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  • Design Features

  • Performance

  • Efficiency

  • What user reviews say

  • The bottom line

  • Design Features
  • Performance
  • Efficiency
  • What user reviews say
  • The bottom line

Pros

  • Built-in utility sink

  • Large 5.4-cu.-ft. drum

Cons

  • Difficult to unload

It's also the first all-new Samsung top-loader after the infamous washing machine recall of 2016.

The scrub sink is attached below the lid
Credit: Reviewed.com / Kyle Hamilton

Most people like to pre-treat their laundry before washing. ActiveWash allows you to scrub out stains in this attached sink, and then slide them into the washer.

You can choose the washer in white, like the one we tested, or go for the stylish WA54M8750AV in black stainless steel. The prices are comparable. Either way, the 5.4 cu.-ft. tub is huge enough to wash a whole family’s laundry, or a king size comforter, maybe with room to spare.

Design Features

We’ve been fans of Samsung’s integrated ActiveWash since 2015. This unique washboard sink is attached to the inside of the door, and it lets you pre-treat stained laundry. It’s easy to run some water into the basin, scrub away the spots, and then, just raise the basin to dump the water and the treated items into the tub. It's actually fun to use.

The ActiveWash sink is this model's outstanding feature.

That’s this model’s outstanding feature. Otherwise, it’s a big basic top-loader with an uncluttered, easy-to-use integrated control panel, and a slightly slanted soft close lid. Can you fold clothes on top of it? Yes.

It also has a mobile app and smart diagnostics, which can recognize problems by the sound the machine makes.

The detergent/softener dispenser is positioned at the inside back, while the bleach dispenser is on the front left. We think this is a practical design, minimizing the chance of a bleach spill that could ruin a whole load of clothes.

Plenty of room for a large family's laundry
Credit: Reviewed.com / Kyle Hamilton

You can wash 5.4 cu.-ft. of laundry, enough to take care of a large family's needs or a king size comforter in a single load.

The stainless tub is nicely textured and has a flower-shaped projection on the bottom instead of an agitator. It’s really deep, though. If you’re petite, you will probably need to stand on a step stool to reach the clothes at the bottom of the tub. Be careful, because it’s easy to whack your head on the basin every time you bend to retrieve that last sock. It happened to me three times. Luckily, it doesn't hurt.

Performance

Since you buy a washing machine to clean clothes, you need to make sure it can get the job done. When we tested it in our labs, this model scored above average in the cleaning department. The Heavy cycle removed stains better than the other cycles.

This washer has a tendency to retain a lot of water in the clothes at the end of a cycle. This is somewhat understandable for a Delicate cycle, which is not supposed to spin hard. But the washer left 91% of the water in the delicate garments, and that’s too much of a good thing. The Heavy cycle left in 69% of the added water. Take our word for it—that load is going to spend a long time in the dryer.

Add detergent and softener here. The bleach dispenser is located at the front.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Kyle Hamilton

The detergent and fabric softener dispenser are at the back of the tub, and the bleach dispenser is at the front. This makes sense: your clothes are protected from bleach spills.

Don’t expect this machine to get your laundry done fast. Both Normal and the Speed Wash had surprisingly long cycle times, with Normal clocking in at 56 minutes. The quick cycle took 45 minutes, not quick by our standards. The Heavy cycle took the longest, at 81 minutes, but it also did the best job of cleaning.

If you’re worried about wear and tear on fabrics, you’ll be happy to hear that this washer is very gentle on clothes, allowing them to emerge from the Delicate cycle essentially damage free.

The controls are clear and easy to use
Credit: Reviewed.com / Kyle Hamilton

The controls are clear and easy to use, Owners appreciate the fact that they have just the options they need, without going overboard.

Efficiency

The Normal cycle uses water most efficiently, cleaning up with only about 13 gallons for each wash. The Heavy cycle uses over 26 gallons per wash, and Delicates and Speed Wash each take over 30 gallons to complete.

The Normal cycle is most efficient
Credit: Reviewed.com / Kyle Hamilton

The Normal cycle is the most efficient. It takes more water to wash in the Heavy, Speed Wash, and Delicate cycles.

We calculate that it will cost you about $61 a year to run this washing machine. That's efficient for a top-loader.

What user reviews say

We read hundreds of reviews from real people who bought this washing machine, and 95% of owners said they'd recommend it.

Owners absolutely love the attached scrub sink, and they appreciate the large capacity, though a number of people mentioned the difficulty shorter users have reaching for the laundry at the bottom of the tub.

Users find this machine effective and quiet, and appreciate the fact that the options are clear and easy to understand. A few mentioned challenges with the mobile app, but several said they liked using it.

The bottom line

We find that doing laundry in this washer can take time, but its large capacity also frees up your time by accommodating very large loads. It's a balance.

For a small family that doesn’t create lots of laundry, the 5.4 cu.-ft. tub may be overkill. But if you need plenty of room to do your family’s laundry, you could do well choosing this spacious model. Plus, the soft close door and stainless steel tub have an upscale vibe, and the ActiveWash sink is a clever addition.

If you're sure you want to go with a top loader, you might also look at one with a traditional agitator. The GE GTW685BSLWS is a popular model with similar features, and it comes in at a slightly lower price point. You'll miss out on that cool scrub basin, but if you have a real sink in your laundry room, you might not need it.

Meet the testers

Cindy Bailen

Cindy Bailen

Editor

@orangesandlemon

Cindy Bailen loves writing about major appliances and home design and has spent over 15 years immersed in that. In her spare time, Cindy hosts pledge programs for WGBH-TV in Boston and other public television stations.

See all of Cindy Bailen's reviews
Kyle Hamilton

Kyle Hamilton

Product Tester

Kyle Hamilton is a product tester at Reviewed, specializing in home appliances and technology.

See all of Kyle Hamilton'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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