Take these futuristic washing machines out for a spin

The days of simply dumping a cup of detergent into a plastic water tub and twisting the wash knob are gone.

Washing machines are the 4K TVs of laundry appliances as technological advancements and smart capability from top brands such as Samsung, LG and Miele revolutionize the mature product line.

Samsung's WW9000, for instance, can determine load size, degree of dirt and soiling, and the amount of water and detergent needed. Using this information, the model selects the most appropriate wash and rinse cycle, temperature, time and spin speed.

Here are more examples smarter, technology-heavy variations of the basic washing machine courtesy of Gizmodo:

1. The it's-not-a-washing-machine clothes washers: Some companies do away with the actual washing machine, incorporating new technology in other--usually smaller--products, instead. The Dolfi, for example, is a plastic rectangle resembling a bar of soap. It is placed in the sink or bucket of water with the dirty clothes and some detergent, and uses ultrasonic vibrations to do the laundry.

Swash, meahwhile, is a clothes rack that refreshes and dewrinkles dirty garments in 10 minutes using a Swash pod.

2. Mini machines: Companies sticking with actual washing machines are making them more compact to fit even small apartments. CES 2015 standout LG Twin Wash machine is a pull-out type washer that can fit under any LG front-load machines.

3. No water: Heightened environmental concerns are generating more buzz around the Xeros washer, which uses polymer nylon beads instead of soapy water to clean clothes. Because Xeros needs only for clothes to be damp instead of completely soaked, it uses 70 percent less water than standard washing machines.

See a comparison table of washing machine suppliers on GlobalSources.com