Samsung’s front-load washers and dryers win people over with their high-end technology and powerful clean.
Here we’ll cover what makes Samsung machines good, and take an in-depth look at its current laundry lineup.
Stick around till the end, and we’ll give you our top expert recommendation for the series we think is best for most people.
We’ll also share the one reason why Samsung might not be right for you.
Table of Contents
Why is Samsung so Good?
So what makes Samsung’s front-load washers and dryers so good?
In only about 10 short years, Samsung has grown from nothing into one of the top two washer-dryer brands in the U.S. by number of appliances sold.
How?
It successfully piggybacked off the popularity of its other product lines, like smart phones and TVs, to appeal to a younger, more tech savvy consumer.
But does being popular and innovative correlate to being a good brand to consider for your home?
Let’s start with the good.
Pros
Samsung has done a great job integrating smart WiFi functionality into the majority of its washers and dryers.
Some of you likely roll your eyes when it comes to all this added technology as it’s just another thing to break.
But I’d argue WiFi is a must-have feature in a washer and dryer. With the Samsung SmartThings app you can start a load of laundry and get notifications when it’s done all from your phone.
Have you ever forgotten to move your wet clothes out of the washer? Even after just a few hours they start to get smelly.
The smart app will notify you when the load is done and starts to send you reminders if you forget to unload it.
The SmartThings app itself is thoughtfully designed, and lets you control all your smart-enabled Samsung devices (from TVs to enabled devices like doorbells and light bulbs), so if you’re already invested in the Samsung ecosystem, it’s really nice how everything all works together.
Samsung smart appliances work with its Bixby voice assistant, so you can speak to your washer to start a load or ask it how much time is left.
Luckily you can also use Alexa or Google Assistant instead, which we find to be a bit more accurate and less annoying to use than Bixby.
The washing and drying performance on Samsung tends to be very good, and as an added benefit, Samsung has a unique drum design that has smaller drainage holes, so your clothes are less likely to snag and get damaged.
These are some of the most gentle washers, so if you have a lot of nicer expensive clothing items, Samsung is a great choice.
We also hear from customers that cycles like Bedding/WaterProof on certain machines make linens and other bulky items less likely to get tangled up in a wad, which is a common issue with other brands.
Another great thing about Samsung is they go on sale a lot, particularly around the holidays. So even if the top of the line models are out of your price range now, keep checking back for deals, especially around the major shopping holidays like Memorial Day and Black Friday.
Cons
Samsung isn’t all good however.
For starters, The chime when the laundry is done is polarizing… some people love it… others hate it. But you can turn it off.
More seriously though, if you look around, you’ll notice Samsung has a lot of questionable reviews about its customer service… so If you do have an issue, and hopefully you won’t, it can be very difficult to find a servicer in your area that can competently fix your problem.
Samsung does not have it’s own factory service, instead outsourcing service to 3rd party companies, and this is especially true if you buy from a big-box home improvement or electronics stores.
This isn’t unique to Samsung. Many other brands have this same issue, with the exception of GE, which is one of the last brands to have it’s own factory service in most areas.
For a quick test, use Samsung’s service locator and put in your zip code. See the companies that pop up and look at their reviews. If they have good reviews, you can probably feel good that you’ll have access to quality support.
But my main recommendation would be to buy from a good retailer that will support you even when the brand can’t or won’t.
A good retailer can in some cases perform the service themselves, or point you to a reliable independent servicer in your area.
Samsung Washer Series Breakdown
Now that you have a better understanding of what makes Samsung’s front-load washers and dryers unique, let’s break down the different series available.
Model numbers can feel overwhelming at first. To figure out what series a Samsung washer or dryer belongs to, just look at the numbers in the middle.
The others letters simply indicate other aspects of the model, like the washer type, color, and special features.
Samsung offers three different types of washers and dryers: full size, FlexWash, and apartment size.
For this article, we’ll cover mostly the full size lineup since it’s the most popular.
These full size models have a capacity starting at 4.5 cu ft. In household terms, that’s plenty of room to wash a king size comforter.
Samsung also makes three even more generously sized 5 cu ft models.
Samsung WF45T6000 Washer Overview
The WF45T6000 is Samsung’s entry-level full-size washer, with 4.5 cu ft capacity, and it retails for $799.
Bring on that king-size comforter—this machine can handle it. Like all of Samsung’s full-size washers, it has the latest anti-vibration and diagnostic technology, the drum that’s gentler on fabrics, and a self-clean cycle specifically designed to prevent mold by targeting areas of the tub where moisture and detergent residue can build up.
If you’ve used a front-load washer and noticed a funky smell, you know why this is so important. Bacteria and mildew can develop in the gasket that makes the door watertight, leading to stinky results.
Samsung says SelfClean+ eliminates 99 percent of that odor-causing gunk. Even better: Your washer will remind you to run this cycle every 40 loads.
Bear in mind that Samsung still recommends leaving the door and detergent drawer open between cycles to keep your machine smelling fresh.
You’ll get 10 basic wash cycles—no steam or sanitize, which we find that many people want, especially if someone in the family has allergies—but it does have a setting that we find extremely useful: Delay End.
This feature, standard on all Samsung washers, lets you schedule when you want the load to complete. Put your clothes in the washer before heading out of the house, and set delay to finish the cycle right before you get home.
It also has a 22-minute Quick Wash cycle that gets everyday clothes clean.
It comes only in white, but if a fancy exterior and extra cycles aren’t important to you, this model is a good, reliable choice for getting the job done.
It can be paired with a matching 27-inch riser or 27-inch storage pedestal for easier access or ADA compliance, or stacked with a matching dryer to save space.
On that note, these machines are “closet depth,” which means they’re designed to fit into most laundry closets.
Just keep in mind you’ll need a minimum of 40” in depth for installation. The units themselves are only about 31 ½” deep but you need extra space in front and back.
Be sure to measure your space carefully. If you are extremely tight on space, LG’s units are about an inch shallower and also require less extra space in the rear for installation.
Samsung WF45R6100 Washer Overview
Next up is the WF45R6100. For $100 more, at $899, you get a steam wash cycle and your choice of two metallic finishes in addition to white.
This model has all the same features of Samsung’s entry-level front-loader, including Quick Wash and Delay End, plus a steam setting.
Steam is excellent for loosening stains, killing dust mites and other allergens, and sanitizing your clothes and bedding. Its matching dryer, available from $899, also has steam, to help reduce wrinkles and quickly refresh a garment.
When it comes to steam we like to set the right expectation. Most people have this vision that clothes will come out of their dryer perfectly pressed, like you just picked them up from the dry cleaners.
That’s really not the case. Steam may reduce some wrinkles but certainly not all.
If you want to make a style statement in your laundry room, it may also be worth a little more each for an elegant Platinum or Champagne finish.
Samsung WF45R6300 Washer Overview
At $999, the WF45R6300 gives you integrated wi-fi and additional wash cycles, and adds Samsung’s helpful Super Speed 30-minute wash setting.
If you do a lot of laundry that’s more than lightly soiled—we’re thinking about you, parents of toddlers—Super Speed alone may be worth the upgrade.
It lets you wash a full load of load laundry in just 30 minutes. This machine also has two additional wash cycles, including Activewear and your choice of one of 11 more that you can download.
Because it’s wi-fi-enabled, you can remotely start, stop, or schedule a cycle, get end of cycle alerts, and more on your smartphone using Samsung’s SmartThings app.
It also responds to voice commands from Alexa, Google Assistant, and Bixby, Samsung’s own voice assistant.
You can choose White, Champagne, or a handsome Black Stainless fingerprint-resistant finish.
The matching dryer is available from $999.
Samsung WF50R8500 Washer Overview
For $200 more, at $1,199, the WF50R8500 is a jump up in capacity, to 5.0 cu ft.
We’ll also remind you again to measure for this guy. It’s about 2 inches deeper than the ones we’ve talked through so far, requiring a total depth of 38 ¾ inches plus at least 5 15/16 inches distance from the wall.
It has all the great features of the WF45R6300, including Super Speed, plus a little more room in the tub.
If you normally fill your washer to the brim, this’ll give you some breathing room.
We also love that this model introduces an interior drum light. You’ll never miss a sock in the back again.
However, it comes only in fingerprint-resistant Black Stainless. It’s pretty sleek, but if you’re looking for Champagne or Platinum, you’re going to have to stick with a 4.5 cu ft. model.
The matching electric dryer, which is $1,199, has a sensor in the vent to monitor for any lint buildup there.
Samsung WF50A8600 Washer Overview
Upgrading to the WF50A8600 for $1,299, you get a slew of additional high-tech features.
Want to stack your washer and dryer? You’ll also have easier access to the control panel.
This machine has an even faster, 28-minute Super Speed setting. Its matching dryer is also the first in Samsung’s lineup with Speed Dry, a 30-minute setting, so you can do a Normal load start to finish in under an hour.
It also has an extra energy saving wash cycle, Eco Cold Wash, for a total of 13, along with several unique steam settings, and a denim setting.
The control panel has an AI powered Smart Dial that learns the features you use most often and queues them up for you, and a touch screen with integrated Smart Care diagnostics.
Speaking of that control panel, this machine is the first in Samsung’s lineup with Multicontrol. It’s a smart feature that lets you control the matching dryer from the washer control panel.
If the controls on a stacked dryer are usually too high for you to reach, you’ll love this. The matching electric dryer is available from $1299.
It also has Clean Guard, which means that the diaphragm (aka door gasket), door handle, control knob, control panel, and detergent box are made of antimicrobial materials, so they shouldn’t get stinky.
It’s also where Samsung steps up to CEE Tier 3 energy efficiency. In addition to fingerprint-resistant Black Stainless, this series is available in Ivory.
Samsung WF50A8800 Washer Overview
The WF50A8800, for $1,499, is where Samsung introduces its Auto Dispense System and OptiWash.
This is Samsung’s top of the line full size option.
We love auto dispense, and if it’s your budget, this is one of our favorite new washing machine features we recommend to all of our customers.
Here’s how it works.
Pull out the detergent tray and you’ll see 2 large reservoirs, one for detergent, the other for fabric softener. These hold enough for about 20 loads of laundry.
Other brands that offer auto dispense only do it for detergent so having fabric softener is a huge differentiator for Samsung.
This feature saves you from the mess and strain with pouring a heavy jug of detergent every time you do laundry.
The related OptiWash feature automatically senses the soil level and adds more detergent and wash time as needed.
As with the previous model, this one also features MultiControl, which as we already mentioned gives you easier access to the controls if you are stacking the washer and dryer, and it has an extra wash cycle option, for a total of 14.
It comes only in fingerprint-resistant Brushed Black and its matching dryer is available from $1499.
Best Samsung Front Load Load Washer and Dryer
Now that you have a better understanding of Samsung’s laundry offerings, let’s talk about which model we recommend for most people.
We find that the WF45R6300 is the best overall value for most people and comes in at under $2000 for the pair.
It has plenty of capacity at 4.5 cu ft, and what Samsung is known for: its wi-fi capability.
If money is no object, we’d choose the WF50A8800 which comes in at slightlyunder $3,00 for the pair.
We’ve said it multiple times, but The Auto Dispense System is a major convenience.
Also if you are stacking the units, the MultiControl interface on these units is a game changer especially if you are shorter and would normally have to stretch to reach the top dryer controls.
Problems
When we recommend a product, we want you to have the full picture before making your decision.
So what’s the one reason why an SAMSUNG front-load washer and dryer might not be a good fit for your home?
Samsung is great for people who want to get notifications about their laundry on their smart phone.
But if you can’t be bothered to set up the app, the tech features may not be valuable to you.
Overall, we wish Samsung offered a wider variety of colors on all of their models.
If you don’t like matte black but want the top of the line machine, you’re out of luck.
We’ve also noticed based on online feedback that customer service at Samsung can be hit or miss. We have found that Samsung’s service network is relatively good in and around metro areas. If you live outside a metro area you may want to ensure there is good local service before you commit.
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