The New GE Profile Washer-Dryer Combo Is Better Than Most. But We Still Don’t Recommend It. (2024)

The GE Profile UltraFast Combo washer-dryer debuted in mid-2023, racking up more than 3,000 online reviews and inspiring multiple Reddit threads and TikTok videos. But even though the UltraFast Combo model is new, combination washer-dryers—which wash and dry laundry in a single drum—have been around since the 1950s. The concept is compelling: Wash and dry your laundry in one machine, without the annoying, time-consuming, and (for some) painful chore of transferring wet laundry to the dryer.

In reality, if these machines worked as well as traditional washing machines and dryers, they’d almost certainly be more popular and widespread than they are. They often have a small capacity, and it can take them a long time to dry clothes, largely because they use ventless heat-pump dryers. These dryers—though typically much more energy-efficient than traditional, vented dryers—can be sluggish, and they come with a learning curve. Any time saved by not transferring laundry to the dryer is likely canceled out by the time it takes for clothing to fully dry.

Combo machines are often installed to work around space or construction constraints (these machines don’t require a vent to the outside). Since a combo washer-dryer doesn’t need a separate dryer, it can be an attractive option for apartment dwellers or anyone who doesn’t have room for a full-size (or compact) washing machine and dryer. (Those of us in that camp know that we’re often willing to put up with all kinds of trade-offs to avoid having to go to a laundromat.)

I did a lot of laundry in the UltraFast Combo over the course of eight weeks, and I followed the same protocol we use to test washing machines and dryers. The bottom line? This machine washes well and dries better than almost any ventless dryer we’ve tested, and it’s intuitive to use. But it also has some substantial quirks that could be dealbreakers. Here’s what we found.

It cleans well. We ran standard test loads using stain strips, and the GE Profile UltraFast Combo cleaned as well as the GE GFW655, the also-great pick in our guide to traditional washing machines. In addition to doing controlled testing, we ran a variety of loads of typical laundry, and they came out as clean as we’d expect they would in a high-quality standard washer. This model is also as gentle on fabrics as our other washing machine picks.

The UltraFast Combo offers a variety of cycles, all of them similar to those offered by our washing machine picks. You can also run wash-only or dry-only cycles. If you choose to connect the machine to the GE Appliances SmartHQ app, updates will periodically include new cycle options. (GE recently added a pet-hair-removing dryer cycle, intended to suck fur out of clothes like a vacuum. We haven’t tested it.)

It’s relatively fast—for a combo. As long as we washed properly sorted loads of no more than 8 pounds, the UltraFast Combo successfully washed and dried laundry in about 2 hours.

It dries pretty well—for a combo. The UltraFast Combo dries better than almost all of the ventless heat-pump dryers we’ve tested. I’m used to the quirks of a ventless heat-pump dryer. I own the Miele TXD160 (the upgrade pick in our guide to compact washing machines and dryers), one of the best ventless dryers available. For the most part, the UltraFast Combo, which is Energy Star–certified (PDF), matched its performance—an accomplishment, given the machine’s size and scale (the UltraFast Combo’s 4.8-cubic-foot capacity is nearly twice the size of a typical combo). But there’s still a learning curve.

We found that this dryer performs best with loads that are lighter (less than 8 pounds) and well sorted. (Our standard washer-dryer testing involves 12-pound loads of mixed laundry.)

It has a user-friendly app and convenient features. The UltraFast Combo is compatible with the GE Appliances SmartHQ app, which is easy to navigate and lets you monitor cycles.

The app also allows you to update software, download wash programs, monitor appliance usage, and keep tabs on detergent levels (in the auto detergent dispenser, should you choose to use it). Unlike LG’s ThinQ app, SmartHQ does not offer maintenance alerts, but it does provide access to service within the app.

It has intuitive controls. This machine’s digital touchscreen controls are some of the better controls we’ve tested; they have easy-to-read options and selections, including the brightly lit “Wash” and “Dry” options. We also appreciated the bright countdown timer; unlike those on other GE Appliances washing machines we’ve tested, this one generally estimated accurate times. (There were some exceptions, when time was occasionally added late in a drying cycle.)

It’s easy to install. The UltraFast Combo requires a standard 120-volt outlet and doesn’t require venting to the outside. So you can plug it in wherever there’s a water hookup and start doing laundry. (Traditional dryers require a 240-volt outlet.)

It is huge. One of the most notable things about the GE Profile UltraFast Combo is that it is a behemoth, at nearly 47 inches tall, 28 inches wide, and 32 inches deep. By comparison, the combo washers we’ve typically considered are about 34 inches tall, 24 inches wide, and 25 inches deep—the same as a compact-size machine. (Our favorite standard washing machine is 39 inches tall, 27 inches wide, and 30.25 inches deep.) David Wilson, director of clothes care at GE Appliances, said the large fan—which helps the ventless dryer to dry faster—contributes to the UltraFast Combo’s massive size.

The UltraFast Combo resembles a machine you’re more likely to find in a decked-out suburban laundry room, not a small apartment. We have seen it fit into smaller areas—a micro home at the 2024 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) displayed this machine in a closet that was too short and narrow for stacked or side-by-side compact machines. But if space is at a premium, and you’re in search of a combo, this model likely isn’t the solution. (For some, it won’t be a problem: I’ve heard of people with large laundry rooms who own two UltraFast Combos. If you’re one of those folks, give me a shout—I want details.)

Larger loads take a long time to dry. Although the UltraFast Combo dries relatively well for a combo, it’s still much slower than a traditional vented dryer—especially with large loads. When we used it to wash loads bigger than about 8 pounds—particularly those containing knits or jeans—it added an hour or more to the drying cycle, sometimes edging the total cycle time close to four hours; this was also when laundry was more likely to come out tangled and in need of ironing.

Jeans, in particular, tended to come out damp and/or very wrinkled. We found that the best way to avoid this was to wash smaller denim-only loads and to add the extra 20-minute “Wrinkle Care” option before starting a cycle.

If you’re really set on buying this machine, the best way to use it is to scale back the size of each load. This is good advice in general: Most people overload their washing machine, but the UltraFast Combo will make it harder for you to get away with it.

The lint filter requires vigilant cleaning. Excess lint can interfere with a heat-pump dryer’s compressor, negatively impacting performance. To get around this, heat-pump dryers—including the one in the UltraFast Combo—have two layers of lint filters that need to be cleaned frequently. Cleaning the lint trap every time you do your laundry is a good habit to get into, regardless of the kind of machine you have. The UltraFast Combo’s control panel displays a reminder to check the filter after each cycle is complete.

Condensation tends to form on the gasket. This model’s gasket collected a lot of condensation during our many test loads. A bit of condensation isn’t unusual for a ventless heat-pump dryer, which operates by extracting moisture from wet laundry. But instead of the residual moisture evaporating quickly, it often pooled in the gasket, and it dripped quite a bit as we unloaded. Apart from being annoying, this will likely require more-vigilant wipe-downs and regular cleanings. That said, the gasket is treated with antimicrobial Microban, which should help control some malodorous build-up between cleanings.

The door isn’t reversible. You can’t change the direction of the door swing on this model. Given the machine’s large size, this could be a dealbreaker for some.

There’s an odd smell. An unpleasant chemical smell occasionally emanated from the machine, and I never figured out where it originated. It’s possible that it would wear off over time, but it didn’t for the duration of our testing.

It’s too soon to judge reliability. The UltraFast Combo came on the scene relatively recently, so we don’t yet have data on its longer-term reliability. Buying a machine with technology this new carries a risk. And even though we consider GE Appliances to be a reputable brand, being an appliance-buying pioneer can involve some headaches (video).

We expect to see more innovations applied to washer-dryer combos. And we will continue to test these machines, including the LG WashCombo All-in-One, which has a large, 5-cubic-foot capacity.

This article was edited by Ingrid Skjong and Courtney Schley.

1. David Wilson, director of clothes care at GE Appliances, in-person interviews, October 19, 2023, and February 28, 2024

2. Daniel Conrad, global engineering director of design quality, reliability, and testing, Hussmann, video interview, June 26, 2023