Kohler’s new $6,600 toilet features Bluetooth … ahem … streaming

By Mike Flacy April 22, 2013

numi_integrated_toilet — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Detailed with a recent press release on the Kohler site, the Kohler Numi toilet received a smattering of technology upgrades that will make current Numi owners unhappy that they have to upgrade their $6,000 bathroom throne. Originally release during 2011, the Numi ‘smart toilet’ sported advanced features such as illumination for dark bathrooms, vents to heat your feet, automatic lid and seat height adjustment, built-in rear speakers, a FM radio, a MP3 player connection, a retractable bidet and a touchscreen remote to control all of these fancy features.

However, the 2013 version of Kohler’s Numi toilet includes all the previously mentioned features in addition to a Bluetooth receiver to stream audio from a mobile device like a smartphone or tablet, a SD card slot to listen to a specific music playlist or utilize a custom greeting when sitting down on the Numi and a USB port to allow for additional software upgrades in the future. Hypothetically, a user could stream the audio of a television show or movie through the speakers within the toilet while they were watching the video on their mobile device.

Kohler has also modified the lighting options to include seven different colors. Users can program the colors to appear on each day of the week or simply choose one of the colors to stay on all the time. Finally, Kohler added a battery back-up with this model specifically to allow users to continue using all the fancy features on the toilet after the power goes out.

When asked about the added features, Kohler senior product manager Brian Hedlund said “Consumer feedback on the Numi toilet allowed us to identify which additional upgrades were most important to users. The new enhancements will allow for better enjoyment of the functionalities.” The Numi toilet is currently listed on Kohler’s site for $6653.30 and comes in a single color; white.

Editors' Recommendations

Kohler’s 2023 bathroom lineup at CES includes lots of heated toilet seats

Contributing Editor

By day, I'm the content and social media manager for High-Def Digest, Steve's Digicams and The CheckOut on Ben's Bargains…

Smart Home

How to reset the Nanoleaf Skylight

The Nanoleaf Skylight lighting up a room various shades of purple.

The Nanoleaf Skylight is a unique piece of hardware. Unlike most Nanoleaf products that are quick to install or easy to move and replace, the Skylight is designed as a permanent fixture in your home. Instead of simply plugging it into an electrical outlet, you'll need to hardwire it onto your ceiling – and once it's in place, you'll want it to stay there for years.

However, like all electronics, it's possible for your Nanoleaf Skylight to start acting up. And since there's no easy way to get the entire unit down from your ceiling, you might be wondering how you can quickly solve the problem. Thankfully, Nanoleaf designed a simple way for you to reset the Nanoleaf Skylight without the need to disassemble the entire setup.

Smart Home

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra vs. Narwal Freo X Ultra: Which is the best premium robot vacuum?

Narwal Freo X Ultra with dock in home

Few robot vacuums and mops are as well-rounded as the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Narwal Freo X Ultra. The two premium robots will vacuum and mop entirely on their own, before returning to their docks to automatically clean their mopheads and empty their dustbins. That sort of functionality doesn't come cheap, with both products carrying hefty price tags that'll put a big dent in your budget.

Because they're so expensive, you'll want to pay close attention to the differences between these two robot vacuums. Both are great additions to any household, but one might be a better fit for your needs than the other.

Smart Home

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra vs. Roborock S8 Max Ultra: Which is the better robot vacuum?

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra placed in its dock.

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Roborock S8 Max Ultra are two of the newest additions to the Roborock family. Along with having almost identical names, these robot vacuums share much of the same spec sheet -- including the ability to mop and vacuum in a single cycle before automatically emptying their dustbin and cleaning their mops. They're impressive gadgets by all accounts, but since they're wildly expensive, you'll want to carefully compare the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Roborock S8 Max Ultra before adding one to your home.

If you need help, here's a comprehensive look at these two premium robot vacuums, including a comparison of their vacuuming and mops skills, a look at their docking station perks, and a final determination of which is likely best for your needs. Keep in mind that you really can't go wrong with either product -- after all, they're two of the most expensive robots in the category -- but one might be a slightly better fit for your household than the other.
Pricing and availability