The days of just sitting on cold porcelain and doing your business are nearing an end. Smart toilets offer advanced features and technology that take the bathroom experience to a whole new level. But are fancy gadgets and high-tech sensors really necessary for such a basic human need? Let’s compare smart toilets and regular toilets across some key factors to help you decide what’s best for your behind.
Key Differences Between Smart Toilets and Regular Toilets
Here is a high-level overview of how smart toilets and regular toilets differ:
| Smart Toilet | Regular Toilet | |
|---|---|---|
| Bowl Cleaning | Automatic cleaning functions like UV light, electrolyzed water systems, self-cleaning coating | Manual scrubbing required |
| Comfort Features | Heated seats, bidet, warm air dryer, automatic lid, night light | Very few or no comfort features |
| Water Efficiency | Advanced flush systems, low-flow rates | Standard or inefficient flushes |
| Health Monitoring | Sensors to analyze waste, measure weight, blood pressure, etc. | No measurement or tracking |
| Convenience Factors | Automatic opening, touchless flushing, hands-free experience | Manual operation required |
| Smart Connectivity | WiFi, voice control integration, personalized user presets | No connectivity or settings |
As you can see, smart toilets truly transform the bathroom experience with cutting-edge features and the ultimate in comfort and customization. But that comes at a premium price compared to regular toilets.
Now let’s dive deeper into each category to fully understand the differences:
Bowl Cleaning and Maintenance
One of the standout benefits of a smart toilet is automated cleaning cycles and other features that drastically reduce manual scrubbing and upkeep.
Smart Toilet Cleaning Technology
- UV light: Ultraviolet light sanitizes the toilet bowl, preventing the need for harsh chemical cleaners
- Electrolyzed water: An electrolysis system turns tap water into an antimicrobial cleaning solution
- Self-cleaning coating: Special non-stick coatings like CeFiONtect cause water to sheet off the bowl smoothly, preventing waste and bacteria from adhering to surfaces
Regular Toilet Maintenance
Regular toilets require good old-fashioned elbow grease to keep clean:
- Manual scrubbing with an abrasive brush and chemical toilet cleaners
- Dealing with stubborn mineral deposits and stains
- Frequent cleaning necessary to prevent bacteria and odor buildup
The automated systems in smart toilets drastically reduce how much scrubbing you have to do, keeping the bowl fresh and clean with little effort on your part.
Premium Comfort and Customization
From heated seats to built-in sound systems, smart toilets come packed with features that pamper your posterior.
Smart Toilet Comfort Functions
- Heated seats: Warm your tush with adjustable temperature settings
- Built-in bidet: Adjustable warm water stream keeps you feeling fresh
- Warm air dryer: Bid farewell to messy TP with a soothing stream of air
- Automatic lid: Motion-activated opening and closing adds convenience
- Ambient night light: Gentle LEDs illuminate midnight trips
Sparse Comfort on Standard Toilets
You’re lucky if a regular toilet seat isn’t bitter cold in winter. Pampering perks don’t exist with a few exceptions:
- A basic slow-close seat at best
- Some newer water-efficient models have a wider trapway for increased comfort
When nature calls at night, smart toilets greet you with a warm, welcoming experience fine-tuned to your preferences. Meanwhile, regular toilets offer the same old bone-chilling seat from a bygone era.
Saving Water and Going Green
Both smart and modern high-efficiency toilets use significantly less water than outdated models. But smart toilets pull out all the stops when it comes to innovative water conservation.
How Smart Toilets Save Water
- Ultra low-flow flush: Powerful vortex flushes clear waste with just 0.8 to 1.0 gallon per flush
- Dual flush options: Choose between a full or light flush for even more water savings
And thanks to automated sensors, you’ll never accidentally leave a smart toilet running.
Standard Low-Flow Toilets
New regulations have forced innovations in the humble throne:
- Standard toilets now use 1.28 gallons per flush or less
- Dual flush options becoming more common
While regular low-flow toilets have made huge strides, smart toilets manage to eke out even more water efficiency with smarter engineering. Those tiny water savings per flush truly add up over time.
High-Tech Health Monitoring
Futuristic smart toilets allow you to “analyze your analyze” with built-in sensors that track key health metrics each time you go.
Health Sensors in Smart Toilets
- Waste analysis sensor: Identifies medical issues like digestive conditions or poor diet
- Urine scanner: Checks color, pH, proteins, and glucose levels
- Weight sensors: Track weight changes over time
- Blood pressure monitor: Keep an eye on cardiovascular health
Data can sync with health apps, allowing you and your doctor to spot concerns early.
No Stats from Standard Throne
A regular toilet focuses on one job: safely removing waste. Any health insights will be missing in action. You’ll need to rely on manual tracking methods or visits to the doctor’s office to stay updated on your health markers outside of smart toilet medical scans.
Convenience and Hands-Free Operation
Tired of touching germy surfaces in the bathroom? Smart toilets offer a hands-free experience from start to finish.
Touchless Technology in Smart Toilets
- Motion-activated lid: Open and close lid without touching
- Auto flush: Sensors trigger flushing once you stand up
- Touchless cleaning: Self-cleaning UV light, electrolyzed water, heated air dryer
The only thing you’ll need to manually operate is the toilet paper.
Manual Manipulation for Standard Toilets
With few exceptions, regular toilets feature manual knobs, levers, and seats:
- Flip lid up and down
- Push flush lever or button when finished
- Some newer models may have slow-close seats
Outside of electronic bidet toilet seats you can add to some models, standard thrones don’t offer touchless operation.
Smart Settings and Personalization
It’s the little touches that make smart toilets a cut above other commodes. Connectivity and customization features put you in control.
High-Tech Adjustments of Smart Toilets
- WiFi and voice control: Change settings and operate functions with smart home integrations
- User presets: Save your perfect positioning, temperatures, and preferences
- Smartphone app: Tweak settings and review health data on the go
One-Size-Fits-All With Basic Thrones
Generic and manual best describes standard toilet specs:
- Very limited adjustments or tech integration possible
- Any user will have same experience
If you share a bathroom, skipping the personalized settings means compromising comfort. Give everyone in the household the temperature, positions, and functions they prefer with a smart toilet instead.
Cost Considerations
The amplified performance and lavish list of features included with smart toilets result in luxurious price tags. But thoseholding out for prices to drop further could be waiting years as high demand keeps costs steady for now.
Steep Sticker Shock on Smart Models
- Entry-level smart toilet around $3,500 to $4,000
- High-end options range from $7,000 up to $15,000+
- Long-term savings from efficiency can offset initial spend
Value Pricing on Standard Toilets
You can still find affordable and effective standard toilet models:
- Basic models for $100 to $300
- Higher-end standards around $400 to $600 with low-flow, comfort features
If maxing out budgets on a toilet seems silly no matter how fancy the features, a standard toilet gets the job done at a fraction of the smart toilet cost.
The Last Word on Smart vs Standard Toilets
At the end of the day, a toilet has a vital yet unglamorous purpose to serve. While smart toilets offer cutting-edge cleaning methods, medical insights, and indulgent customization, standard toilets can still handle business on a budget.
When to Consider a Smart Toilet
- You want the ultimate in comfort, convenience, and hygiene
- Water conservation is a top priority
- Health tracking insights appeal to you
- You enjoy tech gadgets and customization
- Price is not an obstacle
When a Basic Throne Does the Trick
- You don’t want to overspend on a bathroom novelty
- Standard comfort and cleaning meets your needs
- You aren’t sold on high-tech sensors in the loo
- Budget toilet options fit your project best
Ultimately, take time to consider which toilet attributes hold the most value for your household. An informed decision today can lead to years of comfort, efficiency, and budget alignment down the road. The future is now when it comes to toilets. Choose the one that’s the best seat for your needs.
