Bigger fridges do tend to make people much happier than smaller ones, according to our reader survey and analysis of customer reviews. But the point to praise is that you can set the limit of water filling on the Measure Fill option. Some refrigerators also feature adjustable humidity. Bucket-style freezers (on some models) can be hard to organize, and swing-open freezers (on other models) are very low to the ground. Wide but shallow fridges, like counter-depth French-door models, might represent a happy medium. But even then, the gap between the most-reliable and least-reliable brands looks pretty narrow. 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. The side-by-sides in particular earned the second-best satisfaction ratings among the top five brands in our survey, behind LGs (though they still had the worst rating for reliability). And we do not think its possible to predict which major brand makes the most reliable fridges. Standard-size refrigerators generally have a capacity between 19 to 25 cubic feet, but it can range up to 33 cubic feet (size goes up with capacity). But on balance, LG as a brand stands out a bit from the other major manufacturers. On the downside, LGs customer service is bad (though its fridge reliability is above average, so you have a lower chance of needing to interact with customer service). Size range: For freestanding models, 36 inches is the most common width, and some 33-inch models are available, standard-depth and counter-depth. But Bosch seems like a category leader, with very high owner satisfaction and excellent reviews from ownersthe 800 Series B36CT80SNS is one of its popular models. You can always choose your temperature and humidity range on control options. Top-freezer fridge owners are more likely to complain that their fridges are loud, though its still a relatively low percentage, even among the noisiest models. These fridges do their job efficiently, but they arent that ergonomic and tend not to have any upscale features or designs. By Jasmine Harding | Updated Feb 28, 2022 7:03 PM. But some testers complain about its fragile compressor performance. The downside is that owners tend not to be all that happy to own them. Heres our advice, with a couple of tips that are often missing from other guides: As long as a fridge fits your space, theres no wrong size. In contrast, some may accommodate these inside the fridge. Items are easy to see on its wall-to-wall frameless glass shelves. True counter-depth fridges can blend into their surroundings, but even the pseudo-counter-depth freestanding fridges from mainstream brands dont feel so dominating or imposing in a room. Determine the depth you want. We spoke to several industry experts, including brand representatives, dealers, and repair technicians. Sub-Zero owners, for instance, gave the highest satisfaction rating in our reader survey, with 77% of owners answering that they were very satisfied with their fridges (LG French-door models earned such praise from 58% of their owners, for comparisons sake), and another 16% said they were somewhat satisfied. A $4,000 LG French-door fridge seems just as likely to suffer mechanical and electrical problems as an $1,800 LG French-door fridge because theyre built around similar componentsand some of those pricier models have higher rates of problems than the midrange models simply because they have more parts that can fail. It wouldnt surprise us if other luxury brands had similar ratings, but we just dont have reliable information about enough of these brands to offer much specific, comparative advice. You will find the custom-made storage option for these fridges. Freestanding full-size fridges can be as cheap as $650 or cost thousands of dollars like some built-ins. One high-end feature that owners like a lot is the Family Hub, a giant tablet built into the door of a big fridge. Thats particularly notable considering that 17% of respondents didnt even have an automatic ice maker in the first place or said that they didnt think about this feature. There are plenty of counter-depth models, as well, though these tend to be on the thinner side. The shelving and organization in LG fridges earned especially high ratings in our reader survey, as LG beat the other major brands in satisfaction with perceived capacity, storage ability, and accessibility of contents. Less depth, however, often means less capacity. For other current LG fridges (including the French-door models we analyzed) and other major brands, we saw those kinds of problems cited in only about 3% of reviews, give or take. GE also sells a bunch of affordable bottom-freezer models, such as the GBE21DYKFS, though we dont have enough data on this category to have a clear picture of how they stack up against those of other brands. This is a top-of-the-line refrigerator from Whirlpool, which is made of all-black ABS plastic and is one of the most energy-efficient models available. You will also find an indicator to replace the filter for the ice, maker-another amazing spec. Owners like this Bosch models style and often say it seems to keeps food fresher a little longer (we have no clue whether this is true). This displays energy requirements and average operating costs, which are broken down into an Estimated Yearly Operating Cost (a dollar estimate) and Estimated Yearly Electric Use (measured in kilowatt-hours [kWh]). In our reader survey, 78% of all respondents were somewhat or very satisfied with their fridges, while less than 5% were very dissatisfied, and no brand or style of fridge was immune from serious dissatisfaction. Most people are mostly happy (or at least not unhappy) with most fridges, so as long as you pick something that fits and wont break (which is almost entirely out of your control anyway), youll probably think your new fridge is at least okay. We used an AI-powered analysis tool to scan 28,000-plus customer reviews across 34 fridge models for complaints and praise. You can choose the best piece according to your range, requirement, and preference. Most Reliable Whirlpool Refrigerators | Our Picks. GE has its own repair fleet in some metro areas, which might have something to do with it. The half-width doors are convenient in tight kitchen layouts, and models have a trendy look. Built-in models from luxury brands can cost five figures. These fridges are big enough to help minimize shopping trips, they might reduce the amount of time you spend looking for items, and they are compact enough to save some energy. You will see various colors and designs for these refrigerators, and each one is individually beautiful and unique. But most people seem to think that a built-in ice maker is worth having. Whirlpool earned solid marks for customer service in our survey, too, though we didnt find customer reviews actively praising the service the same way that we did for GE. Its equipped with LED lighting inside, and the controls are well-organized for easy operation. Raised shelf edges help keep spills contained. Sub-Zero, Liebherr, Smeg, Miele, and Fisher & Paykel are some other notable names, and there are plenty more. You can find tons of these models for sale at any typical big-box appliance retailer, from every major brand, in most door configurations, at a range of prices. There are plenty of other finishes to pick from, though theyre available on fewer models. Pros: High owner satisfaction, especially relative to the price. However, this company is also Energy-Star certified, along with tons of reviews. These fridges are still uncommon, and we dont have a ton of info about how much their owners like them or whether they perform well, but the large handful of models for sale (Whirlpool, Samsung, and Haier all sell some) have decent (though not always great) customer reviews. But in the end, its all your personal choice, whatever you would like to see in your cabinets. But judging from the little info we do have, those models seem to be solid, too. Cons:Some of the customers complains that no ice maker is available. A class-action suit regarding the faulty ice makers is close to being settled via mediation as of February 2022. A good starting point is deciding on the type of refrigerator that works best in the kitchen. But there are some rules of thumb to follow if you want to maximize your energy savings, such as choosing a smaller capacity, passing on a door dispenser, and avoiding side-by-side models. Instead of a shelf-mounted ice bin in the freezer, this refrigerators ice bin is in the door. Now, coming to its refrigerators, lets discuss its performance concerning its quality, specs, and price. To be clear, our data suggests that GE French-door fridges need repairs at a rate similar to that of LG French-door models, and we did see some complaints about customer service among the analyzed reviews. If this matters to you, check out some fridges in person. Electrolux is Frigidaires parent company. This refrigerator has a fingerprint-resistant stainless steel finish, and its Energy Star certified. Thus offering a good space option from couple to big families. According to our reader survey, this is the major brand with the lowest overall owner satisfaction, as well as the lowest satisfaction for each individual type of refrigerator (though its not far behind GE for basic top-freezer models). We think most counter-depth models from the brands we highlight above should work well for most people. Side-by-side fridges are the least efficient style. The inside of the 25-cubic-foot refrigerator is as well designed as the exterior. Many people buy counter-depth fridges because thats what fits into their kitchen. When, on occasion, any such issue arises, LG is committed to taking care of its customers. The reps also referenced LGs warranty coverage. And while few buyers are truly excited about top-freezer models, we have some evidence from our reader survey and customer-review analysis that a small, budget-friendly Whirlpool might be a slightly more satisfying, or at least a more reliable, option than other brands top-freezer fridges. So its durability is quite doubtful. Our advice is based mostly on two big fact-finding projects we conducted to collect feedback from people who use refrigerators and then quantify and analyze that feedback. Wall-to-wall frameless glass shelves and several adjustable gallon door bins provide flexible storage. Owners tend to find this style easier to organize, judging from what weve seen in our reader-survey results and customer-review analysis. These fridges also score very well in Consumer Reportss ratings (Refrigerators, Consumer Reports Buying Guide 2022, pages 2327), and their average customer ratings on major retailers websites are similar to those of LGs refrigerators. It has a modern design thats not only functional but also very pleasing to look at, and its also pretty easy to clean. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. For a built-in look, consider a counter-depth fridge. You can find even cheaper fridges, but they tend to be very small, almost like mini fridges. Many people buy the widest fridge that fits their space and budget (often 36 inches) and often one thats very deep (34 inches or more), too. Weve learned from talking to manufacturers and touring appliance factories that components and processes and employees can change as often as every few weeks, yet the products model name remains the same. We also read a slew of other refrigerator reviews, info about reliability, and guides on how to pick and install fridges. You also have tons of options, such as two drawers, door-in-door features, premium dispensers, specialty ice makers, translucent panels, and door tablets. Like other Whirlpool models, the refrigerator has glass shelves, a small deli drawer, and LED lighting. We considered more than 20 refrigerators to find our top picks, choosing among popular types to narrow down the best Whirlpool refrigerators. Right? IKEAs house-brand refrigerators are manufactured by Whirlpool and have mostly similar characteristics. Some of the pieces have the water and ice maker outside the door. This refrigerators most important yet crucial point is the cooling system regulated by a high-end mechanism that assures the temperature maintenance and cooling equilibrium in the best possible way. The Craft Ice feature on the LG LRFVC2406S, for example, earned high praise from nearly 40% of owners according to our customer-review analysis, and only a few instances of criticism. If this were a typical Wirecutter guide, wed highlight a handful of the best refrigerators that, based on our research and testing, would make the most people the happiest. More than half of the readers who filled out our survey cited one of these three things as a top priority in their fridge, and size or layout was mentioned in at least 25% of the customer reviews we analyzed for any individual fridge. Humidity control and filter features help extend the life of produce, keeping veggies, greens, and fruits fresh for longer. Well walk you through some of the major choices you need to make, and well point out some of the brands, designs, and features that real-world owners tend to like. This capability probably has something to do with maintaining freshness, so you could check Consumer Reportss reviews if you think this will matter. Premium fridges come in a couple of different flavors that sometimes mix together. As of February 2022, the US is still dealing with some shortages of new appliances, a downstream effect of worldwide supply-chain disruptions. You must have heard about its services and appliances which slightly dust off the doubts of its reliability. But from what we can tell, owners tend to be really happy with them. This refrigerator features two clear, humidity-controlled produce crispers. Some models feature side-by-side double doors, which provide a clear view of the shelf contents and door compartments. However, after digging through Wirecutter survey responses and retail customer reviews and examining other publicly available data, we have some leads about the brands, fridge types, and even specific models that may be most prone to problems. The real question: At what rate are they defective or prone to malfunctions? According to our reader survey, slightly fewer Whirlpool French-door owners than their GE counterparts said they were very or somewhat satisfied, and they trailed even further behind LG French-door owners. However, most side-by-side owners in general arent exactly thrilled with their fridges (theyre content, maybe, but not very satisfied at nearly the same rate as French-door owners), and GEs rating in this category is in the middle of the pack among the major brands.