Samsung WA50R5400AV Top-Load Washing Machine Review

Where the Samsung WA50R5400AV impresses is with its overall design. We like its general aesthetic with its rounded edges, easy-open and soft-close lid, and its built-in faucet for easy pre-treating. Its cycle selection dial is responsive and easy to use, and its concentrically scored metal front looks great. The touchscreen is also very responsive and has some charming chimes to go along with each button press. The interior is a spacious 5.0 cu. ft., which should provide enough room for most families' laundry days.

When it comes to cleaning performance, the Samsung WA50R5400AV fades into the crowd a bit more, offering very average cleaning performance and slightly longer-than-average cleaning times. More times than not, laundry came out very wet, which means the dryer has to work overtime. Still, at its current price, the Samsung WA50R5400AV will offer you a decent amount of bang for your buck.

About the Samsung WA50R5400AV top-load washing machine

Dimensions: 27.5" x 44.6" x 29.4" (W x H x D) Capacity: 5.0 cu. ft. Finishes: White, fingerprint-resistant black stainless steel ($30 extra) Cycles: Normal, Heavy Duty, Whites, Bedding/Waterproof, Permanent Press, Active Wear, Quick Wash, Delicates, Darks, Rinse + Spin Cycle options: Spin Only and Self Clean options; a super speed option to reduce specific cycle times; a Deep Fill option for more water; and five settings each for temperature, number of rinse cycles, spin speed, and soil level Built-in faucet: For easily pre-treating stains without wasting water Matching dryer: Samsung DVE50R5400V Samsung WA50R5400AV manual

What we like

The cleaning cycles are pretty effective

On every cycle we tested, the Samsung WA50R5400AV managed to finish around the average mark for stain removal. You shouldn’t have any problem with the vast majority of laundry you run through the WA50R5400AV—just don’t expect miracles from it either.

The interface is responsive and easy to use

We really like the Samsung WA50R5400AV’s interface. Unlike other appliances we’ve tested recently, the control dial is incredibly responsive. We had no issue selecting cycles or using the touchpad to customize those cycles.

The built-in faucet is great for pre-treating stains

The Samsung WA50R5400AV has a built-in faucet near the top of its drum. This neat feature is great for pre-treating stains on laundry before you wash them and helps conserve water by using the excess for the next cycle. If your laundry routine begins by pre-treating stains in a sink before lugging dripping clothes to your washer, this feature might be really helpful.

What we don’t like

Cycles leave clothes pretty wet

Clothes coming out of the washer sopping wet was an issue on most cycles we tested, but it was especially bad using the Quick Wash, Delicates, and Heavy Duty cycles. Typically cycles will finish with laundry around 50–60% water retention, meaning the spin cycle manages to get out about half of the laundry’s water weight. The lower percentage the better, because it’s a lot easier to spin out water in the washer than it is to evaporate it out in the dryer.

In the case of the Samsung WA50R5400AV, we found the Heavy Duty and Quick Wash cycles had about 73% water retention while the Delicates cycle was over 96%. That’s some soggy laundry. We prefer a stronger spin cycle that’s able to remove more of that water, to help save additional energy expenditure during the drying process.

What owners are saying

Owners generally like their Samsung WA50R5400AV, giving it an average 4.4 out of 5 stars across major retailers. They frequently praise quiet operation, very low vibration during cycles, the easy-to-use controls, the large capacity, and the overall aesthetic. The negative reviews aren't particularly specific, but most indicate dissatisfaction with the cleaning performance.

Warranty

Samsung offers a one-year limited warranty that covers parts and labor. They also guarantee the stainless tub for three years and the motor for 10 years. The baseline warranty stops at one year, so we're happy Samsung ensures the proper functioning of certain parts for longer.

Should you buy the Samsung WA50R5400AV?

Probably. The Samsung WA50R5400AV isn't a perfect washer, but provides decent cleaning and that built-in faucet will likely be an improvement to many owner's laundry routines. The Samsung WA50R5400AV's main saving grace is the amount of functionality it offers for its price. At its MSRP, we would've asserted it was too overpriced for what it offers—its current price across major retailers, however, is much more in line for its cleaning performance and feature set.

If you're looking for another top-loader with a built-in faucet, we'd also recommend checking out the Whirlpool WTW7500GC—it's one of our highest-rated top-loaders and around the same price point as the Samsung WA50R5400AV. If the built-in faucet isn't really a selling point for you and you're just looking for a great top-loader, we'd recommend the GE GTW720BSNWS, which is the best top-load washer we've tested.