TOTO Washlet G5A vs Neorest: Is There a Difference?

Are you in the market for an integrated smart bidet toilet? If so, you’ve probably come across two key names lately: the TOTO Washlet G5A and TOTO Neorest toilets. 

While both are solid options for upgrading your bathroom experience, TOTO has really stepped up their game with the new G5A Washlet.

The TOTO G5A is the newly upgraded version of the TOTO Washlet G450, which was recently discontinued. For an article comparing the differences between the TOTO G450 and TOTO G5A, click here.

So when comparing the TOTO G5A vs a TOTO Neorest, what are the key distinctions that make one stand out from the other? Let’s explore.

TOTO Neorest vs G5A: Key Differences

We’ll break up the differences into four key categories:

Appearance

Seat area

Warranty

Price 

Let’s dive into each of these in more detail, shall we?

Design and aesthetics

For starters, the TOTO Neorest and the Washlet G5A are both integrated bidet toilets (even though the TOTO G5A has Washlet in the name). As such, they have a consistent bowl design that looks timeless and elegant in just about any bathroom.

 

A common design feature of the Neorest series is a smooth, sleek appearance that leaves only the single crease of the lid with the toilet. 

With the Washlet G5A, there are a few added lines. This has the effect of making the TOTO G5A have a slightly more “industrial” feel—relatively speaking, while the Neorest is cosmetically smoother. 

It ultimately comes down to tiny preferences here, as the two designs are more similar than they are different.

The aesthetics can be quite similar, but we’re guessing that if you really want the “luxury” look, you’ll probably opt for something from the Neorest collection.

TOTO G5A: Solid and straightforward, the Washlet G5A aims to minimize those little spots where dirt collects—not only making it a smooth, consistent design, but also an easy clean.

TOTO Neorest: These tend to look more like one complete unit, giving a sleek, sometimes egg-like design that might be a better option for your master bathroom—if you’re into appearances.

Seat area 

We pored through the TOTO Neorest specs and TOTO G5A toilet specs to make sure we got some precise measurements. And here’s how it played out:

Seat area is probably not the Washlet G5A’s greatest strength. It’s easy to beat it out with a Neorest model—for example, the Neorest LS and Neorest NX1 win out here if you want more seat area. 

TOTO G5A: According to the specs, the seat is 15.19” (386mm) wide

Neorest LS: The brand new replacement for the Neorest 700H has a seat that is 16.19” wide (411mm)  

Neorest NX1: If going for this premium TOTO toilet, the specs have a wider 18.44” (468mm), giving significantly more seat room.

So when it comes to the next section—price—keep that in mind. If you want a truly wide seat that might suit you better, you may have to opt for the more expensive option.

Warranty

Another area of difference between these two TOTO toilets is warranty:

• TOTO Washlet G5A: 1 Year Limited Warranty
• TOTO Neorest: 3 Year Limited Warranty 

The Neorest’s 3-year limited warranty is a major selling point: you can have confidence in three years of high-quality use without worrying about manufacturer defects. 

The TOTO G5A on the other hand has a one-year limited warranty (the TOTO G450 also had a one year). 

In either case, you can feel good that your bidet toilet is going to last you a while—and be worth the investment you place in it.

TOTO has a reputation for high quality, but if you'd feel better about having a more extended warranty offer, the Neorest may be the way to go.  

TOTO G5A vs. TOTO Neorest Price

If you’re looking to save a buck or two, then the TOTO G5A is the better option here. 

The TOTO Neorest price will vary—after all, it’s an entire product category—but all of its options will trend more expensive than the TOTO Washlet G5A.

For the latest prices on various TOTO Neorest models, click here. If you’re comparing those prices to the Washlet G5A Bidet Toilet price, click here.  

Toto Neorest vs G5A: Similarities

If price is a big concern, then you’ll want to know what you can get from the TOTO G5A that you’d also expect in the Neorest series. 

That way, if all of your must-haves are included in the TOTO G5A, there’s a good chance the G5A Washlet wins out. 

As mentioned previously, the TOTO G5A is the newly upgraded version of the TOTO Washlet G450.

For an article comparing the differences between a Neorest and the TOTO G450, you can find that here.

We’ll zoom in on a few key areas—mainly features and installation—to see where the two toilets match well with each other.

Features

We ran a quick features comparison, using the Neorest as our benchmark:

Look for the blank spots on the left to see if there are any must-haves that are missing with the TOTO Washlet G5A.

Feature	TOTO G5A	Neorest
EWATER+	✓	✓
Auto open/close lid	✓	✓
Auto-flush	✓	✓
Heated seat	✓	✓
Instant warm water	✓	✓
Night-light	✓	✓
Deodorizer	✓	✓
Warm Air Dryer	✓	✓
Wide front wash		✓
Pulsating wash	✓	✓
Oscillating wash	✓	✓
Premist	✓	✓
Seamless seat	✓	✓
ADA compliant	✓	✓
3-year warranty		✓

You’ll notice the wide front wash is the key feature here. Otherwise, the TOTO G5A stacks up well feature-by-feature.

And with both offering auto open/close lids, the actual experience of the design won’t be too different, either. 

 

TOTO G5A Installation vs TOTO Neorest Installation

You’ll note that the TOTO G5A installation is also very similar to that of a Neorest. 

So while you might make design your priority, you’ll need to watch for the following considerations:

• Electrical outlet location - within 3 feet 
• Dedicated circuits - 120V/15amps 
• rough-in requirements - 12”

Paying close attention to the areas will help to ensure you have a successful installation.

For Neorest installation guidelines that also apply to the TOTO G5A bidet toilet, click here. 

For the TOTO Washlet G5A Bidet Toilet manual, click here. For all Neorest user manuals, click here.

TOTO G5A vs Neorest: The Wrap-up

TOTO’s integrated bidet toilet features are consistent enough that you’ll have a great experience no matter which toilet you choose.

Perhaps the widest difference—and we do mean widest—is that the seat area on the TOTO G5A isn’t nearly what the Neorest LS or Neorest NX1 can offer, for example. 

And the big differences in price make the TOTO G5A a valid low-cost option if you want something similar to a Neorest without paying the full Neorest price.

But if we’re comparing the two, it’s just as worthwhile to compare the features you do get with each, including these key features in particular:

1. EWater+
2. Auto open/close lid
3. Auto-flush
4. Heated seat
5. Instant warm water
6. Night-light
7. Warm Air Dryer
8. Deodorizer
   

So if you want an integrated bidet toilet in your bathroom—including the auto-flush and instant warm water conveniences that come with it—then you probably can’t go wrong making the choice with your wallet in mind. 

Have you tried either one of these TOTO toilets? If so, which one do you prefer? Agree/disagree with any of the comparisons above? 

Leave a comment below and tell us what you think about the TOTO G5A vs. Neorest series and whether you think we left anything out.