What Makes an Appliance 'Smart'?
A smart home appliance is one that connects to your home Wi-Fi network and can be monitored or controlled remotely via a smartphone app. Beyond remote control, smart appliances can also:
- Send notifications when a cycle finishes
- Run diagnostics and report faults via the app
- Integrate with voice assistants (Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri)
- Be scheduled to run at off-peak energy tariff times
- Track energy and water usage over time
Not all 'smart' features are equally useful. Some are genuinely convenient; others are gimmicks you'll use once. This guide helps you understand what matters and which brands do it best.
Smart Features Worth Paying For
Remote Start and Scheduling
Being able to start the washing machine or dishwasher remotely (or set it to start at 11 pm to use off-peak electricity) is genuinely useful. Most smart washing machines and dishwashers offer this.
Cycle Completion Notifications
A simple push notification when the cycle finishes — so you remember to move the laundry before it goes sour — is one of the most practical smart features available.
Energy Monitoring
Some appliances can show you real-time energy and water usage data. For eco-conscious households tracking utility bills, this is a useful feature.
Fault Diagnostics
Smart dishwashers and washing machines that can run a self-diagnostic and tell the app what's wrong (error code, possible cause) save you time when something goes wrong.
Smart Features That Are Less Useful
Fridge cameras: The idea of checking what's inside the fridge while at the supermarket sounds practical but most people don't use it after the first week.
Recipe suggestions from the oven: Novel, but rarely used in practice.
Shopping list auto-generation: Requires the fridge to know exactly what's inside (barcode scanning) — more effort than most people maintain.
Which Brands Support Smart Appliances in Australia?
| Brand | App / Platform | Smart Products Available |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | SmartThings | Fridge, washer, dryer, oven, dishwasher, aircon |
| LG | ThinQ | Fridge, washer, dryer, oven, dishwasher, aircon |
| Bosch | Home Connect | Washer, dryer, dishwasher, oven, coffee machine |
| AEG | My AEG / Home Connect | Washer, dryer, dishwasher, oven |
| Electrolux | Electrolux app | Washer, dryer, oven, aircon |
| Daikin | Daikin Mobile Controller | Air conditioner (split systems) |
| Mitsubishi Electric | MELCloud | Air conditioner (split systems, ducted) |
Do You Need Smart Features?
Smart features add cost. If you want to start the dishwasher remotely or receive a cycle completion alert, they're genuinely useful. If you just need a reliable washing machine that washes clothes, a non-smart model from the same brand at a lower price point will serve you just as well.
At Oceania Appliances, we stock both smart and non-smart options across all major categories. Visit our showroom in Wetherill Park or shop online — free delivery across Sydney.