here after nearly 10 years. Third generation learning thermostats are known to have Wi-Fi chip issues where the units will die and need to be replaced. Personally, I’ve had to replace my Nest Learning Thermostat twice because of Wi-Fi issues.

The leaker also suggests that this new fourth-generation model will cost $279, making it the most expensive Nest thermostat yet. The new Nest temperature sensors cost $39 each, or three for $99. We may get official release dates and pricing during the “Made by Google” hardware event on August 13.