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A 9kg drum is the sweet spot for most UK families. It takes a full load from most washing machines in one go, yet still fits the standard 60cm space under a worktop or in a utility room. Candy, owned by Haier since 2019, prices these tumble dryers well below Bosch, Samsung and Miele.
The heat pump keeps running costs down. Instead of heating fresh air with an element and venting it, the machine passes warm air through the clothes, takes the moisture out over a cold coil, then reheats and reuses the same air. Drying happens at a lower temperature, which is kinder to fabric, and there is no hose to push through a wall.
There are three families of Candy 9kg heat pump tumble dryer, all freestanding: the brand's integrated tumble dryers are 7kg, so for an integrated 9kg you would need another make. Model codes change slightly between retailers, but the machines underneath are these:
| Model | Rating | kWh a year | Noise | Depth | App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Pro CSOE H9A2TE / H9A2DE | A++ | 259 | 66 dB | 58.5-60.7cm | Yes |
| Rapido ROE H9A3TCE / CROE H9A3TE | A+++ | 194 | 64 dB | 55.5cm | Yes |
| Quick Pro GD 9N2-80 | A++ | 236 | - | 61.6cm | No |
Figures come from each model's product information sheet as listed by UK retailers; all three stand 85cm high and about 60cm wide. One Amazon listing on this page shows "Energy Class E" - that letter comes from the EU's newer A-G scale, not the A+++ to D rating UK shops use, so compare on kWh.
The best-known of the three and the one most shops stock. It has 14 programmes, four sensor dryness levels, a Woolmark-approved wool cycle and rapid cycles that finish in under 90 minutes for a few items. The TE and DE are near identical, but the two listings here give different door orientations, so check before you order.
The more efficient choice: A+++, slightly quieter at 64 dB and only 55.5cm deep, so it sits further back in a shallow alcove. A full load of cottons takes about 220 minutes, a half load 125.
Built on a newer Haier platform, it trades the app for speed, with up to five quick cycles from 14 to 59 minutes and an Easy Iron Plus setting that cuts creasing. No Wi-Fi, which some buyers prefer.
The yearly kWh figure on the energy label assumes 160 cotton cycles, a mix of full and half loads. At an illustrative 25p per kWh (check the Ofgem energy price cap for your own rate):
So the gap between A++ and A+++ is around £16 a year, while swapping an old condenser for any of these saves £90-£105 for the same use. For the most frugal machines from every brand, see our A++ rated dryers.
The trade-off is time. Because a heat pump works at lower temperatures, a full drum takes three and a half to four and a half hours, against two to three in a conventional tumble dryer. Use the rapid or quick cycles for a few shirts you need today.
Humidity sensors stop the cycle when your chosen dryness is reached instead of running for a fixed time: Store Dry (ready to put away), Hang Dry or Iron Dry. Over-drying shrinks clothes and stiffens towels, so this matters as much as the rating.
The Smart Pro and Rapido connect over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to hOn (older units used Simply-Fi). You can start or pause remotely, get an alert when the laundry is done, download extra programmes and use Guided Drying: tell it the fabric and how dry you want it, and it picks the cycle.
Every model has a wool programme, and easy-iron and anti-crease settings keep the drum turning gently after the cycle ends if you can't unload straight away.
Installation is simple for a freestanding heat pump tumble dryer: it needs a standard plug socket and a level floor, nothing more.
Matching an existing Candy washer? See our white heat pump dryers.
Maintenance takes a minute a day. Slow drying usually means clogged filters. Clean the door fluff filter after every load, rinse the condenser filter when its indicator lights, and empty the tank before it fills. Register on Candy's registration page to activate the 10-year parts warranty; labour is covered for 1 year. Follow the London Fire Brigade electrical safety advice, don't leave a dryer running overnight or while you're out, and check your model on the Electrical Safety First recall list.
The brand's strength is value: Wi-Fi, sensor drying and top energy ratings for less than most rivals ask. Samsung's Series 5+ and Haier's X Series, both in our range, offer similar app control at a higher price, while Hotpoint and Indesit compete on price. On a tight budget, look at our picks under £400 and cheap heat pump dryers. Need more room? Our 10kg models include the Quick Pro GD 10N1-80; for a couple or a small flat, 8kg dryers are plenty.
A full load of cottons takes about 220 minutes on the Rapido and about 260 on the Smart Pro. Half loads take around two hours, and rapid cycles finish in under 90 minutes.
No. Water collects in the door tank, so it can go anywhere with a socket. An optional drain hose to a waste pipe saves emptying it.
On the Smart Pro and Rapido it is the Easy Case reservoir in the door: pull it out by the handle, pour it away and slot it back. Retailers suggest reusing the water to fill your iron or water plants.
Yes for parts, with 1 year's labour, but only once you register the appliance.
If you dry clothes several times a week, yes. It uses around 60% less electricity than a B-rated condenser of the same size, so it pays back the price difference within a few years.
