Choosing a new washing machine or tumble dryer can be challenging. Do you prioritize the appliance’s performance or opt for a smart model that adds convenience and comfort? Why not both? With so many options, the research can quickly become time-consuming and overwhelming.
Therefore, we examine the best smart washers and dryers compatible with Homey. Instead of examining individual models, this Best Buy Guide focuses on each brand’s smart platforms and appliances’ features.
Key Factors for Buying a New Washer or Dryer
When shopping for a smart washing machine or dryer, it’s essential to consider more than just basic functionality. The right smart appliance can greatly enhance convenience, efficiency, and control over your laundry routine. Here are five key factors to help you make the best decision.
Smart Features
Consider the added benefit of smart features highlighted in our list, such as remote start and stop, real-time cycle monitoring, alerts and notifications, and energy usage tracking.
Energy Efficiency
Choose models with high energy efficiency ratings to reduce electricity and water consumption. Many smart appliances allow you to schedule cycles during off-peak hours, which can help save on energy costs while maximizing efficiency.
Capacity and Load Sensing
Choose a machine with the appropriate capacity for your household size and smart load-sensing technology that optimizes water and detergent usage for each load, enhancing both performance and efficiency.
Durability and Reliability
Smart features should complement a high-quality machine. Therefore, research brand reputation and user reviews to ensure the appliance is reliable, durable, and has a solid warranty.
Price
Smart appliances can vary significantly in cost, so it's important to find a balance between price and features. Consider long-term energy efficiency savings and convenience, but ensure the upfront cost aligns with your budget.
Brand | Protocol | Monitoring | Scheduling | Control | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AEG Connected Appliances | Wi-Fi | €700 | |||
Bosch-Siemens Home Connect | Wi-Fi | €700 | |||
Electrolux OnE Connected | Wi-Fi | €800 | |||
LG ThinQ | Wi-Fi | €600 | |||
Miele @ Home | Wi-Fi | €1,000 | |||
Samsung SmartThings | Wi-Fi | €600 |
AEG Connected Appliances
- High-quality brand
- Reliable and trusted
- Advanced fabric care features
- Longer wash and dry cycles
AEG is a German brand known for developing high-quality home appliances that focus on sustainability and advanced fabric care. The company offers a range of smart washers and dryers, including front-load washing machines, heat pump tumble dryers, and washer-dryer combos.
AEG’s ProSense® Technology automatically adjusts wash and dry times based on load size, ensuring clothes are treated gently and efficiently while saving energy. The ÖKOMix Technology further enhances washing performance by pre-mixing detergent and softener with water before it reaches the clothes. It provides a thorough clean even at low temperatures.
AEG dryers have SensiDry® Technology, which uses lower drying temperatures to protect fabrics from heat damage while reducing energy consumption. The AbsoluteCare® System offers tailored drum movements and drying temperatures for different fabrics, like wool or silk, preserving the integrity of delicate garments. Additionally, the ProSteam® feature helps to reduce wrinkles and refresh clothes with steam, eliminating the need for frequent ironing afterward.
AEG appliances integrate seamlessly with Homey through Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing users to remotely monitor and control washing and drying cycles. With Homey, you can check running times, start or pause cycles, receive real-time alerts, and track the machine’s status — all from your smartphone.
Bosch-Siemens Home Connect
- Great build quality
- Mid to premium tier
- Excellent Homey integration
- Tricky setup
The BSH Home Appliances Group unites two distinct brands, Bosch and Siemens. While maintaining separate identities, they collaborate on developing household appliances, including washers and dryers. BSH created Home Connect, a unified smart home platform that supports both Bosch and Siemens appliances, enabling users to control them remotely via an app.
Bosch and Siemens washers and dryers equipped with Home Connect deliver a modern, convenient, and efficient approach to laundry management. The platform integrates seamlessly with smart systems like Homey, further enhancing appliance functionality through automation.
Bosch and Siemens’s appliances have high-quality materials, offering durability, long-lasting performance, and energy efficiency. Their price range, from mid-tier to premium, reflects a balance of cutting-edge technology and robust build quality.
These appliances connect to your home network using Wi-Fi and integrate effortlessly with Homey. Users can start or stop cycles remotely, customize programs and temperatures, monitor laundry progress, check the remaining time, and see if the door is open or closed. When paired with Homey, you can further automate these appliances and interact with other smart devices in your home.
One potential drawback is that the initial setup of connecting Bosch-Siemens washers and dryers to Wi-Fi and the Home Connect app can be time-consuming and complicated for some users.
Electrolux OnE Connected
- Durable and reliable
- Advanced features
- Focused on energy efficiency
- Longer wash and dry cycles
Electrolux is a Swedish-based global leader in home appliances. The company’s emphasis on energy efficiency, user-friendly design, and advanced technology is well-known. Electrolux washers and dryers fall into the mid to premium tier, providing a balance of solid build quality, smart features, and durability at competitive pricing.
Their standout technologies include LuxCare® Wash System for precise, temperature-controlled cleaning and Perfect Steam™, which removes wrinkles and sanitizes fabrics. SmartBoost® pre-mixes detergent and water for better cleaning, while the UltraMix™ Detergent System optimizes performance at lower temperatures. The dryers’ Predictive Dry™ feature adjusts drying time based on moisture levels, saving energy and preventing overdrying.
Electrolux designs its appliances to be reliable and energy-efficient, appealing to everyday users and those seeking premium features. With Wi-Fi connectivity, their smart washers and dryers integrate seamlessly with Homey, enabling users to monitor progress, check cycle status, and start or adjust cycles remotely, enhancing convenience and control.
It’s worth noting Electrolux dryers and washers tend to have longer cycles than some competitors. This is especially true for their energy-efficient settings, which, while conserving water and electricity, can result in extended wash or dry cycles.
LG ThinQ Washers & Dryers
- Affordable models
- Quiet operation
- Advanced smart features
- Smart features not beginner-friendly
LG Electronics is a South Korean multinational known for its wide range of consumer electronics and home appliances.
LG Electronics, a South Korean multinational, manufactures various consumer electronics and home appliances. With a strong reputation for innovation and quality, LG is a global leader in smart technology, and its ThinQ platform brings advanced connectivity to its line of washers and dryers.
LG ThinQ washers and dryers stand out for several unique features. One of their most notable technologies is AI Direct Drive, which uses artificial intelligence to detect the weight and fabric softness of your laundry load, automatically optimizing the washing motion for better fabric care. Another key feature is TurboWash 360™, which utilizes multiple powerful jets to clean clothes faster without compromising cleanliness. For tumble dryers, LG’s Sensor Dry technology automatically adjusts the drying time based on moisture levels to prevent over-drying and save energy.
These smart appliances connect to Wi-Fi, allowing integration with platforms like Homey for enhanced control. Once integrated, users can monitor the status of their washer or dryer, view the current operation mode, and receive notifications of errors and issues. They can also remotely start a wash cycle and set the program, temperature, spin, and rinse settings. The Homey app also allows users to adjust the dryness level and enable the anti-crease mode to keep clothes free of wrinkles.
Miele @ Home Washers & Dyers
- Premium quality
- Unique features
- Drum design reduces clothes wear
- Expensive
Miele is a German company with a long-standing reputation for producing high-quality, durable appliances. Known for its precision engineering and premium design, Miele has been a leading name in the home appliance market for over a century. Its washers and dryers stand out at the premium end for their longevity and exceptional performance.
Miele’s smart washers and dryers have advanced features that set them apart. One of these standout features is TwinDos, an automatic detergent dispensing system that uses two cartridges to deliver the perfect amount of detergent based on the load, ensuring efficient and thorough cleaning.
Another key feature is CapDosing, which offers pre-measured detergent capsules for special fabrics, allowing for optimal care of delicate items. Additionally, their Honeycomb Drum design ensures that fabrics glide smoothly during washing and drying, reducing wear on clothes and prolonging their life.
Miele’s Miele@Home smart platform allows these appliances to connect via Wi-Fi and integrate with Homey. Once connected, users can monitor remaining and elapsed time, check the current spin speed, and view the overall status of their washer or dryer. The Homey app also enables users to start and stop programs remotely, receive failure notifications, and keep track of important updates about their appliances.
However, Miele’s smart washers and dryers are more expensive than many competitors. This higher price reflects their premium build quality, advanced features, and long-term reliability, making them a favored choice for consumers who prioritize quality over cost.
Samsung SmartThings Washers & Dryers
- Good build quality
- Dual-load features
- Super speed washing
- Can be loud
While Samsung is not primarily known for appliance manufacturing, its range of washers and dryers should not be overlooked. Under the SmartThings platform, Samsung’s smart washers and dryers offer advanced features catering to modern households.
Samsung’s smart washers and dryers stand out with unique technologies like AddWash™, a door-in-door feature that lets users add forgotten items mid-cycle without stopping the wash. Their FlexWash™ and FlexDry™ systems provide dual-load capabilities, allowing users to wash or dry two separate loads in different compartments simultaneously. The Super Speed Wash feature completes a full wash cycle in 30 minutes without compromising cleaning performance.
These appliances use Wi-Fi to connect to the SmartThings app, which you can integrate with Homey. Through Homey, you can monitor drying and washing jobs, track remaining time and percentage progress, and check whether the door is open or closed. Remote cycle control is also possible, offering added convenience and flexibility.
It’s worth noting that many people criticize mid-range Samsung appliances for being noisier than other brands. This might be an issue for users with their washers and dryers near living spaces where noise could be disruptive.