Google has officially set an expiration date for its earliest smart thermostats, announcing that support for the first and second-generation Nest Learning Thermostats will cease in October 2025. This decision marks the end of the road for the connected capabilities of these pioneering smart home devices, which were originally released before Google acquired Nest back in 2014. Users relying on these older models will need to consider their options as the deadline approaches.The termination of support primarily affects the 'smart' aspects of the thermostats. While the devices will continue to function locally – meaning users can still manually adjust the temperature on the unit itself – the cloud-dependent features will be disabled. This includes critical functionalities such as controlling the thermostat remotely via the Nest or Google Home apps, setting schedules through the app, receiving energy reports, and integrating with voice assistants like Google Assistant or Alexa. Essentially, they will revert to being programmable thermostats without remote connectivity or intelligence derived from cloud services.The specific models impacted by this announcement are the original Nest Learning Thermostat (1st generation), launched in 2011, and its successor, the 2nd generation model released in 2012. These devices were groundbreaking at the time, ushering in a new era of home energy management. However, technology has advanced significantly since their debut, and maintaining the cloud infrastructure for these aging devices presents ongoing challenges. This move reflects the typical lifecycle of connected hardware, where eventual obsolescence is often inevitable as platforms evolve.Acknowledging the impact on users still operating these decade-old thermostats, Google has indicated it will offer some form of compensation. While the specifics of this compensation haven't been fully detailed in the initial announcement, it suggests an effort to mitigate the inconvenience for affected customers. Owners of these devices should keep an eye out for further communications from Google regarding eligibility and the nature of the compensation offered, which might involve discounts on newer hardware or other credits.Beyond the North American market, this announcement coincides with significant changes for Nest users in Europe. Google is also discontinuing its only European Nest thermostat model. Furthermore, the company has stated it does not plan to release a replacement, effectively signaling Google's withdrawal from the smart thermostat market in Europe. This leaves European users without a direct Google upgrade path and potentially searching for alternative smart heating solutions.This decision underscores the long-term considerations for investing in smart home technology, particularly devices reliant on cloud services for core functionality. While the 1st and 2nd generation Nest Thermostats provided years of service, their eventual sunsetting highlights the dependence on manufacturer support for maintaining the 'smart' features that define these products. Users of older connected devices must anticipate potential end-of-life timelines and plan accordingly for future upgrades or transitions as technology progresses and support policies change.
