Should I Buy a ‘Smart’ Appliance?
Should I Buy a “Smart” Appliance?
More washing machines, dishwashers, ovens, and fridge freezers now include built-in Wi-Fi and companion apps. But are smart features genuinely useful? Or are you simply paying extra for technology you will rarely use? This guide covers what smart appliances actually do, where they help, and where they fall short.
Smart appliances connect to your home Wi-Fi and are controlled via a mobile app. They offer features like cycle notifications, remote monitoring, and basic fault diagnostics. Some of these features are genuinely useful. However, many go unused after the first few weeks. For most buyers, reliability and performance matter far more than connectivity.
What Is a Smart Appliance?
A smart appliance is any household appliance that connects to your home network via Wi-Fi. It can then be monitored or controlled through a mobile app. Most smart white goods can do some or all of the following:
- Connect to your home Wi-Fi network
- Be controlled or monitored remotely via a smartphone app
- Send push notifications when a cycle ends
- Share energy and water usage data
- Integrate with voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home
- Provide basic fault diagnostics through the app
Most major manufacturers operate their own smart ecosystems. These are dedicated apps that connect across their appliance ranges and allow new features to be added remotely over time.
How Common Are Smart Appliances in 2025?
Smart connectivity has been available in white goods for over a decade. However, adoption has accelerated significantly in recent years. As of 2025, the picture looks like this:
Most mid-range and premium appliances now include some form of Wi-Fi connectivity as standard. It is no longer a niche feature.
Several manufacturers have moved smart features from optional extras to standard inclusions, even on entry-level models.
Integration with broader smart home systems, voice assistants, and energy management platforms is increasingly common across brands.
Some appliances can now automatically run during off-peak energy tariff periods. This is an emerging feature with real financial potential.
What Are the Real Benefits of Smart Appliances?
Where Smart Features Can Genuinely Help
Cycle completion alerts
These are particularly useful if your washing machine or tumble dryer is in a garage, utility room, or outbuilding. Instead of checking repeatedly, you simply wait for the notification.
Remote monitoring
You can check whether a cycle has started or finished without going to the appliance. This is especially helpful in larger properties where the appliance is far from where you spend your time.
Energy and water tracking
Smart appliances can monitor consumption over time. As a result, this data is increasingly relevant given rising household energy costs.
App-based diagnostics
Some appliances send appliance error codes directly to the app. This can help identify a fault before calling an engineer, potentially saving time and money.
Smart tariff integration
Certain appliances can run automatically during cheaper off-peak energy periods. For households on time-of-use tariffs, this feature can reduce running costs meaningfully.
Home automation
Smart appliances work with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit. They can therefore fit into wider smart home routines alongside other connected devices.
Where Smart Features Fall Short
Duplicate controls
App-based controls usually repeat what the appliance’s physical panel already does. In practice, this adds steps rather than saving them.
Remote start restrictions
Safety regulations mean most appliances require physical confirmation before a cycle can begin remotely. Consequently, fully remote starts are rarely possible.
Diagnostics rarely fix faults
App diagnostics typically end with a prompt to contact the manufacturer rather than providing an actual solution. See our guide to appliance repair for more help.
Features go unused
Many users set up smart features once and rarely use them afterwards. The novelty tends to wear off quickly, and the app often gets forgotten.
What Are the Risks of Smart Appliances?
Smart appliances offer genuine benefits in some situations. However, they also introduce risks that standard appliances do not carry. It is worth understanding these before buying.
1. Cybersecurity and network vulnerabilities
Smart appliances form part of the broader Internet of Things (IoT). Like any connected device, they can introduce security vulnerabilities into your home network if not kept up to date.
In the UK, connected devices sold after April 2024 must comply with the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) Act 2022. This requires manufacturers to set unique default passwords, publish support periods, and provide a channel for reporting security issues.
2. Software support and planned obsolescence
Traditional appliances can operate for 10 to 15 years. Smart features, however, depend entirely on ongoing manufacturer support. Apps can be withdrawn, cloud platforms shut down, and software updates stopped. As a result, smart functions can become permanently redundant even while the appliance itself still works perfectly.
Before buying, check the manufacturer’s stated software support period. This is now a legal requirement under the PSTI Act, but policies vary significantly between brands.
3. Data collection and privacy
Smart appliances routinely collect usage patterns, cycle frequency, and fault history. This data is typically used for product development, diagnostics, and marketing. Always review the privacy policy before connecting a smart appliance to your home network.
4. Higher cost and added complexity
Smart-enabled appliances typically carry a price premium over equivalent non-connected models. Furthermore, the additional components introduce potential extra points of failure that a standard appliance does not have. Read our advice on buying appliances to make sure you are getting genuine value for money.
Should You Buy a Smart Appliance?
The answer depends on your household, your setup, and how you actually use your appliances. Work through these key questions before choosing:
- ✓Will you realistically use the smart features? If you do not want to manage appliances via an app, the connectivity adds no value at all.
- ✓How long is software support guaranteed? Check the manufacturer’s published support period before buying. Without this, you could be left with redundant smart features in a few years.
- ✓Is the appliance strong on the fundamentals? Reliability, energy efficiency, and performance matter far more than Wi-Fi connectivity. See our washing machine buying advice for guidance on what really matters.
- ✓Are you comfortable connecting appliances to your home network? If network security is a concern, factor that into your decision before committing.
Smart makes sense if…
You have appliances in a garage or outbuilding, you want to track energy use over time, or the smart model is genuinely the best performer in its price category.
Smart is not worth it if…
You are choosing an appliance primarily because it is smart, or you are unlikely to use app features regularly beyond the initial setup period.
What Is the Future of Smart Appliances?
The industry is clearly moving towards fully connected appliances as the default. Smart functionality may soon be difficult to avoid, even on budget models. Additionally, integration with home energy management systems is likely to become more meaningful as time-of-use tariffs become more widespread.
As the technology matures, some of today’s underused features may become genuinely valuable. For now, though, smart functionality remains an inconsistent added extra: occasionally useful, rarely transformative.
Read more about whether smart diagnosis features are an advancement or a con.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are smart appliances more reliable than standard appliances?
Not necessarily. Smart appliances contain additional components, including Wi-Fi modules, processors, and sensors, which introduce extra potential points of failure. Reliability depends far more on the brand and model than on whether an appliance is smart. Read our advice on which washing machine to buy for independent reliability guidance.
What happens if the manufacturer stops supporting the app?
If an app is withdrawn or its cloud platform is shut down, all smart functions stop working permanently. However, the appliance itself should continue to operate using its physical controls. Any app-dependent features, such as remote monitoring, will be lost for good.
Can smart appliances be hacked?
Like any internet-connected device, smart appliances can theoretically be vulnerable to security exploits. In the UK, devices sold after April 2024 must meet minimum security standards under the PSTI Act 2022. Keeping your router firmware up to date and using a strong Wi-Fi password significantly reduces your risk. See our appliance safety guidance for more information.
Do smart appliances save money on energy bills?
Some smart appliances can be programmed to run during off-peak tariff periods, which may reduce running costs. However, savings depend on your tariff and usage habits. The appliance’s energy rating (A to G) remains a more reliable guide to long-term running costs.
Is it worth paying extra for a smart appliance?
For most buyers, probably not, unless you have a specific use case where smart features genuinely help. Choose on performance, reliability, and energy efficiency first. If the best model in your budget happens to be smart, treat the connectivity as a welcome bonus rather than the reason to buy. Visit our appliance buying guides for independent advice.
My smart appliance has developed a fault. What should I do?
Start by checking our appliance error codes guide to identify the fault. If you need professional help, you can book an appliance repair or find spare parts if you are confident carrying out a repair safely.