Google to End Software Updates for Older Smart Displays From Lenovo, LG, JBL

Bad news for smart display buyers: Google is halting software updates for several third-party models, including those from Lenovo, LG, and JBL. 

The company quietly announced the change in a support document(Opens in a new window) for Duo, Google’s video calling app for the smart display devices. 

“Important: Google no longer provides software updates for these third-party Smart Displays: Lenovo Smart Display (7″, 8″ & 10″), JBL Link View, and LG Xboom AI ThinQ WK9 Smart Display,” the company wrote in the support document, which 9To5Google first noticed(Opens in a new window).

JBL Link View
(Credit: PCMag)

Google didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, so it’s unclear why the company is discontinuing the software updates. But all the affected products came out in 2018, so keeping them updated may not be worth the work. Also this month, Google said it would drop support for its Nest Secure and Dropcam next year for that exact reason.

For now, Google’s support document merely warns that the end of the software updates “could impact the quality of video calls and meetings.” Hence, the products should still work, but the experience may degrade over time. 

Still, the news has prompted some consumers to say they’ll steer clear of Google smart home devices in the future for fear the company will eventually plug the plug on software support. “I’m pretty sad I put so much money into this ecosystem,” wrote(Opens in a new window) one customer on Reddit.

Lenovo, LG, and JBL didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. But Google’s support document made no mention of the Lenovo Smart Clock, which was first introduced in 2019. So some older smart displays should continue receiving software updates for now.