GE Profile PTW900BPTRS Top-load Washing Machine Review

The GE Profile PTW900BPTRS has a modern look to it, with curved edges and a see-through lid. It features a slow-close lid that stays up when you want it to, and even if you do manage to accidentally bump it, it will gently close instead of slamming down on your head or your fingers.

The control panel on its back console features a standard layout, with a central cycle-selection dial flanked by touch controls and information displays.

Opening up the lid reveals the 5.4-cubic-foot drum. Towards the back middle is a pull-out detergent dispenser tray, called FlexDispense, that accepts liquid detergent, pods, bleach and softener. In the front left corner you’ll find the opening for the detergent and softener reservoirs, called SmartDispense, which can hold enough of each for up to 32 loads.

With Profile’s purposeful focus on technology, it’s no surprise that this washing machine has smart capabilities, but what really sets it apart is its built-in Alexa voice assistant. You can adjust washer settings automatically by asking the washer to remove a wine stain from your silk blouse, and you can also find out the weather or listen to your favorite playlist while you fold clothes in your laundry room.

About the GE Profile PTW900BPTRS top-load washing machine

• Dimensions: 43.88” x 27.88” x 28” (H x W x D)
• Capacity: 5.4 cubic feet
• Finishes: Gray, Blue Sapphire
• Cycles: Normal, Whites, Delicates, Jeans, Towels, Bulky, Quick Wash, Sanitize, Drain + Spin, Downloaded
• Cycle options: Five temperature settings, five soil settings, five spin settings, three rinse settings, Smart Wash, Tangle Control, Deep Fill
• Special features: FlexDispense detergent and pod tray, Alexa integration, slow-close lid, SmartHQ integration, SmartDispense detergent and softener reservoirs, large wash drum
• Matching dryer: PTD90EBPTDG (gas) or PTD90EBPTDG (electric)
• User manual: GE Profile PTW900BPTRS manual

What we like

Its Normal and Delicates cycles exceed expectations

Overall, the GE Profile PTW900BPTRS has solid cleaning performance, but its Normal and Delicates cycles stand out by being ahead of the curve.

The average top-loader’s Normal cycle is able to clean away about 69.2% of our test stains. During testing, the GE Profile PTW900BPTRS was able to scrub out 72.91%. What this means, practically speaking, is that your clothes will look brighter for longer when washing with the PTW900BPTRS over time than they would with the average top-loader, and the general dinginess of the clothes washed in the latter would compound much more quickly.

Likewise, during our test loads, the Delicates cycle was able to clean away 65.5% of our test stains compared to the 62.5% of the average top-loader. Again, this is a difference you probably wouldn’t notice after a single wash, but over time it would become more apparent.

Its large drum lets you load a lot of laundry

If you have a larger family, you are going to love how much laundry you can fit into the wash drum of this GE Profile washer.

On average, a washer will have 4 to 4.5 cubic feet of space in its wash drum. The PTW900BPTRS provides a whopping 5.4-cubic-foot capacity, which is roughly 20% larger.

This should allow users to run fewer, larger loads and spend less time loading and unloading. This, combined with some of its extra features (we’ll get into those in a second) make this washer a good pick for those currently struggling to keep up with their household’s laundry needs.

What’s more, although it’s a large drum, Profile ensures that you can still reach inside to pull out laundry without having to stretch. At 6 feet tall, I didn’t personally notice a difference, but a 5'2" member of our testing team claimed he would absolutely struggle to grab a sock hanging out around the bottom edge of the drum.

It has great extra features, from steam to auto-dispense to germ-control

The detergent dispenser has dedicated compartments for both liquid and pod detergents.

Where the GE Profile PTW900BPTRS really shines is all the additional functionality it has, most of which you don’t really see from other models at this price point.

For starters, this is a steam washer, which means you get sanitization cycles and the ability to loosen tough wrinkles without needing to break out an iron.

The GE Profile PTW900BPTRS also has an automatic dispenser, SmartDispense, with twin reservoirs that can hold up to 32 loads worth of detergent and fabric softener. This is one of those features that does cut down on the overhead of doing laundry. Those with larger families who have to do laundry more often stand to benefit the most from this feature.

On top of all this, this Profile washing machine benefits from GE’s ongoing partnership with Microban. It has antibacterial coating on high-usage surfaces, which can help reduce the spread of disease and serves as a second line of defense for those planning to take advantage of this washer’s sanitize mode. The affected surfaces are generally (but not always) blue in color and can be found in the tub, dispenser drawer, and drain hose.

Smart capabilities make doing laundry a lot easier

Through this Profile washer, you get access to GE’s smart platform, SmartHQ. This sends you notifications when a cycle completes, allows for remote control, and lets you download additional cycles. You can even get reminders when the tanks are running low.

It also allows for Alexa integration, which allows you to set up a wash cycle via voice command. In theory, this is an incredible boon for accessibility and, based on the user reviews, seems to be a popular feature. In practice, we couldn’t get it to work (more on this later).

What we don’t like

The machine can be loud at times

While older appliances had a tendency to be loud enough you wouldn’t want to stay in the room with them, modern versions are almost all whisper quiet.

Although GE touts a quiet wash with dBT (dynamic balancing technology) feature, we found that the GE Profile PTW900BPTRS is considerably more noisy than most of its modern peers. Its heaviest spin cycle is loud enough that you can hear it through a closed door. It rattled ours in our lab.

The Normal wash cycle wasn’t as loud, but it does sound like a beating heart, which one of our testers found unsettling.

It is supposed to offer direct access to Alexa, but we couldn’t get her to work

One of the GE Profile PTW900BPTRS’s flagship features is its Alexa integration, which is why we were surprised it was so hard to get up and running.

To start, you need to download two separate apps, one for SmartHQ and one for Alexa specifically. Our testing team set up the device with both apps, which was a relatively simple process (barring some mild difficulties getting a stable connection established).

However, this created a loop where the Alexa app kept insisting we needed to set up the washer with SmartHQ and SmartHQ kept insisting that setup had been completed correctly. So, we were unable to actually get the advertised Alexa features to operate properly.

Based on the user reviews we read, many others had similar issues, especially those with Android devices. Other users reported no issues whatsoever, so these findings seem to be inconsistent.

The ability to set up smart assistant integration can be a great boon for some users, especially those who find voice commands easier than other forms of control input. We just wish getting this important feature online was less of a hassle, considering other smart platforms do have smoother implementation.

What owners are saying

Reviews of the GE Profile PTW900BPTRS are positive overall, with owners awarding the top-loader 4.3 out of 5 stars, averaged across major retailers.

Those who are happy with their purchase enjoy the quality of the clean, the cycle customization options, and the washer’s overall clean-looking aesthetic. On the whole they find the washer easy to use and its functionality exceeds their expectations.

Those who are unhappy with their purchase point to a finicky user experience—especially with the smart features, the washer’s inconsistently loud operation, or found the washer just didn’t clean as well as they were expecting. Many cited difficulties getting the machine’s smart features to work, specifically the Alexa integration. Android devices especially seemed to have problems with the setup.

Warranty

The GE Profile PTW900BPTRS is covered by a limited one-year warranty for parts and labor. This is the industry standard, but some manufacturers like Maytag, Samsung, and LG will guarantee certain parts for up to 10 years or longer.

Should you buy the GE Profile PTW900BPTRS?

Yes—If you want a new top-loader, this one is a fair value

We are impressed by the GE Profile PTW900BPTRS. We like its overall look, and it provides a nice array of cycle customization options for a mid-range top-loader. Its cleaning capabilities are decent for a washer at this price point, and its large drum will help make doing high volumes of laundry easier.

Where the GE Profile PTW900BPTRS really pulls ahead in terms of value, though are all the nice-to-have features it manages to pack in: an automatic dispenser, detergent reservoirs, smart features, a slow-close lid, and an antibacterial coating on all the most-touched spots. It’s rare for a washer in this price range to have even one or two of these features let alone all of them.

Really, the only issue we have with the PTW900BPTRS is that its smart features and Alexa integration can be difficult to set up, which is something we saw in both the testing lab and user reviews. Once you get past that hurdle, however, this washer is almost all upside.

If you’re in the market for a top-loader you’ll have a hard time finding a better deal than the GE Profile PTW900BPTRS.

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.