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Samsung is one of the biggest manufacturers of home appliances, as well as a lot of other weird products, so you can expect it to be a leader among washing machine brands as well. However, this is not the case. According to Consumer Reports, Samsung is among the best washing machine brands, but its top-loading models aren’t the best.
Samsung’s premium home appliance rival, LG, has clearly succeeded, or so Consumer Reports claims. LG has a good score for product reliability, high marks for washing performance, and excellent overall scores in the categories of standard- and high-efficiency top-loading washers. User satisfaction is nothing to write home about, but it is important to note that washers from other brands are less popular with consumers, including many Samsung models.
Samsung and LG are often compared when it comes to electronics, from high-quality clothes dryers to refrigerators, but rarely is one brand better than the other. In this case, LG dominates in two different categories.
LG’s top quality agitator washers
Agitator washers are top-loading washing machines with a column-type center, which rotates and agitates the clothes, helping to clean them. LG’s top-loading agitator washer is the WT8405CW 5.3-cubic-foot Mega Capacity Smart Top Load Washer, according to Consumer Reports. However, user reviews on LG’s website tell a different story. With an average rating of just 3.4 stars and 45 5-star reviews versus 31 one-star reviews, this expensive washing machine ($1,349 at full price) does not inspire confidence. All other high-end LG devices have better reviews, between 3.9 and 4.1 stars on average.
The WT8205CW 4.8 cubic foot Mega Capacity Smart Top Load Washer comes with many of the same features as its bigger siblings, including LG’s 4-Way agitator and Easy Unload systems. It ranks very close to Consumer Reports’ top rating, while also having a healthier four out of five stars on LG’s website.
LG’s most efficient washing machines
Consumer Reports classifies conventional and high-efficiency top-load washers by their rating. LG wins in both categories, even if it only sells impeller washers as a secondary component. LG’s top-rated washer by Consumer Reports, the WT8600CB Mega Capacity Smart Top Load Washer, is also a top-of-the-line, high-efficiency model with 5.5 cubic feet of space and plenty of features. These include Easy Unload, AI Sensing (which automatically selects the right wash settings), automatic drainer, built-in water faucet, and LCD dial to control the machine. Sadly, these features weren’t enough to give the WT8600CB more than a 3.6 out of 5 user review rating. Perhaps the $1,500 price tag was to blame.
The WT7000CW 4.5 cubic foot Ultra Large Capacity Top Load Washer may have few outstanding features – LG mentions only a few energy and water efficiency features, as well as Turbodrum and 6Motion tech, for gentle but thorough cleaning – but it clearly wins in terms of user reviews. It also ranks high on Consumer Reports, losing only a few points in energy efficiency compared to other high-end LG units. However, given the $999 price, which is often marked down to $699, this might be the best deal of all of Consumer Reports’ top-rated washing machines.