GE GTW860SPJMC review – CNET

The Good The $1,200 GE GTW860SPJMC is an attractive washer with plenty of features, including a companion app for Android and iPhone and an IFTTT channel.

The Bad It isn’t a top performer when it comes to stain removal and you can’t actually initiate a cleaning cycle from the app.

The Bottom Line GE’s GTW860SPJMC definitely has curb appeal, but other high-end models offer a better overall value.

This $1,200 top-load washing machine seemingly has it all — good looks and a relatively intuitive instrument panel. It’s also packing a long list of features, including a related GE Laundry app for Android and iPhone and even an IFTTT channel. $1,200 is high-end luxury when it comes to top-load machines, but the GE GTW860SPJMC seems worth it on paper.

When you factor in performance, though, the impressiveness starts to flag. It does a decent enough job removing stains, but the results don’t stand out much in comparison to other models we’ve reviewed. That doesn’t mean you should immediately rule out this GE washer, but it would be worthwhile to look at the competition closely before you buy.

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With 13 wash cycles, a handsome metallic gray finish and a transparent lid so you can watch your clothes whir around inside (if you so desire), the GTW860SPJMC is strikingly similar to the $1,199 Samsung WA52J8700. The main difference, of course, is that the app-enabled GE version doesn’t have a built-in sink for pre-soaking or hand washing delicates, and the sink-equipped Samsung version doesn’t have an app.

Check out this comparison chart of the two top-load washing machines for more details:

GE’s GTW860SPJMC is also competitive with other premium top-load models in terms of its specific wash cycles. They include:

• Basket Clean
• Bulky Items
• Dark Colors
• Delicates
• Drain + Spin
• Heavy Duty
• Jeans
• Normal/Light Colors
• Quick Rinse
• Sanitize with Oxi
• Speed Wash
• Towels & Sheets
• Whites

But its most interesting feature is a bit more hidden, an inconspicuous “Wi-Fi Connect” indicator on the bottom left corner of the display panel. This means that the GTW860SPJMC works with GE’s smart laundry app as well as GE’s laundry channel on the connectivity service IFTTT.

In other washer news:

• This Samsung washer has everything, including the kitchen sink
• This cool, uncomplicated washer performs well under pressure
• A simple LCD screen makes this smart washer shine
• GE smartens up its large appliances with IFTTT support

While the app looks nice and is simple to configure — just download the GE Laundry app on your Android or iPhone and follow the instructions to connect — the software is a little disappointing. It’s nicely designed, but you can’t actually initiate a cleaning recycle remotely like you can with Samsung’s $1,399 WF457ARGSWR or Whirlpool’s $1,399 Smart Cabrio. Instead you can track a cycle, get an alert when the cycle ends, download a few additional cycles, and monitor how much detergent is left in the SmartDispense soap reservoir. It’s somewhat useful, but not essential.