LG DLEX7900BE Dryer Review

Aside from the price, it’s very easy to make a case for the LG DLEX7900BE dryer. It has a great interface, no real performance issues, and it includes some of the better steam features we’ve seen. But there are a few scuffs in its luster. In addition to many cycles running too hot, its controls can be a bit finicky to use.

About the LG DLEX7900BE dryer

• Dimensions: 27" x 44.25" x 29.5" (W x H x D)
• Capacity: 7.3 cu. ft.
• Finish: Black steel
• 14 cycles: Normal, Heavy Duty, Bedding, Small Load, Anti-Bacterial, Steam Fresh, Steam Sanitary, Delicates, Permanent Press, Towels, Sportswear, Speed Dry, Air Dry, Download
• Cycle options: Five dryness and temperature settings, Steam, Sanitize, Turbo Steam, Reduce Static, Wrinkle Care
• EasyLoad door: The door can be attached to open from the left like more traditional front-load setups, or from the top-down like a dishwasher door.
• Matching washer: WT7900HBA

What we like

Gets laundry dry fast

In terms of the core functions of a dryer, the LG DLEX7900BE has pretty good performance. Its Normal cycle was able to get our test load of laundry 100% dry in 85 minutes. This is about 20 minutes slower than average, but it's hard to argue with the results. The Quick Dry cycle also managed to get laundry over 91% dry in just 25 minutes, which is on par with other good dryers. The Bulky and Delicates cycles were a bit closer to average—Delicates got laundry 88% dry in just under an hour and Bulky took the full hour to get a comforter 82% dry.

EasyLoad door lets you choose how to load your laundry

LG debuted the EasyLoad door back in 2015, but the feature still feels like a new innovation. Essentially, the door can both be opened from the left side and from the top. This isn’t like switching the hinge on your refrigerator door—the LG is always capable of opening from two sides, no screwdrivers or setup required. This takes it a step further by allowing easier access for those who don't want to stoop down to load the dryer. Although this feature likely won't be the LG's biggest selling point, it's a nice addition that some are sure to appreciate.

The antibacterial cycle might actually live up to its claims

Typically when a dryer offers a sanitize cycle, the language used to describe it is very vague, like, May kill up to 99.9% of certain bacteria. When we test those cycles, we’re often not particularly impressed with the results, but the initial claim is so nonspecific it’s hard to argue that it isn't true.

In the case of the LG DLEX7900BE, however, it backs up its sanitization claims with some impressive performance. When we tested the Anti-Bacterial cycle, we saw it was able to get up to 178.6°F for over 30 minutes, which should be enough to kill E. coli and salmonella. It’s one of the better steam sanitize cycles we’ve tested.

What we don’t like

Many cycles run too hot

The temperature to keep in mind when you’re talking dryers is 150°F. Anything above 150°F will exacerbate wear-and-tear damage, reducing the lifespan of your clothes. While the Speed Dry and Bedding cycles were only slightly over at 154°F each, the Normal cycle reached temperatures of 172°F—far exceeding the safe threshold. Since the majority of users simply set their dryer to Normal and don’t activate further controls, we tend to put more emphasis on that cycle’s importance. In this case, it could lead to the premature breakdown of your clothes. If you do decide to buy this dryer, do yourself and your laundry a favor and turn down the temperature a few notches before running your cycle.

Control dial feels wonky

This is a minor complaint, but it still somewhat sours the user experience. The control dial itself feels great to use. Turning it yields a satisfying click as each new position snaps into place. The problem is the the machine is very slow to register dial turns, and often results in situations where one click of the dial doesn’t necessarily translate into scrolling to the next cycle. For example, turning the dial four or five clicks at once would often result in only scrolling through one or two cycles.

It definitely takes some time to get used to the speed at which the machine is able to register every turn, and that speed feels very slow. Again, it’s not a make-or-break issue, but still adds a bit of unnecessary friction to every time you want to switch cycles.

What owners are saying

This dryer is still fairly new, so there aren’t a ton of user reviews out there. Those that are out there tend to be a month old or newer, so there also isn’t much information on how the LG DLEX7900BE might hold up over time.

Based on what’s currently out there, though, the LG DLEX7900BE seems to be fairly popular, netting an average 4.7 stars out of 5 across major retailers. Users praise the quiet operation and overall aesthetics of the dryer, and love how it gets their laundry dry quickly.

Warranty

LG offers a one-year warranty for parts and labor. This is essentially the bare minimum warranty offered in the appliance industry. We’ve seen significantly more robust warranties—some cover specific parts for up to five or 10 years.

Should you buy the LG DLEX7900BE dryer?

Maybe. If you really like the LG DLEX7900BE’s aesthetic, it’s a decent dryer. Its cycles were either average or slightly better than average. It does have some quirks, like cycles getting too hot or controls that don’t feel particularly great to use. That being said, if you know to turn down the heat, there’s nothing performance-wise about the DLEX7900BE that would make it a bad buy.

The reason we’re not overly enthusiastic about the DLEX7900BE is its price. For slightly more, you could get the Electrolux EFME627UTT, which is our top-rated dryer and kind of scoops the DLEX7900BE in just about every category. The LG DLEX7900BE is a good dryer, but for the same price you could get the best.