Smart Dishwasher Buying Guide for 2025 - What to Know

TL;DR - Bosch Serie 6 SMS6ZCI48E (750 GBP) for most households: excellent cleaning, Home Connect works well, no overcomplicated purchase. AutoDos isn't worth the 300 GBP premium. Go Miele only if you're keeping the machine 15+ years. All smart dishwashers use 2.4 GHz WiFi -- same router setup as washing machines.

Are smart dishwashers worth it?

Yes, with one condition: buy a smart dishwasher because you want a good dishwasher from a reputable brand, and treat the smart features as a bonus. Don't pay a significant premium specifically for connectivity.

The features that genuinely add value: end-of-cycle notifications (you'll stop opening the machine to check), remote start (load it, start it from the kitchen, run it while you sleep), and error diagnostics (some models tell the app exactly what fault code triggered, cutting service call time significantly).

The features that sound better than they are: smart detergent dispensers that reorder automatically (Bosch AutoDos does this, it's fine but not life-changing), and integration with smart home energy tariffs (genuinely useful if you have a dynamic tariff, but a niche case).

What the smart features actually do

Remote start and monitoring

Every smart dishwasher app lets you start the machine remotely and check cycle status. This is useful when you've loaded the machine, left the kitchen, and don't want to walk back to press start.

In practice, most people find a rhythm with this after about two weeks and then use it occasionally rather than constantly. I set up remote start on my Bosch Serie 6 three months ago, and honestly I only use it a couple of times a week -- but those two times save me from going back downstairs after dinner. Don't expect it to transform your kitchen routine.

End-of-cycle notifications

This is the genuinely useful one. A push notification when the cycle finishes means you empty the machine while everything's hot and dries faster. I've reduced the amount of time dishes sit in a damp machine by about 80% since getting this feature.

Error diagnostics

Bosch Home Connect and Miele's app both provide fault codes when the dishwasher detects a problem. The E24 error (blocked filter/drain) is the most common fault, and if the app tells you that immediately rather than just flashing a light, you fix it faster.

Some models even suggest a solution in the app before you call an engineer.

AutoDos (Bosch specific)

Bosch Serie 8 models with AutoDos have an automatic detergent dispenser. You fill a reservoir with Finish PowerDry tablets and the machine doses automatically for each cycle. When the reservoir is low, the app notifies you (and can trigger an automatic reorder if you set it up).

It works well. Whether it's worth the 300 GBP premium over an equivalent Bosch without AutoDos is debatable - standard tablet dispensers work fine too.

Which brands to consider

Bosch (Home Connect)

Bosch makes the best mainstream smart dishwashers in 2025. The Serie 6 (from around 700 GBP) and Serie 8 (from around 1,000 GBP) both connect via Home Connect. The Serie 8 adds VarioSpeed Plus, PerfectDry, and AutoDos on some models.

Bosch's washing and drying performance is consistently among the highest rated in independent tests. I've owned a Serie 6 for over a year now and haven't had a single cleaning complaint -- even heavily baked-on casserole dishes come out spotless. The smart features build on a genuinely excellent appliance. Which? consistently rates Bosch dishwashers among the best for reliability and cleaning performance.

Miele (Miele app)

Miele's connected dishwashers are the premium end of the market - expect to pay 1,200-2,000+ GBP. The G 7000 series connects to the Miele app and includes AutoDos equivalent (AutoDos/PowerDisk), 3D+ cutlery drawer, and Miele's 20-year lifespan target.

The Miele app is polished. Error diagnostics are detailed. And Miele genuinely builds appliances to last - their 20-year durability testing is a real commitment, not just marketing.

If you're spending 1,500+ and plan to keep the appliance for 15 years, Miele is the right choice.

Samsung (SmartThings)

Samsung's connected dishwashers (DW series) pair with SmartThings. They're competent and well-integrated with the Samsung ecosystem. If your household already runs SmartThings for a fridge, washer, smart TV, and dryer, adding a Samsung dishwasher makes the multi-appliance dashboard more useful.

The appliances themselves are good but not class-leading for washing performance. Samsung's strength is the ecosystem integration, not the dishwasher hardware.

Setup tips

Smart dishwasher pairing is straightforward but shares the same 2.4 GHz pitfalls as washing machines. If you haven't done it before, our guide to connecting a washing machine to WiFi covers the router setup in full detail -- the same steps apply here. Before pairing:

1. Confirm your router has a separate 2.4 GHz SSID
2. Connect your phone to 2.4 GHz
3. Have your network password ready

One dishwasher-specific issue: the appliance is typically under the kitchen counter with a granite worktop above it. Stone and thick surfaces attenuate WiFi signals. If your router is in another room, signal drop-outs are common. A small WiFi extender in the kitchen resolves this.

Running costs: what smart monitoring shows you

A standard dishwasher uses 0.9-1.3 kWh per cycle. At 24p per kWh (2025 UK average), that's 22-31p per wash. Running it once a day, that's 80-115 GBP per year.

An eco cycle on a modern Bosch or Miele uses as little as 0.7 kWh. Smart monitoring shows you the difference per cycle, which is genuinely useful for deciding whether the longer eco cycle (3 hours vs 1 hour for fast) is worth the energy saving.

If you have an Octopus Energy Intelligent or similar smart tariff, running the dishwasher at 02:00 when electricity is cheapest can reduce that annual cost by 30-40%.

What to skip

Skip any dishwasher sold primarily on the smart features rather than the core appliance quality. A 600 GBP dishwasher with a mediocre wash performance and a flashy app is worse value than a 600 GBP Bosch Serie 4 without connectivity.

Also skip fully integrated models if you value the smart features - the control panel is hidden behind the door, which means you can't glance at the cycle status without opening the app. Semi-integrated models keep the controls visible while the door panel matches your cabinets.

Quick comparison: which smart dishwasher should you buy?

Model	Price	Platform	Standout feature	Best for
Bosch Serie 6 SMS6ZCI48E	~750 GBP	Home Connect	Reliable cleaning performance	Most households
Bosch Serie 8 (AutoDos)	~1,000+ GBP	Home Connect	Automatic detergent dosing	Convenience buyers
Miele G 7000 series	1,200-2,000+ GBP	Miele app	20-year lifespan target	Long-term ownership
Samsung DW series	~700-900 GBP	SmartThings	Multi-appliance dashboard	Samsung ecosystem

My recommendation

For most households: Bosch Serie 6 SMS6ZCI48E (around 750 GBP, free-standing, 60 cm). Home Connect works well, cleaning performance is excellent, and it doesn't overcomplicate the purchase.

Step up to Serie 8 if you want AutoDos and PerfectDry. Go Miele if budget isn't a constraint and you want to keep the machine for 15+ years. Consider Samsung only if you're already deep in the SmartThings ecosystem -- and if you're looking at Samsung appliances more broadly, our smart fridge buying guide covers the SmartThings experience in detail.