LG vs Samsung Smart Fridges: A Comprehensive comparison

Refrigerator technology has come a long way since the simple ice boxes of old. With the growing popularity of smart home systems in connecting various devices in your house, refrigerators are getting “teched-up.” LG and Samsung have several Smart Fridge units on the market. If you’re having trouble choosing which brand or model to use, then this article is definitely for you.

Below, we’ll provide a comparative overview of both LG and Samsung Smart Fridge units to help you decide which one fits your needs.

One of the foremost innovators of refrigerator technology, LG has been producing top-of-the-line fridges for over half a century. With the motto of “Life’s Good”, they’ve been creating appliances that embody the company’s vision. Their new line of Smart Fridges isn’t any different. They provide owners with amazing connectivity to complement any smart home setup.

Pros:

• Top models have Instaview screens
• Powerful Inverter compressor
• Door in door feature
• One-year parts and ten-year compressor warranty
• Cold water and ice dispensers
• Relatively larger capacity

Cons:

• Color choices are rather limited
• No digital screen panels
• Expensive models

SMARTHOME.News Average Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Average Ratings Around the Web: 4 of 5 Stars

Although more popular for their mobile phone line, Samsung also produces some of the best home and kitchen appliances on the market. Their entries into the Smart Fridge category reflects their high-tech standards when it comes to electronics.

The digital panel of their top-of-the-line Smart Fridge model gives you a tablet right on your fridge. If you’re looking for high-tech fridges for your smart home network then Samsung is a brand to look out for.

Pros:

• Digital panels in some models
• Energy Saving Digital Inverter compressor
• Four door storage
• One-year parts and ten-year compressor warranty
• Ice and cold water dispensers
• Relatively less expensive

Cons:

• No see-through door screen
• Relatively smaller capacity
• Limited color choices

SMARTHOME.News Average Rating: 3.8 of 5 Stars

Average Ratings Around the Web: 3.7 of 5 Stars

Below is a quick comparison table to allow you to see the differences between the smart refrigerator models:

LRMVS3006S 30 cu. ft. Smart Wi-Fi Enabled InstaView Door-in-Door

Perfect for those who want a large Smart Fridge with a whole lot of storage, the LRMVS3006S Instaview door in door model is a great choice for larger kitchens. The Instaview panel allows a quick view of the contents of your fridge without the need of opening it and losing all that cooling inside.

The door in door compartment also allows for extra storage for all the items that you want to keep cool. Combined with the large 30 cu. ft. capacity, this model is great for all but the largest of kitchen settings.

The ice and water dispenser also comes with a crushed or cubed ice setting depending on how you want to chill your beverage. There’s even an ice ball setting for the perfect accompaniment to alcoholic drinks. One of the few criticisms for this model is that sometimes the door takes a bit of effort to open, though it is a rare occurrence.

There is also a limited number of color options, so you’re stuck with the metallic high-tech design. This is great for modern style kitchens, but can clash with more traditional ones.

Pros:

• Instaview panel
• Door in door compartment
• Larger Storage
• Crushed or cubed ice setting

Cons:

• Rather limited color selection
• Door can sometimes be hard to open

URNTC2306N LG SIGNATURE 23 cu. ft. Smart WI-FI ENABLED InstaView Door-in-Door

Considered the latest model in their line of Smart Fridge technology, the URNTC2306N LG Signature is certainly at the cutting edge when it comes to fridges.

The fridge is equipped with a light sensor at the bottom which enables you to automatically open the doors with a simple brush of your feet. The freezer doors themselves also come with an auto open function, gently sliding them out whenever the doors open. This makes taking things in and out of the fridge a very smooth experience.

The URNTC2306N LG Signature also comes with voice controls that opens the doors with a simple spoken command. It’s a very convenient feature, especially if you have your hands full with groceries or food containers.

The pantry has the custom chill feature that enables you to customize the temperature. This is great when you want to keep items chilled or frozen but don’t want the rest of your fridge at too low a temperature. All these features come at a rather high price point, however.

The Instaview screen present in all LG Smart Fridges provide a quick view of the contents. The door in door compartment gives you more storage space for your perishable items.

The URNTC2306N LG Signature is a bit smaller in terms of capacity compared to most LG models. It also only comes in one metallic color which makes trying to match your kitchen a bit of a struggle.

Pros:

• Auto open door and drawer feature
• Voice controls
• Pantry has customizable temperature
• Instaview screen
• Door in door shelves

Cons:

• Very expensive
• Comes in one color
• Relatively smaller capacity

SRFVC2406S LG STUDIO 24 cu. ft. Smart Wi-Fi Enabled InstaView Door-in-Door

Made for those that can’t accommodate the 30 cu. ft. model, the SRFVC2406S LG Studio offers a lot of the features of its larger cousin.

The slim space ice systems give owners a handy water and ice dispenser without taking up too much space in the fridge itself. This is ideal as the 24 cu. ft. capacity is a bit on the smaller side relative to most other LG Smart Fridge models.

The ice and cold water dispenser itself can provide cubed or crushed ice right on the door panel. Round craft ice can be found inside the freezer compartment for cooling alcoholic drinks.

The Instaview door screen allows owners to see the contents of their fridge without having to open the doors. The door in door compartment helps the smaller capacity by providing more storage areas for your perishable items.

As with most Smart Fridges, it comes in only one metallic design which limits color matching in traditional kitchens.

Pros:

• Slim space ice system
• Cubed, crushed, and round ice
• Instaview door screen
• Door in door feature

Cons:

• Smaller capacity for price
• One color only

LUPXC2386N LG SIGNATURE 23 cu. ft. Smart Wi-Fi Enabled InstaView Door-in-Door

Another of LG's high-end Smart Fridge models, the LUPXC2386N LG Signature has a lot of accessibility features that make it a great addition to any smart home setup.

The bottom of the fridge has an auto open feature that needs only a quick swipe of the feet in order to deploy it. The freezer drawers slide gently forward whenever the doors are opened to give owners easy access to stored items.

The custom chill pantry allows for separate temperature settings in case you need to store food at lower temperatures than the rest of the fridge. This is perfect for storing meat products that have to be frozen or kept chilled.

LG’s Smart ThinQ software gives users the ability to control the temperature settings remotely via mobile. It provides alerts in case the doors are left open, and lets you adjust the temperature even when you’re not at home. These features come with a steep price point though, as it’s on the expensive side.

The Instaview screen gives you a quick view of your fridge’s contents to reduce the need to keep opening the doors. It’s door in door feature also makes up for the relatively smaller capacity by providing more storage space.

As with majority of LG Smart Fridge models, there is only one metallic color design, and no additional choices in case you’re trying to color match a kitchen.

Pros:

• Auto open door and drawer function
• Custom chill pantry
• Smart ThinQ remote management
• Instaview screen
• Door in door feature

Cons:

• Relatively small capacity
• Quite expensive
• One color only

RF23J9011SG/AA 23 cu. ft. Counter Depth 4-Door Flex

Made for those who want a Smart Fridge but are on a slightly lower budget, the RF23J9011SG/AA Counter Depth 4-Door Flex is a great choice.

The fridge itself has four independent doors that actually enable four different customizable temperature settings. This is great if you want more fresh food space rather than freezer storage as you can adapt as the need arises. The triple cooling system uses three evaporators to maintain the temperature setting for your entire fridge. This ensures constant compressor operation and saves energy in the long run.

The adjustable shelves also enable you to store taller items easily, giving your fridge better utility than fixed shelves do. In comparison to most models, it has a smaller 23 cu. ft. capacity, but it’s still enough to store a lot of items comfortably.

A big concern is that the ice dispenser has a tendency to freeze up, requiring defrosting to use it again. Operation can also be a bit noisy whenever ice is being made. It’s also limited to either stainless, or black stainless steel designs.

Pros:

• Relatively less expensive
• Four customizable temperature settings
• Triple cooling system
• Adjustable shelves

Cons:

• Relatively smaller capacity
• Ice maker has tendency to freeze up
• Can be a bit noisy
• Limited color selection

RF28N9780SR/AA 28 cu. ft. Family Hub 4-Door Flex

For those who want a large Smart Fridge with digital features, look no further than the RF28N9780SR/AA Family Hub 4-Door Flex.

Made with a digital panel that allows you to store digital recipes, watch videos, or even make phone calls, it’s a perfect example of high-tech Smart Fridge technology. Not that it enhances storage functions, but having the equivalent of a tablet on your fridge is a handy feature.

The large 28 cu. ft. capacity is also a plus, giving you more storage space for your items. Plus, the adjustable shelves make stashing taller items a breeze.

The Flexzone feature also helps in storing fresh food items as you can convert a freezer drawer to fresh food storage with the touch of a button. This adaptability is great for those times when you decide to get either more frozen or fresh food and need to store them in a jiffy. The triple cooling system uses three evaporators to maintain the set temperatures in each individual compartment.

A minor criticism is that the ice dispenser has a tendency to freeze over if left unattended for long periods. This means it has to be defrosted before it can be used again. It’s something that the users need to be aware of before purchasing. Also, as with most Smart Fridges, color selections are rather limited, at either stainless or black stainless steel.

Pros:

• Larger capacity
• Digital panel
• Flexzone convertible compartment
• Adjustable shelves
• Triple cooling system

Cons:

• Ice maker can freeze up
• Limited color selection

RF22K9381SG/AA 22 cu. ft. Food Showcase Counter Depth 4-Door Flex

Perfect for smaller smart kitchen setups, the RF22K9381SG/AA Food Showcase Counter Depth 4-Door Flex is a Smart Fridge for those with limited spaces.

Although still large at 22 cu. ft. of storage, it’s smaller than other models on this list. The presence of adjustable shelves and the Flexzone feature does help though. Adjustable shelves allow storage of even taller items. The Flexzone convertible compartments on the other hand give you the choice of an expanded fresh item compartment rather than an additional freezer.

The triple cooling system that comes with Samsung Smart Fridge models maintain the set temperature in the fridge and keep things evenly chilled. An outdoor food showcase door gives easy access when you want to quickly grab ready-to-go items like cold drinks.

A rather common criticism is how the ice dispenser tends to freeze up. This is a common complaint with Samsung Smart Fridges. If you’re using the ice dispenser, never leave it unattended for long periods to prevent over freezing.

There’s also the limited color selection which only gives you the choice of either stainless or back stainless steel.

Pros:

• Flexzone convertible compartments
• Adjustable shelves
• Triple cooling system
• Outer door food showcase

Cons:

• Relatively smaller capacity
• Ice maker has tendency to freeze up
• Limited color selection

RF28K9380SG/AA 28 cu. ft. Food Showcase 4-Door Flex
Great for those looking for a larger capacity fridge, the RF28K9380SG/AA Food Showcase 4-Door Flex offers no-fuss features for smart home enthusiasts.

With 28 cu. ft., this model provides more storage than most of Samsung’s other Smart Fridge units. Along with the adjustable shelves and the convertible Flexzone compartments, it’s sure to provide you with all the fridge space you need.

Adjustable shelves make stashing tall bottles and containers easy, and the Flexzone feature lets you choose whether you want fresh food or freezer storage with the touch of a button. If you want something kept in the fridge, the RF28K9380SG/AA Food Showcase 4-Door Flex will adapt to your needs.

The triple cooling system keeps set temperatures constant, even if each compartment is set to different settings.

As with other Samsung models, there’s been criticism on how the ice dispenser tends to freeze up when left unattended for long periods. It’s something to keep in mind before you purchase a unit. There’s also limited selections for those who want a color coordinated kitchen.

Pros:

• Larger capacity
• Food showcase
• Adjustable shelves
• Flexzone convertible compartments
• Triple cooling

Cons:

• Ice maker tends to over freeze
• Limited color selection

 
Step by Step Feature Comparison

Here is a quick view of how each brand compares on their features:

Below are some of the more common questions regarding LG and Samsung Smart Fridges.

1. What can you do with a Smart Fridge?
   Smart Fridges are a great addition to any smart home setup. Connectivity-wise, you can control the settings of your fridge via mobile even when you’re not at home. Smart Fridges also give warnings via mobile if and when the door is left open or when temperature settings aren’t being met.
   Some Smart Fridge models have digital panels that allow you to watch videos, play music, store digital recipes, and suchlike. Feature-wise, there really isn’t a whole slew of options when it comes to fridges, but if you have a smart home network, the extra features are always handy.
2. How do I set up my LG Smart Fridge for Wi-Fi?
   Connecting your LG Smart Fridge to your smart home network is a simple process. Once the fridge itself has been set up and turned on, download the Smart ThinQ app on your mobile device. It’s available for both Android and iOS. Once done, follow these steps:
   • Launch the Smart ThinQ app on your mobile device.
   • Once you agree with the terms of use, create an account, or sign in if you already have one.
   • Tap on + at the top of the screen then choose Refrigerator from the menu.
   • Follow the on-screen prompts on your mobile device.
   • Press and hold the Wi-Fi button on your fridge to connect it to the network.
   • On the Smart ThinQ app, tap on the arrow button.
   • Tap on verify connection then select your network name.
   • Tap on Connect.
   • It may take a while for your fridge to sync with your app. Once it does, it is now set up.
   • Refer to your manual or the LG Quick Start guide for more detailed information.
3. How do I set up my Samsung Smart Fridge?
   If you want to connect your Samsung Smart Fridge to the Smartthings app, then the process is relatively straightforward. Just download it on your mobile device, either for Android or iOS, then follow these steps:
   • Non-Family Hub Smart Fridge
     • Open the Smartthings app on your mobile device.
     • Tap on Start, then tap on ‘Allow all the time’. Wait for the app to scan for your fridge.
     • Tap on the + icon.
     • Tap on Device.
     • Tap on Refrigerator.
     • Tap on Samsung.
     • Tap on Refrigerator, then tap on Start to allow the app to detect your Smart Fridge.
     • You’ll be asked to choose a room and location for your fridge. Once you’ve made a selection tap on Next.
     • On your fridge door, press the Door Alarm button.
     • Press the Fridge button until AP is shown in the temperature display. Your fridge should appear on the Smartthings app.
     • On the app, choose and connect to your Wi-Fi network.
     • Once connected, tap on Done.
   • Family Hub Smart Fridge
     • Open your Smartthings app.
     • Tap on Start, then tap on ‘Allow all the time’ to enable detection.
     • Tap on the + button.
     • Tap on Device.
     • Tap on Refrigerator.
     • Tap on Samsung.
     • Tap on Family Hub, then tap on Next.
     • Once registered, tap on Next.
     • On the Family Hub panel tap on Apps, then open the Settings.
     • Tap on Connections, then tap on Easy Connection.
     • Tap on Connect.
     • Wait for the app to register the fridge, then tap on OK.
     • Choose your Wi-Fi network then tap on Connect. Your Smart Fridge should now be in the Family Hub.
4. How do I use Smart Diagnosis on LG Smart Fridges?
   Smart Diagnosis lets you know if something is wrong with your Smart Fridge without having to have a technician personally look at the appliance. This can be done by: 
   • On your Smart Fridge
     • Call the service center. They will then ask you to use the Smart Diagnosis feature on your fridge.
     • Hold the lock button on the control panel for 3 seconds.
     • Open the right fridge door once the panel is locked.
     • On the top right hinge of the fridge, locate the Smart Diagnosis label.
     • The service center will ask you to hold your phone’s mouthpiece to the Smart Diagnosis speaker.
     • Press the Freezer button for 3 seconds.
     • Wait for the beep.
     • Wait for the transmission to display End on the control panel.
     • Speak to the service center for further instructions.
   • On the Smart ThinQ app
     • Open the app, then tap on Settings.
     • Tap on Smart Diagnosis.
     • Choose Smart Diagnosis from the menu and view the results. 
5. How do I customize my Samsung Smart Fridge Panel?
   If your fridge has a digital panel, you can customize the items shown by adding apps or widgets to it. The Family Hub itself operates on Samsung’s proprietary Samsung Tizen OS and not on Android, so various apps may be different depending on your location.
   To add apps to the Hub, just tap on the Apps button on the panel screen. The Hub will display all the available applications you can use. Tap and hold on a particular app to place it on your home screen. To remove an app on the Home screen, just tap and hold on the app, then choose delete.
   Wallpaper can be changed by tapping on Settings on the Home Screen. Choose Display from the menu then select Home Screen Wallpaper. Select an image from the menu and it will automatically be set as your wallpaper image.

LG and Samsung are considered some of the best manufacturers of smart appliances on the market. Their Smart Fridge lines are sure to enhance any smart home setup for those who want connectivity and accessibility for their living spaces. We hope that this article has given you an idea of how both brands compare with each other, and helped you choose between the two.

Do you have experiences regarding LG or Samsung Smart Fridges? Do you have opinions on the models given in this article? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.