China’s smart toilets are apparently disgusting

When it comes to the internet of things, your toilet might not be the first household device you’re interested in bringing online. But smart toilets exist, and in China, there are actually quite a lot of them. They’re surprisingly popular – from what I can tell from Taobao sales numbers, smart toilets are considerably more popular in China than the Xbox One.

But before you take out your wallet (or drop your pants), you should know: some of China’s domestically made smart toilets apparently aren’t that safe. Beijing’s Industry and Commerce Department announced last week that five domestic smart toilets failed to meet legal standards. That might not seem like a big deal, but one of the brands specifically named – Arrow (that’s their promotional image you’re seeing above) – is one of the country’s best-selling domestic models.

According to a report in National Business Daily, four of the five failed toilets (including Arrow) failed for a pretty disgusting reason: they failed to get the bowl properly clean after a flush. An Arrow spokesman told the paper that they had already adjusted their toilets and the new versions have passed inspection, but it’s not clear whether other brands have done the same. And many of the smart toilets, including Arrow toilets, on the shelves right now could still be units produced prior to Arrow’s updates. Personally, I’d want to be sure the toilet I was buying was sanitary before I put my cash – and my butt – down on it.

Incidentally, if you’re wondering what a smart toilet can actually do, it varies. Arrow’s high-end model, which costs over US$1,500, has all kinds of bells and whistles including a remote control, a heated seat, smell filtration/elimination features, and more.

The promotional materials of Arrow’s US$1,500 toilet also include the image above of poop sliding down a rainbow, but as far as I can tell the toilet does not actually produce rainbows.