The battle of the Korean giants: LG vs Samsung washing machines
Korea’s greatest corporate rivalry — 70 years of two dynasties fighting for dominance across electronics, appliances, and displays. Now in your utility room. The data settles it, and the answer depends on your budget.
LG, narrowly overall — but Samsung wins where the money is highest. The two are level on reliability at 84 apiece. LG leads on overall WAC Score (82 to 77), features (84 to 80), efficiency (76 to 71) and value (56 to 51), and dominates the mid-range, where its machines average 86 to Samsung’s 74. Above £650 the order reverses: Samsung’s premium machines average 86 to LG’s 82. Buy LG for the best value under £650; if you are spending more, Samsung’s premium range is the stronger set.
The brands at a glance
Averages across every currently available freestanding model, colour variants collapsed.
| Brand | Models | Avg WAC | Reliability | Efficiency | Features | Value | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG | 17 | 82 | 84 | 76 | 84 | 56 | £329–711 |
| Samsung | 13 | 77 | 84 | 71 | 80 | 51 | £399–999 |
The averages favour LG, but they hide a reversal by price band — which is why this comparison is broken out band by band below.
About the cards below. Each shows a brand’s best machine in the band, so the two ranges can be read side by side. They are representatives rather than recommendations — our recommendation is the answer at the top of this page.
Budget — under £400
Samsung fields a single machine here against LG’s 4, so this is a comparison of two machines rather than two ranges.
| Best machine in band | WAC | Reliability | Features | Value | Price | Models / band avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG F2A509GBLN1 | 80 | 88 | 96 | 35 | £369 | 4 / 73 |
| Samsung WW80CGC04DAB | 70 | 85 | 85 | 19 | £399 | 1 / 70 |
LG F2A509GBLN1
9kg · 1200rpm · A rated
Features at 96 and reliability of 88 with a 9kg drum for £369 — the stronger of the two budget machines here, and £30 cheaper.
Samsung WW80CGC04DAB
8kg · 1400rpm · A rated
Reliability of 85 and features of 85 with an 8kg drum at £399 — Samsung’s only machine under £400. If you want a Samsung at the lowest possible price, this is the one.
Mid-range — £400 to £649
LG’s clearest win. Its machines average 86 here to Samsung’s 74, across 9 and 8 models — the widest gap between them in any band.
| Best machine in band | WAC | Reliability | Features | Value | Price | Models / band avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG F4X7009TBB | 92 | 86 | 93 | 67 | £449 | 9 / 86 |
| Samsung WW90CGC04DAB | 80 | 85 | 76 | 57 | £419 | 8 / 74 |
LG F4X7009TBB
9kg · 1400rpm · A rated
Our top score of 92 with features at 93 and 29 kWh per 100 cycles, for £449. The strongest mid-range machine in this comparison and the cheapest to run.
Samsung WW90CGC04DAB
9kg · 1400rpm · A rated
Reliability of 85 with a 9kg drum and Samsung’s fuller feature set, at £419 — £30 less than LG’s best here. The pick if you want a Samsung in the mid-range at a keen price.
Premium — £650 and above
Samsung’s band. Its 4 premium machines average 86 to LG’s 82, though LG’s single best machine here edges Samsung’s by a point.
| Best machine in band | WAC | Reliability | Features | Value | Price | Models / band avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG F4X5013TBB | 92 | 91 | 81 | 89 | £711 | 4 / 82 |
| Samsung WW11DB8B95GHU1 | 91 | 85 | 82 | 87 | £849 | 4 / 86 |
LG F4X5013TBB
13kg · 1400rpm · A rated
Reliability of 91 — the highest score we publish for any machine — with our top overall mark of 92 and a 13kg drum at £711. The most dependable machine in this comparison.
Samsung WW11DB8B95GHU1
11kg · 1400rpm · A rated
Nothing below 82 across all four sub-scores, which no other machine in this comparison manages, with an 11kg drum and a score of 91. Samsung’s strongest machine, and the reason it wins the premium band on average.
Who should buy which
Buy LG if you are spending under £650. It leads the mid-range by a wide margin, and the F4X7009TBB at £449 is the best machine either brand sells at that price.
Buy Samsung if you are spending over £650, or you want Samsung’s SmartThings app and ecosystem. Its premium range is the stronger of the two on average, and the WW11DB8B95GHU1 is the most consistently strong machine in this comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Is LG or Samsung better for washing machines?
It depends on your budget. Both average a reliability score of 84. LG leads overall (82 to 77) and under £650, and dominates the £400–£649 mid-range, where its machines average 86 to Samsung's 74. Above £650 Samsung's range averages 86 to LG's 82.
Which is more reliable, LG or Samsung?
They are level: both brands average a reliability score of 84 on our data. LG's F4X5013TBB scores 91, the highest figure we publish for any machine.
What is the best LG washing machine?
The LG F4X7009TBB at £449, scoring 92 with the lowest running cost in this comparison. For the largest drum and the best reliability, the LG F4X5013TBB at £711.
What is the best Samsung washing machine?
The Samsung WW11DB8B95GHU1 at £849, scoring 91 with nothing below 82 across its four sub-scores.
Is Samsung cheaper than LG?
No. LG's range starts lower, at £329 against Samsung's £399, and LG scores higher on value (56 to 51).
Not sure which is right for you?
Answer 5 questions and our data finds your perfect match from around 400 scored machines.
Find my perfect washing machine →