Is your 4th-gen Nest Thermostat too dim? Google adds brightness controls
Google has a brand new 4th-generation Nest Learning Thermostat on sale, but people who have already purchased the smart home device sometimes find the screen a little too dark. Google is apparently fixing that.
This comes from a report on 9to5Googlewhich notes numerous complaints on Amazon about the Nest Thermostat’s screen being difficult to read due to its low brightness, especially at night.
It seems that the brightness setting that the device uses by default when it detects that it is in a dark room is lower than it should be. This means that the numbers and symbols on the screen are difficult to make out.
Even during the day, the Nest Thermostat screen can apparently be difficult to read, due to low brightness or reflections on the screen. However, unlike previous Nest Thermostat models, the 4th-generation model does not offer screen brightness controls.
Checks are coming
It’s unclear why brightness controls aren’t included on the new model, but the good news is that Google told 9to5Google that they will be added at some point in the future, without providing specific information on a specific timeframe.
Concerns about display brightness have tarnished the launch of the new smart thermostat, which was leaked extensively ahead of its official unveiling. The 4th-generation model is the first new Nest Thermostat in four years.
You’re getting a noticeably different design with the new edition, one that looks sleeker and more modern. There’s better weather integration here, as well as smarter scheduling for your heating and cooling (which should save you money).
For now, the 4th-gen Google Nest Thermostat is only available in the US and Canada, for $279.99 and CA$379.99 (around £215 / AU$415) respectively, as it’s optimized for heating systems in those countries. There’s no word yet on international availability.