Samsung Electronics ranked lower than its competitors in Consumer Reports' sixth annual appliance brand reliability rankings. CR is the largest nonprofit consumer organization in the U.S., with six million members. Unlike institutions and influencers that receive free products from companies to provide reviews, CR specializes in independent product testing based on consumer feedback and expert assessment, earning its reputation as a reliable source for product reviews.
Samsung Electronics ranked No. 21 on CR’s appliance brand reliability rankings of 26 appliance brands, according to a CR report released last month. Speed Queen, an American laundry machine manufacturer, topped the list, followed by LG Electronics in second place. Other appliance brands that outperformed Samsung include Whirlpool (No. 12), GE Appliances (No. 13), and Bosch (No. 15).
The rankings are based on survey data CR collected from its members on 417,629 kitchen and laundry appliances purchased between 2013 and 2023. The ratings were measured on consumer satisfaction and predicted reliability, which factor in whether appliances broke or stopped working.
Samsung’s scored particularly low in the kitchen appliance category. In a consumer satisfaction survey on dishwashers, ranges, double-door refrigerators, French-door refrigerators, and cooktops, Samsung products scored between 15 and 19 out of 100, ranking last. Even in other kitchen appliances, Samsung’s highest score was 46, lagging behind competitors.
Samsung also performed poorly in predicted reliability, where frequent breakdowns result in lower scores. Half of Samsung’s kitchen appliances scored below 50 in this category. CR noted that regarding Samsung’s dishwashers, which ranked last, “we found that higher-priced dishwashers are not necessarily more reliable based on data from over 70,000 units purchased by members.” The report added that Bosch and Miele’s dishwashers had the lowest rates of performance issues and breakdowns, whereas Samsung products had had the highest rate of issues, including poor washing and drying performance, drainage failures, and defective dish racks.
Samsung’s robot vacuum cleaners received a consumer satisfaction score of just 9 out of 100. The company’s washing machines scored in the low 20s to 40s, while dryers landed in the low 30s, placing Samsung well below many of its competitors.
The one bright spot was Samsung’s TVs, where the company scored consumer satisfaction and predicted reliability ratings of 83 and 84, respectively. These figures put Samsung on par with Sony and LG, which ranked first and second in this category.
Experts are concerned that Samsung’s low ratings for home appliance products could negatively impact its performance. The company’s share in the U.S. home appliance market fell to 20.9% in 2024, dropping to second place behind LG Electronics (21.1%). Samsung’s home appliance revenue declined from 27.35 trillion won in 2022 to 25.49 trillion won last year.
To bolster sales under these circumstances, Samsung may need to boost marketing efforts, including price discounts, which could further squeeze profit margins. Analysts estimate that Samsung’s home appliance division (including TVs) had an operating margin of just 3% last year, whereas LG’s home appliance division (excluding TVs) had an estimated operating margin of 6%.
