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  • Design & Usability

  • Performance & Features

  • Conclusion

  • By the Numbers

  • Normal & Delicate

  • Quick Dry & Bedding

  • Design & Usability
  • Performance & Features
  • Conclusion
  • By the Numbers
  • Normal & Delicate
  • Quick Dry & Bedding

We were impressed by the controls, which consist of a large dial and responsive buttons. The large, 7.5-cubic-foot drum can easily hold a family of four's worth of laundry, and the whole thing easy enough to use that the kids won't mind helping out.

Design & Usability

Pretty, but functional

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Samsung passed on providing multiple color options for the DV42H5000EW, opting instead to offer the dryer only in white. Regardless, it's hard to hate on the look of this budget model.

The door is solid, and buttons on the control panel are large and easy to read. They're not as responsive as we'd like, but they're on par with other machines at this price point. There's a drum light too, a welcome feature for those who find themselves unloading laundry in dark basements.

The streamlined appliance sports pleasant curves rather than the boxier look more common in a mid-tier dryer. This kind of stylistic choice is often found in more expensive options, so it's a nice touch. The DV42H5000EW isn't just pretty to look at, though—we found it easy to use over a week of testing.

Performance & Features

Well-Rounded Performance, Too

The DV42H5000EW's sensor-based cycles all did very well in our tests. More expensive dryers have done a better job, but the average consumer should be more than satisfied with this Samsung.

For instance, the DV42H5000EW gave us a completely dry, eight pound load of laundry in 55 minutes—about ten minutes faster than average. While the best dryers can do the same in 45 minutes or less, those dryers can cost hundreds more than this one. You just have to ask yourself if you're willing to wait.

The DV42H5000EW isn't just a one-trick pony. It also gave a well-rounded performance in our tests of its different settings, drying Delicates and Normal loads equally well. The dryer also churned out a Queen size comforter that was 70% dry after a single run, which isn't bad considering it's common practice to flip a comforter and run the Bulky cycle again.

As far as special features go, only the Wrinkle Prevent setting is worthy of notice. When activated, it keeps the drum rolling after a cycle has finished. This (not surprisingly) prevents wrinkles and keeps your laundry from getting musty.

For in-depth performance information, please visit the Science Page.

Conclusion

It's not fancy, but it can dry your clothes.

The Samsung DV42H500EW doesn't have smart features, a fabulous exterior, or lasers. However, it's stackable, and does have good drying performance regardless of what test we put it through. For sub-$1,000 price tag, that's what really counts.

The Samsung performed well across the board. Mixed loads, delicates, and comforters all emerged from the DV42H5000EW in a state of acceptable dryness. The 7.5-cubic-foot drum can comfortably fit enough laundry to keep a household clothed.

If you're looking for a good dryer that won't break the bank, the Samsung DV42H5000EW is worth checking out.

By the Numbers

The best way to determine how well a dryer works is to collect data on temperature and water removal. Stacked against other dryers we've tested, the stackable Samsung DV42H5000EW has a good price-to-performance ratio.

Normal & Delicate

The Normal and Delicate cycle tests consist of 8 lb. loads made up of towels, sheets, and pillowcases. We wet these standardized loads to 1.7 times their weight, then place each in a cycle with humidity and temperature sensors.

The DV42H5000EW took, on average, 55 minutes to complete the Normal cycle. It reached a max temperature of 157°F, which puts it just across the threshold for damaging fabrics with high heat. However, it did remove all moisture.

Our test of the Delicates cycle took about an hour and fifteen minutes to complete. It reached a high temperature of 118°F — cool enough not to harm your clothing, but still hot enough to get all moisture out.

Quick Dry & Bedding

In our test of the Bedding cycle, we wet a test comforter to 1.5 times its weight and gave the setting a go. The cycle took an hour to complete and removed 69% of all moisture from the comforter. This is perfectly acceptable since it's common practice to flip a comforter and run a Bedding cycle again.

In our test of the Quick Dry cycle, we ran a 4 lb. load wetted to 1.7 times its weight through the cycle. The DV42H5000EW reached a high temperature of 141°F during that time, and the 30-minute-long cycle turned out laundry that was 96% dry.

Meet the tester

Jonathan Chan

Jonathan Chan

Senior Manager of Lab Operations

@Jonfromthelab1

Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.

See all of Jonathan Chan's reviews

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