So CR recommends shopping for your washer first, then finding a compatible dryer. There are fewer dryer models on the market, but you’ll find that some match up with multiple washing machines. Those pairs are next level, working in tandem, where the dryer can automatically detect your wash cycle and adjust accordingly.” But brands like GE, LG, and Samsung make smart washers, some with artificial intelligence. “Most pairs have similar cycles, so if the washer has a casual or wool setting, the dryer will, too.
“Pairs come in a variety of styles,” says Mark Allwood, CR senior market analyst. That compatibility can range from an ability to stack the two machines using a specialized hardware kit to machines that sync up with each other to optimize performance. That’s why manufacturers market appliances in pairs that are similar in appearance, price, and compatibility. You could play matchmaker when shopping for new laundry machines, but it’s hard to know if Washer A and Dryer B are a match made in heaven. How does a water-guzzling washer end up with a high-performance Energy Star certified dryer? How does a stain-removing front-loader pair up with a fabric-frying dryer that rumbles like a freight train? Like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, a matching washer and dryer set may look spectacular together-but that doesn’t mean they make a great couple.
