Let’s Compare the Singer 4423 vs 44S: The 3 “Big” Differences Confirmed by Singer
Singer is a classic, reputable brand. With consistently high quality products it one of the best selling sewing machine brands of all time. They have produced many masterpieces over the years, including the brilliant Singer 4423 and the fantastic Singer 44S.
Once you start looking for a budget friendly, heavy duty sewing machine you are likely to come across these two models. And once you dig into the details you start to wonder what the difference is between them.
Well, originally the 44S was sold exclusively at Walmart. That is no longer the case. But is that the only reason for giving a different name to a nearly identical sewing machine model as the 4423? To identify that it’s a Walmart exclusive?
Well, we are here to tackle that question once and for all.
And the answer is….
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They are equally great machines! The Singer 4423 and 44S have the same features, the same measurements, and the same capabilities. So what gives?
Take a look at the SINGER 4423 here…
Singer 4423
Take a look at the SINGER 44S here…
Singer 44S
Similarities at a Glance
These machines have more similarities than differences. Taking a side by side look at the two, we immediately see that the Singer 4423 and 44S both have the following features:
- 23 built-in stitches
- 97 stitch applications
- One-step buttonhole
- Built-in needle threader
- Top drop in bobbin
- Drop feed
- Dial for selecting stitches
- Adjustable stitch length and width
- Adjustable presser foot by lever
- Heavy duty metal frame
- High speed stitching at 1100 stitches per minute
They have the same number of stitches, the same top drop-in bobbin, the same needle threader, and so on. Even the way that you work the foot presser is the same. They also both have a free arm, drop feed, and three needle positions.
They are basically Singer twins.
Which Has More Built-in Stitches?
So considering how alike they are it is no surprise that the 4423 and 44S both have 23 built-in stitches. This is suitable for both new and casual users, as they will not need a lot of stitches and even 23 may be way more than needed.
However, it is always good to know that you have a well-varied selection available to you. And both of these machines make it easy to choose which stitch you want and to use it.
Both of these have the most common and essential stitches, as well as a buttonhole stitch and decorative and stretch stitches so you will be set.
So, they are equal.
Which is Best for Speed?
If you are looking for speed you won’t find much difference here either. Both the Singer 4423 and 44S are high speed machines that can stitch up to 1100 stitches per minute.
So, they are equal.
Which Tackles Heavy Fabrics the Best?
The Singer 4423 and Singer 4S are both considered heavy duty machines.
Both the 4423 and the 44S can stitch heavy fabrics, anything ranging from light fabrics that you could tackle by hand with ease, to heavy denim or multilayers fabric.
The stitches for both machines can easily penetrate heavy denim, you won’t get the wear and tear you might expect from other machines by doing so.
It’s a no-lose situation because, again, they are equal.
Which is Easiest to Use?
Both of these machines are very close to call on how easy they are to use. This is no real surprise though. Both of these machines have easy-to-use automatic needle threaders.
When comparing the bobbin, they both have a drop-in bobbin with a clear cover, it is easy to use and to see the thread.
The bobbin also wounds up nicely on both machines and the rest of the unit complements the other features for the smooth stitches.
Both of these machines also have straightforward speed adjustments. Although they do not have a speed control button, you can adjust via foot pressure controls to slow down or speed up.
Yep, again, they are equal on this point.
Which is Noisier?
There is no real defining difference between these two when it comes to noise. They are both mechanical, heavy-duty machines that take on many tasks. Despite this, they are both fairly quiet for what they are.
They aren’t silent, or even close to whispering by a long shot, however, they are not as audible as some older sewing machines may be.
In other words, equal.
Which is More Versatile?
Both of these machines can handle whatever you throw at them, soft cloths won’t cause issues and neither will hardy fabrics or multi-layered fabrics either.
Both the Singer 4423 and 44S machines are used to garments, hand bags, home decor items like pillows and curtains, or even quilts and heavy drapery. While some of these items require a heavy duty machine, other don’t but some people prefer the versatility and low-vibration environment provided by an HD machine.
In short, the 4423 and 44S machines are equally versatile.
Which is More Stable?
There is no real difference between these machines when it comes to stability either. They are both made with heavy-duty internal metal frames, and they won’t even give the tiniest wobble if you use heavy fabrics.
These two are proper work-horses which is very evident from their excellent construction.
Equal!
Do They Have Limitations?
These are both very competent sewing machines, whatever way you look at it. To get the most out of them you need to be familiar with their features and what they can do, like plenty of things in the arts and crafting world.
Neither of these has a start/stop button, nor do they possess a speed controller. There is also no programmable needle up/down or any monogramming font.
Nevertheless, it really does depend on what you seek from these machines that decide if these things are limitations.
Equal on this front too.
Best for Cost
Since these machines have so much in common they are generally on sale in the same price range. At the time of this writing the 4423 was priced slightly lower than the 44S.
Even if there is a price difference, it will not be much and is therefore not defining in which is less expensive.
So What is the Difference?
We said it over and over. These machines are basically equal… save 3 small details.
- The Singer 4423 has an extra high presser foot lifter.
- The models sometimes come in slightly different colors (cosmetic difference, not a functional difference).
- The 4423 uses 84 watts of power while the 44S uses 120. This makes the 4423 a more energy efficient machine by a bit.
Also worth noting, the Singer 4423 has well over 12,000 reviews on Amazon, with 80% of them rating the machine a 5 out of 5 stars. That is pretty amazing. The 44S also has high reviews but less of them. Between the two, the 4423 shines a little brighter.
Initially the 44S was sold exclusively at Walmart. That’s no longer the case but that’s the reason for the exclusive model number even though it’s basically the same machine as the 4423.
What Do We Think is the Best?
Our vote goes with the Singer 4423 for the extra high presser foot and the slightly better efficiency. If you are going to get a heavy duty machine, you may as well get the highest presser foot you can to accommodate thick layers.
We are also sticklers for energy efficiency so this is a nice perk.
The bottomline though, is that sometimes you end up purchasing the best machine you can get your hands on. Like in the case of a world wide healthy pandemic that has inspired a renewed interest in sewing and thus created a huge demand that makes it challenging to find available machines for sale. In those times, if you find either of these machines, you can’t really go wrong. The sooner you get that machine, the sooner you can start sewing.
Wishing you healthy – and happy sewing!
