LG LDCS24223S Bottom Freezer Refrigerator review: LG's biggest bottom freezer fridge gets a lower price, but higher temps

"Near-perfect performance." That's how the headline starts in my review of the LG LDC24370ST, our top-scoring bottom freezer refrigerator from last year. It was a truly impressive fridge, but this year, LG's replacing it with a less expensive one: the LDCS24223S.

By and large, this is the same refrigerator as before. It's the same design with the same capacity, the same energy consumption and most of the same features. The only notable difference aside from the lower price ($1,600, down from $1,800) is that the performance isn't nearly as sharp as before. That makes the LDCS24223S less of a slam dunk than last year's model, but it's still a decent bottom-freezer fridge and worth a look if you're in the market for a simple upgrade.

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Design and features

If you asked me to draw a sketch of the prototypical bottom freezer refrigerator, it would look a lot like the LDCS24223S. It's a straightforward build that doesn't try to set itself apart with any extra design flourishes. The result is a basic-looking bottom freezer aimed more at blending in than standing out.

Bottom freezers like the LDCS24223S flip the script on the traditional top freezer build by putting the freezer down below and the fridge compartment up top. The result is easier access to fresh ingredients, though you might have to stoop over a bit to dig through the drawer-style freezer. A drawer is the right way to go, though -- bottom freezers with hinged-doors pretty much force you to kneel down on the floor every time you want to grab a Popsicle.

One other note: The stainless steel on this fridge is just as fingerprint-prone as last year's model was. To that end, opting for a model in black or white (which, by the way, will save you $100) might be a bit more tempting than usual.

King-sized bottom freezer fridges

	LG LDCS24223S	GE GDE25ESKSS	Whirlpool WRB322DMBM	Kenmore Elite 79043
Fridge capacity	16.4 cubic feet	17.6 cubic feet	15.6 cubic feet	16.4 cubic feet
Freezer capacity	7.7 cubic feet	7.3 cubic feet	6.5 cubic feet	7.7 cubic feet
Total capacity	24.1 cubic feet	24.9 cubic feet	22.1 cubic feet	24.1 cubic feet
Energy Star-qualified	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Yearly energy consumption (kilowatt hours)	608 kWh	610 kWh	584 kWh	608 kWh
Yearly energy cost ($0.12 per kWh)	$73	$73	$70	$73
Efficiency (yearly cost per cubic foot)	$3.03	$2.93	$3.17	$3.03
Warranty	1-year parts and labor, 7-year sealed system, 10-year linear compressor	1-year parts and labor	1-year parts and labor, 5-year cavity liner and sealed system	1-year parts and labor, 5-year sealed system, 10-year linear compressor
Suggested retail price	$1,600	$1,750	$1,500	$1,300

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Inside, you'll find a combined 24.1 cubic feet of storage space, 16.4 of which is allocated to the fridge. That's about as big as bottom freezers get, but it's not the biggest -- the GE GDE25ESKSS edges it out thanks to an extra cubic foot or so of space in the fridge. Still, expect to find plenty of room for your groceries.

Speaking of the interior, it's well-built and sturdy to the touch, with smooth-gliding drawers and spill-proof shelves that aren't too tricky to rearrange. Feature-wise, the main point of interest is the Glide N' Serve drawer that runs the width of the fridge beneath the crisper bins, though there's also a shelf in the upper right corner of the door that folds flat to make room for tall items in the shelf below.

I'll also note that the sliding dividers in the door shelves of last year's model are gone in this new one. That's a tiny shame -- I kind of liked being able to section things off as I saw fit.