Samsung Series 9 Bespoke AI Washing Machine WF90F09C4SU1

Introduction

It’s normal to see A-rated washing machines, with the bulk of the models that I review fitting into this category. What’s more important than a simple rating, based on one type of wash cycle, is how well a washing machine washes across more of its cycles, how well it cleans and how easy it is to use. In all cases, the Samsung Series 9 Bespoke AI Washing Machine WF90F09C4SU1 passes with flying colours.

Extremely efficient, this washing machine has auto-dosing, a brilliant touchscreen control panel and it’s compatible with SmartThings. With fast, quality wash cycles, it doesn’t leave you hanging around for your washing, either.

Design and Features

• 9kg wash capacity
• Auto-dispensing detergent and fabric softener
• Touchscreen control panel

There are only so many ways you can design a front-loading washing machine, given that they need to fit into specific-sized slots. That said, the Samsung Series 9 Bespoke AI Washing Machine WF90F09C4SU1 is brilliantly designed, with its smooth dark grey exterior looking every bit like the high-end product that this is.

There are no dials, handles or other bits sticking out, either, giving the washing machine a neat, flat surface that finishes the look.

Part of the reason that the washing machine can have this finish is because it’s controlled via the 7-inch touchscreen control in the middle of its front. More than just a regular touchscreen, this system has apps.

So, beyond using regular wash cycles, you can also open up the Ring app, use Spotify, stream YouTube or control your SmartThings devices.

Some of these feel more useful than others: I quite like the quick access to my SmartThings home, and YouTube could be handy for watching an instructional video, such as draining a washing machine. Would I listen to Spotify on the basic speakers? Not a chance.

A large touchscreen does make it easier to select cycles, particularly as this machine has loads of them, taking in the standard cycles, plus special cycles that include an AI mode for automatic detection and cleaning, a mode for cleaning wool items, and Super Speed wash for when you need clothes in a hurry.

Each cycle is well explained on the screen, so I didn’t really need to refer to the manual, and I could override defaults easily with the onscreen options, such as adjusting temperature, changing the wash level, and selecting options, such as Samsung’s BubbleSoak, which improves detergent efficiency.

Press the drawer at the top left and the detergent drawer slides out. This has two holders, one for liquid detergent and one for liquid fabric softener. These are auto dispensed for each wash, which makes it fast to load up the machine, and hit go.

If you do want to use powder, there’s a gap in the middle of the tray for this, and the automatic dispenser can be turned off individually for washing detergent and fabric softener.

Bixby is also built-in, with the washing machine able to respond to voice commands. If you can get it to work, that is. As I found with the Samsung Bespoke AI Family Hub RS90F66BETEU fridge freezer, Bixby is very hit and miss when it comes to understanding commands. Trying to get set the Eco 40-60 wash cycle, for example, I just couldn’t get the right command. It was only when the wash had finished and Bixby called out that the “Eco forty to sixty wash cycle” had ended that I understood what I was supposed to say.

Not that it’s particularly worth bothering with: it’s far easier to just use the control panel to select the wash cycle you want and the options you want.

SmartThings is also available. There’s not much point, in my opinion, in using the app to set a wash cycle, when the washing machine’s own touchscreen is so good. However, I do think it’s worth connecting the app, as it will ping you when a wash cycle is finished and also if there are issues, such as no water coming in.

This is a 9kg washing machine, which is a standard size: big enough for most families and for larger items, such as duvets. The portal door swings open wide, and I found it easy to load up with my standard wash load.

For draining the washing machine in an emergency and for cleaning the filter, there’s a standard drain filter at the front-right.

Performance

• Very low running costs across all cycles
• Excellent cleaning results

I started with the standard Eco 40-60 wash, which should be the most efficient. I found that this would cost around 19p per cycle (assuming 24.5p per kWh), with my test 5kg load, which is about as cheap as you can get.

It’s about looking at the details, though. A cheaper washing machine, such as the Hoover H-Wash 500 HW49AMC/1-80, also has the same running cost on the same cycle, under my tests. However, while the Hoover left clothes 48% wetter, the Samsung Series 9 Bespoke AI Washing Machine WF90F09C4SU1 left my clothes 40.91% wetter.

In other words, the Samsung washing machine has the same cost per cycle, but it managed to leave clothes considerably dryer, which is impressive.

Wash performance is good, too. My stains are (left to right) red wine, cooking oil, ketchup, orange juice and gravy. On the Eco 40-60 wash, the washing machine managed to remove all of the stains well, although there were some ketchup particles left behind (which could be rinsed off), and the red wine stain was visible.

I then tried the standard Cotton 30°C wash. This normally is more expensive to run, but the Samsung Series 9 Bespoke AI Washing Machine WF90F09C4SU1 managed to complete the cycle with a running cost of just 21p. That’s hugely impressive. Clothes were 40.71% wetter than they went in: the ideal is under 40%, so this is just about right.

The cleaning performance was good, with a few issues: no blobs of ketchup were left, but a small trace of the gravy stain remained, and a bit of cooking oil was left behind.

Switching to a 20°C wash, running costs were 19p, the same as for the Eco 40-60 wash. And, my clothes were 40% heavier than they went in, due to water retention.

Cleaning performance was exceptional for a cold wash: a bit of ketchup left behind, alongside the tough red wine stain, but the other marks were all gone.

There’s an AI mode on this washing machine, where it senses the load and soiling automatically, and applies the right wash setting. I found that this mode cost 37p to run, and left my clothes only 39.27% wetter.

Wash results were close to the 20°C wash, with a bit of ketchup spread around (nothing that a quick rinse wouldn’t fix), and the red wine stain fully visible.

I moved to a high-power wash, using a 60°C wash, with BubbleSoak turned on and the wash set to intensive. This increased running costs to 65p, but my clothes came out much dryer, having only gained 31.85% in weight.

Cleaning performance was exceptional. There’s a trace of red wine stain on the stain strip, but you really have to look for it. Sure, this kind of cycle is expensive, but if you need to get stains out of heavily soiled clothes, this is a great choice of cycle.

I finished off with a SuperSpeed fast wash. This is designed for clothes that you want quickly, but aren’t that heavily soiled. This cycle cost 29p and left my clothes 44% heavier. A regular wash is cheaper, but if you want fresh clothes in a hurry, it’s nice to have the option.

Should you buy it?

FAQs