Doomed products to stop working in weeks – phones, laptops & even thermostats

JUST because you paid loads of cash for your gadgets doesn’t mean they’ll last forever.

Even posh products from top brands get killed off eventually – and plenty of devices and apps are due to stop working properly in 2025.

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Here are some of the biggest gadgets going dark (totally or partially) in your home this year.

Nest Thermostats

Nest Thermostats are “smart” gadgets that let you control your heating at home – only they’re about to become much less smart.

Google, which owns Nest, is ending support for three models:

• Nest Learning Thermostat Gen 1 (2011)
• Nest Learning Thermostat Gen 2 (2012)
• Nest Learning Thermostat Gen 2 European (2014)

These models won’t get updates, and will no longer work with the Nest or Google Home apps.

That means you won’t be able to control them remotely via an app or Google Assistant. They’ll just become boring old physical thermostats.

It all goes dark on October 25 this year.

Google Stadia controller

Back in 2019, Google launched a service called Stadia that let you play video games by streaming them over the internet – removing the need for a console.

The service was ultimately doomed and killed off in January 2023, and Google released an online tool that would convert your Stadia game controller into a regular Bluetooth joypad.

Now that online tool is due to be killed off on December 31, 2025.

That means if you don’t update your controller to become a generic joypad by then, it’s effectively just an expensive brick. Sorry.

Computers (Windows 10)

Microsoft’s latest software for your computer is Windows 11. It launched in 2021 and is now widely used.

But millions of PCs will still be running Windows 10. Bad news: it’s going the way of the dodo.

On October 14, 2025, Microsoft will end software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes for Windows 10.

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That means not only do you lose the ability to access new features or tech help, it’ll also become increasingly dangerous to use.

If Microsoft won’t patch bugs, hackers can openly exploit them – and target you.

So if you’re using a laptop or computer running Windows 10, it’s better to upgrade ahead of the deadline. Your private files and bank account aren’t worth the risk.

Smartphones (LG)

It wasn’t so long ago that South Korean tech giant LG was a titan of the phone industry.

But in 2021, LG announced that it was putting a stopper on its smartphone efforts.

Now LG is getting ready to finally shut off its update servers on June 30, 2025.

Once that’s done, you’ll no longer be able to download and install any Android updates.

That doesn’t just mean you’ll miss out on features, but important security updates too.

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And those un-fixed security loopholes can then be used by crooks to target you – and make you a victim.

“We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude towards our customers who have loved and supported LG Electronics mobile products,” LG said.

“After the termination date, you will no longer be able to use the software upgrade services.

“If you wish to use the services, we strongly recommend upgrading your software before June 30, 2025.

“Furthermore, as we will no longer provide application updates, you will not be able to download default applications deleted upon initialisation.”

Unless you’re deeply attached to it, you’re better off just buying a new phone that can still receive updates.

Skype app

Legendary chat app Skype is also set to be sunsetted – and imminently.

In fact, Microsoft plans to kill it on May 5, 2025, ending a nearly-22-year-long run.

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The app will stop working, but your Skype account won’t be closed down immediately.

Instead you’ll be able to sign into Microsoft Teams using your Skype account.

Or you can save your old contacts and chats by exporting them from Skype.

Back in 2010, around 660 million people were using Skype each month – but that fell to 100 million by March 2020.

SKYPE – WHERE DID IT GET ITS NAME?

Have you ever wondered what Skype actually means?

Skype is now a household name, but most people never question how the app got its name.

It turns out that Skype is a shortening of the term “Sky peer-to-peer”.

That’s because Skype was an early pioneer of peer-to-peer calling, which meant that users would correct directly to each other – rather than via a server.

This was then shortened to the name Skyper.

Sadly some of the domain names for Skyper had already been snapped up.

So the app’s creators decided to ditch the final “r” in the name – leaving us with Skype.

Picture Credit: Microsoft / Skype

Microsoft stopped posting on its Skype blog in May 2024, and the death of the app was announced back in February.

It faced tough competition from the likes of Zoom, Google Meet, Apple’s FaceTime, and Meta’s Facebook Messenger.

iPhone (vintage)

Apple added another iPhone to its “vintage” list this year.

Once at least five years has passed since a gadget was last sold, Apple may declare the device “vintage”.

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Then after another two years, it’ll can be demoted to “obsolete”.

And Apple has now placed the iPhone 6S – released back in 2015 – to the vintage list.

Once a gadget is vintage, Apple can’t guarantee repairs anymore. That’s simply because parts are more limited.

So even if you take it to an official Apple Store, they may not be able to help.

Obsolete is even worse, because then a gadget loses nearly all hardware support.

But if you’ve got an iPhone 6S, it’s probably worth upgrading as soon as possible anyway.

The iPhone 6S can only receive updates up to iOS 15, but Apple has moved on to iOS 18 (and likely iOS 19 very soon).

That means it’s not only missing out on new features but years of security updates too.

For a device that carries some of your most personal info, you shouldn’t risk using it without the protection of regular updates.

So upgrade to something a little newer that can get the latest updates to stay safe.