Google’s two Matter thermostats side by side: learning or programmed schedule, the bundled sensor, C-wire notes, CSA certificates and platforms Google names.
Learning schedules and a room sensor versus a programmed schedule, both on Wi-Fi
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Both are Google Wi-Fi thermostats with a CSA Matter certificate on file, so neither needs a Thread border router. Pick the Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) for learning schedules and the bundled room-temperature sensor; pick the Nest Thermostat (2020) when a programmed schedule is enough. Check your heating and cooling system with Google first.
You want the thermostat to learn your schedule: Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)
Its record describes learning schedules; the Nest Thermostat (2020) uses a programmed schedule.
You want a separate room-temperature sensor in the box: Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)
The linked Learning offer is the thermostat plus one 2nd-gen Nest Temperature Sensor; the 2020 model does not include that sensor bundle.
A programmed schedule is enough: Nest Thermostat (2020)
The non-Learning Nest Thermostat uses a programmed schedule.
Your home has no Thread border router: either one
Both records list Wi-Fi, so neither needs a Thread border router; you still need your platform’s Matter controller.
You use Amazon Alexa: Nest Thermostat (2020)
Google’s own page names Alexa for the Nest Thermostat (2020). For the Learning model we have no Google quote naming Alexa, so check before you buy.
A thermostat with learning schedules and a separate room-temperature sensor. Google’s compatibility checker is the starting point for your system, including multi-stage equipment…
Certification proof: CSA24363MAT43542-24 on the CSA registry
The non-Learning Nest Thermostat uses a programmed schedule. Its system support and accessory requirements differ from the 4th-gen Learning model, so compare the exact model before…
Certification proof: CSA23170MAT40683-50 on the CSA registry
The first rows repeat each product page, read from its catalog record. The rest quote the maker or the record, with the source linked in each cell. Prices load in your browser only when a store price was checked in the last 48 hours or an Amazon price was retrieved in the last 24 hours.
| What | Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) | Nest Thermostat (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Current price | See price at Amazon | See price at Amazon |
| CSA Matter certificate | CSA24363MAT43542-24 (Jun 23, 2024) | CSA23170MAT40683-50 (Feb 14, 2023) |
| Matter network (its record) | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| Needs a Thread border router? | No; it joins your Wi-Fi | No; it joins your Wi-Fi |
| Platforms the maker names | Google Home | Amazon Alexa, Google Home |
| Stores we link | Amazon, The Home Depot, Lowe's, Tech For Less, P.C. Richard & Son, Abt Electronics, Electronic Express | Amazon, The Home Depot, Lowe's, Target, Google Store, Tech For Less, Abt Electronics, Dell, Newegg, Electronic Express |
| Schedule | Learning schedules, plus a separate room-temperature sensor. Its catalog record | A programmed schedule. Its catalog record |
| In the box (linked offer) | Thermostat + one 2nd-gen Nest Temperature Sensor (Polished Silver). Source | Thermostat only; not the Learning model’s sensor bundle. Source |
| C wire | Works without a C wire in many installations; some need a C wire or Nest Power Connector. Source | Heating-only, cooling-only, zoned and heat-pump systems, among others, may need a C wire or Nest Power Connector. Source |
| Matter software notes | Google’s version 2.4 update (April 30, 2026) adds on-device setup and Matter bridging for thermostat sensors. Source | Matter support arrived in firmware 1.3–10 in June 2023; check the unit is updated. Source |
Choose the Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) when you want learning schedules and a separate room-temperature sensor: the linked offer is the thermostat plus one 2nd-gen Nest Temperature Sensor. It matches CSA certificate CSA24363MAT43542-24 (June 2024) and joins your Wi-Fi. Google says many installations work without a C wire, and its version 2.4 update adds Matter bridging for thermostat sensors.
Choose the Nest Thermostat (2020) when a programmed schedule is enough. It matches CSA certificate CSA23170MAT40683-50 (February 2023), joins your Wi-Fi, and Google’s own page names Amazon Alexa and Google Home for it. Some systems, including heating-only, cooling-only, zoned and heat-pump setups, need a C wire or Nest Power Connector.
The same answers each product page gives, from its catalog record and verified store links; a platform is named as confirmed only where the maker’s own site names it.
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We have not performed hands-on testing. This page is built from MatterCatalog’s catalog records: each product’s CSA certificate and its scope, the network and platforms its record lists, the maker’s setup requirements and the stores with a verified link. It does not rank performance, reliability or price; check the current price, model and pack size at the store. Editorial policy