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Temperature & Humidity Sensors · Head to head

Nest Temperature Sensor vs Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen)

Full Smart Temperature/Humidity Sensors comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Google site.
2026 verdict
Nest Temperature Sensor, the original model, still edges out its successor as a Nest Thermostat room sensor, being the better reviewed and usually the cheaper of the two.
Nest Temperature Sensor
Winner
Nest Temperature Sensor
$34.99$39.0010% OFF
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
Both do the same single job: they read the temperature of one room and let a compatible Nest Thermostat heat or cool by it, with no humidity sensing, no screen, no alerts and Google Home as their only platform. The Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen) wins on battery, with a CR2 cell rated for 3 years against a CR123A rated for 2, and it is slightly lighter. Buy the Nest Temperature Sensor for the same room reading at a friendlier cost, and the Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen) if you would rather change batteries less often.
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FeatureNest Temperature SensorNest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen)Winner
Price$34.99$39.98Nest Temperature Sensor
Rating4.64.4Nest Temperature Sensor
Battery Life2 years3 yearsNest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen)
Warranty1 year1 yearTie
ConnectivityBluetoothBluetoothTie
ScreenNONOTie
IntegrationsGoogle HomeGoogle HomeTie
SensorsTemperatureTemperatureTie

What the differences mean

Battery

The Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen) runs on a CR2 cell rated for 3 years, the original Nest Temperature Sensor on a CR123A rated for 2. Over several years that means fewer battery swaps in every room.

Size and weight

The original is 50 mm square and weighs 45 g, the 2nd gen 55.4 mm square and 37 g. Both are small enough to sit on a shelf or nightstand unnoticed, so this is not a reason to pick either.

What it measures

Nothing changed. Both read temperature only, with no humidity, and neither has a screen, alerts or history of its own; everything happens on the Nest Thermostat.

Warranty and platforms

Also identical: a 1-year warranty and Google Home as the only platform, with no Alexa, Apple Home, SmartThings, Home Assistant or Matter support on either.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Owners of both Nest sensors tell the same story: a bedroom or an upstairs floor that was always too hot or too cold finally matches the rest of the house, scheduling by room trims the energy bill, and setup in the Google Home app takes minutes with no wiring. The differences are in the complaints. Nest Temperature Sensor owners from the UK, Italy and the Netherlands report the sensor refusing to activate because their thermostat's region is not supported. Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen) owners, mostly in the UK, report it failing to pair with their Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd Gen, and a few describe pairing that hung for a while before finishing.

Upgrading from the Nest Temperature Sensor?

Moving from the Nest Temperature Sensor to the Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen) changes the battery and little else: a CR2 cell rated for 3 years instead of a CR123A rated for 2, in a slightly wider but lighter puck. It still reads only temperature, still works only with a compatible Nest Thermostat and still has Google Home as its only platform. If your first-gen sensors work, there is no reason to replace them; buy the 2nd gen only when adding rooms and a longer battery matters to you.

Price history compared

Every price change of both, in the same store, so the gap between the two lines is what one costs more than the other.

  • Nest Temperature Sensor
  • Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Nest Temperature Sensor gen 1 vs gen 2: what is the difference?

Mostly the battery. The Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen) uses a CR2 cell rated for 3 years, while the original Nest Temperature Sensor uses a CR123A rated for 2 years. Both read temperature only, pair with a compatible Nest Thermostat and work with Google Home.

Which is better overall: Nest Temperature Sensor or Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen)?

The original Nest Temperature Sensor, narrowly: it does the same job and is the better reviewed. The Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen) is the pick for longer battery life.

Does the Nest Temperature Sensor measure humidity?

No. Neither the Nest Temperature Sensor nor the Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen) has a humidity sensor; both measure temperature only.

How long does the battery last on the Nest Temperature Sensor?

The original Nest Temperature Sensor is rated for about 2 years on a CR123A battery, and the Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen) for about 3 years on a CR2 battery.

What is a Nest Temperature Sensor?

A small battery-powered puck that reports the temperature of one room to a compatible Nest Thermostat, so the thermostat can heat or cool by that room. The Nest Temperature Sensor and the Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen) have no screen, alerts or connection of their own beyond the thermostat.

Who should buy the Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen)?

Nest Thermostat owners adding room sensors in places they rarely visit, who value the longer 3-year battery over anything else.

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