Which? found that dishwashers, TVs, and washing machines were being abandoned by brands and, due to a lack of software support, were not being updated. Consequently, they stop working correctly but not only that - the older they get, the greater the risk of online hacking.
Smart, internet-connected products are intended to provide consumers with a broad range of enhanced features but tend to come with additional costs – they are usually more expensive, around £300 more on average.
According to Which? it approached 119 manufacturing brands across 20 different categories, and only half (49%) replied with clear information on the length of support period being offered.
LG, for example, said that its dishwashers, washing machines and smart TVs could lose support just two years after launch despite having an estimated lifetime of 13 years.
So, why should consumers pay more for expensive additional features, be exposed to potential security risks and end up adding to a mountain of unnecessary e-waste?
It’s one of those questions that could be easily addressed by manufacturers otherwise, as Which? itself suggested, Government may need to intervene to ensure that manufacturers provide a minimum number of years that these types of products should be supported.
