LG Electronics said on Oct. 26 it has launched a drawer-type model of its 'LG Dios AI Objet Collection STEM ice water purifier refrigerator' that changes the structure of the bottom freezer. STEM is LG Electronics' direct-water refrigerator brand that supplies water through a direct-water pipe and makes ice. It provides craft ice, cube ice and crushed ice.

The new product replaces the side-opening bottom freezer with a drawer design split into a middle and lower compartment. The company said it was designed by analysing the degree of bending in the waist and legs and the amount of muscle used to maintain posture. When the drawer is opened, users can check and take out ingredients from above, reducing the need to bend deeply at the waist or kneel.

The middle compartment is a convertible drawer that can be switched between freezing and refrigeration. In the 'LG ThinQ' app, users can choose from 14 storage modes for baby food, meal kits, dairy products, wine, kimchi, meat, fish and more. The lower compartment includes a freezing function and an auto ice maker. The 'freshness custom compartment', which adjusts temperatures by ingredient type, increased to 2 from 1.

It also added artificial intelligence features that learn usage patterns. 'AI Fresh Care' learns refrigerator usage times and how often the door is opened and closed, and activates cooling mode in advance before meal preparation. During periods of low usage, 'AI Saving Mode' adjusts compressor operation. 'AI Voice Recognition' recommends and sets modes based on ingredients and storage periods spoken by customers, and also controls home appliances linked to the ThinQ app.

For installation space, it applied zero clearance hinge technology, leaving 4 mm on each side from the wall and reducing the top clearance by 40 percent from before. Only a minimum of 9 mm is needed. A subscription service provides performance checks, filter replacement, and management of the direct-water pipe, water outlet and door rubber gasket every 3 months. It supports cleaning of the machinery compartment on the back of the refrigerator every 36 months.

Jae-il Kim (김재일), head of LG Electronics' Kitchen Solution Business Division, said it will present a differentiated customer experience in the domestic refrigerator market by leading with the new convertible drawer model. He said the company will continue to further strengthen core product performance and keep introducing home appliances optimised for customers' diverse lifestyles.