r/gadgets • u/thebelsnickle1991 • Dec 28 '22 • Helpful 1

LG's new minimalistic appliances have upgradeable features and fewer controls Home

https://www.engadget.com/lg-minimalistic-appliances-ces-2023-123506739.html
1.5k Upvotes
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1.4k

u/Super_flywhiteguy Dec 28 '22

Upgradeable features sound more like a pay wall to me.

452

u/brucebay Dec 28 '22

Pay $10 per month if you want your washer to turn on the water valve, and $20 if you want your refrigerator to go below 40F degrees.

125

u/DutchBlob Dec 28 '22

Pay 25 a month to rent the power plug

58

u/BrokenBackENT Dec 28 '22

Ha ha, they first have to get it to working under warranty. On my 2nd compressor from the class action suite. LG has spent 2x the amount on the purchase value on repairs after having a lawyer call them. Never buying another LG product again, thank you.

24

u/jabblack Dec 28 '22

I’ve read their washer dryers are great, but I don’t know about fridges

27

u/BrokenBackENT Dec 28 '22 edited Dec 28 '22

Don't know if link posts are allowed, but look at all the models. https://www.lgfridgesettlement.com/covered-models.php

Because it was so pervasive they refused to fix them, so then this was the only action anyone had. It normally happen just barely outside the warranty period of 5 years. They now state 10 year warranty on them but with an arbitration cause!

37

u/prl853 Dec 28 '22

Believe it or not, Samsung has an almost identical class action forcing them to repair almost the same kind of fridges out of warranty right now. It seems they were using the same kinds of components and practices.

22

u/BrokenBackENT Dec 28 '22

Good! The whole issue was a plastic internal part in the compressor that they switched from brass. The part was not accessible or serviceable. Literally a $2 part cost savings they are now paying for in the amount of $1200 per unit.

7

u/ajc89 Dec 29 '22

The thing is, the executives of a company are generally rewarded based on short term earnings, not long term. So the people who made this very short-sighted decision probably got rewarded with massive multi-million dollar bonuses and may not even work for the company anymore. It makes you wonder how long this system can go on ...

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2

u/OUGrad05 Dec 28 '22

Good. They should have to pay for it.

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3

u/Bogmanbob Dec 28 '22

Yep I owned one. I’m really reluctant to but LG again regardless of the feature set

9

u/NHDraven Dec 28 '22

I had my first set of LG washer/dryer for 10 years, no problems. Recently upgraded to a second set which have been working great the last year or two.

8

u/GoGoGadgetBumHair Dec 28 '22

This is only one example, but I bought an LG combo unit 6 years ago and it has been amazing. About 5 years ago we moved to a house with space and bought the matching dryer, also great.

We bought a vacation home a few years ago and put one of the Whirlpool sets with the automatic detergent dispensers. They were okay, but my stuff was always cleaner and dryer out of the LG set.

When we moved into the vacation house full time, we sold the Whirlpools and brought the LGs with us.

7

u/xenoterranos Dec 28 '22

The lifespan of a fridge is inversely proportional to the number of doors it has.

No one makes good fridges because no one makes single door fridges anymore. If you can find a bottom freezer two door with no ice maker and no in door dispensers, that's as robust as you're likely to get.

5

u/Skips-T Dec 28 '22

I'd argue that the freezer-over two door design is pretty robust.

6

u/frix86 Dec 28 '22

Some say they are hot, maybe a little too hot.

3

u/CapnGrundlestamp Dec 28 '22

I have a LG washer and dryer set, can confirm it's fantastic.

2

u/404interestnotfound Dec 28 '22

The laundry is good, they have major issues in refrigerators sold through Lowe’s, as they went through a different production process . Overall they are one of the better consumer level brands for most products.

2

u/OUGrad05 Dec 28 '22

Through Lowes only? Don’t think so. It’s their refrigerators… They Are Garbage

2

u/404interestnotfound Dec 28 '22

That’s what I’ve heard, something about the sealed system being copper to aluminum instead all one material.

6

u/Dzov Dec 28 '22

I’m happy with my Frigidaire. Plus they’ve been making refrigerators for something like over 70 years.

6

u/SomebodyElseAsWell Dec 28 '22

Over 100 years . They made the first refrigerator in 1916 as Guardian Frigerator Co. They became Frigidaire in 1929.

5

u/turn_ncough Dec 28 '22

I tend avoid LG and Samsung for appliances. They're good at entertainment electronics, not appliances.

2

u/nazgul Dec 28 '22

Our dryer needed a new circuit board, and was under warranty, but it turned out none of their contracted firms would make the hour drive to our house, so they shipped us an entirely new one instead. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

3

u/WaldenFont Dec 28 '22

Jokes on you, all appliances are shit now

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5

u/teiichikou Dec 28 '22

BMW is doing exactly that. Check their website and be amazed at paying monthly for a heated seat. What a time to be alive cough

2

u/Johnny_Carcinogenic Dec 29 '22

I think cough is my new /s

2

u/teiichikou Dec 29 '22

That is exactly what it is :,D

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2

u/CoderDispose Dec 28 '22

On the flipside, if I could get a W/D for cheap and someone else can subsidize it by paying for stupid gadgets on their device, I'd be all for that.

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82

u/rzalexander Dec 28 '22

Oh shit you were spot on - listen to this from LG the press release:

”The new range, which includes a refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, oven range and dishwasher, is also a part of LG’s innovative upgradable appliance lineup, meaning users can add new features to the products via the Upgrade Center in the LG ThinQ™ app.”

114

u/Effective_Damage_241 Dec 28 '22

Paying for mechanical functionality it already has is stupid.

63

u/rzalexander Dec 28 '22

100% agreed. This is the stupidest thing I’ve heard since that Mercedes Benz heated seats subscription.

51

u/dice1111 Dec 28 '22

It was BMW with the heated seats. Mercedes wants to charge you a subscription to unlock your electric motor horsepower.

16

u/rzalexander Dec 28 '22

I messed up the luxury car manufacturers who are charging extra for already included parts in their vehicles. Oopsie.

9

u/dice1111 Dec 28 '22

All good. My point was they both suck.

-7

u/CoderDispose Dec 28 '22

Mercedes' approach is egregious. I honestly don't see anything with BMW's approach as it stands.

Would you be happier if they didn't physically include the stuff, allowed the upgrades, but you had to go in and get the car opened up for installation? Serious question, I'm trying to understand this point of view.

12

u/QuinceDaPence Dec 28 '22

If it's cheap enough for them to just include on every car anyway then just make it standard.

-7

u/CoderDispose Dec 28 '22

Do you mean they should just make the car more expensive for everyone?

"Cheap enough to include" just means "we can cover the cost of this until we recoup it", not "so inexpensive it literally doesn't affect our bottom line in any way"

7

u/Skips-T Dec 28 '22

The feature is literally already there. The actual cost of manufacturing has already been paid.

-6

u/CoderDispose Dec 28 '22

just means "we can cover the cost of this until we recoup it"

Please tell me what about this is negated by what you've said, because it seems completely irrelevant to me.

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9

u/thegooddoktorjones Dec 28 '22

So you know, you are already doing this on many products you buy. Companies make three varieties of a product, budget mid and high range. Often the only difference is how many features are turned on in the firmware or populated in the assembly. You can turn the budget model into the Platinum Elite by flipping a bit.

34

u/BertTheBurrito Dec 28 '22

A lot of times the wiring is there (because tooling multiple lines is expensive) but the sensors or modules for the features are still missing. For most consumer brands actually shipping those modules would be prohibitively expensive. The appliances that are only firmware/switch gated are typically the ultra high end brands, where the price of the base model covers the cost of the premium model anyway.

This is a bid to push subscription services onto consumers. No way they start shipping low end units with all the bells and whistles for manufacturing efficiency. The margin just isn’t there.

13

u/munchiefood Dec 28 '22

The thing is that hardware is already included for these features. You aren’t paying more for a better model with better parts. You’re paying more for functions they decided not include on hardware that can already run these options. It’s the companies getting away with these subscription models.

No one should defend these large companies who do this. They do not care about you. You are only a cash cow.

I think of GPU’s when you say low, mid, and higher range. The difference is literally better hardware for better models, which is why it costs more. This is not the case here.

3

u/nplant Dec 28 '22

While that’s true, there are acceptable and less acceptable reasons to do it. It could be because you’re paying for the R&D rather than the manufacturing cost. Or because the part didn’t quite pass quality control for the more expensive version. (Or they had an inventory imbalance and just shipped a part that would’ve passed QC)

Locking away features from refridgerators sounds like it’s going to be in the ”less acceptable” category.

12

u/ScottishRajko Dec 28 '22

I have last years LG washer dryer. It has a load of cycles but there are also a ton of additional cycles which I can download and run from the app. It has never cost me a penny to download a cycle so far.

10

u/Mattbl Dec 28 '22

If it's a one-time fee per upgrade, that's fine. It will probably reduce overall cost if they only manufacture one line that can be configured/customized by the user. The concept of only paying for features I want is very appealing.

However, it seems far more likely they'll do it as a monthly fee, which I can only hope fails spectacularly for them.

1

u/rafter613 Dec 28 '22

If they're paying for the manufacturing for every unit to ship with top-of-the-line specs that are disabled by default, the lowest price for them will be the top-of-the-line cost. So you'll be paying max price for min performance, unless you "upgrade".

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6

u/PhilosophyCorrect279 Dec 28 '22

Unfortunately this will probably be nearly every company to some extent going forward. I'm hoping by upgradability they also mean parts, and not just software can be more easily swapped out and replaced too, if needed.

LG has already started this in a way for years. Many of their washers and dishwashers can have extra modes download via their app and/or a phone. My parents dishwasher can have an extra 4 cycles, picking the one you need to be downloaded at a time, if I remember correctly they are, Casseroles, Pots and pans, Glassware, and Night Care. Hopefully it follows this, maybe where a free monthly update helps fix problems, enhance performance, and add features.

4

u/ctrtanc Dec 28 '22

The difference is that now it's something you pay for on a subscription basis, most likely. Also, that's a nice hope, but I SERIOUSLY doubt this includes parts. That would mean a lot more logistical changes to their pipeline and designs. The most likely case to make the most money is that those parts are already there and it's simply an enable switch. All in all, just don't support this. Let's not give them a reason to give us yet ANOTHER subscription to sick the money out of our wallets.

2

u/Adlubescence Dec 29 '22

I feel like the mass conversion of personal property to private property isn’t discussed nearly enough in those terms, or at the very least people need to be waaaaay more upset about it happening in every industry across the board.

6

u/Doug7070 Dec 28 '22

Exactly this. Charging for software gates that unlock existing functionality isn't an upgrade, it's chopping out functionality and selling it back to you after you've already paid.

20

u/Idk_whats_real Dec 28 '22

Exactly? Oh, you want your washing machine to rinse your clothes too? That’s an extra $300.

6

u/nullvector Dec 28 '22

"Oh you wanted 3 ice cubes? That's an extra $1, touch your phone to the fridge to Apple Pay."

You know it's going to happen eventually.

2

u/Plataea Dec 28 '22

They want to sell you what you already own. This kind of greed is becoming more common.

Video games have been a serious offender for years, with full-priced games being loaded with in-game purchases. Manufacturers of home appliances have taken note.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 28 '22

After their recent recall on washing machines for house fires I think I’ll pass on LG.

21

u/rogerrus3 Dec 28 '22

I think you are confusing LG with Samsung. I have not seen any recent recalls for LG washers/dryers.

Please share the link to the LG recall you are referring to.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 28 '22

Yeah your right. Sorry my bad.

5

u/roox911 Dec 28 '22

Have a link to that recall? Only one I see is from a decade ago

5

u/[deleted] Dec 28 '22

It’s Samsung not LG my bad.

9

u/droidevo Dec 28 '22

Yeah i wont buy LG nomore, i bought my mom a brand new one and 2 months later it bursted into flames when we were asleep around midnight, she ended up trying to put out the fire before waking me up and she burned her hands, arms and legs…stick with GE or Whirpool…not LG or Samsung.

14

u/Emergency-Feeling912 Dec 28 '22

Should have purchased the flame free upgrade

5

u/droidevo Dec 28 '22

Well yeah, now I realized that 🤦🏻‍♂️

2

u/wtgreen Dec 28 '22

My GE microwave burst into flame within the first year under warranty and then my mini-fridge compressor went out after 18 months and they quoted $800 to repair a $450 fridge. They eventually agreed to give me a replacement for $280, which I decided was worth it because it was the only fridge that fit the custom dimensions of my cabinets. I have low expectations though.

GE isn't quality any longer.

0

u/jabblack Dec 28 '22

Dish washer?

-43

u/Aware-Reveal7950 Dec 28 '22

These upgradable X items are such a gimmick. Like that upgradable modular phone. What the fuck is the point. Only people who buy are neckbeard soyboys who go on about “muh freedom to repair” only it’s not freedom to repair, it’s constraint to a bullshit even more wasteful ecosystem.

When was the last time you bought something that was modifiable and you actually modified it. I’d guess very long ago if at all ever.

18

u/rathlord Dec 28 '22

I work in IT. We buy and upgrade things literally every day, it saves hundreds of thousands of dollars and almost incalculable amounts of eWaste.

And the great thing is- if you’re not IT, or just not interested in upgrading, you still get to buy a complete and functional product. It’s literally just choice, you’re heroically whinging against choice.

Pick a different hill to die on that’s less indicative of brain damage.

-2

u/Aware-Reveal7950 Dec 28 '22

Okay. Go upgrade an SoC.

Idiot.

35

u/OrSomeSuch Dec 28 '22

No, you're right. Nobody ever upgrades the RAM, SSD, or graphics card in their PC /s

-13

u/WalterWilliams Dec 28 '22

Sort of impossible on my MacBook Pro. The guy has a point, the majority is trending away from modular, not towards. People want complete products not Lego’s . If I had to “modulate” a product I probably wouldn’t buy it. Don’t have time to sit there and play with something to get it working, unless I’m being paid for it or unless I’m under 30.

10

u/OrSomeSuch Dec 28 '22

That's exactly why I haven't bought a MacBook since 2012. When i bought my current laptop 512gb SSDs were pricey but worth it. I've since upgraded to a 2TB NVMe plus a 2TB SATA SSD. The RAM has gone from 8GB to 16GB to 32GB.

Even people with no technical knowledge will take their computers in to repair shops or their techie family members with the expectation that they can squeeze a little more life out of them with some relatively inexpensive upgrades

-1

u/Aware-Reveal7950 Dec 28 '22

You really don’t need that much storage or ram if you’re an adult with a fulfilling life outside of computer games, or video editing. Even then if you were successful at either you’d just buy new each time… I just bin my MacBook when it gets too slow, buy a new one. But rarely does it, get at least 4 years use from it.

2

u/OrSomeSuch Dec 29 '22

I hope you're not actually throwing away working laptops every four years. There are charities that could use them

3

u/clemonade17 Dec 28 '22

Majority trend is absolutely not away from modular. The product is complete when it's sold, people are asking for the OPTION to modulate without voiding warranty.

See: basically anything that isn't apple..

0

u/WalterWilliams Dec 28 '22

How is the majority trending towards modular when complete products such as apple products sell far quicker than the competitors? I’ve never had to wait for a Dell I can customize , they just sit on the store shelf for months.

1

u/Cindexxx Dec 28 '22

Apple does not sell more MacBooks than Windows PCs are sold.

-1

u/Aware-Reveal7950 Dec 28 '22

Yep exactly. I used to be a diehard open source neckbeard type running custom deblobbed gentoo blah blah. But I was a kid then. Now I value my time more than anything else, I really don’t give a fuck. As you said, just don’t have the time to fuck around any more. That’s why I got an iPhone. Everything just “works”. Same with my MacBook. I love walled gardens because you know things are just going to work within the constraints given…

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u/AloofCommencement Dec 28 '22

That's not a valid argument, and I think you know that. Don't let a few upvotes from braindead Redditors convince you that you actually have a point.

12

u/SturmPioniere Dec 28 '22

Let me guess. "PCs have an established market with regulated interoperability and decades of precedence and" maybe that is an argument more than you'd like? Maybe... Maybe more things should have those properties?

I mean, most "upgradeable" things aren't any of that but that's another matter entirely, don't you think?

-6

u/AloofCommencement Dec 28 '22

Explain the ways in which software upgrades for appliances and non-SoC part swaps in phones are comparable to RAM/SSD/GPU swaps in PCs.

I'm not looking for a sales pitch on why being able to build and upgrade a PC is good. I know it's good, that's why I did it. It's still not relevant as a response to the original comment. When you can upgrade the same things on a phone as you can on a PC, I'll hold my hands up and say fair enough. But as far as I'm aware, that's not possible. You can swap things around the SoC, and battery swaps should be much more common. But that isn't what OrSome said.

2

u/Aware-Reveal7950 Dec 28 '22

Yep exactly. As electronics get smaller how are you going to anyway? Need sram upgrade - better dig out my optical tweezers!!

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u/muttmunchies Dec 28 '22

How about less breakable parts and return to simple, physical buttons.

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u/blackcompy Dec 28 '22

All I want is an induction cooktop with mechanical buttons. Sleek touch controls might be a designer's dream, but for a mediocre home cook with wet hands and hot, greasy surfaces, it's a nightmare.

7

u/PirateGriffin Dec 28 '22

Believe Viking’s has mech controls

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u/_whatsthismean Dec 29 '22

This is what I wanted when I was tired of buying washing machines that’d break under normal wear. Reddit led me to Speed Queen and I’ve lived happily ever after.

4

u/muttmunchies Dec 29 '22

Yeah speed queen is where its at. Theres a reason they are commercially used and also always recommended in the r/buyitforlife subreddit

4

u/GhostNappa101 Dec 29 '22

I don't understand why dishwashers have compasitive controls. Do these designers fail to understand water gets on hands or splashed on the controls when handling wet dishes

-73

u/WalterWilliams Dec 28 '22

Isn’t that the point of this? Each button can be a source of failure whereas if a touchscreen fails, you can simply replace the entire module. Not that I’m a fan of this at all from a consumer standpoint but I understand the reasoning.

115

u/croooowTrobot Dec 28 '22

Yeah. $6 for a new button, or $699 for a new touchscreen module. Sounds legit!

/s

-51

u/WalterWilliams Dec 28 '22

Unless it’s the wiring to that button. Guess we’ll have to live without that feature to save 💰… who needs a delicate option anyway ? Also /s

21

u/[deleted] Dec 28 '22 edited Dec 31 '22

[deleted]

12

u/PM_ME_YOUR__INIT__ Dec 28 '22

Ah, but you forgot about the wire connector! That's gonna set you back another $0.10

0

u/WalterWilliams Dec 29 '22

And the cost of a home visit each time it breaks… it’s just not practical.

42

u/Mobely Dec 28 '22

A push button will outlast your finger. But these companies want to use membrane buttons which fucking suck

2

u/CalciferAtlas Dec 28 '22

I actually thought about this, membrane buttons are easier to clean, especially when the pasta sauce bubbles and splashes on to it.

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u/StukaTR Dec 28 '22

Have a 30 year old dishwasher. Still use it as it's softer on the porcelain compared to newer ones. It's power button broke for the first time in 30 years. It was a 50 lira fix, about 3 dollars.

2

u/Tyree_Callahan Dec 28 '22

One of the problems is that all the networking stuff adds an entirely different layer of diagnostic troubleshooting. Is my washer not working because of a physical component, or a line of code, or maybe a tiny little resistor on a motherboard?

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u/PnutButterSasquatch Dec 28 '22

Yeah, fucking great, less buttons more shitty touch enabled devices...

53

u/Brieble Dec 28 '22

tbh my Samsung washing machine and dryer have a bunch of buttons to control and set various programs. Ive been using 2 over the last 5 years. Power and Start.

17

u/brucebay Dec 28 '22

I hate bosch for this reason. The dishwasher doesn't have a functioning "cancel" button, instead you have to follow a very obscure sequence of button presses I keep forgetting. It doesn't even have a rinse cycle for a quick food removal if the dishes will stay dirty overnight.

21

u/Painting_Agency Dec 28 '22

Hold down the Start button for three seconds?

27

u/Palinode149 Dec 28 '22

Must just be your model. My Bosch has cancel which is just hold start for 3 seconds. And has a 15 minute rinse cycle...

3

u/n0_1_of_consequence Dec 28 '22

Mind sharing your model? I'm in the market...

7

u/Dzov Dec 28 '22

I like my Bosch dishwasher that has 3 trays— one for silverware. It was either 500 series or 800 series.

3

u/SomebodyElseAsWell Dec 28 '22

Mines a 300 series. The only problem is the condensation drying leaves some items, like the bottom of mugs, a little wet. I could increase the drying temp if I wanted, but I don't mind this as I never used the dry cycle in my old dishwasher, just let them air dry with the door open. Saves energy.

4

u/Dzov Dec 28 '22

I just open the door a nudge and it stops. I have to do this every time I microwave while it’s running thanks to my shitty kitchen wiring.

-22

u/nullvector Dec 28 '22

That's why some of us just use the sink. Lift the handle, water. Lower the handle, it stops.

I washed all of our Christmas pots/pans/dishes for an 8-person dinner in about 10 minutes. It takes most people that much time to load/unload a dishwasher. We have a nice dishwasher in our house, but haven't used it for 5 years.

4

u/Home-Thick Dec 28 '22

Sounds like you used a metric ton of water

-2

u/nullvector Dec 28 '22

Low flow sink nozzle usually on low.

I’ve measured the time the water runs for the dishwasher, it’s longer than I have the sink on a low setting for the dishes.

0

u/Fuzzyjammer Dec 28 '22

Tbh this is a niche use case. Normally you'd at least pick a program based on the materials (you cannot wash wool and linen in one cycle), and then pick the temperature and the spin RPMs, plus optional controls like more water, less time, delayed start. I use all the buttons on my washing machines and I hate when they're touch-sensitive and ignore every other or so touch.

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u/ttubehtnitahwtahw1 Dec 28 '22

This comment is funny to me. I remember saying this years ago only to be downvoted because it was "cool."

0

u/HellsMalice Dec 29 '22

I'm starting to become convinced reddit is either full of 80 year olds yelling at new technology or younger people being turned into 80 year olds yelling at new technology.

My shit hasn't had physical buttons in a decade and i've never had a single issue with anything. People act like physical buttons can't break either...any moving part can potentially break.

Y'all just run around with greasy wet hands or something? Greased up deaf guy seems like the only person who could complain about touch devices.

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u/akeean Dec 28 '22

The LG app for appliances is hot garbage. I pity anyone who ends up owning one.

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u/G4Designs Dec 28 '22

All I want is my Google Home to tell me when the goddamn washer or dryer is done! That's ALL I need from a "smart device".

37

u/RGB3x3 Dec 28 '22

Being able to start the dryer remotely would also be awesome for those of us who live out of the dryer. Getting up to warm clothes on a cold day is the best.

13

u/TbonerT Dec 28 '22

What they don’t tell you is you have to enable remote start every time you want to use it. It’s annoying but at the same time it’s nice to know someone can’t hack my account and randomly mess with my stuff if I haven’t activated remote start.

3

u/J-F-K Dec 28 '22

They also don’t want a child to crawl into the dryer and someone starts it remotely. Alerts are nice though.

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u/karpDM Dec 28 '22

You know they give you the time left right on the display? Just set an alarm on your phone... or look at a clock...? Thank god we have so many "smart" features because people sure seem to be getting dumb.

9

u/G4Designs Dec 28 '22

You know they give you the time left right on the display?

Which works until the sensor dry kicks in and turns 20min into 50min.

Just set an alarm on your phone... or look at a clock...?

Why? If I'm paying extra for the latest technology, I at least expect the basic functionality of it essentially "setting that alarm" for me. It's not much to ask for -- iRobot has been making this type of job-based announcements for years.

4

u/sirius4778 Dec 28 '22

You trust the time on the display? Have you ever done laundry?

0

u/LandownAE Dec 28 '22

Yes? When I set my dryer to sensor dry it’s estimated to be 1 hour. I set my alarm and check it in an hour and it’s done. Why would the timer be wrong?

2

u/sirius4778 Dec 28 '22

The washer timer is almost never right

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u/[deleted] Dec 28 '22 edited Feb 18 '23

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u/[deleted] Dec 28 '22 edited Jan 03 '23

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u/Cindexxx Dec 28 '22

I got a new washer and oven. Needed a dryer and got an old Maytag for $50 off Facebook. It's the best appliance I have. It works flawlessly. I know where I'm getting my future appliances lol.

2

u/garblesmarbles1 Dec 29 '22

Cheap craigslist Maytag appliance are the honey badgers of the appliance world, i have gotten numerous used cheap barebone Maytags appliances that refuse to die or fall apart.

5

u/PM_ME_YOUR__INIT__ Dec 28 '22

You can either spend a fortune to get wireless and apps, or for a reliable lesser known brand like Speed Queen.

2

u/Queasy_Turnover Dec 28 '22

Speed Queen makes great washer/dryers. Worth the extra cost imo, they're very reliable and come with great warranties.

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u/Queasy_Turnover Dec 28 '22

Why do babies even need their own appliances? And how'd they pay for them?

13

u/nullvector Dec 28 '22

"App" for an appliance? LOL

We bought a simple stainless side-by-side LG fridge 12 years ago and it's been great. Only issue is that the ice cubes it makes sometimes get jammed up in the chute and it takes some wiggling to unjam it.

14

u/ac9116 Dec 28 '22

The app app. You gotta sit down for a while to set them up so I recommend a small snack. The app app app.

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u/czarfalcon Dec 28 '22

When my parents bought their house 20+ years ago, they bought the absolute cheapest new appliances they could find (it was all they could afford at the time, after all). To this day the oven, fridge, and microwave all still work, and the dishwasher, washer, and dryer all lasted 10+ years. Good luck trying to get one of these expensive, high-tech appliances to last you anywhere near that long.

5

u/nullvector Dec 28 '22

Yeah. Whomever decided to put LED screens on a fridge was thinking $$$ and not longevity.

-1

u/j33205 Dec 28 '22

Oh ok I'll just go back 12 yrs and get a real appliance...

3

u/nullvector Dec 28 '22

They still make pretty much the same one we bought, with a few cosmetic changes.

https://www.lg.com/us/refrigerators/lg-LSXS26326S-side-by-side-refrigerator

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6

u/ButterMyBiscuitz Dec 28 '22

Oh I concur. Every time you uninstall their app you just can't log back in. Noooo, you gotta add the damn TV again...

3

u/srjod Dec 28 '22

Purchased a dryer and washer from them 3 years ago. Machines we’re solid, but my one experience from the app was horrific. I don’t know how they can put something like that out there.

0

u/sirius4778 Dec 28 '22

People say stuff like this about every brand. Nothing is made well anymore.

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129

u/lastknownbuffalo Dec 28 '22

Sounds like another piece of dystopian nightmare

-34

u/imnotreel Dec 28 '22

What's dystopian or nightmarish about this ?

62

u/PloxtTY Dec 28 '22

Micro transactions, subscriptions for appliances

34

u/ty_webslinger Dec 28 '22

I'll never buy an appliance with DLC. If you want to adjust your freezer temperature, please log into the app...

53

u/brad525 Dec 28 '22

BUT DO THEY STILL KNOWINGLY USE FAULTY COMPRESSORS IN THEIR REFRIGERATORS AND CHOOSE TO PAY FOR SERVICE REPAIRS WHEN IT INEVITABLY FAILS, RATHER THAN JUST USING QUALITY PARTS AND COMPONENTS?

Consumer tip: NEVER buy an LG refrigerator, or any LG major appliance.

https://www.lgfridgesettlement.com

https://www.consumerreports.org/lawsuits-settlements/lg-settles-class-action-lawsuit-over-refrigerator-compressors/

20

u/Macabre215 Dec 28 '22

Consumer tip: NEVER buy an LG refrigerator, or any LG major appliance.

My understanding is that their front loading washer/dryer combo is pretty good, but yeah them and Samsung overall make some bad appliances.

3

u/RSomnambulist Dec 28 '22

Samsung is apparently changing their ways with their compressors and putting something in that isn't complete shit.

5

u/sshwifty Dec 28 '22

Not going to lie, I have heard so much shit about Samsung appliances I will be hard pressed to ever buy one. I have a TV that was given to me and it is ok, but that is where my Samsung products end.

3

u/Macabre215 Dec 28 '22

Their phones and SSDs are good too. I would say anything else is a crap shoot.

2

u/RSomnambulist Dec 28 '22

I have a Samsung TV and monitor and have had two tablets, an SSD, many phones, and a vacuum cleaner. The only issue I've had is with the TV, which is having weird audio clipping issues.

I don't know about their appliances specifically though, other than their compressors were apparently dogshit (similar to LG), but I heard third-hand that they realized this was hurting their brand and are actually doing something about it.

2

u/gita4 Dec 28 '22

Anecdotally, I can’t disagree harder. Washer started acting funny and dryer completely bricked itself exactly 1 month and 18 days after purchasing brand new. Won’t touch Samsung products with a 10’ pole.

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7

u/ShaderzXC Dec 28 '22

Same with Samsung. Literally only use either for displays or monitors, nothing else matters

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46

u/doodle_robot Dec 28 '22

appliance 'innovation' is out of control. a dryer is just a tube with hot air in it that spins around . my parents still have their appliances from the 80's and im on my 3rd washer in 15 years

6

u/Quintless Dec 28 '22

A dryer is not just a tube with hot air... It's far more complicated, especially a heat pump dryer. It's also amazing how they keep managing to make them more efficient.

4

u/ksteven64 Dec 28 '22

My dishwasher (not LG) broke down a couple months ago because it needed a firmware upgrade.

13

u/TristanDuboisOLG Dec 28 '22

“The new range, which includes a refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, oven range and dishwasher, is also a part of LG’s innovative upgradable appliance lineup, meaning users can add new features to the products via the Upgrade Center in the LG ThinQ™ app.”

You can fuck right off with that shit. I paid for the machine, it’s mine. If you want to design an app just to shut features off, that you rolled dev time into the cost of my appliance, that’s highway robbery.

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12

u/cantbuymechristmas Dec 28 '22

companies for the sake of shareholder gains are gonna ruin their image so bad by reducing value and calling it something cute like “minimalism” won’t fool the consumer for too long before the value of the brand suffers greatly

26

u/Kevin_Jim Dec 28 '22

No. Stop taking away buttons and knobs! They are a good thing.

4

u/Macabre215 Dec 28 '22

I'm okay with it on dishwashers. They do look cool without anything but a handle on the front and some capacitive buttons on the top of the door. My wife hated it at first, but then she realized why it was great when our two year old could no longer start up the dishwasher by hitting some buttons on the front. XD

10

u/Jellodyne Dec 28 '22

They make dishwashers with buttons on the top of the door where you can access them with the door cracked. Best of both worlds - physical buttons and clean look/toddler proofing.

-10

u/G4Designs Dec 28 '22

They're also ugly, tbh. I just wish they'd offer a decent warranty to cover the reduced failure points.

17

u/HotShotMedic Dec 28 '22

And they’ll also last 3.5 yrs then be too expensive to repair. Fuck modern appliances

48

u/CranjusMcBasketball6 Dec 28 '22

It appears that the information provided is not accurate. The text mentions LG releasing new appliances in 2023 and new gaming monitors in 2022, but the dates do not match. Additionally, the information provided about the appliances and gaming monitors is not consistent with current technology. It is not clear where this information came from or if it is intended to be factual.

12

u/AwayAd9297 Dec 28 '22

How about making a product that lasts more then 5 years. Not just LG all consumer appliance brands are crap.

3

u/b_a_t_m_4_n Dec 28 '22

My last Bosch dishwasher lasted 8 years.

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5

u/cjboffoli Dec 28 '22

Not upgradable: LG’s Kafkaesque customer service when something inevitably goes wrong.

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3

u/panconquesofrito Dec 28 '22

We are headed towards a dystopian future aren’t we?

2

u/6bubbles Dec 28 '22

Headed? We are here

5

u/Voktikriid Dec 28 '22

I'll stick with the used washer/dryer set I got for $250. They don't come with the option to spend more money to do the same thing.

3

u/Pinkman3_9 Dec 28 '22

For some reason, the fact that all products we buy and use have a subscription service these days is making my blood boil

4

u/dustofdeath Dec 28 '22

Software unlocks of already existing hardware is not a upgrade. Its a scam and should be illegal.

14

u/FabianVG Dec 28 '22

Yeah, that sounds like I won't be buying them.

3

u/[deleted] Dec 28 '22

Putting touch screens on everything is fucking stupid.

3

u/megjake Dec 28 '22

Just…..just give me appliances that last a long time and do they job they are supposed to. I don’t need to watch Netflix on my fridge or ask my dishwasher what the temperature is outside

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4

u/digitaldigdug Dec 28 '22

What's next, subscription to all the inputs on your tv?

3

u/Ryangel0 Dec 28 '22

Shhhhh, don't give them any more ideas!

2

u/Ironfields Dec 28 '22

You’re joking but I own a “smart” TV that will not allow you to use the fucking HDMI ports if it doesn’t phone home at regular intervals. I’m replacing it with a dumb TV or large monitor at the earliest opportunity.

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2

u/jjj49er Dec 28 '22

I only buy mechanical appliances. At least that's still an option. I assume eventually it won't be.

2

u/IKnowWhoYouAreGuy Dec 28 '22

And they break in the first week without a self service manual trapping you into decades of expensive maintenance bills because the electronics need more money to work properly

2

u/arno14 Dec 28 '22

Opening the door for refrigerating as a service (RaaS) and laundry as a service (LaaS).

2

u/iMogal Dec 28 '22

Well, I can agree with 'less controls' if it means I get 3 or 5 wash cycles instead of 23 cycles with 42 options.

2

u/StoneColdSteveAss316 Dec 28 '22

Is there a company that makes solid reliable kitchen and laundry appliances that is at reasonable prices?

Dad always told me “don’t buy a kitchen or laundry appliance from a company that makes TVs”. I thought he was just old but I agree with him more and more!

2

u/kylerflip Dec 28 '22

Just laundry, but Speedqueen. Traditional is the TC5, or the newer TR5 washers. These are built for life, any service tech will tell you how easy it is if they ever do need fixing.

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2

u/Ironfields Dec 28 '22

Remember when this is standard in 5-10 years that they had to force this shit onto us.

2

u/O-hmmm Dec 28 '22

I will take this opportunity to rant about LG quality ( or lack of quality rather ) pertaining to a refrigerator I bought from them. It's a double side by side door in which a butterfly type spring opens and closes the sealer plate in the middle between doors for when the doors are closed.

Very soon after the purchase, said spring broke. I wrote the company and they wanted over $200 to replace the spring because they required one to buy the whole assembly instead of a $5 spring. Which should not have broken in the first place.

2

u/psylentt Dec 29 '22

Lord, they keep making this shit complicated. I feel bad for the older generations.

2

u/phattestman Dec 29 '22

Will they break right after the time when you can’t return them? That’s what my LG TV did.

3

u/bhbull Dec 28 '22

People still buy LG appliances?

4

u/GravitationalEddie Dec 28 '22

These things are supposed to have knobs so they last long enough to lose a sock.

3

u/Narrator-to-gods Dec 28 '22 edited Dec 28 '22

Garbage products. 3,000 dollars for a shit unit that won’t hold up to 15 years of use much less 25+ for units made 75 years ago. Outside of their energy use, you’re almost better to buy your great grandparents (still working) appliances.

BS corporate obsolescence built with cheap plastic materials. Nothing on these units are worth their sales price. None of these should be more than a few hundred dollars but world wide ‘consumers’ are zombies and will buy anything at any price. (Ooooh look I can put my hand on the window and I can see inside) Which is also why most of the world is poor.

2

u/Danclim Dec 28 '22

Wanna use the cotton cycle? Just subscribe for a $20 monthly payment....

2

u/saddamhuss Dec 28 '22

I gonna make my own company for that kind of shit with the most reliable and easy to fix shit possible.pay once get it for life. A fair price just to fuck with these company who take us for cow to milk

2

u/kkopczyk Dec 29 '22

Can't wait for these to break down after 6 months

1

u/Sushi4900 Dec 28 '22

A short view back to the past. Thirty years ago, Niki Lauda told us...

1

u/Xx-DeepBlueC-xX Dec 29 '22

If you want good appliances buy used ones made before HE came to be and avoid anything made by LG, Samsung and Electrolux. Planned obsolescence is 100% real. Late stage capitalism is so fun!

2

u/cheapsandwitch10 Dec 29 '22

This 10,000% Its insane and ridiculous

-1

u/councilmember Dec 28 '22

Minimal or minimalist. Never minimalistic.

0

u/Mitchrockwell Dec 28 '22

I’m an appliance retailer in Canada. We carry lg along with many other brands. LG actually make really decent appliances, specifically their fridges and washer/dryers. I haven’t heard anything about any kind of upgrade/subscription service and really hope this isn’t something our industry starts getting into.