How Long Should a Connected Device Last?

There is no single answer

A mechanical lock or a light bulb often has an obvious lifetime. A connected device is different, because it is several things at once: hardware, software, a battery, and often a service running somewhere else. Any of these can end its useful life before the others. So the better question is not only how long the hardware will physically work, but how long it will remain safe, supported and useful.

Typical lifetimes vary a great deal by type and by how the device is used, so what follows is a set of general expectations rather than promises.

Hardware life

The electronics inside a well-made device can often run for many years. Long-term wear tends to come from a few places:

• Batteries. Rechargeable cells lose capacity as they age and are charged repeatedly. A wearable that is charged daily may show a noticeable decline within a few years. Primary cells in sensors run down on a schedule set by the design.
• Moving parts. Motors in locks, blinds and valves wear with use.
• Heat and moisture. Outdoor or damp locations shorten the life of electronics, especially if seals fail.
• Capacitors and power supplies. These are common failure points in older equipment, particularly in warm enclosures.
• Sensors. Many sensors drift as they age, so readings become less accurate even when the device still seems fine; see our article on sensor calibration.

As a loose guide, many small home devices are used for a few years, while industrial and infrastructure equipment is often designed with much longer lifetimes in mind, sometimes a decade or more. Consumer wearables and phones are typically replaced sooner.

Software support window

For a connected device, the software side often sets the real limit. Manufacturers release firmware updates that fix security problems and bugs, and over-the-air updates make that practical. But they do this for a limited time, and that period is not always stated clearly at purchase.

When updates stop, several things follow:

• Newly discovered flaws remain unfixed, which raises the risk of leaving the device on your network. This is one reason firmware updates matter so much.
• Compatibility with new phones, operating systems or hubs may fade.
• Features may be withdrawn.

Questions worth asking before you buy: Does the maker state how long updates will continue? Is there a way to keep using the device locally if the service ends? Does the product have a track record of support?

Cloud dependence

Many devices work only with a company’s online service. If the service is changed, made paid, or shut down, the hardware may lose most or all of its functions even though nothing is physically wrong. Devices that can work locally, or that support open and widely used standards, usually age better. Smart hubs and local control reduce this risk, as does choosing devices that keep working when the internet is unavailable.

Policy and repair

Whether you can repair or replace a battery has a large influence on useful life. Devices with replaceable cells and available parts can outlast ones where the battery is sealed in. The wider discussion around right to repair and long-term support is about exactly this: keeping working hardware in use rather than replacing it for lack of a part or an update.

Rules on support periods, labeling and repair vary by country, and device regulation continues to evolve, so it is worth checking what applies where you live rather than assuming.

Signs a device is nearing end of life

• The maker has stopped issuing updates, or has announced an end-of-support date.
• The app is no longer updated, or no longer works on current phones or tablets.
• Setup or sign-in fails, or the cloud service has changed its terms or closed.
• Battery life has dropped sharply, and the battery cannot be replaced.
• The battery is swollen, the case bulges, or the device gets unusually warm. Stop using it and see our article on disposal.
• Connections become unreliable even after a reset and with a good signal.
• Readings drift or jump and calibration does not help.
• Parts such as buttons, hinges or ports fail, and replacements are not available.
• It no longer supports current security practices, such as modern encryption, or it still relies on default passwords that cannot be changed.

One sign on its own is not always a reason to replace a device. Several together, or a security concern with no fix, are.

Planning for a deployment

For businesses and projects with many devices, lifespan is a cost factor. A device that must be replaced every few years has a different total cost than one expected to last a decade. Consider:

1. Support period promised by the supplier, and what happens afterward.
2. Battery replacement plan and access to the device.
3. Spare stock and the availability of compatible replacements.
4. Fleet records that show device age, firmware version and last contact, so aging units are noticed through device management rather than by failure.
5. Retirement and recycling at the end, including wiping data.

Getting more years from what you own

• Install updates while they are available.
• Keep devices clean, dry and within their temperature range.
• Avoid leaving rechargeable devices fully drained or hot for long periods.
• Replace batteries instead of whole devices where you can.
• Segment older devices onto a separate part of your network once support ends, if you must keep using them.

A reasonable expectation for most connected devices is that the hardware will outlast the support period, so the support period is the number worth finding out before you buy.