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  • Design & Usability

  • Performance & Features

  • Conclusion

  • By the Numbers

  • Normal & Delicates

  • Speed Dry & Bulky/Bedding

  • Design & Usability
  • Performance & Features
  • Conclusion
  • By the Numbers
  • Normal & Delicates
  • Speed Dry & Bulky/Bedding

Don't get us wrong: The DLEX5680V will get your clothes mostly dry, and it did fairly well with mixed and delicate loads. However, it also has slower than average cycle times, and had trouble with bulky items. For this many bucks, we'd like a bigger bang.

Design & Usability

LG makes it look good

Who can put a price on beauty? Turns out, most retailers can: it costs an extra $100 to give this LG a gray finish. Money aside, the LG DLEX5680V has an attractive shell. There are no harsh corners or angles, and everything is rounded off.

{{ photo_gallery name="LG Gallery" }}

Judging by design, we'd give this LG a perfect 10 (or a perfect six if you're into figure skating). On the usability side, we're left scratching our heads a little more. Sure, everything is laid out functionally, and the user moves from left to right to turn on the power, select a cycle, and start the wash.

But there are so many additional options—including some that most people won't touch—and too many cycles crowded around a single dial. Sometimes it's difficult to tell what cycle you've landed on. And since the programing doesn't remember what the last cycle you've used was, you can't just hit power and then start.

Performance & Features

Good, but room for improvement

The LG DLEX5680V carries with it a steep price. However, you're getting quite a few features. Probably the most notable are all the steam add-ons, made possible by a refillable container that dispenses water from the top of the machine to feed the Steam Sanitary and Steam Fresh cycles.

A Steam Sanitary cycle combined with the Rack Dry option (no drum movement) is the perfect way to clean delicate objects that can't go into a washing machine, like old stuffed animals. The rack can also be used to dry shoes. We made use of it during the last snowy days of winter.

But on the performance front, this LG lagged behind other dryers in its price range. The Cotton/Normal cycle did remove all moisture from our test laundry. However, it took over an hour and still got pretty hot. The LG also had trouble with bulky items, and our test comforter was still pretty damp after spending an hour with the Bedding cycle.

Ultimately, this LG suffers from the old adage of being a jack of many trades, but being a master of none. Yes, it has 14 cycles, but the most popular ones don't outperform the competition.

For in-depth performance information, please visit the Science Page.

Conclusion

An attractive dryer with adequate abilities

The first thing you'll probably notice about the LG DLEX5680V dryer is its price tag. At $1,200, it's not the easiest to afford. However, a large family with children could really benefit from the sanitize options and giant drum. On the flip side, this dryer has long cycle times and has trouble with comforters.

If you're looking for machine that is full of features, has plenty of space, and does a decent job drying, the LG DLEX5680V may be for you. Otherwise, you can get a better performer for less money.

By the Numbers

Objective data is the bedrock of our reviews. For dryers, our testing focuses on temperature and the ability to remove moisture. Test loads of laundry are constructed to be as close to eight pounds as possible. For Normal and Delicate cycles, they are wet to 1.7 times their weight. The Speed Dry test consists of a truncated four-pound load. Finally, a comforter is wet to 1.5 times its weight for a Bulky cycle test.

Each test also contains sensors which monitor temperature and humidity. That's important, because overdrying can cause damage to your clothing.

Normal & Delicates

On average, the LG DLEX5680V's Normal cycle lasted an hour. In that time, it removed 98% of all moisture out of our test laundry—good, except it took upwards of an hour. We also recorded high temperatures of 156°F, a little bit warmer than what we like to see.

The Delicates cycle is really where the LG really kept its cool. It reached a maximum temperature of 103.7°F. The cycle itself ran for an hour. When the buzzer sounded, we found that 83% of the moisture was gone, and clothes would be dry after a short hang.

Speed Dry & Bulky/Bedding

The Speed Dry cycle stayed true to its name, taking only 25 minutes from start to finish. It removed a whopping 87% of all water. It also remained at a reasonable temperature of 153°F.

The Bulky cycle took 55 minutes and removed 67% of the moisture. Considering that it's common practice to flip a comforter and run a Bulky cycle again, it'll be nearly two hours before your comforter is ready to put back on the bed.

Meet the tester

Jonathan Chan

Jonathan Chan

Senior Manager of Lab Operations

@Jonfromthelab1

Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.

See all of Jonathan Chan's reviews

Checking our work.

Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.

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