The dishwasher felt like the final frontier for cameras in the kitchen. Cams and sensors have found their way into most major appliances. Ovens have cameras that watch food as it cooks and alert you when it’s properly browned, and smart refrigerators will ping you when you’re running low on eggs and suggest recipes based on what’s lingering in the crisper. But I failed to see an obvious use for hidden cameras in dishwashers.

When I heard that Miele had snuck one into its new model, unveiled this week at IFA 2026 in Berlin, I was suspicious. After a brand rep walked me through the new Diamond G8 and its novel smart features, I began to see some appeal.

A camera in Miele’s new dishwasher helps it choose the perfect cycle.David Watsky/CNET

The small camera, fixed to the back of the dishwasher door, gets a clear shot of the dishwasher’s interior. It uses that view to take inventory of what’s inside, recognizing dozens of common kitchen items and tailoring the wash cycle and detergent volume accordingly.

The Diamond G8 is one of the smartest dishwashers we’ve encountered, and it’s easy on the eyes.

Got portable bottles or reusable straws in the dedicated slots? The dishwasher’s brain will recognize them and make sure those items get the spritz they need. Load it up with pots and pans and the camera identifies them, triggering a more intensive cycle so everything comes out clean. A smaller load prompts a lighter cycle, so you’re not wasting more hot water or soap than is needed.

The G8 recognizes straws, flatware, silverware and cookware and adjusts its cycle for optimized cleaning.

The camera also determines how full the dishwasher is. Command the G8 to start when it reaches, say, 80% capacity, and it’ll monitor the load and automatically begin a cycle once it hits that threshold. 

One of my favorite features has nothing to do with the camera

The G8 Diamond takes advantage of fluctuations in electricity prices throughout the day. Tell it to run when electricity is cheapest, and the dishwasher waits for those lower-cost hours before starting its cycle. It’s a small detail, but it points to where Miele – and kitchen appliances more broadly – seem to be headed: machines that don’t just perform a task, but figure out the best and most efficient way to do it.

The dishwasher can be programmed to run when energy costs are cheapest in your area.

Miele’s newly unveiled machine has other AI-powered features that encourage efficiency and performance.  The G8 features careful water and energy monitoring, trackable through Miele’s app. There’s also a smart detergent-dispensing system, first introduced by the brand in 2018, and a beefed-up hot-air drying system, which Miele says gets dishes bone-dry every time.

The camera paired with a smart detergent dispenser doles out just the right amount of soap.

Miele plans to roll out the Diamond G8 in the European market later this year as it considers a North American strategy, according to a spokesperson.

A retail price is still under wraps, but I expect it to land in the super-premium zone. For a top-performing dishwasher you can buy today, see our list of the best models in 2026.

Editors’ note: David Watsky’s travel costs for the IFA conference were covered by IFA. The judgments and opinions of CNET are our own.

David Watsky

Managing Editor / Home and Kitchen

David lives in Brooklyn where he's spent more than a decade covering all things edible, including meal kit services, food subscriptions, kitchen tools and cooking tips. David earned his BA from Northeastern and has toiled in nearly every aspect of the food business, including as a line cook in Rhode Island where he once made a steak sandwich for Lamar Odom. Right now he's likely somewhere stress-testing a blender or tinkering with a toaster. Anything with sesame is his all-time favorite food this week. See full bio