Specs
Capacity: 5.3 Cu. Ft. / 11 KG
Energy Efficiency: Energy Star / A-Rated
Settings: Sanitize, linen, eco, AI, and countless more
Noise level: 53 dB
Matching dryer? Yes
Warranty: Parts and labor included for 1 year
Dimensions: H 38" x W 27" x D 34"
I recently became a homeowner for the first time, and was fortunate enough to be left an old but functional washing machine when we moved in. Sure, our black jeans came out covered in mysterious white fluff, and stains took two or three wash cycles to fully remove, but it did the job, and that's all you can ask of a washing machine, right? Wrong. Since upgrading to the Samsung Bespoke Smart Front Load Washer, known as the Samsung Series 8 AI Energy Washing Machine in the U.K. (where I'm based), I've learned that I was putting up with a poor washing performance for far too long.
The Samsung Bespoke looks fabulous. Our plumber was enamored when he fitted it, commenting that it was the quietest washing machine he'd ever fitted, and he loved the smart controls. We didn't get the matching dryer, but the set is stackable and looks virtually identical.
I'm not the most tech-savvy Home Editor out there, so I was concerned that I'd find Samsung's AI features and app compatibility a little overwhelming. In fact, this is one of those smart home products that can actually make your life easier. Here's why I think it's one of the best washing machines out there.
Price and availability
In the U.S., this machine is called the Bespoke 5.3 cu. ft. Ultra Capacity Front Load Washer and it retails for $1,423 direct from Samsung (although at time of writing, it's down to $999). You can also find it at Best Buy and it comes in a range of colors including Brushed Black (the one I tested) and Stainless Steel. At Samsung, you can also find it in Khaki.
I'm based in the U.K., where this machine is called the Samsung Series 8 AI Energy Washing Machine and retails for £799. You can also find it at Curry's and AO. There's only one notable difference, which is that where the power button sits on the Series 8, you'll find synced controls for washing and drying in the U.S. model. Samsung told me that this is to cater to regional differences, but that the settings and design are otherwise the same.
First impressions
This machine has a 5.3 Cu. Ft. / 11KG capacity that will happily cater to most families. I purchased the brushed black version, which (as you can see in the photo above) is quite reflective. The darkened glass on the washing machine door makes it look particularly sleek and modern, and the brushed touchscreen control panel is incredibly intuitive to use.
The Samsung Bespoke has automatic detergent and fabric softener dispensers which you can fill when you set the machine up, and which then auto-dispense a custom amount depending on the weight of your laundry and setting you choose. I'm totally sold on this feature, and I don't think I'd ever go back to dosing every single wash with detergent and softener. It's just one less thing to worry about.
However, because of how much I hated dosing detergent and softener in my old machine, I had switched to laundry pods when I started using it. This meant I had a large backlog to get through with this machine, so while I've been using liquid fabric softener, I've yet to add any detergent to the dispenser as I've been throwing in a pod manually. And there's no option to tell the machine this, so it still warns me every time I use it that I need to top up on detergent. Overriding this is easy enough, but if you swear by a certain brand of pods, you might get annoyed at having this alert pop up every time you switch the machine on and every time you open the app.
Settings
My last washing machine had dials for temperature, RPM, and a few pre-set washing modes that you could see all at once. Perhaps the main downside of this machine is the myriad options you'll scroll through before deciding on the right one for you. When I first used it, I used the dial to flick through setting options for my linen sheets. There's a linen setting, and a bedding setting, but no way of seeing every option all at once, so you'll have to remember your go-to settings when you go to use this machine.
I was also struck that the length of each setting isn't shown as you scroll through. The time is one of the main factors I consider when, for example, I put on some sheets before I start work and want them to be finished by the time I have my lunch break, so this seemed like an omission.
As it happens, if you pause on a setting instead of scrolling right past it, the screen will display the time taken, so you'll just need some patience (or use the app) if this is a big consideration for you.
App controls
You'll need the SmartThings app to connect to your washing machine on your phone. This is made easier by a QR code on the front of the door, which took me straight to my SmartThings app (I have a Samsung phone, which might have made things smoother) and set up a connection between my phone and the washing machine.
From there, you can choose which room it's in (yes, mine's in the kitchen, we do that here!) as well as monitoring energy consumption and accessing personalized care information.
The app allows you to download new wash cycles to your machine and adjust them manually. You can also start monitor your wash cycle from your app, and it notifies you when your washing is done if, by some miracle, you don't hear the world's longest jingle sound when the cycle is finished.
Performance
I've washed everything from dirty socks to crusty towels in the Samsung Bespoke washing machine and they've all come out spotless on the first wash. One of the biggest issues I had in my old washing machine was when washing dark items like black jeans or shirts. They'd often come out covered in lint and white fibers as if I'd put a tissue through the wash with them. Despite cleaning the machine and meticulously emptying pockets, I could never get my dark clothes to come out spotless.
My suspicion that my washing machine was to blame for this problem was confirmed when I switched to the Samsung Bespoke. My jeans looked actually black for the first time in a year, and my partner finally could go back to wearing black and navy shirts to work.
Cloths after being cleaned in the Samsung Series 8
I'm often skeptical when it comes to smart features in large appliances. What are the odds that I'll actually use a setting that lets my fridge make me a shopping list, or that lets me watch the inside of my oven as it cooks?
With the Samsung Bespoke, I can see the difference that its AI tech makes. In sensing the weight of my laundry and automatically dosing the correct amount of detergent, it always makes my sheets come out smelling fresh, and guides me through any maintenance required.
How does it compare?
I measured noise levels when using this machine and found that it hit highs of 54dB, which is incredibly quiet for a washing machine. We've not tested it hands-on, but the Electrolux ELFW7537AT is also praised for being quiet by countless reviews. However, it doesn't offer app control and it's also restricted by a 4.2 Cu. Ft. capacity, making it significantly smaller than the Samsung Bespoke.
If app control is important to you, we also recommend the LG WM4200H, which offers a 5 cu. ft. capacity and retails for a similar price of $1,349. However, some users complain that their laundry can get tangled up easily in this machine, which isn't an issue I encountered with the Samsung Bespoke.
Verdict
I didn't upgrade my washing machine sooner because I didn't understand just how much of a difference a high-spec machine can make, and now I do, I wouldn't stray from my Samsung Bespoke. There are cheaper machines on the market, and sometimes I miss the ability to see all my cycle options at once, but the tradeoff for that is a very sleek and uncluttered control panel that I'm proud to display in my home.
On top of that, the cleaning performance in this machine is practically faultless, and its smart features do actually make a huge difference in both the ease of use and performance for this machine. If you've got a decent budget and are hoping to upgrade, look no further.
More from Tom's Guide
- 9 ways to make your washing machine less noisy
- How to fix a shaky washing machine
- What do laundry symbols mean?
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