Nest Learning Thermostat T2 (2nd Gen, 2012)

68% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Super industrial design ; Intuitive to use and setup ; Exceptional smart learning ; Excellent software support

Thermostat requires constant power connection ; Less granular control than Honeywell Evohome ; Can't control hot water

The other weakness is it can't control a separate hot water system, a feature Hive supports. This means it's best suited to households with a combi boiler.

Sleek design ; Simple and intuative ; Works with Nest

Lacks multiroom temp monitoring

Elegant design. Easy to install and setup. Well-designed Web/mobile apps

Pricey. Auto Away feature can kick in while you're home

The Nest Learning Thermostat is a must have for high-tech homeowners or anyone looking to save on heating and air conditioning costs through interactive programming and online management.

If you need only a single thermostat and don't want control over several zones, the Nest is a good choice. The Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide alarm also works with the thermostat, but it's not cheap.

If you need only a single thermostat and don't want control over several zones, the Nest is a good choice. The Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide alarm also works with the thermostat, but it's not cheap.

Being able to control your heating remotely is amazing, and the learning features have the potential to save you money. It looks cool on your wall and it's a lot of fun showing it off.

It doesn't take advantage of the location data on your phone to turn on the heating as you approach home and it can't control the hot water on boilers with a dedicated hot water cylinder.

If you have the right sort of boiler and don't already have a thermostat, this is a great buy. Otherwise the appeal is more about the gadget lust and being able to switch on your heating from bed, but what's wrong with that?

Easy to install and easy on the eyes, the ; learns your heating and cooling preferences over time, so you don't have to program it. Wi-Fi networking and tasteful apps let you control and monitor your Nest from afar. Saves money ... eventually.

At $250, the Nest is so very expensive, and large homes may need more than one.

The second generation of the energy-saving Nest Learning Thermostat puts this device even further ahead of the (nearly nonexistent) competition.