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Apple stops selling Nest’s smart thermostat following launch of HomeKit-compatible Ecobee 3

Apple has removed Google’s Nest smart thermostat from both its online store and physical retail locations following the launch of some of the first HomeKit devices. As reported by Mashable, Google’s smart thermostat is not available from Apple and searching for the product on Apple’s online store now reveals HomeKit-compatible smart devices instead.

Specifically, Apple is marketing the Ecobee 3 smart thermostat instead of Nest’s offering. The Ecobee 3 runs $249 and officially went on sale in Apple Stores earlier this month following Apple official documenting HomeKit last month. The Ecobee is, of course, compatible with HomeKit and can be controlled via Siri.

This isn’t the first time Apple has pulled competitor products from its retail location and online store. Following the announcement of Apple Watch, Apple stopped selling the Fitbit fitness tracking lineup of devices. Not only was Fitbit a competitor to Apple, but it also refused to support Apple’s HealthKit platform. Apple also removed the Jawbone and Nike fitness bands from its retail stores prior to the launch of Apple Watch, although the former of the two returned after missing for three months.

Apple’s motive for removing the Nest thermostat from its lineup of accessories is unclear at this point. Nest was co-founded by former Apple engineers Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers. Perhaps the device will return at a later point like Jawbone’s offerings did, but with Apple also streamlining the accessories it offers, that seems unlikely.

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Comments

  1. lkrupp215 - 9 years ago

    Anticompetitive! Anticompetitive! Anticompetitive! Calling Al Franken! Apple should to be forced to keep the Nest in its stores! Anticompetitive!

  2. jamessmooth - 9 years ago

    So glad the Nest didn’t work out for me after reading this. I went thru 3 Nests, 3 weeks and many, MANY hours on the phone with them only to find out my router wasn’t compatible. Bought a new, “compatible” router and it still didn’t work. Finally got a refund and Will buy a Homekit supported ecobee and instead and see how that turns out. The Nest, for me, was such a waste of time and so disappointing. After dealing with them for weeks, I got the feeling the product has a lot of kinks still to work out, even after I replace my router and did everything they told me to do.

    • I went through almost the exact same thing. I’ll have to look into this Ecobee now.

    • hodar0 - 9 years ago

      What? This is just absolutely nuts. It’s Ethernet, it’s kind of a standard – what’s this noise about a “compatible” router? What’s the point of bothering with IEEE802.3 or IEEE802.11n if you are going to use “proprietary” protocols that are not supported by practically every router on the market?

      I expected much better than this from Nest.

      • tinman8443 - 9 years ago

        It’s not ethernet at all. It uses a wifi radio.

      • It has nothing to do with proprietary signals, but the way or rather frequency of communication over WiFi and signal strength which affects how often the Nest itself has to use its radio which in turn GREATLY affects its current consumption and the ability of your thermostat wiring to provide it with enough power to both charge and use its radio.

  3. Robby Glasco (@h00pak) - 9 years ago

    I have 3 Nests in my house. I’d be happy to trade them for Ecobee (you guys listening–I’d be a great product proving ground and brand advocate).

    • paulywalnuts23 - 9 years ago

      I would love to trade in my Nest as well. Perhaps I might have to give my Nest to my Parents and get a Ecobee..

    • The EcoBee is better than the Nest in every conceivable way, but it still has one of the same major limitations. It can only support a single accessory – it doesn’t support the break-out box of their older thermostat which allowed you to control pretty much an unlimited number of HVAC devices.

      I really wanted to jump onto Ecobee to control HRV and Humidifier in addition to heating and cooling, but it will only do one of those, not both.

  4. Smigit - 9 years ago

    “Apple’s motive for removing the Nest thermostat from its lineup of accessories is unclear at this point.”

    Doesn’t seem that unclear. Apple’s showing strong preference to devices that integrate with their ecosystems.

    • Jonny - 9 years ago

      Yeah, it seems pretty clear to me. They are selling accessories that enhances the user experience for people who have bought their products.

    • iphonery - 9 years ago

      When I read that, I thought the same! Hello… it’s like Gap selling Express jeans!

  5. Kan Yao (@screamyao) - 9 years ago

    Isn’t Nest bought by Google? It’s inevitable.

    • So is Google Maps, and that is better than Apple Maps.

      So what’s your point?

      • o0smoothies0o - 9 years ago

        It’s better now. The question is, will it be better down the road, and will you want your google autonomous vehicle collecting all of your mapping data for everywhere you go, or Apple not collecting that data, and not selling that data, for anywhere you go?

  6. michaelcpearson7 - 9 years ago

    This makes perfect sense to me. I work at a graphics/print shop and people come in all the time asking to leave flyers/pluggers on the counter. We always tell them no because if they are on our counter, other customers will think we designed them/printed them… and we didn’t. So we only allow flyers on our counter from customers that actually had us design it.

    With this in mind, Apple is promoting HomeKit. The average customer who is interested in HomeKit will assume that, “if it’s sold in the Apple Store it must be compatible.” They would be right to assume so. Also, if Nest did go the extra mile and incorporate HomeKit into it’s technology I am sure Apple would put it back in the store.

  7. I had the Ecobee3 installed yesterday and the HVAC installer said it was much easier to install and setup than the Nest. After explaining to him my research into Nest, Honeywell, etc…., he said he was going to investigate the Ecobee so he could recommend it to other customers, as ‘everybody is on the smart thermostat bandwagon’. My only complaint so far is that the Safari recommended password I selected on Ecobee’s website will not keychain to Ecobee app on iPhone.

    • Ecobee thermostats are the only ones given out by the utilities in my province as part of their smart metering initiative. Not the Ecobee3 model mind you, but their more utilitarian version which can also be controlled remotely by the utility. Still a great thermostat and you can’t be the price of free.

      I’m using a Nest myself – second one replacing one where the wheel died. Would love to go EcoBee if/when they offer control of more devices at one time using their beak-out box.

  8. GadgetBen - 9 years ago

    I really hope Nest sort out the software as I have a Nest thermostat and would hate to need to buy a new one just for it to work with HomeKit, does anyone know if the Bluetooth on current Nest products meet the criteria for HomeKit?

  9. macnificentseven48 - 9 years ago

    Toyota doesn’t sell Kias, so why should Apple sell Nest Thermostats. That’s like promoting your enemy. Google and Android already have enough power over Apple. Time to remove some of that power.

    • Michael Napier (@NapMan) - 9 years ago

      Apple sells their own brand of iPhone/iPad cases in their stores but they also carry many other brands of cases. Perhaps they should stop selling those too?

      I’m really surprised about how many people would be willing to just swap out their existing $250 thermostat for another $250 thermostat just because Apple won’t support it. I love all my Apple gear but I also love my Nest too much to just get rid of it.

      • Jesse Nichols - 9 years ago

        The case comparison is really not relevant to this conversation. The cases that are sold help to enhance the overall Apple brand. While they do compete against Apple’s own cases, it is irrelevant to the strengthening and/or weakening of the brand.

        Nest is literally competing against HomeKit with the release of its Nest Developer Program. They are trying to accomplish the same thing that HomeKit does on their own.

        With the release of HomeKit, Apple must highlight the benefits of integrating with its new service. Selling the Nest (that will not integrate with HomeKit and is pushing its own home automation solution) weakens Apple’s new home automation offering by making it appear as though Apple endorses using another product and service, rather than its own.

  10. George Pollen - 9 years ago

    No great loss! The Nest thermostat is one of the stupidest pieces of tech I ever bought (and returned). With Google’s acquisition, it’s also one of the most intrusive pieces of tech one can buy.

    • Michael Napier (@NapMan) - 9 years ago

      I really don’t understand why you say that. In what way is it intrusive? I bought mine long before Google acquired them and I have not noticed any difference whatsoever in the way it works. It does exactly what it’s supposed to do and it works quite well for me.

      • George Pollen - 9 years ago

        What would you call it when the Nest reports your bodily movements and possibly any devices and activity on your wifi network back to Google Headquarters? Only in special circumstances does the Nest really know if anyone is at home, but because it thinks it knows, it will often adjust temperatures inappropriately/stupidly.

      • George Pollen - 9 years ago

        Also in some homes, when there is no need for heat or A/C, the Nest will turn on the ventilation fan alone (wasting energy) just so it can charge its internal battery.

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Avatar for Chance Miller Chance Miller

Chance is an editor for the entire 9to5 network and covers the latest Apple news for 9to5Mac.

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