Appliance IQ

Smart Appliance Buying Guide

If you’re shopping for a smart appliance, you’ll find that there are several options to consider. It really comes down to your needs. Are you looking to be more efficient in the kitchen? Do you want to monitor your laundry from another room? Whatever the reason, smart appliances place technology in the palm of your hand to make your household run more smoothly. 

Learn how to select the right smart appliance for your needs with this smart appliance buying guide.

A breakdown of smart appliances

Someone using the Whirlpool app on a tablet. In front of them is a glass of beverage and a cutting board with carrots and knife on top. Someone using the Whirlpool app on a tablet. In front of them is a glass of beverage and a cutting board with carrots and knife on top.

Smart appliances can connect to certain devices like smartphones, allowing them to be remotely controlled. You can set, start, pause and track the progress of your kitchen and laundry appliances, even when you’re not home with the Whirlpool app and voice control with a compatible voice-enabled device.1

Additionally, they often have the ability to store your preferred settings, automate routine chores like laundry and allocate tasks to other members of your household. Via the use of sensors, smart technology monitors, detects and adjusts activity and settings in your appliance(s). 

How do smart appliances work?

The way smart appliances work is by using Bluetooth or WiFi to connect smart devices to each other, giving you the control to operate the appliance even when you’re not in the same room as them via an app on your smartphone. Smart appliances have sensors that keep track of different things (temperature, cycles, timing, etc.) so you can monitor your meal as it cooks or your load of laundry to make sure your clothes will be ready for when you need them.

The "WORKS WITH Google" icon.

The Whirlpool® App lets you remotely start an appliance, save your favourite and custom cycles, choose cycles right on your smartphone and more.1 Smart appliances also have functions that can recognize your cooking or laundry patterns and then store that information. Over time, they will assess your habits and make personalized suggestions.

 

Voice Compatibility is offered by various appliance brands. For example, Whirlpool® Smart Appliances are compatible with Hey Google.2  This allows you to provide certain present instructions to your appliances via your voice which is helpful when your handles are full or dirty.

Are smart appliances worthwhile?

If you’re comfortable with everyday technology, there are very few drawbacks to smart appliances. Essentially, smart appliances become your helper around the house, letting you manage routine tasks by providing convenience and productivity that make households more efficient. You can monitor your chores from anywhere and also multitask while enjoying quality time with your loved ones or relaxing as the work gets done.

Similar to smartphones, another benefit of smart appliances is that the manufacturer can automatically send upgrades to your phone. This adds new features to your appliance over time and keeps them cutting-edge.  One example of an upgrade to connected Whirlpool cooking appliances is the air fry feature.

Smart appliance types

There is a wide variety of smart appliances on the market, including:

  • Ovens
  • Ranges
  • Microwaves
  • Dishwashers
  • Refrigerators
  • Washers
  • Dryers

The wide variety of smart appliances from Whirlpool can help streamline cooking or laundry tasks.

Smart ovens and ranges

Someone holding a smartphone that's open to the Whirlpool app. A Whirlpool range is in the background. Someone holding a smartphone that's open to the Whirlpool app. A Whirlpool range is in the background.

Certain smart ranges and ovens provide additional convenience to your cooking by allowing you to remotely preheat your oven with your smartphone or, if your hands are full, use your compatible voice-enabled device to easily adjust settings.1 Whirlpool® Smart Wall Ovens and Ranges are designed with an innovative touchscreen that recognizes your cooking habits and adapts to them, providing easy access to your most commonly used settings.

Shop for Whirlpool® smart ovens and ranges

Smart microwaves

Someone holding a smartphone that's open to the Whirlpool app. In the background is a Whirlpool over-the-range microwave. Someone holding a smartphone that's open to the Whirlpool app. In the background is a Whirlpool over-the-range microwave.

Smart microwaves offer even greater convenience than traditional microwaves by letting you remotely start and monitor a cooking cycle from your smartphone or by using your compatible voice-enabled device to make adjustments. This is especially useful if your hands are full.1

Shop for Whirlpool® smart microwaves

Smart dishwashers

Certain manufacturers offer smart dishwashers that use innovative technology to simplify and streamline some of the messier kitchen tasks. Some models have built-in WiFi or Bluetooth connectivity that may allow you to remotely run cycles whenever is most convenient for you and your family. This way, you can have clean dishes ready for breakfast or clean soccer uniforms ready for that early game the next morning.  

Whirlpool does not currently offer any smart dishwashers. That said, Whirlpool dishwashers offer other innovative and useful features like an adjustable second rack and large capacity third rack so you can load more and run your dishwasher less infrequently.

Smart refrigerators

A refrigerator's most important responsibility is to keep food fresh. Certain manufacturers offer smart refrigerators that let you remotely check on your unit and will send notifications if a mechanical issue occurs or the door is left ajar.  

Whirlpool does not currently offer any smart refrigerator models. However, Whirlpool does offer an array of impressive features like adjustable doors and shelves that make organizing the contents of your fridge easier.

Smart washing machines and dryers

Someone holding a smartphone with the Whirlpool app opened. Someone holding a smartphone with the Whirlpool app opened.

Adding a smart washer and/or dryer to your home lets you multitask like never before. Many smart washers and dryers give you the control to choose cycles and monitor their progress from afar.1 Whirlpool® Smart Laundry Appliances’ Assign a Task feature divvies up the chore of laundry so that it’s not all on you. You can send customized texts to family members asking or reminding them to put the laundry in the dryer or fold the clothes. Additionally, you can schedule cycles in advance so that your clothes will always be clean and dry when you need them.1

Shop for Whirlpool® washing machines and dryers

Choosing smart appliances

Deciding to buy a smart appliance is a worthy investment that has the potential to benefit you and your family. When choosing, you should consider several factors to make sure you choose the right model.

Here are some tips to help you through the decision-making process. 

1. Compare smart features

When selecting your smart appliance(s), review all the available features. You want to find a smart appliance with the features best suited to your family and the chores you need to be done most often. 

2. Consider smart device compatibility

For voice control, various appliance brands and appliances are often compatible with a specific set of smart devices, usually Google. For example, Whirlpool® Smart Appliances are compatible with Hey Google.2 Before buying your appliance, confirm that it will work with your smartphone, tablet, and other devices that you use.

3. Consider potential time and energy savings

Give thought to which aspects of your day-to-day routine a smart appliance would improve. Do you find yourself getting dinner to the table too late in the evening? If so, a smart oven could help you cook dinner faster so that you’re eating earlier. Or maybe you panic while at work because you forgot to turn on your washer before you left the house. In this case, a smart washer gives you peace of mind by starting a wash cycle while you’re out. 

Then, there’s the consideration of saving energy, which can save you money on your utility bills. Look for smart appliances that are ENERGY STAR® Certified.

Shop for Whirlpool® smart home appliances

Now, that you are well-versed in the world of smart appliances, you should be ready to buy a new Whirlpool® Smart Kitchen or Laundry appliance! Choose from a wide variety of models that will help you tackle more chores at once. Shop for smart wall ovens, ranges and microwaves to help simplify meal prep and cooking and smart washers and dryers to make laundry a breeze.

1. For Whirlpool® Smart Appliances: Appliance must be set to remote enable. WiFi & App Required. Features subject to change. Details and privacy info at whirlpool.ca/connect.

2. Google is a trademark of Google LLC.