Yoru “Smart” Home Just Got Dumb: Belkin Bricks wemo Devices, Leaving You with Expensive Paperweights
Belkin is the latest culprit in the growing trend of companies rendering your purchased electronics useless, turning your once-smart devices into costly landfill fodder. In a recent announcement, Belkin revealed it will cease all support and software updates for its Wemo “smart home” products starting next year.
This abrupt discontinuation affects approximately 27 Wemo devices sold since 2015. Owners will no longer receive crucial security updates,nor will their devices be compatible with popular smart home assistants like Alexa or controllable via the Wemo app. Essentially, your investment in a “smart home of the future” is now a collection of largely defunct gadgets.
Belkin,through a corporate spokesperson,offered a hollow apology: “We understand this change may disrupt your routines,and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.”
For those paying attention, this move wasn’t entirely out of the blue. Belkin began phasing out most of its smart home technology in late 2023, pivoting its focus to gaming console accessories. While some consumers might be eligible for partial refunds on devices still under warranty, this is far from guaranteed.
This practice of “bricking” functional electronics has important environmental implications. Organizations like iFixit highlight the staggering amount of electronic waste generated, with the US alone discarding an estimated 500 pounds of e-waste every second. USPIRG further estimates that expired software and canceled cloud services have contributed at least 130 million pounds of electronic waste since 2014.
Filed Under: bricked, consumers, electronics, enshittification, hardware, ownership, security, smart homes, software, support, wemo
Companies: belkin
