I'm looking to change my washing machine because mine from 5 years ago is starting to fail. I've seen that there are now models that automatically detect the type of fabric and adjust cycles, like the LG AI DirectDrive or similar ones. Does it really work well or is it just pure marketing? Will I actually notice a difference on delicate clothes or jeans?
I honestly noticed that basic moisture sensors do almost all the heavy lifting! AI in detecting fabrics is fine, but it's not the life-changing factor - what really matters is that it adjusts water and time based on how wet your clothes are, and way cheaper washing machines already do that. If your delicate clothes were getting damaged before, it was probably because of really aggressive cycles, and a mid-range machine with a good delicate program solves that for you without spending a fortune on automatic fiber detection!
Don't get seduced by pure marketing; what actually works is the weight and humidity sensor that most modern washing machines have, which adjusts water and time without needing fancy AI.
The ones that detect fabrics have real utility but pretty marginal: basically they save you from manually selecting the delicate cycle for blouses or cotton for jeans, and the result is practically identical to what you'd get yourself in five seconds.
Where you do notice a difference is in energy efficiency and less wear over time because it doesn't overload unnecessary cycles, but cheaper models already do that. If your 5-year-old washing machine breaks down, buy something reliable from established brands with good technical support; the money you save compared to those premium AI models you can spend on drying clothes properly or protecting delicate fabrics, which is where it really matters.
The previous answer is right about the sensors, but there's something they didn't mention: those AI washing machines tend to be quite a bit more expensive, and the automatic cycle for delicate fabrics works well, yeah, but most people end up using the same "automatic" program for everything because it's convenient 😅 The real change I actually notice in my house is that modern washing machines, AI or not, use less water and electricity than old ones, so after 5 years any new model saves you money. If you wash your delicate clothes separately from your jeans (which you should be doing anyway), the "luxury" of automatic fabric detection doesn't really change your life much.
Unless you're washing everything all mixed together without sorting, then it might make more sense.
Humidity and weight sensors already do 90% of the work, so don't pay extra just for the word "AI" on the box. What's actually worth checking is whether the washer has manual short-cycle options for delicates without relying on automatic detection - sometimes those preset programs work better than any artificial intelligence trying to guess whether it's cotton or silk.
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