This article was taken from the June 2015 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
First things first: look at that. That's a darn good-looking washing machine. WIRED encounters a great deal of tech, but it's not often we get to write a sentence praising the aesthetics of a utility-room appliance. And it just goes to show that no product cannot benefit from superior industrial design.
Samsung should be applauded for bothering to pimp its white goods. Gone are clunky dials and LEDs in favour of a smartphone-sized touchscreen, which is quick and responsive. Gone, too, are the detergent and softener trays. Samsung has installed a cartridge system and reservoir hidden behind the loading door to auto-dispense detergent. When soap supplies dwindle, after 18 to 20 washes, the WW9000 alerts you. Detergent amounts per wash are calculated depending on water type, weight of load and soiling of clothing -- so no more guesswork involved. A sci-fi-esque blue light can be switched on and off should you wish to watch your smalls rotate in a serene, cool glow.
What's more, the WW9000 is very quiet. Some 14 stainless-steel balls spin in the opposite direction to the laundry to reduce vibration, and at lower speeds, magnets hold these balls firmly in place to decrease noise. The 24 washing settings, which include "Denim" and "Active Kids" pre-sets, cover most bases, but one can customise and the machine logs your favoured cycles. Cleverly, the WW9000 also mixes detergent and water before the solution reaches the clothes, this helps it better penetrate fabrics and lower temperatures. WIRED fed the washer a pair of jeans heavily stained with dark wax. It all came out in the first wash.
The problems arise when you try to connect the washer to the internet to operate it remotely. But why would you want to? Samsung got so caught up in being able to do something -- perhaps it should have focused on whether it should. If this were a washer/dryer, being able to tell the WW9000 to switch to drying mode while you're out might be useful. Might. But because you have to be there to load it, being able to turn it on remotely is sadly far from life changing.
What's more, getting the WW9000 online is problematic. After multiple, expletive-ridden attempts using the Smart Home app (don't use the Smart Washer app), WIRED was forced to contact Samsung's engineers, who after an hour and consultation with another department, finally managed to get it all up and running. So, super design, great features and superb washing. Just not as smart as WIRED would like -- if indeed one even needs a smart washing machine at all.
7/10**£1,500**
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
