Samsung vs Smeg Dishwashers

Samsung and Smeg both sell full-size dishwashers that hold 13 place settings, though they take different routes. Samsung's DW60BG730FSLEU at £449 offers Water Jet Cleaning and a Flex Load System, while the DW60DG760FSLU4 at £549 adds an Extra Silence Programme and automatic door opening. Smeg starts with the DF262DB at £399, a 13-place machine with seven programmes and a delay timer, and the DF344BW at £536, which includes Dry Assist and a Half Load Flexizone.

The technology gap is clearest in control and cleaning. Samsung builds around the SmartThings app, which starts, stops and monitors cycles from your phone, and its WaterWall system sends a moving wall of water across the racks. Zone Booster adds extra cleaning for heavily soiled pans. Smeg relies on an orbital wash system, a FlexiDuo third basket and a 75°C sanitising cycle that eliminates 99.9% of bacteria. Its cycles use about 9.8 litres of water, and the quick wash finishes in 27 minutes. Samsung's quietest models run from 39dB, against 42 to 44dB for Smeg. The Extra Silence Programme on the DW60DG760FSLU4 keeps night-time running calmer.

Samsung suits households that want smart control and the quietest running, particularly in an open-plan kitchen. Smeg suits buyers who want the dishwasher to match a retro-modern kitchen, and who will book the professional installation Smeg recommends, and families who want the 13-place capacity for regular loads. Both need a standard 60cm opening and a 13-amp socket. Samsung's warranty is two years, extendable to five on selected models, while Smeg offers a two-year manufacturer warranty with options to extend.

Bottom line: choose Samsung if app control and quiet running matter most, with the DW60DG760FSLU4 at £549 for silence; choose Smeg if design and a 27-minute quick wash come first, with the DF262DB at £399 as the lowest entry price.