Verdict
Head-to-head · Best Dishwashers

LG LDTH7972S vs Miele G 7266 SCVi

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Miele G 7266 SCVi comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.3 vs 4.8). The gap is mostly about Buyers who keep appliances 15+ years, have hard water that benefits from a built-in softener, want a fully-integrated panel-ready install, and are willing to pay double the LG LDTH7972S price for measurably lower long-term failure rates. — read the strengths below before deciding.

LG LDTH7972S
Ranked #5 in Best Dishwashers
LG LDTH7972S
3 sourcesall derived

The LG LDTH7972S is the value pick that doesn't feel like one. At $949 it matches the Bosch 800 Series on noise (42 dBA), beats most everything in its class on warranty depth, and is the only machine in this comparison with a true steam generator. The lower rack has a documented cleaning dead-zone, though on the Heavy cycle with TrueSteam the LG removes over 99% of stains.

Strengths
  • 42 dBA noise level matches the Bosch 800 Series at $400 less
  • TrueSteam loosens baked-on food before the main wash, raising Heavy-cycle cleaning past 99%
  • 10-year warranty on the direct-drive motor and 2 years on the stainless tub and racks — one of the deepest warranty stacks in the segment
Watch-outs
  • Bottom-center of the lower rack can leave heavier stains during Normal cycles (Reviewed measured up to 70% residual staining there in testing)
  • Plastics still require a wipe after the dry cycle despite the Dynamic Heat Dry fan
  • Only 1 year on parts and labor — the deeper warranties are on specific components
Miele G 7266 SCVi
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Dishwashers
Miele G 7266 SCVi
3 sourcesall derived$1,999as of Jun 7

The Miele G 7266 SCVi is the buy-it-once dishwasher. It's tested to a 20-year service life, carries Miele's industry-low 5.6% twelve-month service rate, and its AutoOpen door dries better than what Bosch and KitchenAid only approach with electric heating elements. The catch is the cycle time and the $2,000 price, and both are real trade-offs.

Strengths
  • Tested for the equivalent of 20 years of service life — longest of any consumer dishwasher
  • AutoOpen door pops ajar after the cycle, letting steam escape and air-drying dishes
  • 42 dBA cabinet is as quiet as the Bosch 800 Series despite a deeper feature set
Watch-outs
  • Panel-ready design requires a custom cabinet panel; not a drop-in stainless install
  • Cycle time runs long — Consumer Reports judged it 'poor' on cycle time for full heavy loads
  • $2,000 price tag is roughly double the LG LDTH7972S for the same noise level

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

LG LDTH7972S

The single best value built-in in this comparison — matches the Bosch 800 SHX78CM5N on dBA and on Wi-Fi at $400 less. The Bosch and Miele G 7266 SCVi both clean more consistently across the full lower rack; the LG has a documented dead zone at the back-center bottom. Wins decisively over the KitchenAid KDTM604KPS on warranty depth (10-year motor coverage) and on cycle count (10 vs 5). Much louder and cycle-quicker than the Farberware FCD06ABBWHA countertop, as expected for a built-in.

Miele G 7266 SCVi

The longevity story is its real differentiator over the Bosch 800 SHX78CM5N — same noise level, but Miele's 5.6% service rate beats Bosch's 7.8% on Yale's 33,000-call dataset. AutoOpen drying is a real step above the KitchenAid KDTM604KPS Fan-Enabled ProDry and roughly matches the Bosch 800's CrystalDry on plastics. Far quieter than the LG LDTH7972S Heavy cycle and miles ahead of the Farberware FCD06ABBWHA. The 9-cycle program list is the most flexible in this comparison.

Specs side-by-side

SpecLG LDTH7972SMiele G 7266 SCVi
Width24 inches24 inches
Noise Level42 dBA42 dBA
Place Settings1516
Wash Cycles10 (Auto, Heavy, Normal, Delicate, Refresh, 1-Hour, Express, Rinse, Machine Clean, Download Cycle)9 (Auto, QuickIntenseWash, ComfortWash, Eco, Pots & Pans, SaniWash, Express, Rinse, Glassware)
Third RackYes, height-adjustable sliderYes, 3D MultiFlex cutlery tray
Energy StarYes, 238 kWh/yearYes, certified
Smart FeaturesThinQ Wi-Fi, Alexa, Google, leak detectionMiele@home Wi-Fi app
Warranty1-year parts and labor, 10-year direct-drive motor, 2-year tub and racks2-year full coverage, 20-year tested service life
Dimensions24.63"D x 23.75"W x 33.63"H
MaterialStainless Steel
Water SoftenerBuilt-in
Drying SystemAutoOpen door drying
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