An MVP goes beyond a proof of concept: it is a product, used by customers, with the minimum needed to deliver its core value. For a connected device that minimum is larger than for an app, because the hardware must be safe, certifiable and manufacturable, the device needs identity and a way to receive an OTA update, and the service must run unattended. Cutting those corners does not produce an MVP, it produces a liability.
What can be minimized is scope: one sensor type instead of five, one connectivity option, a plain dashboard, manual onboarding by the vendor. Many hardware MVPs ship on a development board in a simple enclosure to a handful of friendly customers. The goal is feedback on value and workflow before committing to tooling and volume, which shortens time to market for the version that matters.
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