LG is cheaper at every point where the two brands meet, and quieter with it. The 14-place QuadWash costs less than Bosch's 13-place Series 2 and runs four decibels quieter. The 15-place model at around $1,249 is 41 decibels, which no Bosch matches until the Series 8 at more than twice the price.
Bosch's answer is range. Six models against three, a ladder that runs from around $900 to $2,699, a 45cm version for narrow kitchens, an integrated model LG has no equivalent to, and AquaStop leak protection warranted for the life of the machine.
Both brands stand within 5mm of each other on height, so unlike some of their rivals neither is ruled out by a fixed benchtop.
The two ranges at a glance
| Places | Noise | Energy | kWh/yr | Water | L/cycle | Height | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG | ||||||||
| XD5B14WH QuadWash | 14 | 44dB | 4 stars | 230 | 5 stars | 11.5 | 850mm | $700–800 |
| XD4B24PS TrueSteam | 14 | 44dB | 4 stars | 230 | 5 stars | 11.5 | 850mm | $900–1,000 |
| XD3A15NS QuadWash | 15 | 41dB | 4 stars | 246 | 5.5 stars | 11.1 | 850mm | $1,200–1,300 |
| Bosch | ||||||||
| Series 2 SMS2ITI02A | 13 | 48dB | 3.5 stars | 255 | 4 stars | 12.7 | 845mm | $800–900 |
| Series 4 SMS4HVI01A | 14 | 46dB | 4 stars | 230 | 4 stars | 13.5 | 845mm | $900–1,000 |
| Series 6 45cm SPS6IKI01A | 10 | 48dB | 3 stars | 205 | 3.5 stars | 11.2 | 845mm | $1,300–1,400 |
| Series 6 SMS6HAI02A | 14 | 44dB | 4 stars | 230 | 5 stars | 11.4 | 845mm | $1,300–1,400 |
| Series 6 SMS6HCI02A | 15 | 44dB | 4 stars | 245 | 5.5 stars | 11 | 845mm | $1,400–1,500 |
| Series 8 SBT8ZC801A | 15 | 42dB | 4.5 stars | 206 | 5 stars | 12.2 | 865mm | $2,600–2,800 |
Figures are from the energy and water rating labels, which are government schemes, and from The Good Guys listings.
How the LG range is built
Three machines, all 850mm high, all QuadWash, all with a ten-year motor warranty on top of the standard two years on the machine. The 14-place XD5B14WH at around $799 is the entry point and the cheapest 14-place dishwasher either brand sells. TrueSteam adds a steam cycle for around $200 more at the same capacity and noise. The 15-place XD3A15NS at around $1,249 is the quiet one at 41 decibels.
QuadWash means four spray arms rather than two, which is LG's answer to coverage. Every model connects to the ThinQ app. Owners rate the XD5B14WH 4.5 at The Good Guys.
The range stops at $1,249. There is no LG dishwasher above it, no 45cm version and no integrated model.
What We Like:
- Cheapest 14-place machine here
- 41dB on the 15-place model
- Ten-year motor warranty
What We Don't Like:
- Nothing above $1,249, and no integrated option
How the Bosch range is built
Six machines from around $900 to $2,699, all 845mm except the integrated Series 8. The steps are small: Series 2 is 13 places at 48 decibels, Series 4 adds a place and drops to 46, Series 6 drops to 44 and lifts the water rating to 5 or 5.5 stars, Series 8 reaches 42 decibels and 4.5 energy stars.
The 45cm Series 6 is the one no other brand here answers: 10 place settings in a 450mm cabinet, for a galley kitchen or a flat. Note it is 48 decibels, the loudest Bosch in the range, and 3 energy stars.
AquaStop Plus leak protection is warranted for the life of the machine across the range. Owners rate the Series 4 4.6 at The Good Guys.
What We Like:
- Six rungs including a 45cm and an integrated
- Lifetime AquaStop leak protection
- 845mm across the range
What We Don't Like:
- Beaten on price and noise at every matching rung
What actually differs
Price at the same capacity. A 14-place LG is around $799; the cheapest 14-place Bosch is around $999. A 15-place LG is around $1,249; a 15-place Bosch is around $1,499. The gap is about $200 wherever the two ranges line up.
Noise. LG's 15-place runs at 41 decibels, the quietest machine either brand sells. Bosch does not get below 44 until the Series 8, which is $2,699 and integrated. In an open-plan kitchen where the dishwasher runs after dinner, this is the difference most owners notice.
Water. Bosch's cheaper machines are thirsty: the Series 4 uses 13.5 litres a cycle against the LG's 11.5, and rates 4 water stars to LG's 5. Bosch only matches LG on water at Series 6 and above.
How far the ladder goes. LG's stops at $1,249. Bosch keeps going to $2,699, and only Bosch offers a 45cm machine or a fully integrated one. If the kitchen needs either, the comparison ends there.
Leak protection. Bosch's AquaStop Plus is warranted for the life of the machine. LG's is an Aqua Stop valve covered by the standard two years, though LG counters with ten years on the motor.
Height. 850mm against 845mm. Both clear a 900mm benchtop comfortably, which is not true of every brand — Fisher & Paykel's freestanding machines are 895mm, covered in Bosch vs Fisher & Paykel.
Which brand suits which kitchen
LG suits anyone comparing on price and noise at 14 or 15 place settings, and households that value a ten-year motor warranty over lifetime leak cover.
Bosch suits a 450mm cabinet, an integrated installation, a budget under $900, or a buyer who wants leak protection warranted for the life of the machine.
FAQs
What is QuadWash?
Four spray arms instead of the usual two, top and bottom, each with its own rotation. It is LG's approach to getting water to the corners of a full load, and it appears on all three of their machines.
Is TrueSteam worth $200?
It adds a steam cycle aimed at baked-on dishes and glassware spotting. The capacity, noise, energy and water figures are identical to the cheaper QuadWash, so the steam cycle is the entire difference.
Does Bosch make a 45cm dishwasher and LG not?
Yes. The Series 6 SPS6IKI01A is 450mm wide and holds 10 place settings. LG's Australian range is 60cm only.
Which brand is cheaper to run?
They are close. Both sit at 4 energy stars through most of the range, and only Bosch's Series 8 reaches 4.5. Water is where LG leads at the cheaper end, using two litres less a cycle than a Series 4.
