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  • A Design For Every Kitchen

  • Will They Clean My Plates?

  • Why We Like It

  • A Design For Every Kitchen
  • Will They Clean My Plates?
  • Why We Like It

The key differences may not be numerous, but will really affect your day to day usage. The 800 series includes more folding tines, an Eco wash cycle, and capacitive touch controls on certain models. Some even give you the option to use a customizable panel, giving homeowners a chance to upgrade their kitchen without spending an arm and a leg.

Even better, those perks don’t come with a huge price jump: The 800 series starts at roughly $800, or about 50 bucks more than the cheapest 500 model,with most models capping out at $900 and one specialty machine that goes for just over $1000. If more options for loading dishes or any of the other interface perks appeal to you, the 800 series a reasonably priced and attractive option.

A Design For Every Kitchen

Perhaps the biggest advantage the 800 has over the 500 is the sheer variety of exteriors. If you like front-mount controls, there are two different layouts with recessed handles to choose from.

For a seamless look, top-mount lovers can choose from two different bar handles, a pocket handle, or customized panel fronts. These versions also come with InfoLight, a feature not found on the front-control models. It’s a small red beam that projects onto your floor to indicate when the dishwasher is running.

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Regardless of your preferred style, both configurations are available in stainless steel, white or black. They also give you a choice between capacitive touch controls or more conventional buttons.

800 models are also some of the quietest dishwashers around, rated at 44 dBA. Each model also features the same set of cycles: Heavy, Auto, Normal, Eco, Express, and Rinse. These can be altered using features including Delay, Half Load, Extra Shine, Delicate, and Sanitize.

There’s one exception to this—the SHXN8U55UC—which has a slightly altered cycle and feature list, as well as a quieter sound rating of just 40 dBA.

Will They Clean My Plates?

Open the door, and you’ll notice a few things beyond the shiny stainless tub: Each model in the 800 series includes a third rack on top of cutlery. And on the bottom rack, you get more dish flexibility thanks to tines that can fold down—something absent from the 500 line.

The upper rack is equipped with RackMatic, which lets you set it to one of three different heights. This will be useful if you have a lot of oddly sized glassware, especially given the space lost to the extra rack itself.

Actual cleaning performance is more or less identical to the 500 models, as both series use the same kind of filtration system. Workhorse cycles like Normal do a great job washing away tough stains, but we noticed some issues with redeposit.

Heavy Duty, on the other hand, blew away everything we could throw at it. Dishes came out spotless after roughly two hours.

Why We Like It

{{ amazon name="Finish All in 1 Powerball Mega Pack, 90 Tablets", asin="B00GLXKDPC", align="right" }} The 800 series takes everything we love from the 500 and adds a few perks to make it even better. Sure, many consumers will be quite happy with a 500 model, but once you’ve experienced the convenience of adjustable tines, you may not want to go back. And with prices still fairly set for such an effective machine, we can’t help but recommend it.

Meet the tester

Matthew Zahnzinger

Matthew Zahnzinger

Logistics Manager & Staff Writer

@ReviewedHome

Matthew is a native of Brockton, MA and a graduate of Northeastern, where he earned a degree in English and Theatre. He has also studied at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin and spends most of his free time pursuing a performance career in the greater Boston area.

See all of Matthew Zahnzinger's reviews

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