LG GL-B257HDS3 650 L Side-by-Side Refrigerator Review

The LG GL-B257HDS3 is for large families that cook in volume and have the kitchen width to take a side-by-side. The trade-off is power use and size: it uses far more electricity than a double-door and needs about 91 cm of clear width plus door swing space.

Does it cool well in a hot house?

Yes. From a 38 °C start, the fresh-food side reached 4 °C in about 3 hours 10 minutes and the freezer side reached -18 °C in about 8 hours. Once stable, the cabinet held within 1 °C of the set point at 40 °C, and a heavy load of vegetables and cooked food recovered in about 90 minutes.

How much power does a 650 L fridge use?

We measured 1.45 kWh a day at 32 °C and 1.9 kWh a day at 40 °C. That is roughly double a 3-star 250 L double-door. For a joint family the extra space is the purpose, but the summer bill will show it.

What happens in a power cut?

Over a 3-hour cut with the doors closed, the fresh-food side rose from 4 °C to 7 °C and the freezer from -18 °C to -13 °C. The large thermal mass helps. Even after five hours, frozen food remained hard.

Will it run on an inverter or a stabiliser?

The compressor drew about 150 W running and peaked near 400 W at start-up. A 1.5 kVA inverter handles it for several hours. For voltage, we stepped the supply from 160 V to 260 V; it ran reliably between 165 V and 255 V. A stabiliser is optional in most cities but sensible in areas with deep dips.

Is it noisy?

No. We measured about 41 dB at one metre in steady running and around 46 dB during pull-down. Door alarms and fan sounds are modest, and the unit does not hum audibly across the room.

How practical is it for Indian cooking and storage?

The wide shelves took large steel containers, a 10 litre milk can and plates of festival sweets with no stacking. The vegetable drawers kept coriander for 6 days and carrots for 14. The freezer side fits a month of frozen paratha, peas and meat for six people.

What about delivery, fit and service?

At about 110 kg and 91 cm wide, measure the main door, lift and the final doorway. LG’s service network is wide, and spares are easier to find than for most competitors, though visit times in smaller towns can stretch beyond three days.

Who should buy something else?

Buy the Samsung Bespoke side-by-side if you want a Wi-Fi model with a longer compressor warranty. Buy a 250 L to 300 L double-door if you cook for four or fewer.

Does it need extra clearance in the kitchen?

Yes. Leave about 5 cm at the back and sides for heat to escape, and allow room for both doors to open without hitting a wall or a counter. In our test, pushing the unit tight against the wall raised daily energy use by roughly 7 percent at 40 °C. Level the feet properly, because an uneven floor makes the doors swing shut on their own and the seals wear unevenly.