The U.S. market has never been big on bidets. Despite the proven sanitary benefits that the rest of the world seems to know and accept, it took a global pandemic for us to even glance at an alternative to toilet paper. And even then, it was only once our TP supply became so scarce, we were left with no other alternative, that we started considering a replacement.

Things took off quickly and seat-replacement bidets started to be, if not common, at least not unheard of. They provided an alternative that was much more budget friendly than smart toilets that could run into the tens of thousands. And while the fanciest toilets, from big brands like Kohler and Toto, offered luxury features like heated water and air-drying, those budget bidets helped U.S. consumers discover how much better their bathroom routine could be.

Fast forward to 2026 where smart toilets are having a moment.

Toilet paper costs are rising as supplies fluctuate. And while seat-replacement bidets are still an option, home owners looking for a next-level bathroom upgrade now have an even better option in the form of affordable smart toilets.

So where do you start? After all, this is a major home installation, not an “open the box and try out the device” tech upgrade.

Your first thought may be a well-established, trusted brand like Kohler or Toto. Leaders in the smart toilet market, their customer service is also quite solid, which is a big plus if you plan on installing the unit yourself. The problem? Their most full-featured all-in-one toilets can run over $10,000.

Seeing the opportunity to offer a full-featured, but not “full credit card balance” alternative, Tushy took the plunge this year and launched a full-featured, sub $2k smart toilet . While it sports an impressive range of features usually only seen on high end smart toilets, the most impressive thing about it is its $1,599 price.

And they’re not the only ones launching into this new consumer niche. Horow has launched the X70 which is priced similarly, but offers more features. Additionally, you don’t have to wait for your toilet to be delivered. Horow has been at your local home improvement store for years, so odds are one of their high-end models is there right now, waiting to be picked up.

While Horow might lack the name recognition of the others, the company has been around for 13 years and has offered smart toilets in the U.S. for a while.

The Horow X70 makes a distinct impression when it’s installed in a bathroom. The tankless profile (the tank is included in the base of the unit) can take a bit of getting used to, but it really elevates the space it’s in. The LED screen on the back of the unit is covered with a glass cover, giving the whole package a sophistication and high-tech feel.

More than just good looks, the X70 has features galore. The toilet is zero-touch, with an auto-raising lid and a foot button to raise the seat. You can set the seat to a preferred temperature, or the X70 can use ambient temperature to set the seat and water temperature to the appropriate levels. There are multiple washing functions, with variable pressure, position, and temperature. The wand oscillates by default to improve results. There’s a built in dryer, again with variable speeds and heat. And the unit auto-flushes so you never have to touch anything. If the power goes out, the unit also has a built-in manual flush under the glass cover.

And while you might want to install this in a master suite so that it’s your main toilet, Horow makes a strong case for making this the guest toilet because it’s never dirty. It sprays the stick-resistant ceramic bowl with electrolyzed water before you even sit down to reduce messes. And when you do sit (or raise the seat), it sprays a layer of hygienic foam to act as an odor and splash barrier. The pump-assisted flush ensures that everything is taken care of when you’re done and the built in water filtration and UV sterilization make sure that there’s no lingering bacteria to cause odors. Speaking of, the X70 has a built-in deodorizer and fan to reduce odors while the toilet is in use.

Like most smart toilets, the X70 has a remote (which is a little cryptic but easy enough to use once you get used to it) which controls everything, including a whole host of optional features and settings (make sure you read the manual!). There’s also fun and convenient features like a built-in night light and a variable-color LED that can pulse in time to music if you’re so inclined. And for anyone who has a tendency to get locked in to their phone while sitting on the toilet, there’s a built-in 15 minute alert chime.

Like Tushy’s Eau, the Horow X70 has a subscription available for the foam and filter for $59 every quarter. You can also just buy a two-pack of the foam solution for $29. I will say, after a month of frequent usage, the first bottle of foam is still going strong. It’s nice to know that you won’t have to be constantly refilling and replacing the consumables.

Installation and Impressions

While Horow does offer an installation manual, you’ll want to, at the very least, get a helper if you don’t hire a plumber. Coming in at over 100 lbs, the X70 is a solid all-in-one unit, which makes maneuvering and visibility difficult. It took two plumbers about four hours to switch out my old builders-grade commode with the Horow.

Once installed, though, it’s extremely easy to use (despite there being a bit of shock whenever someone walks into the bathroom and the toilet seat raises). It took me a bit to figure out all the hidden options available from the remote (again, read the manual) but since that first day, I’ve not thought about it at all. And other than the typography on the remote not being all that kind to those who need readers, I’ve not heard any complaints from guests.

So can a smart toilet that’s a quarter or even a tenth of the cost of a top-of-the-line smart toilet even compete? Absolutely. While $10k toilets from Toto or Kohler might have built in sounds or other fancy features, there’s a diminishing return on what you get for your money after a certain point. At the end of the day, what you want from a smart toilet is something that lets you take care of business and clean up, while keeping itself spotless. The Horow X70 does exactly that. It’s the kind of upgrade that provides a marked upgrade to your home and health.