REFRIGER ATOR S

QUICK GUIDE

Refrigerators
Refrigerator design continues to evolve, and new
models often boast high-tech features. But no matter
which configuration you choose, everyday performance
still matters most—and that’s what our tests capture.

What to Look For storage capacity is often BUYING

! Temperature-controlled less than the amount ADVICE
drawers to keep meat, claimed. We measure the If you’re replacing
fish, and other food at interior capacity of each your existing
lower temperatures. model, which you’ll see in fridge (rather
! In French-door or side- the ratings. than remodeling),
by-side models, look for be sure to note
What You’ll Pay
split or adjustable shelves each model’s
Standard top-freezers
for storing taller items width, height,
start around $500.
as needed. and depth as
Side-by-sides start around
! Adjustable door bins
$800, while French- you shop.
also allow for customization
door models are $1,000
and flexibility.
and up. Built-ins can
What to Skip run beyond $10,000.
! Our tests found that For more buying
advice, go to
the amount of usable CR.org/refrigerators.

Tested products in performance order.

Brand & Model Overall Survey

Price Results Test Results Features
Score
Predicted reliability

Thermostat control

Exterior height (in.)

Owner satisfaction

Exterior depth (in.)

Exterior width (in.)
Energy efficiency
Recommended

Temperature
uniformity

Noise
Rank

TOP FREEZERS

!
0 1 LG LTCS20220S 79 $900 5 0
0 4 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
5 66 30 33
!
0 2 LG LTCS24223S 78 $1,000 5 0
0 4 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
5 68 33 33
Frigidaire Gallery
!
0 3 FGTR2037TF
78 $850 4 0
0 1 0
5 0
5 0
5 0
3 70 30 33

1 2 3 4 5 !
POOR EXCELLENT RECOMMENDED 51
 Brand & Model Overall Survey
Price Results Test Results Features
Score

Predicted reliability

Thermostat control

Exterior height (in.)

Owner satisfaction

Exterior depth (in.)

Exterior width (in.)
Energy efficiency
Recommended

Temperature
uniformity

Noise
Rank

TOP FREEZERS Continued

Samsung
!
0 4 RT21M6213SG
76 $900 − − 3 0
0 4 0
5 0
4 68 33 32
Samsung
!
0 5 RT21M6215SG 75 $900 − − 3 0
0 4 0
5 0
4 68 33 32
Blomberg
!
0 6 BRFT1522SS 75 $1,100 − − 4 0
0 5 0
4 0
4 68 28 26
Samsung
!
0 7 RT18M6215SG 75 $750 − − 4 0
0 4 0
4 0
4 67 29 29
Frigidaire
!
0 8 FFHT1832TS 74 $840 4 0
0 1 0
5 0
5 0
5 0
3 67 30 31
Maytag
!
0 9 MRT311FFFM 74 $900 5 0
0 2 0
4 0
4 0
5 0
3 66 33 31
Whirlpool
!
0 10 WRT549SZDM 72 $720 5 0
0 3 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
4 66 30 33
Frigidaire
$
0 11 FFTR1821TD 72 $600 4 0
0 1 0
5 0
5 0
5 0
3 66 30 31
Frigidaire Gallery
!
0 12 FGTR1837TF 71 $800 4 0
0 1 0
5 0
5 0
5 0
2 66 30 31
BOTTOM FREEZERS

!
0 1 LG LDCS24223S 90 $1,300 4 0
0 4 0
5 0
5 0
5 0
5 69 33 33
Kenmore Elite
!
0 2 79043
89 $1,300 4 0
0 4 0
5 0
5 0
5 0
5 70 33 33
Kenmore Elite
!
0 3 79023
89 $2,000 4 0
0 4 0
5 0
5 0
5 0
5 69 30 34
$
0 4 Kenmore 69313 84 $700 4 0
0 4 0
5 0
5 0
5 0
5 66 30 31
KitchenAid
!
0 5 KRBR109ESS
76 $1,530 3 0
0 4 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
4 67 30 31
Amana
6 ABB2224BRM
74 $1,200 3 0
0 2 0
5 0
5 0
5 0
3 69 33 31
KitchenAid
7 KRBR102ESS
74 $1,620 3 0
0 4 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
3 69 33 31
8 GE GDE25ESKSS 74 $1,620 2 0
0 3 0
5 0
5 0
4 0
4 69 33 35
Amana
9 ABB1924BRM
72 $1,260 3 0
0 2 0
5 0
5 0
4 0
3 66 30 31
10 GE GDE21ESKSS 71 $1,485 2 0
0 3 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
4 70 30 35

52 CONSUMER REPORTS BUYING GUIDE 2019

 REFRIGER ATOR S
Brand & Model Overall Survey
Price Results Test Results Features
Score

Predicted reliability

Thermostat control

Exterior height (in.)

Owner satisfaction

Exterior depth (in.)

Exterior width (in.)
Energy efficiency
Recommended

Temperature
uniformity

Noise
Rank

THREE-DOOR FRENCH-DOOR

0
! 1 Kenmore Elite 74113 85 $3,000 − − 0
5 0
5 0
4 0
5 69 36 36

!
0 2 LG LFXS32766S 85 $3,510 3 0
0 4 0
5 0
5 0
4 0
5 69 36 34
Samsung
!
0 3 RF28HDEDPWW
84 $2,200 3 0
0 3 0
5 0
5 0
4 0
5 69 36 34
$
0 4 LG LFC24770ST 83 $1,710 3 0
0 4 0
5 0
5 0
5 0
5 69 33 33
Samsung
!
0 5 RF28MFEDES8
83 $2,800 3 0
0 3 0
5 0
5 0
4 0
5 69 36 34
Kenmore Elite
!
0 6 73153
81 $2,200 3 0
0 3 0
5 0
5 0
4 0
5 69 36 34
0
! 7 LG LFXS30766S 81 $2,600 0 4
3 0 0
5 0
5 5
0 0
4 69 36 34
!
0 8 LG LFXS32736D 81 $3,410 3 0
0 4 4
0 0
5 0
4 5
0 69 36 35
$
0 9 LG LFC22770ST 81 $1,620 3 0
0 4 0
5 5
0 0
5 0
5 68 30 33
Kenmore Elite
!
0 10 74033 80 $2,600 3 0
0 3 0
5 0
5 0
4 0
4 69 36 34
Samsung
!
0 11 RF28HFPDBSR 80 $2,000 3 0
0 3 0
5 0
5 0
5 0
4 69 36 34
12 Kenmore 70333 79 $1,700 3 0
0 3 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
4 69 36 32
Samsung
13 RF26HFPNBSR 79 $2,300 3 0
0 3 0
5 0
5 0
5 0
3 69 36 33
Kenmore Elite
14 73163 79 $2,400 3 0
0 3 0
4 0
5 0
4 0
5 69 36 34
15 LG LFXS24566S 79 $2,340 3 0
0 4 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
4 69 36 32
Samsung
16 RF20HFENBSR 79 $1,350 3 0
0 3 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
4 71 32 30
17 GE GNE29GSKSS 79 $1,830 0
2 0
2 0
5 0
5 0
5 0
4 70 36 34
18 LG LFXC24726S 78 $3,060 3
0 4
0 5
0 5
0 3
0 4
0 69 36 29
19 Kenmore 71323 78 $1,700 3
0 3
0 4
0 5
0 5
0 5
0 68 30 33
20 LG LFXS29766S 78 $2,400 3
0 4
0 4
0 5
0 4
0 5
0 69 36 35
Samsung
21 RF265BEAESG 78 $3,000 3 0
0 3 0
4 0
5 0
4 0
5 70 36 34
22 GE GFD28GSLSS 78 $2,800 2 0
0 2 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
3 70 36 33
Kenmore Elite
23 71313 77 $1,400 3 0
0 3 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
5 69 33 33

1 2 3 4 5 ! $
POOR EXCELLENT RECOMMENDED CR BEST BUY 53
 Brand & Model Overall Survey
Price Results Test Results Features
Score

Predicted reliability

Thermostat control

Exterior height (in.)

Owner satisfaction

Exterior depth (in.)

Exterior width (in.)
Energy efficiency
Recommended

Temperature
uniformity

Noise
Rank

THREE-DOOR FRENCH-DOOR Continued

24 GE GFE28GSKSS 77 $1,700 2 0
0 2 0
5 0
5 0
4 0
4 70 36 34
GE Cafe
25 CYE22TSHSS 77 $2,790 2 0
0 2 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
4 70 36 30
GE Profile
26 PYE22PSKSS 77 $2,970 2 0
0 2 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
4 70 36 30
27 GE GYE22HSKSS 77 $2,610 2 0
0 2 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
4 70 36 30
28 LG LFCS22520S 77 $995 3 0
0 4 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
5 68 30 33
FOUR-DOOR (OR MORE) FRENCH-DOOR
Kenmore Elite
!
0 1 72483
81 $2,600 3 0
0 3 0
4 0
5 0
4 0
5 69 36 36
Samsung
2 RF23M8070SR
80 $3,550 3 0
0 3 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
5 70 36 29
Samsung
3 RF22K9381SR
80 $3,000 3 0
0 3 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
5 72 36 29
Samsung − − 0
4 RF28NHEDBSG
79 $3,600 5 0
5 0
4 0
5 70 36 34
Samsung
5 RF23M8570SG
79 $3,300 3 0
0 3 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
5 70 36 29
6 LG LMXS30746S 79 $3,240 3 0
0 4 0
4 0
5 0
4 0
5 69 36 36
Samsung
7 RF28K9070SR
79 $2,600 3 0
0 3 0
4 0
5 0
4 0
5 71 36 35
8 LG LNXS30866D 79 $2,900 3 0
0 4 0
4 0
5 0
4 0
5 69 36 37
9 LG LMXS30796D 79 $3,000 3 0
0 4 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
4 71 36 36
Samsung − − 0
10 RF28N9780SR 78 $3,400 5 0
5 0
4 0
5 72 36 34
LG Signature
11 LUPXS3186N 78 $6,255 3 0
0 4 0
4 0
5 0
4 0
5 70 36 37
Samsung
12 RF28JBEDBSR 78 $2,685 3 0
0 3 0
4 0
5 0
3 0
5 70 36 34
13 LG LMXS30786S 77 $3,330 3 0
0 4 0
4 0
5 0
4 0
5 69 36 36
Samsung − − 0
14 RF22NPEDBSR 77 $3,600 5 0
5 0
4 0
5 70 36 29
Samsung
15 RF31FMESBSR 77 $3,795 3 0
0 3 0
5 0
5 0
4 0
4 69 36 36
Dacor
16 DRF36C100SR 77 $4,590 0− 0− 0
5 0
5 0
4 0
5 69 36 31

54 CONSUMER REPORTS BUYING GUIDE 2019

 REFRIGER ATOR S
Brand & Model Overall Survey
Price Results Test Results Features
Score

Predicted reliability

Thermostat control

Exterior height (in.)

Owner satisfaction

Exterior depth (in.)

Exterior width (in.)
Energy efficiency
Recommended

Temperature
uniformity

Noise
Rank

FOUR-DOOR (OR MORE) FRENCH-DOOR Continued

Samsung
17 RF22KREDBSR
77 $2,900 3 0
0 3 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
5 70 36 29
Samsung
18 RF30KMEDBSR
77 $2,195 3 0
0 3 0
4 0
5 0
4 0
5 70 36 36
Samsung
19 RF23J9011SR
77 $2,700 3 0
0 3 0
5 0
5 0
4 0
5 72 36 29
Samsung
20 RF28HMELBSR
77 $1,930 3 0
0 3 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
5 69 36 29
21 Kenmore 72595 77 $2,300 − − 0
5 0
5 0
4 0
4 70 36 34

SIDE-BY-SIDE
Whirlpool
!
0 1 WRS975SIDM
74 $2,000 4 0
0 2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
4 69 36 34
!
0 2 Kenmore 51763 73 $1,300 − − 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
4 69 36 34

$
0 3 Kenmore 51783 73 $1,200 3 0
0 2 0
4 0
5 0
3 0
3 69 36 29
4 LG LSXS26366S 71 $1,500 2 0
0 3 0
4 0
5 0
4 0
5 69 36 34
Whirlpool
5 WRS586FIEM
71 $1,530 4 0
0 2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
4 69 36 33
Whirlpool
6 WRS588FIHZ
70 $1,300 4 0
0 2 0
3 0
4 0
4 0
4 69 36 33
Kenmore Elite
7 51773
69 $1,600 3 0
0 2 0
2 0
4 0
5 0
4 69 36 34
Electrolux
8 EI26SS30J[S]
69 $1,710 1 0
0 1 0
4 0
4 0
4 0
4 70 36 34
9 LG LSXS26326S 69 $1,300 2 0
0 3 0
4 0
5 0
4 0
4 69 36 34
Whirlpool
10 WRS571CIDM 68 $1,200 4 0
0 2 0
3 0
4 0
3 0
3 69 36 28
11 LG LSXC22386S 68 $1,980 2 0
0 3 0
4 0
5 0
4 0
5 70 36 30
12 LG LSXC22486S 68 $1,700 − − 0
4 0
5 0
4 0
5 70 36 30
Frigidaire
13 FFSS2625TS 68 $1,010 3 0
0 1 0
4 0
5 0
4 0
3 70 36 32
Kenmore Elite
14 51823 67 $1,400 3 0
0 2 0
4 0
4 0
4 0
3 66 33 32
Frigidaire
15 FGSS2635TF 67 $1,000 3 0
0 1 0
4 0
5 0
4 0
3 70 36 34
16 Amana ASI2275FRS 67 $900 4 0
0 2 0
4 0
4 0
3 0
3 69 33 33

1 2 3 4 5 ! $
POOR EXCELLENT RECOMMENDED CR BEST BUY 55
 Brand & Model Overall Survey
Price Results Test Results Features
Score

Predicted reliability

Thermostat control

Exterior height (in.)

Owner satisfaction

Exterior depth (in.)

Exterior width (in.)
Energy efficiency
Recommended

Temperature
uniformity

Noise
Rank

BUILT-INS
Miele MasterCool
!
0 1 KF1903SF
83 $8,600 4 0
0 4 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
5 83 36 25

Dacor Modernist − − 0
!
0 2 DRF427500AP
81 $9,450 5 0
5 0
3 0
5 85 42 25

Thermador
!
0 3 Freedom Collection 80 $7,400 3 0
0 4 0
4 0
5 0
4 0
5 84 36 25
T36BB820SS
Bosch Integra 800
!
0 4 Series B36BT830NS
80 $7,500 3 0
0 4 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
5 84 36 25

!
0 5 LG LSSB2791[ST] 78 $8,500 4 0
0 3 0
4 0
5 0
3 0
4 84 42 26
Dacor Modernist − − 0
!
0 6 DRF367500AP
78 $8,150 4 0
5 0
4 0
5 84 36 24

Sub-Zero
7 BI-42UFD/S
76 $9,800 4 0
0 4 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
4 83 42 26

Sub-Zero
8 BI36UFDS
76 $9,900 4 0
0 4 0
5 0
5 0
2 0
4 84 36 25

Jenn-Air
9 JF42NXFXDE
75 $8,500 2 0
0 2 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
5 83 42 26

10 Sub-Zero IT36CI 75 $7,600 4 0

0 4 0
5 0
5 0
3 0
5 83 36 25

GUIDE TO THE R ATINGS Temperature Uniformity changes in room temperature.

Overall Score combines
performance test results
with survey data for
Predicted Reliability and
Owner Satisfaction, and
is based on a 100-point scale.
is based on how well a model Energy Efficiency is energy
minimizes warm and cold consumption per cubic foot
spots. Thermostat Control of measured usable storage
looks at the appliance’sability space. Noise is measured with
to achieve and maintain compressors running.
a set temperature despite Price is approximate retail.

56 CONSUMER REPORTS BUYING GUIDE 2019