Is Kohler Smart Toilet a Worthwhile Purchase?

August 15, 2024 Giving Tree

Whether you are a first-time smart toilet user eager to experience something new or an experienced buyer, you’ve likely come across the renowned name Kohler when searching for smart toilet brands online. As a long-established brand in the bathroom industry, Kohler is indeed well-known, but is a smart toilet from this brand really the right fit for you?

Introduction to Kohler Smart Toilets

Kohler is a century-old bathroom brand with a history spanning 150 years, famous worldwide for its sinks, bathtubs, and toilets. Thanks to its high quality and unique designs, Kohler products are beloved by households across the globe. In the realm of smart toilets, Kohler has introduced seven different models, each with distinct shapes and features. Without a doubt, these smart toilets are widely used globally, from the Americas to Asia and Europe, earning numerous accolades.

If you ask whether a Kohler smart toilet is a worthy investment, the answer is definitely yes. Kohler excels in detail handling, quality control, and overall performance. However, it is important to note that, unlike brands that cater to all market segments, Kohler focuses on the high-end market. When browsing the Kohler website for their smart toilets, you might be surprised by the prices—Kohler smart toilets average around $5,000, with the Numi® 2.0 model priced close to $10,000. Despite the high price tag, many users believe the investment is worth it. Kohler smart toilets not only surpass other brands in terms of quality and aesthetics but also offer peace of mind. Some users choose Kohler because they are concerned about potential quality issues with other brands, including alarming news about smart toilets exploding.

However, concerns about smart toilets exploding are unnecessary. All electronic products sold in the United States and Europe, including smart toilets, undergo rigorous quality testing. For example, Giving Tree Home’s smart toilets have passed authoritative certifications such as CE, CB, ETL, CUPC, and WaterMark, ensuring no safety issues during use. Therefore, if safety is your only concern, there is no need to spend extra money.

Although smart toilets may seem like high-end products, their internal mechanisms are not as complex as you might think. The core of a smart toilet consists of built-in circuit boards and sensors, enabling its automated functions like automatic lid opening and flushing. Compared to regular toilets, the manufacturing cost of smart toilets ranges from $300 to $800, while brands like Kohler charge over $5,000 primarily due to their strong brand influence. In fact, if you prioritize cost-effectiveness, you might consider the smart toilets from Giving Tree Home. Our smart toilets are priced between $500 and $1,000, and each unit undergoes strict quality control and a secondary test before shipping, ensuring that you receive a flawless product.

Kohler Smart Toilet Reviews

Positive Reviews

User 1:

Purchased the Innate® and gave it a 5-star rating, commenting, "Although this model isn't very aesthetically pleasing, it's the cheapest smart toilet from Kohler, and it has saved me a lot of money on toilet paper."
User 2:

Purchased the Eir® and gave it a 5-star rating, mentioning, "I bought it as a test when it was new a few years ago. It's fantastic. I've had no issues during use; everything works as advertised, and even better than advertised."
User 3:

Purchased the Veil® and gave it a 5-star rating, saying, "I've never felt this comfortable before. This isn’t just an ordinary bidet toilet but something extraordinary. It has so many features and wasn’t complicated at all. We completed the project and installed the outlet in less than 3 hours."
User 4:

Purchased the Veil® and gave it a 5-star rating, commenting, "I had a problem with the flushing mechanism of my Veil®. I contacted Kohler’s customer service, and they immediately sent me replacement parts without even asking about the warranty. After reinstallation, everything was perfect, just like new."
User 5:

This is a 5-star review on Trustpilot from two years ago. The user praised Kohler's customer service, saying, "I recently inquired about spare parts for a toilet and bidet. Kohler’s customer service went above and beyond to help me with my issue, using their extensive knowledge. They assured me that I could call again if I had any other questions."
User 6:

Purchased the Innate® and gave it a 5-star rating, stating, "I had some difficulties during installation, but after adjustments by a professional electrician, everything worked fine. There's no doubt this smart toilet is worth every penny. It includes features like automatic flushing, heated seats, automatic toilet spray, and automatic cleaning wands. My family and friends were amazed, and many of them are now saving up to buy one!"

Negative Reviews

User 1:

Purchased the Karing™ and gave it a 1-star rating, stating, "The builder purchased and installed two new Karing toilets, but both leaked, causing flooding. Kohler’s customer support line was constantly busy."
User 2:

Purchased the Eir® and gave it a 1-star rating, mentioning, "My smart toilet initially worked fine, but after a few months, the toilet seat turned yellow. I couldn’t buy the toilet seat separately and had to replace the entire toilet lid, which cost me a lot of money."
User 3:

Purchased the Veil™ and gave it a 1-star rating, stating, "This product has two major issues. First, there is no pre-spray in the bowl, causing waste to stick. Secondly, the wall-mounted button panel is very unattractive. This is not the performance I would expect from a $6,000 smart toilet."
User 4:

This is a 1-star review on Trustpilot from two years ago. The user said, "The internal metal rod rusted and got stuck. During floor repairs, I had to destroy the toilet to remove it. But when I contacted Kohler to request a replacement rod, they said they didn’t manufacture or have spare parts!"
User 5:

Purchased the Eir® and gave it a 1-star rating, stating, "This smart toilet isn't very smart. It only runs on a 2-minute timer, and if you spend more time urinating, it doesn't detect if you’re still standing there. Additionally, the design has a flaw—the front part of the toilet doesn’t have enough space to accommodate a normally sized male body."
User 6:

Purchased the Innate® and gave it a 1-star rating, commenting, "The manual contains errors. It shows the electrical rough-in on the right side, but there's only one hole for the electrical connection, and it’s on the left, which prevented me from installing it. Even though the Kohler team sent plumbers twice, they still couldn't fix the issue. This was a terrible shopping experience."

Recommended Kohler Smart Toilets and Their Alternatives

Numi® 2.0

If you favor a modern bathroom design, investing in the Numi® 2.0 might be a great choice. This is one of Kohler's premium smart toilets, and what sets it apart is its lid-opening motion, reminiscent of a sports car—a truly unique feature in the smart toilet industry. In addition to standard features, the Numi® 2.0 comes equipped with immersive lighting and sound, making it the most eye-catching fixture in your bathroom. However, the downside is its hefty price tag, retailing at $8,625.00, which is beyond the budget of most people.

If you're after a smart toilet with modern design, the best alternative would be the T2205 from Giving Tree Home. It features a similar design and offers more color options. Functionally, it's nearly identical to the Numi® 2.0, except for the sound system and the sports car-style lid, and it costs only $1,199.99.

T2205

Innate®

This is the most affordable smart toilet in Kohler's lineup, priced at just $2,550.00. Its standout feature is the dual-flush system, allowing you to choose between 1.0 or 1.28 GPF, maximizing water conservation. However, its design isn't particularly appealing—at least, that's my opinion.

If you’re an eco-conscious individual who shares my view on the Innate®'s aesthetics, then I recommend considering the MG-740L from Giving Tree Home as an alternative. Although it doesn't offer a dual-flush option, it uses only 1 GPF, and you don’t need to worry about its ability to clean effectively with such low water usage, as it employs a siphon jet to ensure thorough flushing.

MG-740L

Karing™

If traditional smart toilet designs don't catch your eye, you should consider the Karing™. Unlike conventional models, it features a curved design that makes your bathroom look less stark and more inviting. This model also integrates a deodorizing fan that automatically reduces odors after use, keeping your bathroom air fresh.

If the Karing™ doesn’t quite meet your aesthetic preferences and you’re looking for something even more unique, I recommend the GT168 from Giving Tree Home as an alternative. Its forward-leaning oval design sets it apart from the typical models on the market, offering a fresh and innovative look. While it doesn’t include an integrated deodorizing fan like the Karing™, it does feature activated carbon inside, which achieves a similar deodorizing effect.

GT168

Ending

As one of the leading brands in the bathroom furniture industry, Kohler's smart toilets are undoubtedly top-tier in both design and quality. However, for consumers, it's crucial to consider whether you can justify the high price tag. If not, we recommend considering Giving Tree Home, where we guarantee that our quality is on par with Kohler's, which is the foundation of our success. Please note that the reviews of Kohler's smart toilets mentioned in this article are sourced from the Kohler website or Trustpilot; there is absolutely no intention to unfairly criticize or excessively praise the brand!