There is a running joke in laundry circles that the all-in-one washer dryer is a compromise nobody is sure they want to make. For years these combos washed well and dried poorly, leaving clothes damp and patience thin. The new class of heat pump combos changed that promise, and the LG 5.0 cu. ft. Mega Capacity Smart All-in-One sits right in the middle of it, a single front load machine that both washes and dries without needing a vent. I have spent a month running the full range of a family laundry load through this unit, and this review covers wash quality, drying time, the TurboWash360 system, and the smart app that ties it together.
Before the details, the standard note. This article contains affiliate links, and if you buy through one of them the site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. That commission does not change what I test or what I recommend, and the unit reviewed here was installed and used exactly as a homeowner would use it.
An all-in-one earns its place in your home only if the drying side actually finishes the job. The rest of this review walks through the design, the wash performance, the drying reality, and who should and should not trade two machines for one.
Design and Build
The LG combo is a handsome machine in the Black Steel finish, with a dark metallic front that resists fingerprints far better than plain white appliances. The control panel is a clean mix of dial and touch controls, and the display is readable across a room, which matters when you are setting cycles at night. The door opens wide, and the 5.0 cubic foot drum is genuinely roomy, enough for a large load of bedding or a family sized basket of mixed clothes.
Because this is a ventless heat pump design, the unit needs no outside vent and no special outlet beyond a standard 120V circuit. That is the feature that changes where the machine can live. It can sit against an interior wall, in a closet, or in a small apartment utility space where a traditional dryer vent would be impossible. The tradeoff is that it dries with condensation, and the process takes longer than a vented dryer.
Build quality feels solid. The drum spins quietly, the door seals cleanly, and the machine stays put during the spin cycle even at high speeds. LG has refined the all-in-one form for years, and it shows in the details, from the smooth drawer that holds the detergent to the way the door closes with a satisfying thunk instead of a rattle.
Key Features
The headline feature is the all-in-one wash and dry cycle. One machine does the whole job, so you load it, pick a cycle, and come back to finished laundry rather than shuttling wet clothes between two appliances. for Apartments, small homes, and anyone who hates the swap step, that is the entire point.
TurboWash360 is the speed feature. LG sprays water from multiple angles and adds a tumbling pattern that lifts and drops clothes more efficiently, which cuts wash times significantly on everyday loads. In my testing a standard load finished faster than the same load on a conventional washer, with no visible difference in how clean the clothes came out.
Wi-Fi and the LG ThinQ app round out the smart features. You can start, pause, and monitor cycles from your phone, get notifications when a load finishes, and download additional wash programs as LG releases them. The app also reports on maintenance, which is a gentle reminder to clean the filter and keep the machine happy.
Real-World Performance
Washing is where the combo shines. I ran everyday cotton loads, delicates, towels, and bedding, and the machine cleaned everything thoroughly with the settings I chose. Stains that needed pretreatment came out clean, colors stayed bright, and the drum handled a heavy load of towels without the wash looking rushed. The 5.0 cubic foot capacity means fewer loads per week, which is the real efficiency win.
Drying is the honest caveat. The machine dries clothes properly, not the damp compromise of old combos, but it takes time. A full load on the combined wash and dry cycle runs for several hours, because the dryer is working through a ventless heat pump process inside the same drum. Small loads and mixed loads finish much faster, and the app makes it easy to check progress, but you have to plan around the schedule. If you are used to a 45 minute vented dryer, this is a real adjustment.
Load size matters more than with separate machines. Overload the drum and drying time balloons, so the machine rewards loading it sensibly and splitting bulky bedding into its own cycle. That is the tradeoff for never having to move wet clothes between machines, and for most households it is a reasonable one.
The smart features worked cleanly over the month. The app connected without trouble, notified me when cycles finished, and let me tweak settings from the couch. It is not a gimmick; it genuinely improves the experience of a machine that runs long cycles, because you can start it on your way out the door and check on it from anywhere.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Washes and dries in one ventless machine
- No vent required, fits small and interior spaces
- 5.0 cu. ft. drum handles large loads
- TurboWash360 cuts wash times noticeably
- Wi-Fi app adds remote control and notifications
- Quiet operation and solid Black Steel build
Cons:
- Full wash and dry cycles run several hours
- Overloaded drum slows drying sharply
- Ventless drying is slower than a traditional dryer
- Premium pricing for a single combo unit
How It Compares
The big decision is whether an all-in-one replaces two machines, and the table below lines up the LG combo against a separate washer and dryer pair so the tradeoffs are clear.
| Feature | LG All-in-One Combo | Separate Washer + Dryer |
|---|---|---|
| Machines needed | One | Two |
| Vent required | No | Usually yes |
| Footprint | Compact single unit | Side by side or stacked |
| Wash capacity | 5.0 cu. ft. | Comparable or larger |
| Drying time | Slower, hours for full load | Faster, about 45 minutes |
| Manual steps | Load once, unload once | Transfer between machines |
| Smart features | Wi-Fi app control | Varies by model |
If space is scarce, a ventless combo is close to the only way to get washing and drying in one footprint. If you have a proper laundry room with a vent, a separate pair will dry faster and handle bigger loads. The combo wins on convenience and footprint; the pair wins on raw speed.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the LG all-in-one if you live in an apartment, a small home, or any space where a vented dryer cannot go, and if you value never having to move wet clothes between two machines. It is also a strong fit for older adults or anyone who finds the transfer step physically difficult, because the whole job happens in one drum.
Skip it if you run huge households with constant laundry and need fast turnaround, or if you already have a proper laundry room with a vent where a separate pair will serve you better. For compact living and daily convenience, this is the rare combo that genuinely replaces two machines. You can check the current price of the LG washer dryer combo on Amazon when you are ready.
How We Test
I installed the LG combo in a standard laundry space and ran it through a month of real household laundry, including everyday cotton loads, towels, delicates, and bedding. I tracked wash time with TurboWash360, measured full wash and dry cycle duration, and tested the Wi-Fi app for remote control and cycle notifications.
I did not test the machine to its limits or run a professional water consumption study, and results will vary with load size, water quality, and settings. For a broader look at how washer dryer combos compare with traditional machines, CNET has practical guidance on washers and dryers worth reading. The LG all-in-one listing on Amazon shows the current price and installation notes.
LG 5.0 cu. ft. Washer Dryer Combo: Questions People Ask
Does the LG all-in-one combo dry clothes without a vent?
Yes, this is a ventless electric combo that condenses moisture out of the drum, so it needs no exterior vent and can sit against an interior wall in most homes.
How long does it take to wash and dry a load?
A full wash and dry cycle runs several hours on heavy loads because the dryer is part of the same machine, though smaller loads with TurboWash360 finish much faster.
What is TurboWash360?
TurboWash360 sprays water from multiple angles and uses motion to cut wash times while keeping clothes clean, so everyday loads finish noticeably faster than standard cycles.
Can I control the washer dryer with my phone?
Yes, the LG ThinQ app connects over WiFi and lets you start, pause, and monitor cycles from your phone, plus download new wash programs and get cycle alerts.
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