PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.

Smart Fridge Showdown: LG Smart InstaView vs. Samsung Family Hub 2.0

From Alexa to internal cameras, both have loads of features sure to wow all your friends; here are my first impressions.

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

Our Expert
LOOK INSIDE PC LABS HOW WE TEST
65 EXPERTS
43 YEARS
41,500+ REVIEWS

LAS VEGAS—When it comes to refrigerators, LG and Samsung brought their A-games to CES. Both had several refrigerators in their massive booths, but I was on a mission to find the top-of-the-line models.

CES 2017 BugIn LG's booth, I spent some time with the Smart InstaView (above); over at Samsung, I checked out the Family Hub 2.0 (below)

In terms of features, these two refrigerators are pretty comparable: both have large touch screens on the front, and both sport cameras that let you see inside your fridge from an app. So, when you're at the grocery store and you're wondering if you have milk, you can just check your phone to find out. Pretty neat.

Eyes On: LG Smart InstaView Vs. Samsung Family Hub 2.0

On both, the touch screens serve as interactive bulletin boards for the home, letting you leave notes for family members or yourself. Both also let you browse recipes right on the screen, and they'll read those recipes to you, so you don't have to keep pressing on the screen with your dirty paws when you're cooking.

The webOS-based LG InstaView runs Amazon's Alexa digital personal assistant, and will do things like play music and tell you the weather. Those with Amazon Prime can place orders from the site, like groceries, using Alexa or add items to a shopping list. But you can incorporate any number of Alexa skills into the InstaView, and use it to request an Uber, set kitchen timers, and more.

LG also has a Windows-based InstaView that taps into Cortana.

Samsung's fridge also has voice controls—just say "Hi Samsung, play Pandora," for instance—but it taps into Samsung voice tech rather than Alexa.

Basically, if you're in the market for a tech-savvy refrigerator with all the bells and whistles, the InstaView and Family Hub 2.0 are both great picks. But if I had to choose, I'd go for the LG InstaView.

In terms of aesthetics—which, let's face it, is super important when you're picking any piece of tech, especially the focal point of your kitchen—I like the InstaView better. The whole upper-right door is basically a 29-inch screen. The Family Hub 2.0 also has a large screen, but at 21.5 inches, it's not as big as the InstaView's, and the interface looked a tad more cluttered.

Another issue: unfortunately, not all the Family Hub 2.0's fancy features worked as expected when I checked it out at CES. A spokesperson demoing the unit tried to pull up some recipes but was met with an error message saying the "All Recipies server is down." I understand demos don't always go according to plan: "death by demo," the apologetic spokesperson said. But, that's not a good look, and it made me question: if this is happening on the CES show floor, what's the likelihood of it happening in my home?

One feature I did really like on the Family Hub 2.0 that the InstaView didn't seem to have is an infusing water pitcher. Located inside the left door, the pitcher has a compartment where you put sliced cucumber, strawberries, or any other fruit or veggies you like, which infuse into the water for a hydrating treat. You have to remember to add more fruit or veggies when necessary, but the fridge will automatically keep the pitcher filled with water.

Still, the large screen and Alexa integration help LG's fridge nab a spot on this year's PCMag Best of CES list.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

Read full bio