TOTO is the brand that invented the category; Brondell is the value brand that keeps it honest. Both changed their lineups recently — most comparisons online are matching up discontinued models. Here's the current-reality version.
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disclosure). TOTO prices verified on totousa.com July 16, 2026; Brondell figures come from Brondell's own product feed, July 30, 2026 — always confirm on the product page.
Mid tier: Washlet S5 vs Swash 1400
| Spec | S5 | Swash 1400 |
|---|
| List price | $932 | $529 |
| Water heating | Instant (endless warm) | Instant (endless warm) |
| Remote | Yes | Yes |
| Night light | No | Yes |
| Deodorizer | Yes | Yes |
| Fits round bowls | Yes | Yes |
Upper tier: Washlet S7 vs Swash 1400
| Spec | S7 | Swash 1400 |
|---|
| List price | $1,826 | $529 |
| Water heating | Instant (endless warm) | Instant (endless warm) |
| Remote | Yes | Yes |
| Night light | Yes | Yes |
| Deodorizer | Yes | Yes |
| Fits round bowls | Elongated only | Yes |
The honest differences the spec table hides
- Nozzle hygiene philosophies differ. TOTO mists with electrolyzed water (EWATER+, S7-up); Brondell's 1400 uses a silver-oxide nanotech sterilization on the nozzle. Both are real engineering; neither replaces occasional manual cleaning, whatever the brochures imply.
- Brondell's CL line is where the value hides. The CL1700 and Thinline CL2200 rarely sell at list, so the number you see on the product page is usually well under the MSRP other guides quote. Warehouse clubs carry them too, but you don't need a membership to get the discount.
- TOTO's round-bowl coverage is thin at the top. Round bowl + flagship taste = S7A only. Brondell covers round bowls across its whole line.
- Warranty fine print: Brondell's 3-year is tiered (100%/75%/50% by year). TOTO gives 1 year on legacy models, 2 on S7/S7A. Neither is the "5-year" era of old — read before assuming.
Bottom line
Match the tiers honestly and Brondell wins on receipts: the Swash 1400 at $529 does 90% of what the $1,826 S7 does. The remaining 10% — EWATER+ bowl care, the ecosystem, the badge — is exactly what TOTO buyers are happily paying for, and they're not wrong either. Confirm your bowl shape first (Seat Match, 30 seconds), then pick the column above that sounds like you. Going TOTO? The Washlet picker finds your exact model.