LG Refrigerator Review (2020), Innovative & Reliable
Though LG is generally thought of as a small appliance company, their innovative refrigerators combine stunning good looks with state-of-the-art technology to create a modern kitchen experience.
We have prepared this review so that you can easily select the ideal LG refrigerator that is suitable for your needs and your budget. We have covered all pertinent topics from LGs smart technology to their upscale conveniences and energy efficient systems. This way you will not miss out on the latest technology and know exactly what features you are most interested in.
Considering that LG offers over 90 different fridge models, following the guide below will make you confident about your selection.
All About LG Refrigerator Brand and Model Options
LG makes a variety of fridges at different price points and feature sets.
Door Styles
LG refrigerators come in five distinct styles to cater to everyones design style.
LG French Door refrigerators are designed to place the most frequently used items at eye level and the freezer items below. These types of fridges generally have the largest capacity, and LG does offer a Super-Capacity model with 30 cu. ft. of fridge space. French door fridges do generally cost slightly more than other door styles, but they incorporate the best and the newest technologies.
We ranked and compared the best French door refrigerators of 2020 in our round up. Make sure to check it out before making a purchase!
LG Side-by-Side refrigerators are designed to have the refrigerator on the right and the freezer on the left, and this style is the classic fridge design. The side-by-side model might not have the same stylishness as that of the French door design, but LG ensures the side-by-side models are still packed with a variety of features. LG even improved the side-by-side design with a model that has three doors instead of two.
LG Bottom Freezer refrigerators are designed with the refrigerator on top and a deep freezer on the bottom, which is similar to the French door design. Bottom freezers however, are smaller than the French door and side-by-side models, and are lighter in terms of features. Bottom freezers tend to be the ideal choice for thinner spaces.
LG Top Freezer refrigerators are designed with a single refrigerator door on the bottom and a freezer on top. The top freezer design makes the freezer the top priority, since it is easier to access. Top freezer designs, just like a bottom freezer, tend to be both smaller and light on features.
LG also offers two specialized refrigerators: Kimchi/Specialty Foods fridge, and a chest freezer.
Don't miss out on new designs and technologies. If you want to see what types of fridges are available in the market today check our our review.
LG Fridges: Counter-Depth and Standard Depth Selection
LG makes both standard depth as well as counter depth refrigerators.
Standard depth refrigerators (also known as full depth) are the more traditional style of fridge, and stick out about 5 to 6 inches from the counter space. Standard depth fridges generally range from 30 to 34 inches in depth, and they have more storage space than counter depth fridges.
Counter depth refrigerator designs fit flush with the cabinets in your kitchen and do not protrude from the cabinets. This way, you dont see the sides of the refrigerator. Counter depth refrigerators typically range from 25 to 30 inches in depth.
LG gives you the option to select a fridge that works the best in your kitchen. For example, if you are looking for a fridge that helps streamline your kitchen, go with the counter depth option. If you are looking for greater storage capacity and a more affordable fridge, go with the standard depth option.
It is always important to size your space before buying a new refrigerator. Take the extra time and measure multiple times to ensure that the fridge you are purchasing fits perfectly in your kitchen!
On average, a typical 36-inch wide, 70-inch high family size refrigerator has about 21-23 cu. ft. capacity as counter depth and 27-29 cu. ft. as full depth.
LG Signature
LG Signature fridges have a unique look, textured stainless finish, and a higher price tag. But what is the difference between regular LG models and the LG Signature Line beyond this?
The signature line provides the most advanced and professionally crafted LG fridges. For example, the design and development period for the LG Signature refrigerator is two times longer then other products. The number of engineers involved in the development of the signature line is also more than for other products four times more! Each LG signature model is also put through a rigorous 24-hour temperature inspection and has to meet the set LG Signature standard.
We also like the Auto Open Door. A smart sensor detector at the foot of the refrigerator that opens the door ajar when your hands are full.
Overall, the LG signature line provides the best form, fit, and finish of any LG refrigerator.
Why Should I Buy a LG Refrigerator? Unique Features of LG Refrigerators
One thing that helps to set LG apart is the unique features embedded into their refrigerators. LG focuses on the conveniences we want the most and the conveniences we didnt even know we needed.
InstaView - Knock to See What's in Your Fridge
LG refrigerators have many unique features that help set the brand apart. The first being the InstaView feature, which reduces the number of times the fridge door is open. This feature allows you to see what is inside your refrigerator by knocking twice on the glass door. This makes sure that no cold air escapes from your fridge, and also allows you to take an inventory of its contents.
Door-in-Door - Don't Let Cold Air Out
Another unique feature is the Door-in-Door, which is an outer door bin located in the main refrigerator door. This provides you access to frequently sought-after items without letting the inner refrigerators cold air out. This in turn helps keep the food in your fridge fresh for longer.
LG invented the door-in-door concept back in 2014 and released its first version in the US in 2015. Customer response to the design was overwhelmingly positive. So much so that Samsung quickly adopted the idea as "Food ShowCase Door" in its fridge lineup. Other US manufacturers were slow to catch on to the idea but starting 2018 we notice door-in-door frdiges across all manufacturers.
One main problem with this design was that the door of the fridge tends to a bit warmer compared to the back. So, placing frequently used, perishable items such as milk made sense from the marketing perspective but did not perform well in real life. Since 2017 LG and others improved on the door-in-door design to incorporate more metal surfaces in the interior and improved air circulation targeting the doors.
Craft Ice - Perfect for Long Drinks
Perhaps the most innovate LG feature for customers who enjoy specialty drinks is the ability to make spherical ice cubes. This round Craft Ice is designed to melt slower and chill more efficiently helping beverages taste their best.
Your refrigerator will also automatically make regular ice, ensuring that you never run out come party time! You can find the LG refrigerators with Craft Ice feature in this link.
Dual Ice Makers - Never Run Out of Ice
Did you ever invite guests and run out of ice in the middle of your party? The dual ice makers automatically produce ice, ensuring that you never run out. LGs dual ice makers have a dispenser for ice in the door and an ice maker in the freezer that accumulates ice over time. LG's ice makers can create three types of ice: standard ice cubes, crushed ice cubes, and the spherical Craft Ice.
Other User Centric Conveniences
LG refrigerators come with a variety of user centric conveniences that help you get the most out of your fridge.
First off, LG refrigerators are made with a full stainless steel body that is not only fingerprint proof but also scratch-resistant. Stainless steel refrigerators are also easy to clean.
Some LG models comes with a tall ice and water dispenser that allows you to fill any glass or bottle size. The measured fill feature also allows you to dispense exact amounts of filtered water (in ounces) in order to make sure you get the right amount every time. Once the dispenser has filled up your container with the desired amount, it shuts off automatically.
LG also offers convivences in terms of storage. The Custom Chill pantry provides a wide and deep pantry that is able to store a wide variety of foods. The panty is also available with different temperature settings that allow you store your food at just that right temperature.
LG refrigerators come wtih a Sabbath mode. When your refrigerator is in this mode all lights and electrical activity will be disabled when the door(s) to the refrigerator are opened.
Are LG refrigerators any good?
There are several essential factors you need to consider before buying a refrigerator. These have been treated in detail in our previous blog post on how to choose a good refrigerator.
LG makes dependable refrigerators with great features to make your life easy. Lets look at how LG refrigerators perform under these headings:
Reliability
LG refrigerators have received the most J.D. Power awards for kitchen appliances than any other manufacturer three years in a row. The J.D. Power 2019 Kitchen Appliance Satisfaction Study even showed that LG refrigerators were number one in reliability.
As if the J.D. Power awards were not enough to convince you about the reliability of an LG refrigeration, every fridge is backed by a 5-year parts and labor warranty to ensure that you get the best out of your fridge for years to come.
Cooling
LG refrigerators offer a variety of cooling methods that help to extend the life of produce and keep all foods fresh for longer.
LG Linear cooling helps to keep temperatures within 1F of the designated setting. This small temperature variation helps maintain food at the same freshness as originally bought or farmed. This cooling method also helps to maintain an uniform temperature throughout the fridge and reduces the temperature gap between different refrigerator compartments.
LG Smart cooling uses a variety of sensors and vents for total control of cooling, and this cooling method is specially designed to maintain optimal food storage conditions. This system also works hand-in-hand with LGs Inverter Linear Compressor and Dual Evaporator to quickly adjust the humidity and temperature levels.
LG Door cooling helps to deliver cool air to all areas of your refrigerator. Door cooling also helps bring the fridge to the desired temperature quickly after the doors are closed. This type of cooling adds two additional vents to the fridge to maintain powerful cold air flow.
LG FRESHSheild cooling uses cold air released from ducts at the top of the refrigerator to form a cold air barrier over your food.
Connectivity
Something that helps to set LG apart, is its use of features to create a smart appliance. LG uses an app called ThinQ to easily connect consumers with their fridge. Anytime. Anywhere.
ThinQ
Over half of LG refrigerator models are equip with Wifi. The use of Wifi allows users to initiate voice commands using Alexa and/or Google Assistant.
LG has also launched with very own app, ThinQ, that connects to a variety of LG appliances including select refrigerator models. Any refrigerator with ThinQ can be controlled via voice commands or using the app on your smart phone. ThinQ also evolves over time by learning your preferences and suggests preventive tips/provides advice. Essentially, the ThinQ helps to optimize your refrigerator performance and minimize your energy consumption.
ThinQ uses predictive technology to predict when your door is usually open or when you have a lot of food packed into the fridge. In these cases, ThinQ will run the Fresh Air Filter in Power Mode in order to keep food fresh. When you are less likely to open the door, ThinQ automatically runs the compressor in high-efficiency mode.
You can also use your ThinQ app to check exactly what is currently inside your refrigerator, so you dont miss anything on your trips to the grocery store. The app also can tell you when food is going to expire by recording the expiration dates.
Smart Diagnosis
A majority of LG refrigerator models come with Smart Diagnosis, which can be activated from the ThinQ app. Smart Diagnosis provides useful information for diagnosing and solving issues with your refrigerator.
Are LG refrigerators energy efficient and quiet?
Another reason to love LG refrigerators is the fact that they are energy efficient and ultra-quiet.
Most LG models are ENERGY STAR qualified, meaning they are certified to save energy without sacrificing features or functionality. Having the ENERGY STAR label allows you to both save money on your energy cost and help to protect our environment.
Some LG models even have LoDecibel Operation, which ensures that your refrigerator is quiet even if the compressor is running. LG ensures that your fridge will be rated 44 decibels to 48 decibels. Just for some context, a normal conversation at a distance of 3 ft away is rated at 60 decibels.
4 Best LG Refrigerators
Each LG refrigerator is equipped with unique features that help to sit it apart from others. In this review we considered reliability, quality, comfort, pricing, and the features they carry. Here are the top 4 LG refrigerator models currently on the market.
1) Best for Budget: LG LTCS24223S Top Freezer Refrigerator
33-inch 24 cu. ft. Top Freezer Refrigerator in Black Stainless Steel, Smooth White, and Stainless Steel
Though this fridge has a simplistic design, it does include some interesting features such as two humidity controlled crisper drawers. This model also includes a full width sliding pantry drawer to help organize your food storage.
This fridge also ranks high on popular review sites and provides users with a sophisticated yet functional refrigerator.
2) Best Bottom Freezer Fridge: LG LDCS24223S
33-inch 24.1 cu. ft. Bottom Freezer Refrigerator in Stainless Steel, and Smooth White
This simplistic refrigerator provides the largest capacity, 24 cu. ft of space to meet all of your storage needs. All of your food in this model is kept fresh using LGs Multi-Air Flow Freshness System that helps to maintain ideal humidity and temperature inside the refrigerator and freezer. This model also has a 10 year manufacturers limited warranty on the linear compressor.
3) Best for Budget French Door: LG LFC22770ST
30-inch 21.6 cu. ft. French Door Refrigerator in Stainless Steel
This elegant model features the French door design with a large capacity freezer on the bottom. Though this model only comes in one color, Stainless Steel, the fridge still looks elegant in any kitchen. Inside the refrigerator is premium LED lighting that illuminates all nooks and crannies and LGs Smart Cooling system reacts quickly to temperature fluctuations in order to keep your food fresher for longer.
The LFC22770ST recently replaced the ever so popular LG LFCS22520S model.
4) Best French Door: LG LMXC23796S Refrigerator
23 cu. ft. Smart wi-fi Enabled InstaView Door-in-Door Refrigerator in Stainless Steel, Black Stainless Steel, and Matte Black Stainless Steel
The most advanced of our top picks among LG refrigerator, is this sophisticated French door model that features an extra door located between the fridge and the freezer. InstaView Door-in-Door let's you see inside your refrigerator without letting any cold air out. This model also comes with the ability to use the ThinQ app, making this refrigerator the most technologically advanced out of our top choices.
Conclusion
LG offers the best of both worlds when it comes to refrigerators: sleek functional designs with high tech features. LG refrigerators are also backed with a 5 year warranty, ensuring that you enjoy your fridge for a long time. If you are looking for an energy efficient refrigerator that still contains all of the most technologically advanced features, an LG fridge might be the one for you.