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  • Design & Usability

  • Performance

  • Features

  • Warranty

  • A Strong Contender

  • By the Numbers

  • Normal & Delicate

  • Bulky & Quick Dry

  • Design & Usability
  • Performance
  • Features
  • Warranty
  • A Strong Contender
  • By the Numbers
  • Normal & Delicate
  • Bulky & Quick Dry

Pros

  • Lots of cycles

  • Moisture sensor

  • Bright indicator lights

Cons

  • Normal and Delicates cycle run hot

  • Laundry nott perfectly dry

It runs hot, and never got our clothes to 100% dry, but that's actually okay: Overdrying and overtumbling are some of the worst things you can do to your clothes, and this GE never fell into that trap.

Sensors that know to quit when they’re ahead are combined with a broad cycle list and plenty of customizable options, resulting in the swankiest dryer you can find south of $600. What’s more: It’s designed to pair with our pick for 2015’s Best Top Load Washer, so keep that in mind if you’re shopping for a set.

To read our full review of this dryer's matching washer, the GTW680BSJWS, click here.

Design & Usability

Better than basic

Though it's one of GE’s newest models, the GTD65’s design blends modern tech with old-school basics. At first glance, this dryer looks a regular ol’ white box, but closer inspection reveals some fancy touches.

The silver control panel features bright blue indicator lights that modernize the interface. Controls are responsive and easy to read, while the cycle knob has a confident heft and turns smoothly.

Inside, the 7.4-cu.-ft. drum is an aluminized alloy, a departure from the stainless or white interiors we’re used to. A lone LED light is bright enough to help you keep track of errant socks, and isn't typical of dryers at this price point.

On an earlier model we tested, the lint trap was a pain in the neck to take out and replace. Based on our complaints—and similar ones from consumers—GE informed us that their engineers redesigned the lint trap on this model. If you have an early version of this dryer and hate the lint trap, GE can provide you a replacement.

Performance

Bringing the heat

Our tests show GE dryers almost always run hot, and the GTD65 was no exception. The Normal cycle clocked in at about 160°F, while we recorded the Delicates cycle at a cooler 138°F. That’s about 20-30°F hotter than we normally like to see.

That's intentional: GE knows that most Americans don't clean their dryer vents, and the extra heat is added partially to help overcome a stuffy vent.

The GE GTD65EBSJWS's cycle list is full of useful options, including a Sanitize setting.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Matthew Zahnzinger

The cycle list is full of useful options, including a Sanitize setting.

The other reason? GE's engineers believe that tumbling clothes for too long is worse than drying clothes too hot. Although this GE never got our clothes 100% dry, clothes typically absorb about 2-3% excess moisture just sitting in a drawer, so 100% dryness is a bit excessive regardless of the temperature. In this case, it means the GTD65's sensors stopped the cycle at an appropriate point.

The best part is that this performance is consistent across the board. Even on the Bulky cycle, our down comforter wasn’t quite dry enough for use right out of the machine, but it came darn close.

Our most important complaint is really cycle length: Speed Dry, for example, ran about 42 minutes. Nothing speedy about that.

For in-depth performance information, please visit the Science Page.

The GE GTD65EBSJWS's LED-lit interior is made of aluminized alloy to prevent corrosion.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Matthew Zahnzinger

The LED-lit interior is made of aluminized alloy to prevent corrosion.

Features

Need to vent?

For such an affordable dryer, this GE actually has a decent set of features. The cycle list includes nine cycles that utilize the sensors, including specialty options like Jeans and Sanitize. On top of that, three programmed timed cycles—Timed Dry, Warm Up, and Air Fluff—are also available. These can be programmed to run anywhere from 10 to 99 minutes. Five different temperature settings and heat levels are available for customizing your cycles, and a My Cycle option allows you to save your preferred combination.

With lots of customizable options and useful extra features, the GE GTD65EBSJWS is pretty tricked out for its price point.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Matthew Zahnzinger

With lots of customizable options and useful extra features, this dryer is pretty tricked out for its price point.

Another feature new to this series is something we don’t normally talk about, but is worth mentioning: Ventilation. Maximum outdoor dryer ventilation typically caps out at 90 ft from the dryer itself. Most people will never need such a long vent, but if you’re setting up a unit in an apartment or condo, or in a multistory house, it may matter to you. According to GE’s specs, this dryer can pump out to a whopping 120 ft., making it one of the more versatile units on the market.

Warranty

{{amazon name="Deflecto Metallic Duct, 4" X 20'", asin="B0043I7UFI", align="right"}}This GE dryer comes with a standard one-year parts and labor warranty. If anything breaks through no fault of the consumer, GE will send someone out with the appropriate parts to fix it.

A Strong Contender

At this price we expected... less.

If you want a dryer that’s more than a basic hot box, but aren’t interested in dropping a grand or more, the GE GTD65EBJSW should be on your list. A wide cycle selection and plenty of customization make it a versatile machine. Plus, smart sensors make the most of GE’s high heat and prevent overdrying.

In-store pricing of $599 also puts the GTD65EBSJWS into competition with less sophisticated machines, making it a great pick for consumers who like to be hands-on with their laundry but don’t want to spend more money. Yes, other dryers are cheaper or more effective, but—save some extra heat—this one is just fine.

If you're already picking up a GE top-load washer, the matching GTD65 will make for a fine pair.

Editor's Note:

This article was updated on May 31, 2016 to reflect updates that GE made to this dryer's lint trap.

By the Numbers

GE dryers almost always run hot, and the GE GTD65EBSJWS (MSRP $700) is no exception. However, our tests revealed that—despite the high heat—this particular model avoids one of the worst things a dryer can do: overdrying your clothes.

Normal & Delicate

Even with high heats averaging 160.2°F, the Normal setting still ran about 56 minutes. At this end of this time, our test clothes were about 96% dry. Normally we'd ding the Normal setting for failing to hit 100% consistently, but in this case, it actually works. Clothes typically absorb about 2-3% moisture sitting in a drawer or hanging in a closet, which means the GE's sensors stopped the cycle when clothes were wearable, without buffeting them with heat for longer than necessary.

Similarly, the Delicates cycle—which averaged 138°F—removed about 93% excess moisture, perfect for ironing or for finishing on a clothes rack. Delicates, in particular, works in your favor, as it only took about 38 minutes to finish—much faster than average.

The GE GTD65EBSJWS's cycle list is full of useful options, including a Sanitize setting.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Matthew Zahnzinger

The cycle list is full of useful options, including a Sanitize setting.

Bulky & Quick Dry

The Bulky Items setting was almost capable of tackling our down comforter on its own. After 1 hour 11 minutes, about 86% excess moisture was removed, almost usable fresh out of the dryer. A simple flip mid-cycle for large items should be enough to expose any lingering damp spots, especially given the average heat of 159°F.

For our Quick Dry test, we chose to use the sensor-based Speed Dry option. Unfortunately, there was nothing speedy about this cycle, which took 42 minutes and 168.2°F of heat to dry our 4-lb. test load. Somehow, with 98% moisture removal, this was the most effective cycle we tested, even if it didn't live up to the name.

With lots of customizable options and useful extra features, the GE GTD65EBSJWS is pretty tricked out for its price point.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Matthew Zahnzinger

With lots of customizable options and useful extra features, this dryer is pretty tricked out for its price point.

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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