A fridge that suggests a menu, an oven controlled from a phone, a washing machine that signals when its cycle has finished: connected appliances promise to simplify some household tasks. They also turn appliances designed to last for many years into devices that depend on software, updates and, sometimes, online services. Before paying more for these features, the useful question is not just “what can the appliance do?” but “what will it still be able to do in ten years’ time?”.
What is a connected appliance for?
Connectivity can have a practical benefit. A door-left-open alert on a fridge, a notification when a programme ends or checking an appliance’s status without being in the kitchen can all be useful, depending on how a household is organised. Some manufacturers also offer recipes, shopping lists or interfaces linking several appliances from the same brand.
The challenge is to distinguish a lasting feature from a technology demonstration. A camera might, for example, identify certain foods under specific conditions; that does not guarantee a comprehensive inventory of every product stored in the fridge. And a connected oven is no substitute for appropriate supervision while cooking or for the manufacturer’s safety instructions.
The promised convenience may also depend on the app, the user account, the internet connection and the manufacturer’s services. If a feature requires any of these, check before buying.
A market where innovation does not remove the trade-offs
In its review of the French market, published in February 2026, manufacturers’ association Gifam describes the importance of innovation across several appliance categories, even as sales show contrasting trends. Small kitchen appliances, washing machines, fridges and ovens are not all following the same pattern.
This review does not justify concluding that most households now own a fridge controlled by artificial intelligence. Connected technologies are taking up an increasing share of the products on offer, but figures must be distinguished by category, sales value and number of units.
The extra cost may be justified for a feature that is genuinely used; it may be much less so when the screen or automatic suggestions go unused. Traditional criteria remain important: cooling or washing performance, measured energy consumption, capacity, noise, repairability and availability of spare parts.
A new factor to check: how long updates will be available
A mechanical appliance can retain most of its functions without a connection. An appliance equipped with a computer system, however, may depend on patches to fix security vulnerabilities or continue communicating with an app.
Before a connected device is bought, France’s Direction générale de la concurrence, de la consommation et de la répression des fraudes (DGCCRF) advises consumers to find out about its security and available updates. It reminds consumers that the seller must inform them how long the manufacturer’s updates will remain compatible with the product’s functions.
A good question to ask in a shop is therefore: which functions will continue to work if the app is no longer maintained, or if the manufacturer shuts down an online service?
The answer should be precise. “Wi-Fi compatible” or “with artificial intelligence” says nothing about the actual duration of software support.
Personal data comes into the kitchen
Some appliances collect technical information about cycles, consumption or errors. Others may analyse usage patterns, have cameras or be linked to a personal account. The level of risk depends on the features enabled and the data actually transmitted.
The DGCCRF advises changing default login details, applying updates, limiting access between connected devices and finding out how data is used. The Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d'information (ANSSI) also recommends strong passwords and multi-factor authentication where possible.
For consumers, this means taking simple steps: do not share account login details, check the app’s permissions, install official patches and disable data-collection or remote-control options that are not needed.
A home network that separates connected devices from computers containing important documents can provide extra protection, where the router and the household’s technical knowledge allow it. This is no reason to ignore updates to the appliance itself.
What is changing in Europe from 2026
The debate goes beyond individual choices. The European Union has adopted the Cyber Resilience Act, which is intended to strengthen the cybersecurity of products containing digital elements.
Since 11 September 2026, notification obligations have applied to manufacturers in relation to certain actively exploited vulnerabilities and certain serious incidents. The main product compliance obligations will apply from 11 December 2027, according to the European Commission.
This timeline matters: it would be inaccurate to claim that all the technical requirements set out for 2027 are already mandatory in October 2026. But it signals tighter regulation of the security of connected devices, including those used in the home.
Before buying, five decisive checks
The first is usefulness: which connected feature will actually be used every week? The second is autonomy: what can still be done without the internet? The third is the duration of software support. The fourth concerns the data collected and privacy settings. The fifth goes back to the heart of the purchase: does the appliance wash, cool or cook properly, and can it be repaired?
Comparing these five criteria helps avoid making a touchscreen the main selling point of an appliance whose basic function matters far more.
For consumers in Luxembourg, who are subject to the European framework for connected products, this vigilance is particularly worthwhile: a fridge or washing machine should be useful long after the app of the moment has gone out of fashion.
