Last year's LG LMXS30776S is a large, four-door fridge with lots of extra compartments, a door-in-door feature, and great overall performance. The all-new LG LMXS30786S (MSRP $3,499.99) is a nearly identical fridge. It has a temperature-adjustable fourth door and a massive, 30 cu. ft. interior, but lacks door-in-door storage.
Some folks might actually consider the missing door-in-door feature to be an improvement, as it offers a tiny bit more usable storage space overall. In fact, that's largely why this fridge scores slightly better than the LMXS30776S in our tests.
Still, over the past year we've noticed that the fridges tend to flip-flop when it comes to sale prices. Some weeks, the '76 is cheaper. Other weeks, the '86 is the better deal. Both are great fridges, but we'll still hold off on our strongest recommendation for either one. That's because—even on sale—they're pricier than competitors from Samsung, Whirlpool, and—yes—even LG.
Design & Usability
Don’t fall in—you’ll get lost in there
The 30786S is built with the same visual aesthetic as all the other higher-end LG refrigerators we’ve tested as of late. Curved handles give the fridge a smooth, modern look, while its massive 30-cu.-ft. size exudes sturdiness. It's 68 7/8" tall, too, so it should fit in most kitchens.
A highly responsive silver touchscreen blends in with the fridge’s stainless finish. The nearby dispenser may not be deep enough to rest anything larger than a drinking glass on its edge with ease, but its tall height should accommodate more unwieldy ice or water receptacles.
Inside, bright LED lighting shines onto glass shelves edged in white plastic with a silvery trim on the front. Most of the shelves—including those found on the right-hand door—are adjustable, while one shelf features a retractable front half.
Three smooth-sliding drawers and recessed EasyReach compartments help to organize the cavernous interior. On the left, you’ve got a door-mounted Slim Spaceplus icemaker, the location of which frees up space on the top interior shelf. You can also find the water filter here, hidden in a little nook behind the lowest door shelf.
The separate drawer found below the main fresh food section gives users a customizable zone to suit their personal needs. Four different temperature settings are available for meat and seafood (29°F), cold drinks (33°F), deli and snacks (37°F), or chilled wine (41°F).
Down in the bottom freezer, you get three sliding drawers of varying heights. They might eat up usable space, but the multiple drawers—the lowest and deepest of which has a sliding divider—help keep things organized.
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Performance & Features
Just as consistent, now even more efficient
The newer 30786S rounds out some—but not all—of its predecessor's rough edges, and does so with substantially improved efficiency.
Like the older model, the 30786S ran just a touch warm in both the fridge and freezer. However, temperatures are now somewhat more accurate with less fluctuation over time, which means turning the thermostat down a degree or two can help eliminate warm spots.
Crispers did a great job overall, despite our inability to adjust the moisture settings for any of the drawers. This refrigerator didn't take long to freeze room-temperature foods, either, which is impressive for a compartment this large.
As we mentioned, the low energy consumption rates were what impressed us most. Designed to meet new, stricter Energy Star standards, this LG is as efficient as many models half its size, using minimal electricity to keep each usable cubic foot cool. While the actual dollar savings compared to older models may not be massive, it is an impressive technical achievement.
For in-depth performance information, please visit the Science Page.
The central drawer has four distinct temperature settings to fit your needs.
Warranty
As is the case with most manufacturers, LG offers a standard one year warranty for this appliance. If any part of the product fails—like the icemaker or compressor—LG will repair or replace it free of charge. Should anything happen to it outside of standard wear and tear—like a dent in the finish—you're on your own.
A Pretty Big Deal
Spacious, stunning, and energy efficient
You can't call this LG a bargain, but it’s (close to) a great deal for a 30-cu.-ft. stainless four-door French door. With a temperature-controlled storage drawer and a stylish design, this is an ideal fit for consumers with large families and an eye for design.
The 30776S, with its door-in-door feature and surprisingly lower cost, may seem like a more financially sensible choice. Still, the costs are close enough together that a properly timed sale could flip the tables and make the newer model more affordable. Until then, the '86 will be facing some tough competition.
The Cold Hard Facts
When it comes to the food preservations metrics that we test, we've found that the LG LMXS30786S (MSRP $3,499.99) is an excellent fridge. The best part? Exceptional energy efficiency.
Temperature Performance
In the main fridge section, temperatures averaged 39.41°F at the top, 39.44°F in the middle, and 40.76°F at the bottom. An average shift over time of ±0.35°F isn’t perfect—the best fridges we've tested manage half that—but it’s not bad.
The freezer’s overall performance was more accurate and consistent. Temperatures averaged 0.55°F and 0.32°F at the top and bottom, respectively, with shifts of just ±0.17°F over time.
While the freezer was more accurate, both sections ran rather warm. For our tests, we set the thermostat to 37°F for the main fridge section and 0°F for the freezer. Turn down the controls one or two degrees in each zone for optimal performance.
Moisture Retention
Despite the crisper drawers lacking humidity sliders, they actually scored very well in our moisture retention tests—designed to replicate fruit and vegetable storage.
Every day for three days, we weighed a floral foam ball that had been saturated with water to see how much moisture had been lost. We determined each ball lost an average of 0.16 grams of moisture every hour—a very respectable number that bodes well for salad fans.
Three drawers slide very smoothly, and do a good job despite the lack of hands-on humidity controls.
Freezing
The larger the space, the harder it is to cool. Even so, this LG did a very fine job chilling our room-temperature test materials. It took only 1 hour and 28 minutes to bring our sensors down to 32°F. That means less chance for freezer burn.
Storage Space & Energy Efficiency
With all its hidden compartments and adjustable shelves, this LG is certainly spacious. By our calculations, the main fresh food section—including the adjustable drawer in the center of the fridge—offers 15.1 usable cubic feet of storage space.
The freezer, with its sliding drawers of multiple heights isn’t as massive as you might think, but can still hold plenty of food. In total, you get 5.74 usable cubic feet for your groceries.
This fridge's energy efficiency was phenomenal. Even with its massive size and multiple zones, our sensors indicate that it only takes 0.06 kWh to cool each usable cubic foot. That’s impressive, and makes this one of the most efficient fridges we’ve ever tested. At a fixed rate of $0.09 per kWh, we calculate it should cost you about $40.77 each year to run this model—and that’s with the icemaker turned on.
Meet the tester
Matthew is a native of Brockton, MA and a graduate of Northeastern, where he earned a degree in English and Theatre. He has also studied at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin and spends most of his free time pursuing a performance career in the greater Boston area.
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