Expensive 'smart' washing machines, dishwashers and TVs could stop working after two years because manufacturers are failing on tech updates, research from Which? suggests.

Smart appliances are connected by the internet and include features such as the ability for users to remotely control them from a phone or other mobile device.

The consumer champion said that high-end products–which could be expected to last more than a decade–risk losing both features and functionality in a much shorter time period, or pose a security risk.

The organisation investigated popular smart TVs, dishwashers, washing machines, smartphones, inkjet printers, smartwatches and fitness trackers, finding that hardly any of them came close to matching their expected lifespan with their smart update policies.

Smart devices are generally more expensive than their traditional counterparts, for example, smart dishwashers, which enable users to start, pause and stop their washes remotely, cost nearly £300 more upfront than traditional appliances.

But Which? says these smart features are jeopardised when the product loses software support from the manufacturer, while the risk of online hacking also increases.

“It’s unfair for manufacturers to sell expensive products that should last for many years and then abandon them,” said Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy. “This means the product could lose the features that justified the hefty price tag and potentially create a security risk or add to the electrical waste mountain if it has to be replaced.”

The investigation revealed that LG dishwashers could lose support just two years after launch, despite the estimated lifetime of dishwashers being 13 years. The company's smart TVs also only have guaranteed support for two years.

LG confirmed it only guarantees two years, but added that TVs will "be supported with firmware security updates up to five years from launch".

Which? also found that Sony only offers guaranteed support of its smart TVs for two years from launch.

“Sony provides new software updates every 2 years; the latest software version released is then available for a period of 8 years after EOL," said a spokesperson from Sony.

According to Which? of the 119 brands it approached, only half replied with clear information about support periods.

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