Move Over, Bidets: The Horow Smart Toilet Does Everything

Horow Smart Toilet

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A smart toilet might not be the first thing you expect to steal the show at a dinner party, but the Horow model I installed in my powder room quickly became the star attraction (helped by my stylish renovation, perhaps—see photos below). I tested it in my own home, and as a total bidet novice, even I was surprised by how instantly luxe it made the space feel. The toilet sparked nonstop conversation at two Friendsgivings, a pizza night, real Thanksgiving and every gathering since—and for good reason. With its heated seat, gentle wash and hands-free features, this is easily the best smart toilet for upgrading any bathroom.

Plus, it’s a great deal more affordable than more famous smart toilets.

Horow Smart Toilet: At a Glance

Our Rating: 4.5/5

Testing the Horow Smart Toilet

I tested the Horow Smart Toilet (T38P) in my home for just over a month, installing it in the ground-floor powder room, the space that sees the most traffic whenever we host guests. Between two Friendsgivings, a pizza party, Thanksgiving, and regular weeknight use, this toilet had no shortage of testers. I paid close attention not just to performance but to how intuitive it felt for first-time smart-toilet or bidet users (myself included).

To determine the final rating, I evaluated the Horow across several factors: build quality, ease of installation, user experience, maintenance needs, and the reliability of its smart features. While installation required some teamwork, the daily experience more than made up for it. With a few minor quirks but standout comfort, automation, and design, it easily earned its 4.5-star rating.

Installation: A Two- to Three-Person Job

I’d never installed a toilet before, so I expected some trial and error, but most of the process was surprisingly straightforward. The only part that really required extra hands was lowering the toilet precisely onto the wax ring and lining up the side slots that anchor the bolts. That step took three of us to smoothly align it. Once it was in place, everything else was simple: plug it into the nearby outlet, connect the water line and pour in the Foam Shield liquid using the included funnel (which made that step almost effortless). Overall, even as a beginner, the install felt doable.

Features: Packed With High-End Tech

The T38P is loaded with features you’d expect from far pricier smart toilets: a heated seat, warm air dryer, multiple wash modes, automatic lid and flush, ambient lighting, UV sterilization, deodorization and more. But two features stood out most in daily use: the Foam Shield and the heated seat.

The Foam Shield is clever in theory: press the posterior wash button while not seated (a safeguard that prevents accidental sprays—thankfully), and it deploys a soft layer of foam in the bowl. There’s no indicator on the remote that this button doubles as the Foam Shield activator, so it’s not intuitive. It applies smoothly, but in practice, I didn’t find it dramatically helpful for odor control. And because the toilet does a small pre-flush the moment you sit down, some of the foam disappears before you even get started, though a thin layer remains to prevent splashing. I never experienced splashing with or without it, so its impact was minimal for me.

The heated seat, on the other hand, is a true luxury. It’s consistently warm every time you sit—something you don’t realize you’ll miss until you use another toilet afterward. Even my add-on bidet seat in the other bathroom feels like a downgrade now. This single feature alone makes the daily experience feel high-end, regardless of the season.

Ease of Use: Surprisingly Beginner-Friendly

The Horow is impressively easy to use for such a feature-packed toilet. The main functions on the remote—wash, dry, flush, stop—are laid out clearly and make sense even to first-timers. The challenge comes with the hidden secondary functions: several buttons do something entirely different when you’re not sitting down, but the remote gives you no indication of this. You have to dig through the instruction manual to learn these extra features, and let’s be honest: no one is pulling out a manual mid-bathroom trip. Once you memorize what they do, you’re fine, but it’s definitely the least intuitive part of the experience.

To the Horow’s credit, the minimalist remote design prevents overwhelm, and these hidden features are mostly for maintenance or fine-tuning settings—things only the homeowner ever needs to worry about. For everyday use, the toilet is incredibly friendly. All our guests this past month navigated it easily, many leaving the powder room with a glint in their eye and immediately raving about “the fancy toilet.”

One small quirk: if you switch between functions too quickly—like stopping the posterior wash and instantly tapping the dryer—the command won’t register. You have to wait for the wand to retract before the dryer will activate. It would be nice if the system could queue commands, but once you know the rhythm, it’s easy to work around.

Comfort: Spa-Like Daily Upgrades

Comfort is where the Horow truly excels. Most bidet attachments rely on straight water-line temperature, which means cold sprays only. This toilet, though, gives you cold, warm, or hot water instantly, and the difference is spectacular. Switching between temperatures is also instantaneous. There’s even an H/C button that lets you alternate between hot and cold for a massage-like effect. I only wish this feature cycled automatically; instead, you have to keep tapping the button to switch back and forth. (That same H/C button also hides a secondary function for lifting the toilet seat—something that absolutely deserved its own dedicated button.)

But when it comes to the core comfort features, the Horow delivers beautifully. The washing experience is gentle, customizable, and reliably warm. The heated seat makes every visit feel indulgent—especially noticeable when you return to a “normal” toilet elsewhere in the house. And the warm air dryer is strong without being too hot, making post-wash drying easy and hands-free. These three features—water temperature control, heated seat, and dryer—make up the heart of the experience, and all of them are effortless to adjust via the remote.

Design & Aesthetics: A Luxe, Modern Statement

The Horow looks stunning—minimalist, sculptural, and undeniably high-end. In a powder room, it becomes an instant statement piece. Its seamless lines and tankless silhouette give it a modern profile that rivals far more expensive brands. The LED display and ambient lighting add a futuristic touch without feeling gimmicky. You can even customize the ambient light color if the default cool blue isn’t your vibe—switching to a warm orange, for example, completely changes the mood. Multiple guests commented on how “fancy” it felt before they even used it.

Performance & Reliability: Consistent, Strong, and Smart

After a full month of daily use and several large gatherings, the Horow proved impressively consistent. The flushing power is excellent—truly strong enough that it never leaves anything behind—and the pump-assisted tank keeps the water pressure steady. The auto-open lid activates at just the right distance, and the flush triggers cleanly every time. The automated self-cleaning and UV sterilization inside the bowl mean you’ll rarely (if ever) need to scrub it yourself—the manual even advises against using any chemicals, since the system handles the work for you. Aside from the minor learning curve with the remote and an occasional lag in functionality, the toilet performed reliably and felt surprisingly robust for its price point.

It’s Not Cheap, But It’s Much Cheaper Than Other Smart Toilets

With a retail price around $1,300 (and often discounted during major sales), the Horow T38P is definitely an investment, but compared to high-end smart toilets from brands like Toto or Kohler, which can run anywhere from $4,000 to $6,000+, it’s a relative bargain. You’re getting nearly all the flagship smart-toilet features—heated seat, instant warm water, warm air dryer, automatic lid and flush, ambient lighting, UV sterilization, deodorization and a self-cleaning system—at a fraction of the usual price. Maintenance is minimal, too, since the toilet manages its own internal cleaning. For anyone curious about upgrading to a fully automated smart toilet without venturing into luxury pricing, this model delivers exceptional value and everyday comfort.

Where to Buy the Horow Smart Toilet:

• Buy at Amazon for $1,299
• Buy at Lowe’s for $1,299
• Buy at The Home Depot for $1,299
• Buy at Horow for $1,299

Product Comparisons

So, is the Horow Smart Toilet right for you?

If you’re looking to make a meaningful bathroom upgrade—one that genuinely changes your day-to-day experience—the Horow T38P is an excellent choice. It offers a level of comfort, cleanliness and automation typically reserved for far more expensive luxury brands. The heated seat, instant warm water, multiple wash settings and warm air dryer alone elevate every visit, while the automatic lid, self-cleaning system and UV sterilization keep maintenance to a minimum.

That said, the remote’s hidden secondary functions do create a slight learning curve, and installation is a two- or three-person job. But once it’s set up, the toilet performs beautifully and consistently. It’s ideal for homeowners who entertain often, anyone curious about smart toilets or bidets, and those who want a high-end experience without paying ultra-premium prices. If you’ve been on the fence about upgrading, this model delivers serious value and daily luxury.

Meet the Tester

Paul Rankin is a home and lifestyle product reviewer who has tested dozens of appliances, fixtures and smart home upgrades. With a hands-on, detail-driven approach, he focuses on real-world use, installation experience and long-term value to help readers make confident buying decisions.

 

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