LG’s new AI washer-dryer combo can wash and dry your clothes in under 2 hours

News
By Hunter Fenollol
published

This can save you time and money

LG smartwash combo 2023
(Image credit: LG)

LG Electronics' new Smart WashCombo will make its public debut at CES 2024. This single machine runs a complete wash and dry cycle in under two hours without having to transfer clothes between different machines. While it's not the first all-in-one washing machine, its technology and customizability are a game-changer. 

This appliance prioritizes efficiency with a ventless space-saving design that consumes up to 60 percent less energy compared to its vented counterparts. Paired with Inverter HeatPump technology, this machine cleans and dries fast with minimal noise. Don't let its slimmer profile fool you though — the WashCombo comes equipped with a generous 5.0 cu Ft. capacity to accommodate larger loads, including king-size comforters.

Its ventless design and standard 120v plug means it can be installed in virtually any household from high-rise condos to a small studio apartment. Plus you can adapt the setup to meet your needs with multiple pedestal and riser options. To make the machine even more versatile you can add on an LG SideKick pedestal washer to knock out another load of laundry simultaneously or equip it with a pull-out storage pedestal. This new addition to LG's laundry lineup is far more than just a mechanical upgrade—it boasts a plethora of innovative tech features like AI sensing and smart home connectivity too.

woman places king size blanket in LG smartwash combo

(Image credit: LG)

LG's SmartThinQ Technology integrates the WashCombo into your smart home for remote control capabilities and voice command functionality through Google or Alexa voice assistants. You can effortlessly manage the appliance, download additional cycles, check on the status of a wash, and more.

Among its key features, the new WashCombo's built-in intelligence means you instantly get optimized cleaning settings after you throw a load in. AI-driven sensors detect fabric texture, soil level, and load size, automatically selecting the optimal wash/dry motions and temperatures for meticulous fabric care. The ezDispense Automatic Dispenser further streamlines your laundry process by accurately dispensing detergent and fabric softener for multiple loads, reducing the need for constant refills.

Of course, you can always control your washes manually. The WashCombo's built-in LCD Digital Dial Control is large and easy to use for intuitive navigation through over 20 cycles. Its more advanced cycles include allergen-friendly options, ensuring a comprehensive clean in under 30 minutes and utilizing steam to eliminate over 95% of dust, pet dander, and pollen. Additionally, its ezLintFilter simplifies lint removal after every load, enhancing convenience and maintenance.

The SmartWash Combo WM6998HBA ($2,999, LG) is now available for purchase at LG.com. Our team is looking forward to seeing it firsthand at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas from January 9th to 12th.

Hunter Fenollol
Hunter Fenollol
Senior Editor, Smart Home

Hunter Fenollol is a Senior Editor for Tom’s Guide. He specializes in smart home gadgets and appliances. Prior to joining the team, Hunter reviewed computers, wearables, and mixed reality gear for publications that include CNN Underscored, Popular Mechanics, and Laptop Magazine. When he’s not testing out the latest cooking gadgets, you can likely find him playing a round of golf or out with friends feeding his paycheck to a QuickHit slot machine. Hunter started his career as an intern at Tom’s Guide back in 2019 while in college. He graduated from Long Island University Post with a degree in Communications and minor in Advertising. He has been vlogging ever since the iPhone 4 took front-facing cameras mainstream.

2 Comments Comment from the forums
  • danram123
    “AI” has pretty much lost any credibility with me as it’s already being hijacked as another meaningless marketing tool, like “cloud” before it. It’s a washing machine with some sensors in it.
    Reply
  • jdroberts.ha
    I am a wheelchair user, so a combination washer/dryer unit like this one is much much easier for me to use than two separate machines. Dry dirty clothes go in, dry clean clothes come out. So I have quite a bit of experience with this kind of unit.

    I first had two LG units, one after the other. The first one was OK, the second one was better.

    in 2023, though, I switched to the GE profile ultrafast all in one because it solved a problem that both LG units had, and that the new LG unit that you just wrote about also has. They don’t have a regular lint filter. Instead, you have to clean the pump filter at the very bottom of the machine about once a month or the machine will jam And shut itself off mid cycle. This is a really annoying chore, and impossible for someone like me. So I had to have someone else do it, and if they didn’t happen to do it in time, I’d be stuck with a load that stopped mid cycle, and all the wet soppy clothes had to be taken out until the pump filter was cleaned again.

    if you look at pictures of the GE profile unit, you will see that at the top left they have a regular lint filter, just like the lint filter You’d be used to from a typical dryer. This works great. You clean it after every cycle just by pulling the fuzz off it. The machine even reminds you if you haven’t cleaned it. it’s easy to do and in a much better place for someone like me. It still has a pump filter down at the bottom, but you only use that like you would with a regular washer, if you had coins or something left in a pocket, and then they sank to the bottom during the cycle, so we haven’t had to clear it at all since we got the unit.

    The LG manual tells you to wipe down the rubber ring on the door after every load, but that’s too late to catch ordinary things like pet fur, which would have already gone down into the drain pump. I don’t know exactly how the GE does it, but it does it. Huge improvement.

    The GE profile has an app with very similar features to the LG. Including a notification from Alexa when the cycle is done. They don’t say it has “AI” but it’s pretty smart. You can find lots of YouTube videos from people reviewing it, it’s just a really nice combo design. Also, the GE has a feature where you can fill a reserve tank with liquid detergent and then it will automatically dispense the correct amount of detergent for each load based on the weight of the clothes. The reserve tank holds about 30 loads’ worth. So no plastic pods or strips needed .

    I’m sure the new LG is also nice, but I think the lint filter feature alone brings the GE profile model to the top of this device class. And the smart dispense feature is also a moneysaver.

    looking at the specs, the LG might finish a load about 15 minutes faster than the GE, but that doesn’t offset the other advantages that the GE has, as far as I’m concerned.
    Reply