Hisense DHGA80 review: A bargain heat pump tumble dryer
With lovely looks and a wide range of great-performing drying programmes, the Hisense DHGA80 is a good buy for the medium-sized family home
Pros
- Relatively low running costs
- Good drying performance
- Large drum and door hatch
Cons
- Could be quieter
- Tendency to roll large sheets together
Heat-pump tumble dryers can cost a small (or quite sizable) fortune, but Hisense’s DHGA80 packs the super-efficient drying technology into a package that costs well under £500. If you were expecting this budget heat-pump model to fall short as a result, though, then you can consider yourself pleasantly surprised. With good drying performance and wallet-friendly running costs, the DHGA80 is one of our favourite budget dryers.
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Hisense DHGA80 review: What you need to know
- It’s a heat-pump tumble dryer with an A++ energy efficiency rating and an 8kg drying capacity
- It has 14 drying programmes: Large Items, 30 Minute Dry, 60 Minute Dry, 90 Minute Dry, Ion Refresh, Down, Shirts, Cotton Cupboard, Cotton Standard, Cotton Iron, Mix Iron, Wool, Delicate. There’s a start delay option, too
- Smart sensor technology automatically controls the drying process according to the selected programme, laundry time and desired level of dryness. Sensors will handily stop the drying process when clothes reach this level
- The DHGA80’s “Ion Refresh” feature claims to eliminate allergens, smoke, pollen and reduce creases; it’s an alternative technology to machines equipped with steam generators
- It has a 4.95l water container
- It’s 600mm wide x 850mm high and 545mm deep
- It has a two-year warranty
What do we love about the Hisense DHGA80?
Sleek styling: The DHGA80 looks great in its polar white finish. There’s a striking white LED display and a lovely-looking brushed metal-effect programme dial. The sizable door hatch, angled control panel and smooth curves make for a machine that looks substantially more expensive than it is.
Great design: Great looks would mean nothing without good design but the Hisense nails it here, too. The simple control dial, sensibly named programmes and bright, logical LED display make it wonderfully easy to use. The spacious drum also makes it easy to load and unload clothing and accommodates the rated 8kg of wet clothing with no issues.
Drying performance is impressive: The Hisense’s Cupboard dry modes are work brilliantly. They might not be the fastest on the block, but this is top-notch drying for such a sensibly priced machine.
Ion Refresh option works well: This might sound like a silly buzzword but it’s actually a very effective programme that’s great for freshening up stale clothes or those that aren’t dirty enough to warrant going through the washing machine.
Energy efficiency is bang on: There are no surprises here: the Hisense matched its A++ energy rating in our range of tests. If you want efficient drying without spending the earth, the DHGA80 is a great bet.
Brilliant value for money: Given the level of performance on offer, the DHGA80 is stunningly good value. There are a few minor niggles, but for less than £400 it’s a great buy for a fully featured, solid performing heat-pump dryer.
What don’t we like about the Hisense DHGA80?
Drying could be quicker: A full load of cottons took 3hrs 15mins to dry, which is about average for this type of machine. The half load option is a bit sluggish, taking a more lengthy 2hrs 15mins. It’s not bad for the price though.
Iron dry settings aren’t brilliant: Our test loads came out a little more moist than is ideal on the Hisense’s iron-dry settings. If you want a fully dry load, there’s a simple solution: use the cupboard dry settings instead.
Larger items tend to bunch up: We struggled with larger items like sheets rolling up into sausages. The result is that these don’t always dry evenly inside and out, so you may need to unfold larger items halfway through the drying process.