Buying a new bidet can seem like an absolute minefield.
Who knew there could be so many features?!
But fear not, I’ve reviewed and tested more bidets than I care to remember. In this review of the Brondell LT89 VS LT99, I cover:
- The main differences between the LT89 and LT99
- How to decide if you need a remote VS an attached side panel
- A closer look at the LT99’s user presets (and why you need them)
Ready? Let’s jump right in.
What’s the difference between the LT89 and LT99?
The main difference between the Brondell LT89 and the Brondell LT99 is that the LT89 has an attached control panel while the LT99 has a wireless remote. The LT99’s remote can remember two user presets, but this isn’t available on the LT89’s side panel.
Remote vs side panel
The only real difference between the two models is the control method.
- The LT89 has an attached side panel
- The LT99 has a wireless remote control
The wireless remote is the more advanced option. It’s more stylish and comes with user presets.
The side panel is more basic and alters the dimensions of the seat.
Ease of use
The most important thing to consider is which option is more suited to your needs.
Positioning
Most people prefer a wireless remote because you can hold it in your hand, in front of your face. With a side panel, you have to turn your head to the side to see the buttons.
It might seem like a small thing, but when you use the toilet multiple times a day, every day, you want to be as comfortable as possible.
You’ll eventually learn where the buttons are on the side panel, but if you decide to rely on muscle memory, there’s always a chance you’ll press the wrong button.
A high-pressure blast when you expect a soft spray, no thanks!
One situation where you might prefer a side panel is if the intended user has grip issues and would find it hard to hold a remote. You can dock the remote on the wall and use it that way, but if you don’t have a suitable wall in reach of the toilet, this is useless.
Another upside to the side panel is that it won’t run out of battery, and it will never go walkabouts. It’s like a dog, always by your side and dependable.
The remote is more like a cat. It can disappear (but it always comes back!). If it ever does go walkabouts, there are emergency buttons on the side of the seat so you can still use the bidet.
Button type
The LT99’s remote has flush lite-touch buttons. Flush means they’re flat, so you can’t feel them when you run your finger over the remote. And lite-touch means you don’t need to press them with much force to activate them.
For most users, this isn’t a problem and makes the remote effortless to use.
But it does increase the chance of activating the wrong setting, especially if you have poor eyesight or shaky hands.
The side panel’s buttons are standard raised buttons and require a firm push to activate them. This means there’s no chance of accidentally upping the pressure by brushing the remote.
Dimensions and style
Since the side panel is attached to the bidet, it alters the size and look of the seat.
The depth (5,7”) and length (20.7 for elongated or 19.5 for round) of the bidet seats are the same, but the control panel means an increased width.
The panel adds 2.6 inches onto the width of the seat (15.9” vs 18.5”). This won’t make a difference for most people, but it could mean a tight squeeze if you have a small bathroom!
The side panel also makes it very obvious you have a bidet, whereas with a wireless remote, the seat looks a lot more like a standard toilet seat.
User presets
The LT99’s wireless remote comes with the ability to remember two people’s user presets.
What does this mean?
You can set your favorite nozzle position, temperature, and pressure, and the remote will remember it. The next time you use the bidet, you just press one button and the bidet will automatically adjust to your preferred combination of settings.
This comes in very useful if more than one person uses the bidet.
Without user presets, the bidet will remember the last used settings.
Imagine sharing your bidet with someone who likes a cold, weak wash when you prefer a strong, hot wash. You’ll need to adjust the pressure and the temperature every time. That’s going to get annoying.
With user presets, this isn’t an issue.
The side panel is more basic and doesn’t offer the user presets feature. This doesn’t matter if only one person uses the bidet, but often this isn’t the case.
What are the shared features?
There isn’t a lot of significant differences between the LT89 and the LT99, which means there must be a lot of similarities!
Basic features
Both bidets share the same basic features that you’ll find in almost every bidet on the market.
- Front and rear wash modes
- Stainless steel self-cleaning spray wand
- Positional nozzles (5 different positions)
- Adjustable temperature and pressure (4 temperature settings, 5 pressure settings)
- Heated seat (4 temperature settings)
- Quick-release sat button (for ease of cleaning)
- Soft-close lid and seat
- Eco-mode (automatically lowers the seat and water tank temperature when the seat is not in use)
- 1 year warranty
Nozzle oscillation/pulsating mode
Both the seats offer nozzle oscillation and pulsating mode.
- Nozzle oscillation is where the nozzle moves backward and forwards.
- Pulsating mode is where the water stream alternates between high and low pressure.
Oscillating mode is good when you need a fuller coverage spray because it allows the stream to cover more area.
The pulsating mode gives a massage effect and can help stimulate bowel movements by activating the muscles.
Strong/gentle wash modes
The LT range offers a strong and gentle wash.
Stong wash automatically uses the highest pressure settings, while the gentle wash uses the lowest pressure settings.
These modes come in useful for guests who might find it hard to navigate all the settings. They can pick if they prefer strong or soft and then get a wash cycle tailored to their choice.
Continuously heated water
Both the LT89 and the LT99 have a hybrid water heating system.
The seats have a small tank of water that’s kept constantly warm, so you always have instant access to hot water. But this tank runs out very quickly, and when it does, the bidet switches to on-demand heating.
You won’t get unlimited hot water with this heating method, but the on-demand system stops the water from getting cold too quickly. With normal use, you’ll have hot water for the duration of your wash.
The hot water will last for 60-90 seconds, depending on the temperature setting. After that, it will start to cool down.
The smaller tank also means the bidet can have a slimmer profile and doesn’t sit so high at the back. This means the seat isn’t so sloped and is more comfortable to sit on.
When you’ve finished your wash, the tank will refill. It will take around 3-4 minutes for the tank to re-heat the water for the next person.
Nightlight
Both seats have an in-bowl night light that lights the toilet up with a cool-blue LED light.
You won’t have to turn the light on to get to the toilet during the night because the light can guide you. No more bright shocks!
If you don’t like the nightlight, you can disable it.
What’s missing?
Here are the common features that both models are missing and alternatives to consider if you want these features.
Dryer
Neither model comes with an air dryer.
Air dryers are like hand dryers, but for your behind.
They don’t tend to be very strong and take a couple of minutes to dry you fully, so most people still use toilet paper to get completely dry. But it’s a nice feeling having warm air blown at you, and it does get the worst of the water off.
If a dryer is an essential feature for you, take a look at the LE99 or the LE89. The models are similar to the LT range, except they have air dryers.
- The LE99 has an air dryer and a wireless remote
- The LE89 has an air dryer and a side panel
- The LT99 has no air dryer and a wireless remote
- The LT89 has no air dyer and a side panel
Air deodorizer
Air deodorizers are becoming more and more common on bidets, but both the LT89 and the LT99 are missing one.
Air deodorizers filter the air from in and around the toilet, getting rid of any smells that arise.
What happens in the toilet stays in the toilet!
If you want an air deodorizer, take a look at the Swash 1200 or the Swash 1400. These are more high-end but come with a whole load of cool features (including a deodorizer).
LE99 vs LE89 vs LT99 vs LT89
If you’re interested in the LT99 and the LT89, chances are you’ve also looked at the LE99 and the LE89.
These models are all very similar and it can get confusing!
‘E’ represents that the bidet has a dryer, while ‘T’ means no dryer. The 89 models come with an attached side panel, while the 99 models come with a wireless remote control.
