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Ask HN: Any resources for finding non-smart appliances?

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Jul 7, 2025 - 12:00

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Ask HN: Any resources for finding non-smart appliances?

For consumers in India, we have a crowdsourced wiki for such products: https://www.isfixable.com/

arp242 49 minutes ago

Most appliances like washing machines are "smart-optional" at most, and can just be used as a regular appliance if you don't want all the "smart" stuff. There are also many without any "smart" features. It's different for TVs and such, but for household appliances all of this is not really a big deal.

Every feature that is added, even if you don't use them, is another piece of tech that can break and potentially be non-serviceable. I've several times now had to repair or replace major appliances in the first 3-5 years of use because of logic boards and such that were unrelated to the core functionality of the appliances.

Granted, not everyone wants or cares to minimize waste when it comes to objects of convenience, but plenty of folks want the option... and yes, I do realize I sound like "your father who bought fancy cars with manual windows because it's one less thing that can break." :) My own father was that kind of person.

Most. As of 2025, this does not apply to the dishwasher from Bosch as discussed in this blog article: https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2025/i-wont-connect-my-dis...

There is functionality hidden in the app, so that the manufacturer can save a dime and a half on some buttons. Unfortunately, this line has already been crossed.

The functionality that is hidden: Rinse, Machine Care (self-cleaning), HalfLoad, Eco and Delay start.

Jeff bought that dishwasher based on its Consumer Reports ratings. They must have taken his criticism into account, because it is now far from the top rated dishwasher and includes a disclosure about requiring an app.

I trust Consumer Reports and would never buy an appliance without consulting them, but it doesn't surprise me that they're a little conservative and wouldn't realize they need to call this stuff out initially.

ReptileMan 28 minutes ago

The problem is not that you have more functionality in the app. It's that all the evil people that have designed (not implemented, the drones that write the code rarely have the right to express opinion or provide common sense in big corporate) this idiocy require you to have online account with them, for reasons unknown. This functionality should be local. Bluetooth works fine.

That's certainly worse, but needing to use your phone to run the dishwasher is still bullshit.

How on earth does that work in an Airbnb? Or like, even my house guests? Do my parents and housekeeper and who knows who else all need to be set up with the Bosch app to be able to function in my kitchen?

ReptileMan 9 minutes ago

So is being obligated to use remote control to operate your TV, but here we are. The only way out of this bind is to obligate manufacturers for different classes of appliances to comply with some standards about local functionality. Which I approve.

Yes, it's not like they come with a cell phone modem like smart cars do. You can just choose to not download the app and not give it the wifi password.

timcobb 3 minutes ago

Used appliance store? We have those where I am

Freak_NL 41 minutes ago

Is this so hard in your locale? When I browse the top three recommended washing machines on a popular Dutch appliances seller, only the third (Samsung) actually has some app functionality. The other two (Bosch, AEG) are just normal washing machines.

(The division there is currently 64 with app, 43 without. The models without appear to score higher in the reviews.)

Interesting, I was sure they would all have some kind of wifi these days. I think my parents have the Bosch, it's pretty good. I just find it weird that they have two input methods, the turning wheel and tip touch buttons that don't really respond well.

Mind you, I have 'regular' buttons that don't respond well either.

Coolblue?

2-to-15 20 minutes ago

Do you want brand new? Reason I ask is there's typically resale appliance stores that have good quality non smart devices.

physicsguy 55 minutes ago

Part of the issue I found is that it's their lowest quality + shortest warranty models that are 'dumb'.

I (UK) bought this (https://ao.com/product/wnc25410gb-bosch-series-8-idos-washer...) Bosch one a few months ago and it is perfectly usable without enabling any of the smart capabilities though. I haven't connected mine to wi-fi at all.

wgx 57 minutes ago

Try searching Reddit, I just found some lists. I’ve given up and instead just don’t allow things on my network. My “smart” TV begs me to see the network but I just use a Roku instead. I fear it’s come to this where we have to circumvent our own devices desperate need for connectivity.

Many TVs have a “store mode” which dumbs them down, worth giving it a look as it may stop the nagging

Hope there is no programmed issue built in. I have had devices stop working after some time saying it's been more than X years since I last updated the software and it then refuses to run. :-(

msgodel 56 minutes ago

Tempted to just buy a golfcart motor and some nesting buckets to build the thing myself. It's not a terribly complex device.

Laundry machines are indeed extremely simple, and I remember my grandmother had one that could be hand operated.

Wahing machines for dishes are much more complex and have many more points of failure.

Dish washers are even simpler, I'm confident I could build one if I wanted it but since I'm single I just wash my five dishes by hand.

In the US, a dishwasher costs ~$900 with install and lasts ~10 years (not even considering electricity costs). Hiring a disabled person legally at $1.75 for half an hour per week costs the same $910 over 10 years. Same price, but one supports a machine; the other supports a human being. Why fund metal and smart Wi-Fi appliances when you can empower someone’s life?

> Why fund metal and smart Wi-Fi appliances when you can empower someone’s life?

Because it's illegal to pay so little, and nobody would do it for that price anyway, except for maybe your own children, who do it for that price plus the negative incidence of an asswhooping. If it were affordable for common people to have servants or slaves, they totally would. Machinery priced slaves out of existence. The next frontier is for value-added centralized industrial manufacturing to be priced out by distributed manufacturing and recycling, not a return to the days of domestic servitude.

>Because it's illegal to pay so little, and nobody would do it for that price anyway

He mentions mentally disabled people specifically, who have lower minimum wage levels in some jurisdictions.

https://archive.is/DcQeM

msgodel 29 minutes ago

That's hilarious, I never thought to actually do the numbers. We've gotten so bad at manufacturing and trading it's likely cheaper and possibly easier to hire someone to do the thing.

It’s also satire of the working conditions of disabled people in the US

Poe’s law[1] is a thing, perhaps consider adding “/s”, “;)”, or similar. Replies will increase ambiguity and eventually people will misunderstand.

[1]: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poe%27s_law

4ndr3vv 23 minutes ago

_Hiring a disabled person legally at $1.75 for half an hour per week_

...but morally?

gruez 16 minutes ago

>Why fund metal and smart Wi-Fi appliances when you can empower someone’s life?

/s ?

Author claims it is satire, as replied here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44489170

dsalzman 14 minutes ago

I bought a speed queen which is more geared to commercial usage, but you can buy without coin slots. Has two knobs and one button!

nottorp 34 minutes ago

Smart also comes with bugs!

I have a washing machine without wifi fortunately. It has this steam function where you can set it to steam your clothing regularly at the end of the wash cycle, in case you forget to take them out in time.

Half the time if i turn that on it takes the button press to stop but does not unlock the door :)

I have to run an extra dry cycle manually to get at my laundry. Which kind of defeats the point of the 'fire and forget' option.

ConfusedDog 37 minutes ago

I bought Whirlpool washer/dryer combo, washer is top load, both non-smart, I think it was like $600ish for both from HomeDepot. "Smart" really isn't as innovative as like improving product longevity, reducing lint clog, safety, etc. I used a smart fridge once, it won't dispense water without updating to the latest firmware. I was just glad it wasn't in my house.

CommenterPerson 42 minutes ago

"Smart" and "Intelligent" could have multiple meanings here. Sometimes a washer that uses a dirt sensor is labeled smart. In US I've found anything above the lowest end has wifi capability, unfortunately. My $100 printer had some suspicious notes about sending data to google (!!!). I never connect any of these gadgets to wifi.

bambax 46 minutes ago

The current one may be repairable! Repairing it would satisfy the requirement and be probably much cheaper.

What is the problem exactly?

(Or, buy a used one from a reputable brand.)

baq 38 minutes ago

I’ve got an Electrolux (AEG) since 2015 and it recently needed its heating element replaced because I never bothered to use any water softeners. It took the serviceman 10 minutes and cost less than 100 euros.

I also have friends with Samsung washing machines. Let’s just say get an AEG.

My Samsung dryer needed a heating element replaced. It cost €450 (~80% of the original purchase price) and involved replacing basically half the machine. I’ll be actively avoiding Samsung in the future.

comrade1234 58 minutes ago

Do you mean no networking capabilities? My Zug is modern and advanced (even intelligent?) but no networking. Super expensive though.

op00to 20 minutes ago

Speedqueen.

They need to make a dishwasher.

0xCE0 53 minutes ago

Great tip for finding no/minimal-BS appliances is to download their user manuals and check how they actually work instead of their marketing material.

egberts1 55 minutes ago

My kingdom for a reliable 40yo washing machine and dryer.

So tired of replacing my appliances every 4 years

the_third_wave 47 minutes ago

Repair your current device? If that is really not possible get a "smart" one and dumb it down - don't allow any network access or - if it insists on being connected or you want to get some use out of its "smart" functions - put it on a separate network which has no access to the internet. Of and when I'm "forced" to get a new "smart" piece of equipment this is what I do if I can not change the firmware on the thing to something under my own control. I never let any "smart" device access the internet because of a host of reasons ranging from security and privacy to the risks of the thing "upgrading" itself without my approval.

We need a better word than non-smart. Maybe “sans iot enshittification”?

Not useful for Ireland, but I really like my local habitat for humanity thrift store for perfectly serviceable used or recovered building materials and appliances. Maybe search for a model prior to the iot insanity wars?

I call my watch 'really smart watch'. It has nothing but time! It is very lightweight and has 2+ years of battery life. That smarter! :-)

A kind of epiphany for me were automatic wristwatches :)

Compared to smartwatches they aren't expensive, look classy and show time and/or date. The quality of Swiss, German and Japanese is reliable. No batteries, no electronics and they wind up by wearing.

Recommendation: Look for the models from the 50ies/60ies which are smaller and still in production, the less known manufacturers have reasonable prices. I love the original Mido Commander.

The cheap ~$10 casios are also excellent. They do have batteries, but they last for several months and you can but replacements at a supermarket for ~$2.

nottorp 36 minutes ago

Mine is solar charging. It has never stopped since i bought it :)

It just displays time and can't spam me with notifications! Bliss!

unshittified.