Altimo vs Samsung Washing Machines

Altimo and Samsung compete across the 8kg to 10kg range, but Samsung's machines are smarter and dearer. Altimo's line runs from the AWM6122W 6kg 1200rpm at £229 through the AWM8142W 8kg at £259 to the AWM10142W 10kg at £299. Samsung starts with the Series 5 AI Energy WW80CGC04DAEEU 8kg at £349, followed by the Series 5 AI Energy WW90CGC04DABEU 9kg at £399 and the Series 6 ecobubble WW90T554DAW 9kg at £479.

Samsung's core technology is ecobubble, which turns detergent into bubbles that penetrate fabric faster, so it cleans well at low temperatures of around 15°C to 20°C. AI Control learns preferences and selects settings for each load, and the models work with the SmartThings app for remote monitoring. AddWash lets you add a forgotten item mid-cycle through a small door in the main door, and Hygiene Steam is available on the models compared here. The 11kg model adds SpaceMax. The Samsung models compared here carry a 5-year warranty. Altimo has no steam, smart or automatic dosing features, so the technology gap is wide.

Altimo suits anyone who wants the cheapest reliable capacity, such as renters, students and households on a fixed budget who will not use smart features. Samsung suits buyers who want a smart machine with ecobubble and Hygiene Steam for allergy-conscious households. AddWash suits busy households that often forget an item. The step up from the AWM10142W to the Series 6 WW90T554DAW at £479 is £180, so the question is whether ecobubble and AddWash will be used regularly.

Bottom line: choose Altimo if you want the largest drum for the least money, with the AWM10142W at £299 hard to beat. Choose Samsung if you want ecobubble washing, AI Control, Hygiene Steam and a 5-year warranty, starting with the Series 5 WW80CGC04DAEEU 8kg at £349 and rising to the Series 6 WW90T554DAW at £479.