Smart TVs may lose support after only two years, Which? finds

‘Smart’ TVs and washing machines may be abandoned by brands after two years, Which? finds

Expensive, high-end smart products risk losing features and functionality or posing a security risk after as little as two years because manufacturers are failing to provide vital tech updates, Which? has found.

Research from the consumer champion found that appliances like washing machines or dishwashers, which might be expected to last more than a decade, could quickly stop working as marketed, or pose hacking risks as ‘smart features’ stop working as intended.

Which? looked at popular smart TVs, dishwashers, washing machines, smartphones, inkjet printers, smartwatches and fitness trackers and found that hardly any brands even came close to matching their expected lifespan with their smart update policies. Others failed to respond to Which? at all when they were asked to clarify the length of support.

Which? approached 119 brands about hundreds of smart device products, across 20 different categories, and, as of November 2022, only half (49%) had replied with clear information on support periods.

A product being ‘smart’ means that it is internet-connected – which opens up an array of sophisticated features that can be helpful for consumers. However, they can be much more expensive than traditional versions.

For example, smart dishwashers cost almost £300 more upfront, on average, than traditional ones (£746 versus £455). Smart models offer remote control using an app – so people can start, pause and stop their washes using their smartphone, tablet, Alexa or Google Assistant. The app can determine the most suitable program for dishes and choose wash cycles that are water and energy efficient.

However, these smart features are jeopardised when the product loses software support from the manufacturer, and the risk of online hacking also increases. LG dishwashers could lose support just two years after launch despite the estimated lifetime of dishwashers being 13 years.

LG’s smart TVs and washing machines similarly only have guaranteed support for just two years after launch. That is despite the estimated lifetimes for TVs and washing machines being nearly seven years and 11 years respectively. LG told Which? that its TVs might get up to five years of support for critical security vulnerabilities.

Which? also found that Sony only offers guaranteed support of its smart TVs for two years from launch, while for Samsung’s smart TVs it is three years. HP guarantees support for its smart printers for just three years, even though the estimated lifetime for inkjet printers is 13 years.

Big-name brands, including AEG, Apple, Epson, Hoover and Whirlpool, failed to respond with guaranteed update support periods. If they fail to provide clarity to Which?, there appears to be little hope for consumers wanting these assurances.

When Which? surveyed 1,051 Which? members in October 2022, around nine in 10 said that security updates were an important factor when they bought a smart product. Yet, across nine key smart product categories, an average of two-thirds of people had no idea how long their product would be supported for when they bought it.

Some companies such as Hisense, which supports smart TVs for 10 years, and Miele, which supports smart dishwashers and washing machines for 10 years, show that it is possible to offer guaranteed support for products for longer periods of time.

The recently passed Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) Act is an important first step in giving the government the power to require manufacturers to be upfront about how long their products will be supported with updates.

However, Which? believes industry must not simply wait for the commencement of new laws to improve transparency – and that manufacturers should also proactively extend the minimum lengths of time they support smart products. If they do not step up, the government should build on the action it has already taken and mandate that manufacturers set longer minimum support periods.

Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said: “It’s unfair for manufacturers to sell expensive products that should last for many years and then abandon them. This means the product could lose the features that justified the hefty price tag and potentially create a security risk or add to the electrical waste mountain if it has to be replaced.

“Manufacturers must up their game and provide vital tech updates for their smart products for longer, otherwise the government should consider further intervention in this area, including specifying a minimum number of years that these products have to be supported for.”

Advice for consumers looking to stay safe and buy smarter:

• Check manufacturer update policies before you buy – Visit Which? to find out which manufacturers offer longer guaranteed support periods for smart products, across 20 different categories.
• Take extra care in the second-hand and refurb market – Brands with strong support policies can be great options in these markets, helping consumers buy more sustainably. But in other cases you may end up buying a device that’s already out of support.
• Take security measures – For all devices that are still supported, make sure they are updated to the latest software. If a password is used, ensure it is a strong one that you set yourself. If you can add on two-factor authentication, make sure you do so.
• Is smart the right option for you? – For certain products, such as washing machines, consumers could decide they are better off avoiding smart appliances that could lose security support after only a few years and instead stick to more reliable and cheaper non-smart alternatives.

Right of Replies

Which? initially reached out to the brands named in the press release last year. In January 2023 it contacted the brands again to confirm their software updates policies.

Samsung told Which? it supports TVs for at least three years from launch and said it is aware of the new law relating to Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure, and will ensure it fully complies when it comes into force.

Sony told Which?: “Sony provides new software updates every 2 years; the latest software version released is then available for a period of 8 years after EOL.”

LG confirmed it only guarantees 2 years, but added that TVs will ‘be supported with firmware security updates up to five years from launch’.

Apple, AEG, Hoover and HP did not provide any alternative information to what Which? had already reported.

Epson and Whirlpool did not respond to Which?’s requests for comment.

Estimated lifetimes are based on robust analysis of over 20,000 age observations in recent product surveys, to calculate the average time Which? would expect a product to last, before it breaks down or deteriorates significantly. The figures are a conservative estimate that gives a high degree of certainty that the genuine average is above this value.