"I'm done buying Google hardware" - users react to old Nest Thermostat support ending announcement

Many longtime Nest users woke up to an unwelcome email several hours ago. Google announced it’s pulling the plug on support for its earliest smart thermostats. Starting October 25, 2025, the Nest Learning Thermostat (1st gen) from 2011 and the 2nd gen model from 2012 will lose most of their smart capabilities. This move has sparked frustration and renewed skepticism among customers about investing in Google’s hardware ecosystem.

The core issue isn’t just that software updates are stopping. Google confirmed these older thermostats will lose connection to the Nest and Google Home apps. This means no remote control via phone, no Google Assistant voice commands, and no smart features like Home/Away Assist that automatically adjust the temperature.

While the thermostats will still work manually and follow existing schedules, they essentially become “dumb” devices, losing the very smarts people bought them for. Here’s a screenshot of the email shared on Reddit:

As expected, no one’s holding back on their frustration with the move. Many users feel this decision undermines the point of a smart thermostat. As user JD-learninghere put it on Reddit:

They’ve totally lost the “do no evil” mantra. The point of a smart thermostat is that you can control it with some app on your phone. To cut that off is just killing its usefulness. I’m done sending Google $.

If you’ve been keeping up with Google’s antics you probably know that this isn’t surprising. The company has a history of killing of products and services on a whim. There’s a whole dedicated website that has curated a list of all the products and services Google has put six feet under – check it out here. Coming back to the problem at hand, the announcement has led many to question future purchases. User SirTrout shared a common feeling:

I am done buying Google Hardware. I have a $500 Nest Secure that they killed and never compensated me for. I was looking at streaming sticks the other day, but nope, for Chrome Cast.

Another user, a_b1rd, expressed similar sentiments:

Never again buying a Google hardware product. Investing in Nest products has been such a waste of money.

Google is offering affected users a discount on the latest Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) in the US and Canada, or a Tado thermostat in Europe, as a transition measure. While some users see the discount ($130 off in the US) as a reasonable gesture for devices over a decade old, others feel it’s a forced upgrade for perfectly functional hardware. The original poster on the Reddit thread, marklyon, questioned the logic:

Why would anyone spend $150 more on equipment that Google will stop supporting at any moment?

Adding to the concern, particularly for European users, Google also announced it won’t sell future thermostat models in Europe or the UK, citing the complexity of heating systems there. This leaves existing users of newer, currently supported models wondering about their future. For more details, you can check out Google’s official documentation.

For many customers, this decision isn’t just about an old thermostat. It’s about trust. When essential smart home features can be remotely disabled years down the line, it shakes confidence in the entire connected home concept, especially within Google’s ecosystem.

That said, will you be reinvesting in Google Nest products after this unexpected announcement or will you be looking for alternatives? Let me know in the comments below.