Google could launch a cheaper Nest Thermostat with gesture controls

Google is reportedly working on a new version of its Nest Thermostat that will come with gesture controls. Bloomberg reports the company will show off the new device, which will cost just $129, “in the coming weeks.”

While the lower price point will be appealing — previous versions started at $249 or $169 for the stripped down Thermostat E — the most intriguing feature is the addition of gesture controls. According to Bloomberg, the gesture controls would be similar to those used in Google’s Pixel 4. That phone was equipped with a specialized sensor that used radar to detect motion at close range.

It’s been previously reported that Google might adopt this same tech in its 4th-generation Nest Thermostat, but now we have a better idea of how this might work. According to Bloomberg, users will be able to “swipe their hand up or down near the device to control the temperature or move their hand toward or away to navigate menus.”