The Nest Protect smoke alarm and the Nest x Yale lock have been discontinued by Google
Google, which made waves in the smart home market with its acquisition of Nest in 2014 for a staggering $3.4 billion, appears to be gradually pulling back from its investment in home automation hardware. The tech giant has now revealed that it is discontinuing two of its smart home devices, including one that has been particularly popular among homeowners. The Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide detector, a widely used safety gadget, will no longer be produced by Google. Alongside it, the less sought-after Nest x Yale smart lock is also being phased out. While alternatives will be available in the market, Google itself will not be behind their production.
Nest Protect, which first debuted in its second-generation form shortly before Nest became part of Google, has been a trusted safety device for homeowners. Like all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, it comes with a built-in expiration period, requiring replacement approximately every decade. Many long-time Nest users are now reaching that point, meaning they will soon need to swap out their devices. However, with Google halting manufacturing, the availability of new Nest Protect units is limited to the remaining stock. For now, the device is still listed at $119 on the Google Store, but once the inventory runs out, there will be no new units available from the company.
Similarly, Google has decided to stop selling the Nest x Yale smart lock, which was introduced in 2018 to complement its Nest Secure home security ecosystem. This smart lock relies on a Thread-enabled hub for remote access and control, a function that Nest Secure seamlessly provided. However, since Nest Secure is no longer in production, users now require an alternative hub-the $70 Nest Connect-to maintain remote functionality for the lock. Those who are interested in securing a Nest x Yale smart lock before it vanishes from the market still have a chance to purchase it at a discounted price of $229, but only while supplies last.
Google’s decision to discontinue these devices signals a shift in its approach to the smart home industry. While it continues to support some smart home features and integrations, it is evident that the company is scaling back its role as a direct manufacturer of hardware in this space. Whether Google has a broader strategy in mind for smart home technology remains to be seen, but for now, users of Nest Protect and Nest x Yale must consider their options before these devices disappear for good.
