Sensor dryers
In the 15 years we’ve had sensor dryers in the family, I’ve never encountered a problem with performance, over/underdrying, or artificially long drying times. This is across the three formats (vented, condenser, and heat pump).
This includes:
2 sensor, vented dryers my parents have owned. The current one (now 11/12 years old) was installed in a garage for 4 years after a house move, before being brought inside when they converted the boiler room into a utility room. My mum uses it on one setting (I don’t believe the dial has been moved in the past few years she’s had it!) and she still swears it is the best dryer she has ever owned - simply because she can turn it on, walk away and it does it’s job.
I briefly had a cheap, sensor, vented dryer in a cellar in a flat I lived in a few years ago - sold to a friend which is still going strong.
My first condenser dryer with sensors, bought in 2004, worked perfectly for me over many years and is still going strong with my brother. I upgraded to another, second hand condenser (simply to match my washing machine at the time) which worked to perfection on the default, normal setting.
When that broke, a cheap condenser dryer (with sensors) bought in an emergency to tide us through happily served for a couple of years, and is still operating successfully at 4 or 5 years old in my grandparents garage.
I have now had a heat pump dryer for the past 3 years, which dries perfectly and quickly on the default, normal setting (most loads within an hour, give or take a few minutes).
This doesn’t include the sensor dryers I’ve had encounters with as part of the collection, or used at friends/other collectors etc.
I have not mentioned brands as I believe that has no correlation over whether sensor technology works or not.
As with everything, your mileage may vary but more often than not sensor dryers “not working” tend to be in most cases user or installation error - although of course it would be foolish to say there aren’t duff products out there. Nowadays, most brands allow you to fine adjust the drying levels should the default not be to your satisfaction. However that is something I’ve personally never had the need to do.
This isn’t to take away from timed dryers - it is purely personal preference at the end of the day, but it is incorrect to say sensor drying does not work and unfairly criticise, when it clearly does for most people in most situations.
In conclusion, my advice would be to buy the best sensor dryer which you can afford.
PS. Just one final point: people (myself included) will more often than not only leave a review when there has been a negative experience. 99.9% of those who are happy that a machine gets on and does a good job, are so satisfied that they don’t even think to leave about leaving a review.