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  • Introduction

  • Design & Usability

  • Performance & Features

  • Conclusion

  • Science Introduction

  • Normal & Delicate

  • Bedding & Quick

  • Introduction
  • Design & Usability
  • Performance & Features
  • Conclusion
  • Science Introduction
  • Normal & Delicate
  • Bedding & Quick

Introduction

It's not perfect: A haphazard sensor caused some specialty drying cycles to double and halve like slack on a yo-yo, a mercurial ruler indeed. And the Normal cycle got plenty warm. But we rarely see a cycle that can get a four pound load 95 percent dry in just 30 minutes. That feat alone made the DV456EWHDSU worthy of our approval. Overall, we highly recommend you form an alliance with this monarch.

Design & Usability

You can have any color you like: white or silver

The DV456EWHDSU is painted in what Samsung deems Stainless Platinum. It's a bit redundant since platinum doesn't rust under normal atmospheric conditions. I write that just to say something interesting because the design of the DV456EWHDSU is pretty bland. However, sometimes bland is good—especially if you're choosing what to eat right before a long flight.

Sometimes, bland is good.

If you've owned a Samsung dryer before, you'll be at home with this one. It's just as clean and simple. The door feels sturdy. The lint trap is well designed, like every other Samsung dryer. Maybe Samsung can spice things up by painting murals from the German Expressionism period on their next generation of laundry machines.

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The only thing that annoyed me while using the machine is that the end-of-cycle chime goes on forever. It's like the guy that rings the doorbell fifty times. Yeah, I know you're there, but I'm putting the screws to a dryer. Give me a second.

Performance & Features

Like a street riddled with potholes, the performance is uneven

The Normal cycle proved to be the DV456EWHDSU's strong point. The Normal cycle averaged around 56 minutes and managed to get our test loads 99 percent dry. The only down side is that this dryer produced a maximum temperature of 153 degrees. At those temperatures your clothing may wear a little over time. The Quick Dry, however, blew us away. At only 30 minutes long, clothes still got 95 percent dry. That's absolutely astounding, as most Quick Dry cycles either take twice as long or dry half as well. The Delicate cycle produced similar results, but reached a max temperature of 126 degrees.

Quick Dry: 30 minutes long, clothes still got 95 percent dry.

As with many dryers, the Bedding cycle was this Samsung's only downer. Our first test cycle lasted over two hours and got a comforter 96 percent dry. A second test cycle lasted an hour and got the same comforter 58 percent dry. We chalk up the uneven performance to the sensor. So, what the sensor can't sense can hurt its score.

All is quiet on the features front. Well, expect for the Smart Care feature which allows you to diagnose a broken machine with your smartphone. Now all you need is a smartphone.

Conclusion

For your day to day drying, the Samsung DV456EWHDSU is a good choice: The Normal cycle takes less than an hour and gets your laundry dry. The $1,049 MSRP is reasonable, and $899 sale prices are even more attractive. A lack of features actually helps this machine, keeping it simple to use. Sure, the Bedding cycle is a crap shoot, but nearly every dryer has that problem.

What truly sets this dryer apart, however, is its ultra-fast Quick Dry cycle. If you're a laundry procrastinator, that alone makes this machine worth your while. Taking all factors into account, we can firmly place the Samsung DV456EWHDSU/AA into the upper tiers of dryer greatness.

Science Introduction

If I could, I'd bring the Samsung DV456EWHDSU to life and make it jump through hoops. Unfortunately, the Council of Appliance Wizardry frowns at such sorcery so you'll have to a settle for a set of rigorous scientific tests. Here at the Reviewed.com appliance labs we focus on a dryer's Normal, Delicate, Quick, and Bulky cycles. For the DV456EWHDSU, everything went swimmingly...when the sensor cooperated.

Normal & Delicate

With a running time of just under an hour, the Normal cycle on the DV456EWHDSU pleased us. Yes, we are very pleased indeed with the 99 percent moisture removal. Though, we were not amused by the 153 degree peak temperature. Prolonged exposure to such heat can damage your clothes. The Delicate cycle also managed 99 percent moisture removal with only 127.3 degree heat. The water army will think twice before invading your laundry.

Bedding & Quick

Bedding is a tricky thing for a dryer to master. Bulky items like comforters can hide much of their moisture within their confines. We suspect that the sensor was outwitted. The Bedding cycle was weakest performer that we tested. On average it removed 77 percent of water. However, like a bikini, statistics reveal a lot, but hide the crucial bits. On one test run, the Bedding cycle lasted over two hours and took out 96 percent of all the moisture. Another time it ran for only an hour and took out 58 percent of the water. A fooled sensor can be blamed.

Quick Dry cycle lasted 30 minutes, as advertised. It got our test loads 95 percent dry. Can't ask for much more in such circumstance. In fact, we'll praise the Quick Dry for its combination of speed and performance.

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.

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