Altimo vs Bosch Tumble Dryers

Altimo is built around price, with the 8kg ACD812W condenser and the 9kg AHPD912W heat pump at £329 to £339. Bosch is much more premium, led by the Series 6 WQH246DRGB 9kg heat pump in graphite at £849, the Series 6 WQG245A0GB 9kg at £799, the WQG24509GB 9kg at £679 and the Series 4 WTH85225GB 8kg at £629. The gap between the Bosch 8kg WTH85225GB at £629 and the Altimo heat pump at £339 is £290. The Bosch 8kg WTH85225GB is the lowest-priced Bosch in this comparison.

Bosch adds engineering to the same basic job. AutoDry uses moisture sensors to stop the cycle when clothes reach the chosen dryness, and the self-cleaning condenser on the Series 6 models uses an EasyClean filter to clear fluff automatically. The Bosch heat pumps also have anti-vibration side walls to reduce noise, and the WQH246DRGB adds Hygiene Plus and SpeedPerfect. Altimo keeps features simpler, with sensor drying and 15 programmes on its heat pump. The graphite WQH246DRGB adds Hygiene Plus, and its SelfCleaning Condenser keeps the filter clear over time.

Altimo suits landlords, occasional drying and anyone replacing a failed dryer on a tight budget. Bosch suits families who run a dryer several times a week and want reliability, sensor-led drying and gentler fabric treatment. Both brands' heat pumps use less electricity than condenser dryers, but Bosch asks for a larger upfront investment in return for a more refined machine. Altimo's lower price suits a rented flat with one occupant, while Bosch fits a family where the dryer runs most days.

Bottom line: choose Altimo if you need cheap drying above all else, with a 9kg heat pump from £329 to £339, choose Bosch if you want a better-built heat pump with a self-cleaning condenser from £629.