LG's side-by-sides offer generous capacity and eye-level freezer access, but the brand's linear compressor disaster from 2015-2022 makes this a hard sell: those units died at 2-6 years with $750-1000 repair bills because warranty covers the compressor but not the labor or the motherboard it killed. Current rotary compressor models might escape that fate, but there's no long-term proof yet, and the in-door ice makers still fail regularly across all eras. If you find a simple model without the ice maker and pair it with a bulletproof extended warranty, the layout works well for families who need wide shelves and hate bending for frozen goods. Everyone else should buy a GE Profile or Whirlpool and sleep easier.
Thermador sells you a Bosch 800 with upgraded handles and a luxury badge at double the price, banking on the pro aesthetic and dual-compressor engineering. The problem is concrete and expensive: evaporator fans and compressors fail on units just past their two-year warranty, leaving the fridge compartment at 50°F while repair quotes run $475 to $4000, and Consumer Reports ranks Thermador below mid-range brands for reliability. Buy this only if you need the built-in look for a high-end kitchen remodel and can budget for specialist service calls, or if you find a steep open-box discount that cushions the risk. Everyone chasing appliance longevity should walk.