Brondell Swash 1400 Vs. Toto S550e – Which is Better?

Last Updated on October 2, 2023 by toilethaven

The Brondell Swash 1400 and Toto S550e are 2 of the best bidet toilet seats on the market. Which, then, is the better bidet seat between these 2? Let us look at their differences.

The main difference between Brondell Swash 1400 and Toto S550e is that Toto S550e has an auto opening/closing seat lid and Ewater bowl premist, both of which are absent in the Brondell Swash 1400. Toto S550e also uses a single plastic nozzle, while the Brondell Swash 1400 uses dual stainless steel nozzles.

Due to the extra features of the Toto S550e and perhaps because of the popularity of the Toto brand, the Toto S550e is more expensive than the Brondell Swash 1400.

Another difference between the Toto S550e and the Brondell Swash 1400 is that while the S550e is only available for elongated toilets, the Brondell Swash 1400 is available for both round and elongated toilets.

Toto S550e, however, comes in 2 shapes: classic and modern/contemporary. The current shape is smooth from back to front, while the classic washlet’s lid has a beveled edge. This difference in shape is purely for aesthetics and does not affect performance.

Brondell Swash 1400 vs Toto S550e Comparison Table

Brondell Swash 1400 Review

The Brondell Swash 1400 is cheaper than the Toto S550e, is available for round and elongated toilets, offers a sittable lid, and does almost everything you would need in a high-end bidet seat.

Toto S550e Washlet

If you want a washlet that takes hygiene to the next level and offers a 100% hand-free experience, then the Toto S550e washlet is the one to go for. It is, however, a little expensive.

Let us now look at the difference between these two bidet seats in more detail

1. The Nozzles

As mentioned, the Toto S550e uses a single plastic nozzle, an improvement from Toto’s older washlets with a dual nozzle. I am just surprised that Toto has stuck with a plastic nozzle when every other high-end bidet seat uses a stainless steel or aluminum nozzle.

This is, however, not to say that the Toto S550e’s nozzle is flimsy or inferior. It is just easy to clean stainless and aluminum compared to plastic.

Brondell Swash 1400, on the other hand, uses a stainless steel dual nozzle. One is dedicated to the feminine wash, and the other to the rear/posterior wash.

Toto S550e’s and Brondell Swash 1400’s nozzles can be adjusted back and forth to clean different areas and accommodate users of different body sizes.

Just like any other decent bidet seat, both of these seats offer rear and front wash functions. What is interesting is that for both of them, you can choose to have either a narrow or a wide spray.

A narrow spray is stronger and more concentrated on a certain spot, while a wide wash cleans over a wide area but is gentler. In terms of adjustable spray width, the Toto S550e has two settings, while the Brondell Swash 1400 has three settings.

You can also select the oscillating wash functions for both of these seats. This involves a back-and-forth nozzle movement to clean over a large surface area.

One wash function present in the Toto S550e but absent in the Brondell Swash 1400 is the pulsating wash. A pulsating wash involves the use of alternating strong and soft water sprays to create a massage sensation.

Brondell Swash 1400 and Toto S550e bidet seats do not have the enema wash. That option is only available in the Bio Bidet BB 2000 Bliss bidet toilet seat.

Read more on the Toto S550e vs. Bio Bidet BB 2000 in this post and the Brondell Swash 1400 vs. Bio Bidet BB 2000 bidet seat in this post.

2. Design

Beauty being in the eyes of the beholder, I will let you decide which of these two seats is better looking. I will, however, let you know what is evident between the two.

Toto S550e is more compact than the Brondell Swash 1400 bidet seat. Their highest point (the rear) is 5 inches for the S550e and 5.5 inches for the Brondell Swash 1400.

Brondell Swash is, however, shorter in depth (19.8 inches) than the Toto S550e (20.7 inches) for the elongated seats. Brondell Swash needs a shorter space between the toilet tank and the seat mounting holes, making it a better option for compact toilets.

Both of these seats’ electrical cords and water supply lines come off from the left side of the side. Brondell Swash 1400, however, has a “pocket” that helps conceal them. The same is absent in the Toto S550e.

I must, however, say that the lack of a water reservoir at the back makes these two bidet seats very attractive. Since both of them use an instant water heating system, a hot water reservoir is unnecessary and will provide you with an endless supply of warm water.

3. Auto Opening/Closing Lid and Seat

This is one of the main features present in the Toto S550e but absent in the Brondell Swash 1400. Only the Toto S550e has this feature among all the bidets in the market, and this is why it is the only one that provides a complete hands-free experience.

As soon as you enter the bathroom and start approaching the toilet, a sensor fitted on the seat will notice your motion and prompt the lid to lift off automatically. You, therefore, get to do your business without touching the toilet or bending to lift the lid.

As soon as your business is done, you will only cleanse, dry yourself, and walk away. The lid will notice your departure and automatically close.

You can also opt to raise the actual seat using a button on the S550e’s wireless remote control. The button is conveniently located at the top of the remote control such that if the remote is on a wall mount, you can press this button easily without bending.

There are people who do not like the auto open/close feature in the S550e and just prefer to operate the seat manually. That is why Toto came up with the Toto S500e washlet.

The Toto S500e has the same features as the S550e without the auto open/close lid, seat, and nightlight. For more on the Toto S550e vs. S500e, check this post.

4. Bowl Premist

This is another feature present in the Toto S550e but absent in the Brondell Swash 1400. It is only used by Toto washlets and bidet toilet combos.

Before using the toilet, the S550e’s nozzles are sanitized using electrolyzed water, a technology Toto refers to as Ewater+. Electrolyzed water has been used in the food industry for years as a disinfectant.

Apart from sanitizing the nozzles, the water is sprayed on the bowl to mist/wet it. Why does Toto do this, though?

According to Toto (and something I have also noted,) a wet bowl is more efficient in waste elimination than a dry bowl. This is because it prevents waste from sticking on the bowl’s surface, meaning you don’t have to scrub the bowl after using the toilet.

5. Warm Air Dryer

As soon as you are thoroughly cleaned, both bidet seats use a warm air dryer to remove all the moisture from your front and rear. The nozzle retracts to the back of the seat, and the warm air dryers kick in immediately.

For both of them. You can easily adjust the temperature of the warm air from the remote control. You can also opt to dry yourself using toilet paper or a towel if you don’t have the patience since the dryer takes its time to completely dry you.

6. Air Deodorizer

An air deodorizer is something most high-end bidet seats will have. As opposed to artificial fragrances that clone the smell in the room, an air deodorizer removes the bad odor, leaving the room smelling fresh throughout.

Brondell Swash 1400 does an even better job at this since it comes with a removable cartridge. After continued usage, you can replace the cartridge, which is straightforward.

7. Nightlight

If you usually use the bathroom at night, you very well know how hard it is to go back to sleep immediately after turning on the bathroom lights. This is where a toilet seat with a nightlight comes in.

Both the Brondell Swash 1400 and Toto S550e have a blue LED nightlight that helps you negotiate your way to the toilet at night without turning on the bathroom lights.

The difference is that with the Toto S550e, the nightlight is located on the left side of the seat, while with the Brondell Swash 1400, the nightlight illuminates the inside of the bowl. Both of them are great, though.

8. Heated Toilet Seat

A heated toilet seat is a dream, especially on a cold winter morning. Both Toto S550e and Brondell Swash 1400 have a heated seat with adjustable temperature.

I have, however, noticed that at maximum temperature settings, the Brondell Swash 1400 is a little bit warmer than the Toto S550e. This is, however, not to say that Toto’s seat does not heat up properly. I just find the Brondell Swash way warmer.

9. Sittable Lid

If you enjoy sitting on a toilet from time to time, then the Brondell Swash 1400 is the best seat to go for. It is the only high-end bidet seat that offers a sittable lid with over 300 pounds weight limit.

The Toto S550e washlet’s seat is not designed to be sat on. Bidet seat lids, unlike regular sits, are always leaning forward and, therefore, not the most comfortable places to sit on anyway.

10. Round Toilets Seats

A round toilet seat will only fit on a round toilet bowl; the same is true for elongated toilet seats. I don’t know for what reason, but Toto does not manufacture the S550e washlet for round toilets, but the same is available by Brondell Swash 1400.

If you have a round-front toilet, then you will have to buy a round Brondell Swash 1400 bidet seat. Round toilet bowls are 16.5 inches long, while elongated ones are 18.5 inches long. If you would like to know how to measure a toilet seat, check out this post.

11. Wireless Remote Control

Both of these bidet seats come with a wireless remote control that can be wall-mounted or just hand-held. Brondell Swash 1400’s remote control is a simple one compared to the robust and sleek dual-sided Toto S550e’s remote control.

One thing you will notice with the Toto S550e’s remote control is that all the buttons are represented using icons and are not worded. That can be tough to use for someone who has not used it before.

It, however, comes with a small cheat sheet that you can install alongside the wall mount that clearly explains what each icon does/stands for. Brondell Swash 1400’s remote control is clearly labeled under each button.

These remote controls come with two user presets to select and save the preferred settings for two people.

12. Warranty

Toto S550e comes with a 1-year warranty, while the Brondell Swash 1400 comes with a 3-year warranty. The Toto warranty covers everything from the date of purchase for the next 12 months.

Brondell Swash 1400 offers full first-year coverage, a partial 75% coverage in the second year, and a partial 50% coverage in the third year. Brondell, therefore, offers better warranty conditions than Toto.