I remember scoffing at the idea of a tablet in a fridge when Samsung launched the first version about six years ago, assuming that it would be a reliability nightmare.
But in general, people who have a Family Hub like it. And in general, plenty of people are perfectly happy with their Samsung fridges. The premium Bespoke line is one of the few true counter-depth offerings we know of. The challenge with these brands might be getting service under warranty or spare parts for repairs in the future.
Kenmore products can vary a bit from the major-label versions—sometimes they earn different performance ratings from pro reviewers, for example—but generally you can expect the same experience. Brands like Hisense , Galanz , and Midea are less known in the US at least for refrigerators but are major players overseas.
Are they probably fine? The real question: At what rate are they defective or prone to malfunctions? The customer ratings for these lowest-end fridges tend to be decent, though some models like this retro-styled Galanz seem more prone to cooling failures than a typical fridge.
You can find even cheaper fridges, but they tend to be very small, almost like mini fridges. The customer ratings for these models are solid and sometimes even great, though these owners are more likely than normal to complain about noise, lack of shelving, and lack of capacity. If you have a little wiggle room in your budget, you could consider stepping up to a model with glass shelves rather than wire , recessed pocket-style handles, or a stainless-steel finish—something like the Frigidaire FFTRVS.
You can find some higher-capacity models, too. Even with all those upgrades, a top-of-the-line top-freezer model will almost always still cost less than any other style of refrigerator of comparable size. Whirlpool top-freezer fridges, for example, have significantly higher owner satisfaction and a very low rate of utter hatred.
Nice-to-haves, such as a through-the-door ice dispenser and a second drawer, can each add a few hundred dollars to the price, as can a counter-depth design. Premium fridges come in a couple of different flavors that sometimes mix together.
In general, people who spend this much on a refrigerator tend to be even happier with their fridges, surpassing the already higher level of satisfaction among owners of the basic models.
Customer ratings for these pricier models often reach 4. And according to our reader survey, brands that exclusively sell premium fridges such as Bosch and KitchenAid have higher owner satisfaction than brands that sell fridges at a mix of prices. Some of them work smoothly, others have bells and whistles that seem prone to malfunctions. KitchenAid is a Whirlpool Corporation label that makes good-looking but feature-light fridges.
But Bosch seems like a category leader, with very high owner satisfaction and excellent reviews from owners—the Series B36CT80SNS is one of its popular models. The main complaint is that the doors feel heavy to shut.
What we can say, based on the limited data we collected, is that people who own luxury brands tend to be really happy with their refrigerators. As of summer , the US is still dealing with some shortages of new appliances, a downstream effect of worldwide supply-chain disruptions. You may not be able to get the specific fridge you want in a timely manner, but you can probably get something similar. And after a week or two passes, you might forget you ever wanted something different.
You can find four popular styles of freestanding refrigerators, plus a few less-common types, all with some aesthetic and functional differences.
In our reader survey, French-door fridges almost always had better ratings for owner satisfaction than the other two most-popular styles, side-by-sides and top-freezers, in everything from perceived capacity to storage and organization to temperature control to looks. Overall satisfaction is where we saw the most dramatic difference: All the little ways that French-door fridges are more comfortable to use and convenient for more people add up to a huge statistical advantage.
Bottom-freezer models actually had the highest satisfaction of any type. Built-in models from luxury brands can cost five figures. Size range: 36 inches is the most common width, while inch and inch models are also easy to find. A few inch built-in models are available from luxury brands.
Regular-depth and counter-depth models are widely available. Freestanding models are most common, but plenty of high-end built-ins are available, too. Pros: All fresh foods stay near eye level for people of a wide range of heights, and you get easy wide-item storage pizza, deli trays.
The half-width doors are convenient in tight kitchen layouts, and models have a trendy look. You also have tons of options, such as two drawers, door-in-door features, premium dispensers, specialty ice makers, translucent panels, and door tablets. Cons: The bucket-style freezer can be hard to organize, and retrieving frozen items requires bending. Tall-item storage is sometimes limited. Models are relatively expensive.
The most consistent complaint about the French-door design concerns the bucket-style freezer. It seems we only use the top 6 inches and the rest is a deep freeze that we never dig into. However, some upscale French-door variants like the Whirlpool WRXSDHZ have a fourth door, in the form of a second drawer, usually a small tray between the fridge and freezer.
Usually such models let you adjust the temperature independently of the fridge or freezer, so you can turn it down a tick to help preserve meats and cheeses or nudge it up a bit to keep produce more appetizing or drinks at a better serving temperature.
Although side-by-sides tend to create much less satisfaction than French-door models, some people genuinely prefer this layout. Arguably the best part is that they tend to cost much less than French-door fridges while offering similar capacities and feature sets.
Size range: For freestanding models, 36 inches is the most common width, and some inch models are available, standard-depth and counter-depth. For built-ins, , , and inch widths are available. Pros: Side-by-sides offer eye-level access to both the fridge and the freezer, plus plenty of shelf space in the freezer.
Big capacity and cool features are available at reasonable prices, and the half-width doors are convenient in tight kitchen layouts. Cons: The wide-item storage is limited, and the design is less energy efficient than other styles.
Owner satisfaction is mediocre overall. The downside is that owners tend not to be all that happy to own them. Size range: You get roughly 8 to 22 cubic feet of storage anything smaller is really a mini fridge. These come in widths of 22 inches to 33 inches, and similar depths most are roughly square-shaped.
Pros: Top-freezer models are affordable, available in a wide range of sizes, and efficient. No bending required to reach frozen items. These fridges are also more reliable than other types, according to some sources, though we found that they might be more prone to minor, nuisance-type problems.
Cons: Owner satisfaction is low. Fresh foods sit below waist height for most people, and the full-width doors may be hard to open completely in some kitchens. We point toward a few notable top-freezer models in our section on budget-friendly fridges. Bottom-freezer refrigerators are a bit of a hidden gem. But from what we can tell, owners tend to be really happy with them.
They offer some of the same practical advantages as basic French-door models, for significantly lower prices.
Size range: A inch width and standard depth is the most popular size in the US for affordable freestanding models, though they get as narrow as 22 inches and as wide as 33 inches. There are plenty of counter-depth models, as well, though these tend to be on the thinner side. Built-in models are 24 inches to 36 inches wide.
Pros: High owner satisfaction, especially relative to the price. As suggested, they fit perfectly under any kitchen or bar counter, sit flush with cabinets, and pull out for convenience.
Most frequently found in grocery stores, these open up from the top and allow you to store everything at a uniform, freezing temperature.
However, people will typically keep these in their basement or garage for extra food storage. It's important to note that freezers don't just come in chest form anymore. Not only do they come in chest and column, but also compact form.
Wine refrigerators can be an add-on to a bar or to any kitchen or can be added in as a built-in cabinet. In addition, some people opt for full-length refrigeration. Since these tend to be viewed as status symbols, expect them to be pricier than other options on this list.
Though not a refrigerator in the traditional sense of the word, ice makers are highly utilitarian for people who really love their ice. It's sure to impress your guests when you serve them unlimited ice-cold drinks. With ice makers, you may need a connection to your water line and a drain to make them function. So choose wisely and make sure to read the specs before you get into it too much. Many models fit nicely under the countertops and flush with your cabinetry.
You can even choose between a design looking more like a mini-fridge with a door, or in a drawer or double-drawer form, or even by ice cube shape. Walk-in refrigerators or freezers, or "walk-ins" as they more commonly known, are most commonly meant for people who are dealing with a professional setup. However, it's not just for professionals or people who live in mansions or have kitchen staff.
As a matter of fact, it's not unusual for homeowners to convert their walk-in pantries to walk-in refrigerators. Walk-ins are also used by people who have catering kitchens in their homes. While the idea sounds glamorous, it's important to remember the extra energy consumption that goes along with walk-ins. If you are in the market for a new fridge, the best way to tell which will be the right type for you is to look at your available space, your budget, as well as the needs you want to have met.
Also, important to evaluate is how much food you actually shop for and what your priorities are. Do you cook a lot or use a lot of fresh ingredients? Do you buy mostly frozen foods or prepped meals? Your budget is also going to either close or open different brands for your kitchen. Luckily, most brands out there do sell refrigerators in that price range and lower. Not only that, many stores offer discounted prices for refrigerators that are already out of the box called "open box" or display models.
You can one at a great price if there are any slight damages or imperfections on the body or doors. Sometimes, you can get a luxury brand like Jenn-Air or Dacor for thousands less just on account of it being open-box.
Determining how much space you have in your kitchen for a refrigerator will also determine how you shop for one. Even if your space is limited, refrigerators come in all kinds of depths, heights, and widths, making almost anything possible.
Just remember that something like a french-door or a four-door might make more sense if you don't have a lot of passing space in your kitchen.
If you've got a lot of space, maybe you need to fill that with a column refrigerator and a column freezer. Another important aspect you need to consider besides functionality, which is first and foremost, is how your refrigerator will look in your kitchen.
These days so many refrigerators come in a wide variety of sizes, colors, and finishes. Is your refrigerator a kickback to the s? Is it a rustic or country-style kitchen, or perhaps super modern is your thing? It's not hard to find vintage-look refrigerators, as mentioned earlier because so many manufacturers now offer retro lines.
However, if it's modern you want, you'll want to stick to a refrigerator model that offers straight clean lines. While stainless steel has been the most popular option for appliances in the past ten years or so, and still work well as a versatile finish for any color scheme, matte-finish appliances are recently all the rage.
Stainless steel looks shiny, sleek, and professional, but fingerprints are easily left behind and unsightly. The matte finishes use a type of technology that easily hides messy smears and handprints.
Panel-ready refrigerators offer the ability to put your own panel in lieu of a conventional door. This means you can have the door match the rest of your kitchen cabinetry, giving your whole kitchen a seamless look. Paying attention to detail can pay off when completing your kitchen with the perfect refrigerator. That means considering details like the hardware on your refrigerator.
Your kitchen can look extra chic with matching hardware. Some brands offer hardware kits so you can change the door handles to a different finish or color.
With a little careful observation and planning, you'll find a refrigerator that works for you, even with a limited budget.
Besides researching online or asking friends for recommendations, you might be best served visiting a major appliance center or showroom. That way you can see the models, colors, and finishes in person, compare features and get help from a sales rep who might more knowledgeable about features and reliability. When you click through our links, we may get a commission.
Ossiana Tepfenhart Updated: Oct 19, Shopping for a refrigerator is not nearly as straightforward as it once was. Read our guide to learn what are the types of different refrigerators, their features, and why they might be right for you.
Deciding Which Refrigerator is Right for You Refrigerators come in a variety of configurations: top-freezer, bottom-freezer, French-door, side-by-side, column, and four-door. Many refrigerators today offer high-tech features such as see-through doors, camera views, smart technology such as screen hubs and wifi-syncing, as well as door-within-doors and specialty drawers.
Besides shopping by style, you can also look for a refrigerator by installation, which includes counter-depth, full-size, or custom built-in.
Specialty refrigeration is also available such as kegerators or beverage coolers, wine refrigerators, mini-refrigerators, and ice makers. When shopping for a fridge it's important to consider your refrigeration needs, your budget, space available in your kitchen, along with color, finish, and detailing. Traditional Refrigerators Traditional refrigerators are a large umbrella category of refrigerators that are typically categorized by the way their doors open up.
The Perks And Pitfalls Of Traditional Fridges This category of refrigerators are appliances that can be moved from apartment to apartment. If you need a basic model, this is it. Top-Freezer Fridges. This is the classic refrigerator model that has been offered for decades. Because it's a classic, most manufacturers sell some form of this model.
Shop for Top-Freezer Refrigerators. You can often find top freezer refrigerators at an entry price-point since more advanced features like exterior ice and water are less common in this kind of fridge. Sometimes called bottom-mount, these refrigerators are the reverse of top freezer styles. In this type of fridge, the fresh food compartment is on top with the freezer down below accessible by either a side-open door or a pull-out drawer. This setup allows you to get a classic refrigerator look while making fresh items easier to access.
Undercounter refrigerators are much smaller than full-sized types of fridges. As the name suggests, they are installed underneath the counter, making them a kind of built-in refrigerator. Most contain one refrigerator cavity, with some models featuring a freezer zone.
Undercounter wine cellars and beverage centers are specialized versions made for storing wine or beer bottles and cans at your ideal temperature. Sign in to unlock lower pricing. Subscribe to Receive :. Total Price:. We use your information in accordance with our privacy policy. Skip to main content. We seem to have lost our map and can't update your zip code right now.
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Contact Us. Yes, I'd like to receive occasional special offers, promotions, or other e-mail marketing communications from Whirlpool and its affiliated brands. For more information about our privacy practices and a list of affiliated brands, please read out Privacy Notice. I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Notice. Create an Account. The bottom-freezer drawer can sometimes make it a bit difficult to keep things organized, as it's less likely to have shelving or compartments than other fridge styles, but at least you can dig around for what you want without needing steel-toe boots.
While French-doors offer most of these same benefits and have better features, too , bottom-freezers have the advantage of costing much less on average. Side-by-sides provide easy access to items in both the fridge and freezer, but neither compartment is particularly wide. The main selling point of a side-by-side is that it lets you access freezer items without stooping down, as you'd need to do with a French-door or bottom-freezer fridge.
It also doesn't need as much space for the door to swing open compared to top- or bottom-freezer models. The downside, of course, is that the two compartments are significantly thinner than in other styles of fridge. This can make it difficult or impossible to store sheet pans, frozen pizzas, or wide platters.
Another more subtle issue is that the refrigerator compartment of a side-by-side may have a pronounced temperature differential between its top and bottom. Most fridges pipe in the cold air through a vent at the top center of the back of the fridge, at which point it circulates throughout the fridge. This means that items stored closer to this vent will be colder and items further away will be warmer— sometimes dangerously so , especially in overstuffed fridges that impede air circulation.
Since the fridge compartment is so high in a side-by-side, this style of fridge tends to have more problems with this than any other. French-door refrigerators mix many of the above design elements into a single unit.
The namesake French doors look like they're from a side-by-side but open into the same large refrigerated compartment. Underneath is a freezer drawer, similar in design to what you'd find on a bottom-freezer.
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