Skip to main content
DEAL WATCH: Keurig K-Express | 22% off $69.99

Keurig has changed the face of coffee, and snagging one of these for less than $70 is a solid deal. Read Review

BUY NOW
  • FI Introduction

  • Design & Usability

  • Features & Performance

  • Conclusion

  • FI Introduction
  • Design & Usability
  • Features & Performance
  • Conclusion

FI Introduction

Moneual (pronounced Mon-you-ALL) is a Korean company that manufactures a whole slew of products for the domestic Korean market, from TVs to robotic vacuums. Alongside juicers, robotic vacuums and restaurant tables that double as menus, the company brought the DWA-6820B built in dishwasher to CES this year, promising it would be on sale in the US sometime this year.

Importing a full-size appliance to the US is a bold move — bolder than the colors on the K-pop videos that blared from TV screens throughout the Moneual booth. Though the company shows a lot of promise and their wares had innovative designs, we wonder how much of their lineup might get lost in translation when crossing the Pacific.

Design & Usability

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

Needs refinement

Aside from its sleek control panel, there wasn't anything special about the design of the {{product.name}}. In fact aside from that transparent front panel that the company cut into the front of the machine for CES – production versions will get a traditional exterior – it looked like nearly every other dishwasher we have seen. Physical buttons on the panel didn't feel particularly sturdy, but that may have been due to it being a floor model that gets poked and prodded all day. The display itself was pretty clear, at least.

Though we could peek in through a plexiglas window, we were unable to open the machine to inspect the racks or start a cycle. These two factors are crucial to the machine's ease of use, so we can't comment on whether it's ready for the States. A lot is up in the air regarding the final US-bound product, however, so any potential issues could be fixed before it goes on sale.

{{photo_gallery "FI Exterior Photo 1", "FI Exterior Photo 2", "FI Exterior Photo 3", "FI Interior Photo 1", "FI Interior Photo 2", "FI Interior Photo 3", "FI Close Up Photo 1", "FI Close Up Photo 2", "FI Close Up Photo 3"}}

Features & Performance

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

Something lost in translation

The {{product.name}} is designed to be part of a smart home, and we were shown how the dishwasher can be controlled with a tablet or smartphone. That makes a lot of sense for a dishwasher, since many people place dirty plates right from the table into the dishwasher. Now, if you forget to start the machine, you can do for your bedroom before you go to sleep or when you're at work.

This seems like a good move, but yet again, our excitement was muted: the dishwasher is only smart when it's connected to a WiFi-enabled Home Server, and the only available Moneual Home Server is attached to an air purifier. To clarify: It only comes attached to the air purifier. In markets where air purifiers are a common home appliance, that's apparently not a deal breaker. But in the US, air purifiers are less common in homes. Needing another appliance to get the full function of the one you just bought could be a tipping point against switching to a new, relatively unknown brand.

{{photo_gallery "Features & Performance Photo 1", "FI Features & Performance Photo 2", "FI Features & Performance 3"}}

Conclusion

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

Moneual is taking a big step coming into the US market.

The {{product.name}} will face a lot of stiff competition if it ever launches in the US. The dishwasher market is pretty well saturated: In addition to Whirlpool, GE, Bosch, Miele, LG and Samsung, consumers can buy dishwashers from smaller manufacturers in Italy, Spain, Turkey, Sweden, France and Slovenia. The Moneual has few features that set it apart, and the one that does make it different — remote automation in a smart home network — requires a separate air purifier to make it work.

Moneual might have a chance to make it right. Company representatives were eager to talk about their upcoming products on the CES show floor, and the US-bound lineup isn't set in stone yet so the company has plenty of time to refine its design. We'll eagerly await the {{product.name}} to throw its hat into the dishwasher ring. Stay tuned for more from Moneual.

Meet the tester

Jonathan Chan

Jonathan Chan

Senior Manager of Lab Operations

@Jonfromthelab1

Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.

See all of Jonathan Chan's reviews

Checking our work.

Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.

Shoot us an email

Up next