9 Best Refrigerators – Buyer’s Guide & Reviews!

It is a great feeling to have a glass of chilled water on a hot afternoon.

What do you do then?

It is very simple. Open the Refrigerator and take your pick from the water bottles to quench your thirst.

What does this signify?

This is a clear indication that the Refrigerator (fridge) is an integral part of every house today. No house is complete without this appliance standing in the corner of your dining room.

Naturally, you have to do your homework right before buying the best Refrigerator of your choice.

There are hundreds of fridge brands available in the market. Frankly speaking, these brands can confuse you a lot with their tall claims.

You need a simple guide to help you narrow down your choices. This article provides the right answers thereby enabling you to make a simple but informed choice.

We Highly recommend you to read the Refrigerator Buying Guide at the end of the article to get in-depth knowledge about all the latest Refrigerator technologies.

Best Refrigerator

1. LG 260 Litres 3-Star Frost Free Double Door Refrigerator – GL-1292RPZL

LG is a popular name in consumer appliances in India. Almost every house in India has at least one LG product. Better known for its reliability, LG refrigerators have some of the best compressors in the industry. This refrigerator comes with delectable features. It indeed qualifies as one of the best refrigerators under Rs 25,000 in India today.

• Frost-free double door fridge with a capacity of 260 litres
• 3-star energy rating (as per 2020 standards)
• Smart Inverter Compressor
• One-year comprehensive warranty on the product
• Additional nine years warranty on the compressor

The highlight of this LG fridge is the smart inverter compressor. This compressor is designed to deliver greater efficiency when ensuring an extended freshness retention period. At the same time, it makes the least noise.

The designing of the airflow vents is another positive aspect of this refrigerator. The fridge comes with multiple airflow cooling vents that distribute cold air to every part of the refrigerator. Thus, it ensures uniform cooling and maintains freshness for a long time.

LG maintains its tryst with technological developments by introducing the Smart Diagnosis feature in this fridge. It helps diagnose any problem that the refrigerator could encounter.

It connects with a mobile app on your smartphone to send an SOS signal and transfer data, thereby making it easy for the service centre to rectify the problem.

In this age of AI, it has become necessary to connect your devices at home. This fridge features the Auto Smart Connect technology that connects the refrigerator to the home inverter every time there is a power outage. Thus, it helps in maintaining the freshness of the food.

Maintaining the moisture balance is critical for preserving the freshness of vegetables and fruits that you place inside the vegetable box. This refrigerator comes with an innovative lattice-pattern box cover to maintain the optimum level of moisture inside the fridge.

Besides, this refrigerator comes with adequate storage space to keep sufficient 2L water bottles in the racks.

Pros

• Smart inverter compressor saves power
• Compatible with home inverter system
• Smart Diagnosis feature
• Moisture balancing qualities

Cons

• Some customers have reported unsatisfactory after-sales service

2. Samsung 253 L 3-Star Inverter Frost Free Double Door Refrigerator – RT28T3483S8/HL

Along with LG, Samsung is a notable performer in the Indian domestic scene. Samsung has manufactured some of the best electronics products in India over the years. This refrigerator, with its high-class features, should rival the LG fridge discussed earlier as one of the best refrigerators in India under Rs 25,000.

• Frost-free refrigerator with a storage capacity of 253 litres
• 3-star energy rating
• Digital Inverter Compressor
• Maximum Cooling retention
• One-year warranty on the product
• Ten years on the compressor

Samsung refrigerators draw their power from a high-quality digital inverter compressor. This compressor not only makes less noise but also saves energy. This fridge comes with an inbuilt stabiliser function that eliminates the use of an external stabiliser. It can handle input voltage in the range of 100V to 300V.

Multiple airflow vents inside the refrigerator ensure that there is free circulation of cold air inside the appliance. This continuous flow of cold air enables all-round cooling. Secondly, this fridge comes with unique technology, Cool Pack/Cool Wall, that can keep the food items inside the freezer fresh for a maximum of 12 hours during a power cut.

BEE has certified this Samsung refrigerator as a 3-star appliance, thereby effecting sufficient power savings without having to sacrifice its performance level. This fridge is one of the most energy-efficient appliances in its category.

The Moist Fresh Zone inside the refrigerator controls the air circulation inside the appliance to maintain optimal humidity. It enables us to preserve the freshness of the vegetables and fruits kept inside the vegetable box. Another exciting feature is the movable ice maker to ensure the quick formation of ice.

The toughened glass shelves can hold up to 150kg of heavy load. Therefore, it can handle the heaviest of cooking utensils with ease. The easy-slide shelf feature allows the user to find and reach for the food placed at the back.

A highly efficient LED light illuminates the fridge interiors to make it easy to look out for your food at night.

The ergonomic design of the handle is another talking point of this refrigerator. Some of the other notable features include Power Cool/Freeze options and Fresh Room to store your consumable food items.

Pros

• High-quality cooling performance
• Efficient digital inverter compressor
• Cool Wall technology to take care of power cuts
• Can handle high voltage fluctuations

Cons

• People have complained of a No-replacement policy

3. Whirlpool 265 L 3-Star Inverter Frost Free Double Door Refrigerator – IF INV CNV 278

Whirlpool is an ideal competitor to LG and Samsung because of its high popularity ratings amongst consumers. Having earned a name for itself in the consumer appliances category, Whirlpool has introduced one of the best refrigerators in India under Rs 25,000. This fridge comes with excellent features such as,

• 265 litre capacity with Frost Free technology
• 3-star energy rating
• Convertible freezer with 5-in-1 modes
• Adaptive Intelligence Technology
• Intellisense Inverter Technology for higher efficiency
• One-year warranty on the appliance
• Ten years on the compressor

The 5-in-1 mode convertible freezer is one of the highlights of this Whirlpool refrigerator. This refrigerator, powered by adaptive intelligence, comes with the following modes to deliver high-quality performance.

• All-season Mode
• Chef Mode
• Dessert Mode
• Party Mode
• Deep Freeze Mode

The Adaptive Intelligence feature works towards saving power while delivering high-quality performance. It senses the load and weather conditions along with the usage pattern to adjust the performance of the compressor, thereby saving valuable energy.

The Intellisense Inverter Technology senses the internal load and adjusts the cooling performance. Therefore, the consumer gets the maximum efficiency along with high-quality performance.

Zeolite Technology prevents the excessive ripening of fruits and vegetables while maintaining their freshness levels.

The MicroBlock technology uses a unique anti-microbial additive that inhibits 99% bacterial growth to keep the vegetables and fruits fresh for extended periods. The specially designed air tower with flexi vents ensures the proper distribution of cold air throughout the refrigerator.

This fridge features a Freshonizer functionality that reduces oxidation to maintain the freshness of fruits and vegetables. The vegetable crisper comes with a Honey Comb Moisture Lock-in Technology to ensure optimum freshness of food kept inside the vegetable box.

This fridge is compatible with the home inverter. It can connect to the domestic inverter in the case of a power cut.

Pros

• The convertible freezer allows the fridge to expand its storage space to suit the requirements of big families
• Compatible with home inverter
• Minimum noise
• Capable of producing ice within an hour

Cons

• The fridge has a low width, thereby making it difficult to place large utensils inside it.
• Customers have complained of poor after-sales service.

4. LG 420 L 3-Star Frost Free Double Door Refrigerator – GL-1472QPZX.DPZZEBN

LG manufactures refrigerators to suit all families. If the 265-litre capacity was enough to cater to a family of four persons, this 420-litre fridge is ideal for the large Indian family. Hence, LG appliances have always been rated as the best refrigerators available in India. This 420-litre fridge comes with the following excellent features.

• The capacity of 42 litres to cater to large families
• Double door and frost-free refrigerator
• 3-star rating from BEE
• Smart Inverter Compressor
• Ice Beam Door Cooling feature
• Smart Diagnosis
• One-year comprehensive warranty with ten years on the compressor

The Smart Inverter Compressor delivers the highest degree of efficiency by helping to retain the freshness and reducing the noise levels considerably. This refrigerator has gained a 3-star BEE rating in 2020, primarily because of this inverter compressor.

By connecting it to a mobile app, the fridge has a Smart Diagnosis feature that helps to diagnose and solve the problems that the appliance encounters from time to time.

This refrigerator is compatible with the home inverter, as it connects to it using the Auto Smart Connect technology. Thus, you do not have to fret over power cuts anymore.

This refrigerator features a Moist Balance Crisper, an innovative lattice-pattern box cover to help maintain the freshness and moisture levels inside the appliance. This feature prevents the formation of excess moisture, thereby enabling the vegetables and fruits to maintain its freshness levels.

The fridge comes with multiple airflow vents to ensure uniform cooling throughout the appliance. On the spacing front, this refrigerator is amongst the best in the business. It can store an adequate number of 2-litre bottles because of the adjustable racks and bottle shelves.

The deep freezer feature is different from its peers because of its greater depth and the presence of an LED light in it.

Pros

• Excellent cooling performance
• Incredibly robust compressor
• Saves power while delivering high-quality cooling
• Ample space for storage making it ideal for large Indian families

Cons

• There are no LED lights and temperature adjustment feature on the door panel.

5. Samsung 324-L 3-Star Inverter Frost Free Double Door Refrigerator – RT34T4513S8/HL

This Samsung 324-L fridge can cater to the needs of the medium-to-large-sized Indian families. This appliance is one of the best refrigerators available in India under Rs 35,000 because of its excellent features that ensure high-quality performance with optimum savings in power.

• Frost-free refrigerator with a capacity of 324 litres
• An additional auto defrost facility to prevent the build-up of ice
• Digital inverter compressor
• Convertible 5-in-1 modes
• Cool Pack technology
• One-year warranty on the refrigerator with ten years on the compressor

The highlight of this Samsung refrigerator is its convertible nature. It is possible to convert the freezer into a fridge and vice versa to suit your different needs. This fridge comes with a digital inverter technology that makes less noise while saving energy.

This refrigerator can handle voltage fluctuations in the region of 100V to 300V.

The presence of multiple airflow vents enables free movement of cold air to ensure uniform cooling. The Samsung refrigerator comes with exciting features like Moist Fresh Zone to control the air circulation, thereby ensuring the maintenance of optimal humidity.

The moveable ice maker is another excellent feature that provides the rapid formation of ice.

This refrigerator comes with a 3-star BEE rating for 2020, thereby making it one of the most energy-efficient refrigerators in India today.

The Power Cool/Freeze option is one of the best ones to ensure high-quality performance with the maximum power saving. This feature comprises a Cool Pack/Wall that ensures to maintain the cooling level for a maximum of 12 hours during a power outage.

This fridge comes with adequate space in the freezer compartment to accommodate all kinds of food.

The 5-in-1 convertible feature ensures that the consumer makes the optimum use of the appliance depending on the season, requirements, and space. The consumer can convert a portion of the entire freezer into a fridge if the requirements are such.

The control options on the door make it easy to set the temperature and other aspects without having to open the fridge.

The shelves, made of toughened glass, can bear up to 150kg. Hence, it is an ideal one to place your heavy Indian cookware items without risking the breakage of the glass shelves.

The sliding feature of the shelves makes it convenient for the user to reach out and find the food items located at the back.

The LED lighting feature illuminates every corner of the appliance and makes it easy to locate your food without having to switch on the room lights.

Pros

• A 5-in-1 convertible feature allowing you to make optimum use of the space available
• Excellent energy savings because of the digital inverter compressor
• Cool Wall is a fantastic feature that helps maintain the cool and freshness during a power cut
• Adequate storage space

Cons

• Storing bottles can be an issue because the appliance has only one shelf on the door.

Note: If you are looking for More Double Door Models, Here is the List of Best Double Door Refrigerators from top Brands like Samsung, Whirlpool, Lg, Bosch and Haier.

6. Whirlpool 240 L Frost Free Multi-door Refrigerator – FP 263D

Whirlpool introduces this triple door refrigerator with some of the best features available in its segment. The best aspect of this fridge is that it provides high-quality cooling while ensuring the maximum power savings at the same time.

• The capacity of 240 litres making it an ideal appliance for small to medium families
• Adequate storage capacity in the Active Fresh Zone
• Zeolite Technology to prevent ripening of fruits and vegetables
• Moisture Retention technology
• One-year warranty on the product
• The compressor comes with a ten-year warranty

One of the best aspects of the triple-door Whirlpool refrigerator is the provision of three separate compartments for the fridge, freezer, and the vegetable box.

The advantage of such an arrangement is that there is no mixing of food odour. Apart from providing better cooling retention, this arrangement enables higher storage space.

This provision of a separate compartment for vegetables distinguishes this Whirlpool refrigerator from the others.

Moisture retention technology ensures that fruits and vegetables do not lose their crispiness. They remain fresh for a long time. Zeolite Technology prevents the excessive ripening of the vegetables and fruits, thereby ensuring their longevity.

Customized cooling technology is another excellent feature of this refrigerator. The freezer compartment comes with a customizable temperature knob that helps to select the ideal temperature depending on the ingredients stored inside it.

This fridge comes with MicroBlock Technology that uses a specific additive to prevent bacterial growth and keep the fruits and vegetables fresh for extended periods.

The air booster feature controls the circulation of air to ensure uniform cooling throughout the appliance.

This refrigerator has a separate Active Fresh Zone for storing fruits and vegetables. This zone comes with a storage capacity of 32 litres. The fridge has a separate storage zone for fruits to prevent the mixing of the odour with other foods.

The ice twister feature is an exciting one that enables convenient collection of the ice cubes with a smooth twist action.

Pros

• The unique three-door feature to ensure proper storage of food
• MicroBlock technology to prevent contamination by bacteria
• Excellent power savings as it consumes less than what a 60-watt CFL does in a month
• Fantastic design with ergonomically placed handles
• One of the fastest cooling performances

Cons

• The bottom and top compartments do not have any lighting arrangements

7. BPL 564 L Frost Free Side-by-Side Refrigerator – BRS564H

BPL comes up with a unique side-by-side refrigerator with a capacity of 524 litres to cater to families having more than five members. One of the best aspects of this refrigerator is that it features an external cold-water dispenser. Besides, it comes with excellent features that enable it to qualify as the best refrigerator in India under Rs 45,000.

• Frost-free refrigerator with a capacity of 524 litres
• Side-by-side refrigerator design to add to the aesthetics
• Auto defrost
• External cold-water dispenser
• One-year warranty on the product
• The compressor comes with a five-year warranty.

This BPL refrigerator is ideal for large Indian families. Though gigantic, it has some of the most subtle features you expect a fridge to have. The pull-out drawers are convenient features that improve the overall storage capacity. Besides, these drawers allow easy access to food stored at the back.

This fridge comes with Quick Cool technology that ensures the food retains its freshness for extended periods. The Quick Freeze function enables you to get your quota of ice cubes within no time.

The external cold-water dispenser serves multiple purposes. Besides being convenient, this appliance saves a lot of power because you do not have to open the fridge to get your glass of cold water.

The LED Touch Button allows easy access to the consumer to control the temperature settings easily. It is a power-saving feature because one can do it from outside the fridge.

This refrigerator comes with multiple air vents situated at vantage locations inside it to ensure a uniform distribution of cold air. Thus, the food remains fresh all the time.

The multi-airflow system also ensures that the refrigerator remains odourless irrespective of the number of times you open the door.

Despite its massive size, this refrigerator is one of the most silent performers in its segment. Besides saving power, it also eliminates unnecessary noise pollution.

Pros

• Excellent pricing when compared to other side-by-side refrigerators
• Eliminates noise pollution
• Ample space inside the fridge for secure storage of food
• The water dispenser is the highlighting feature
• Aesthetic looks to add to the glamour of your kitchen

Cons

• One has to fill the water dispenser manually
• The massive size makes it a heavy appliance

Note: If you are looking for More Side by Side Models, Here is the List of Best Side by Side Refrigerators from top Brands like Haier, LG, BPL, Samsung and more.

8. Whirlpool 190L 3-Star Direct Cool Single Door Refrigerator – WDE 205 CLS 3S

This Whirlpool 190L refrigerator is ideal for small families comprising of two to three persons. It is one of the simplest refrigerators that come with excellent features. One of the highlights of this fridge is its extra-large freezer. Some of its fascinating features are as follows.

• Direct Cool Technology
• Single Door refrigerator
• The capacity of 190 litres
• 3-star energy rating
• Nine hours of cooling retention
• Large freezer
• One-year warranty on the product with five years on the compressor

Though this refrigerator is a single door Direct Cool refrigerator, it is one of the most aesthetically designed appliances in its category. It boasts of some of the fascinating features like a robust recessed handle, large crisper, a spacious freezer, and easy-to-use ice trays.

The adjustable pair of front legs enable you to elevate it slightly so that the water flows down the drainpipe smoothly during defrosting.

This fridge comes with a unique 9-hours cooling retention feature. It works on the Advanced Insulated Capillary Technology that ensures the appliance maintains the cooling for a maximum of nine hours during power cuts.

The highlight of this refrigerator is the toughened glass shelves that can bear the weight of heavy utensils comfortably. This fridge comes with a Jumbo Bottle Rack to store up to three 2L bottles with ease.

This refrigerator works on Direct Cool Technology, which requires the user to defrost manually. This appliance comes with a simple defrosting procedure that operates with the use of a single button.

There is no need for an external stabiliser because the in-built stabilising mechanism can handle voltage fluctuations in the range of 100V to 300V.

During a power outage, you can connect this refrigerator to the home inverter, thereby ensuring that the food remains continually fresh. The Quick Chill Zone comes with stackable ice trays that provide the maximum freezer space.

The vegetable crisper is large enough to store your fruits and vegetables comfortably. It features an advanced moisture slider that works on the Honey-Comb Lock-In technology to prevent excess moisture formation. Therefore, your food items remain fresh for extended periods.

Pros

• Simple mechanism but with the maximum of efficiency
• Stabiliser free operations
• Excellent storage capacity despite its small size
• Cooling retention capacity

Cons

• Manual defrosting required
• Not ideal for families having more than three members

9. LG 190 L 4-star Inverter Direct Cool Single Door Refrigerator – GL-B201ASPY

This LG 190L refrigerator is one of the best refrigerators in India in its category because it had a 5-star rating in 2019. With BEE tightening up its norms for 2020, the rating has slipped to 4 stars. However, it is good enough to ensure excellent power savings.

• Direct Cool refrigerator with a capacity of 190 litres
• 4-star rating in 2020
• Smart Inverter Compressor
• Spill-proof toughened glass shelves
• No need for an external stabiliser
• One-year warranty on the product
• Ten years on the compressor

This LG refrigerator is excellent on three fronts, as it is highly efficient, durable, and ensures excellent savings in power. The smart inverter compressor is designed to deliver unmatched performance. Besides saving energy, this compressor ensures that there is no noise pollution at all.

This fridge does not require the services of an external stabiliser because it can handle voltage fluctuations in the range of 90V to 310V comfortably.

This Direct Cool refrigerator is compatible with the home inverter. Therefore, there is no need to fear power cuts. Your home inverter can help to maintain the freshness of the food.

This refrigerator is the fastest among its peers when it comes to ice making. This procedure does not take more than 108 minutes. Another fascinating aspect of this fridge is the Moist-n-Fresh feature.

It includes a lattice-type box to maintain the moisture levels at the optimum. This technology ensures that the moisture from the vegetables and fruits evaporates and condenses on the lattice.

The toughened glass shelves present inside the fridge can bear as much as 175kg. Therefore, placing heavy utensils on the shelves should not be an issue at all.

This fridge features an anti-bacterial gasket for keeping the food hygienic and healthy for extended periods.

Pros

• High-quality cooling with the help of a smart inverter compressor
• Saves power and makes the minimal noise
• Compatibility with the home inverter system

Cons

• This refrigerator requires manual defrosting.
• The compressor and other tubes are exposed to the elements at the backside of the fridge.

10. Samsung 192 L 4-star Inverter Direct Cool Single Door Refrigerator – RR20T182XR8/HL

Samsung, along with LG, offers refrigerators in almost all capacities. This 192-litre single door refrigerator is one of the best refrigerators in India under Rs 20,000.

• Direct Cool technology
• 192 L single door fridge
• Digital inverter compressor
• Additional storage for vegetables like onions and potatoes
• One-year warranty on the product
• 4-star energy rating

This refrigerator comes with a refreshing design that provides for extra space to store your vegetables that do not require refrigeration. There is space available inside the base stand drawer to store these vegetables.

This fridge comes with one of the most aesthetic looks amongst its peers. The Grande Door Design makes it look like a double-door refrigerator.

The fridge can work without the assistance of an external stabiliser because this appliance can handle voltage fluctuations in the working range of 100V to 300V with the utmost ease.

Unlike other single door refrigerators, this fridge comes with a back-cover to protect the cables and condenser tubes. Secondly, it makes it easy to clean the appliance. The cover also prevents dust from settling down on the pipes and affecting the overall performance of the refrigerator.

This fridge is different from the other appliances discussed above, as it can work on solar energy, as well. It is also compatible with the home inverter. Therefore, this appliance does not know what a power cut looks like.

Samsung provides a 10-year warranty on the compressor. This digital inverter compressor not only saves power but ensures to make as little noise as possible.

On the appearance front, this refrigerator is the best in the business because of the stylish bar handle. Besides providing a glamourous touch, it is one of the most convenient features of this refrigerator.

Pros

• Excellent appearance complemented by its impeccable cooling performance
• Additional space at the bottom to store vegetables that do not require refrigeration
• Saves power, as is evident from the 4-star BEE rating
• Capable of working on solar energy and the home inverter

Cons

• Manual defrosting required
• Not ideal for large families

Note: If you are looking for More Single Door Models, Here is the List of Best Single Door Refrigerators from top Brands like Samsung, Whirlpool, Lg, and Haier.

Best Refrigerator in India – Buying Guide

How do you define ‘cool’?

The words ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ are relative terms. The absence of ‘heat’ is ‘cool’.

A fridge works on this simple principle. It absorbs the heat from the items kept inside the refrigerator thereby cooling them.

The technical aspects of refrigeration

The refrigerator works on the basis of three technical aspects, compression, condensation, and evaporation.

The detail of the technical aspects of refrigeration is not required at this point in time. However, you can find the same here.

Normally, you find two distinct compartments inside the present-day refrigerator. The refrigerator compartment is the one where you find the temperature at around 3 to 5 degrees above the freezing point of water.

The freezer box is the compartment where the temperature is maintained below the freezing point of water. 

Single Door Refrigerators

As the name suggests, you have only one door for the entire appliance. The freezer box is a part of the bigger compartment.

This refrigerator has its individual advantages and disadvantages. The obvious advantage is the price. It is comparatively cheaper than the other types of fridges available in the market.

The disadvantage is that these refrigerators tend to accumulate frost in the freezer compartment. Hence, this necessitates defrosting the refrigerator on a frequent basis.

In addition, you do not find these refrigerators having a capacity of more than 300 litres. Therefore, if you wish to go for an inexpensive and small refrigerator, the single door refrigerator should do the trick. You also call it as the ‘Direct cooling refrigerators’.

Double door refrigerator

Obviously, you have two distinct compartments having individual doors.

The freezer box is independent of the main refrigeration unit. Such refrigerators prevent the formation of frost and hence known as ‘Frost Free refrigerators’. There is a separate heating element that prevents the formation of frost.

These fridges are very popular among the people. Available in capacities over 240 litres, they can cater to various requirements. Naturally, they consume more electricity than the single door models. However, the efficiency levels are greater.

Based on the location of the freezer compartment, there are two variants of the double door refrigerators

Top mount refrigeratorBottom mount refrigerator

You find the freezer box located at the top portion with the main refrigeration unit beneath it. This is the most common type of refrigerator available.

As the name suggests, the freezer box is situated at the bottom of the unit.  Studies have shown that people use the refrigeration unit more than the freezer. Hence, you have this arrangement as a user-friendly one. However, one should know that these refrigerators consume more energy than the top mount refrigerators do.

Multi door refrigeratorsSide by side refrigerators

This is a variant of the double door refrigerator where you have more than two distinct compartments. They usually cater to the higher capacities. They consume more power but are distinctly more useful in comparison to the normal double door refrigerators.

These are bigger refrigerators having either two doors or even more. The biggest advantage of these refrigerators is the flexibility and availability of more space. Some of these units have a water dispensing unit as a part of the refrigerator.

This ensures that you need not have to open the refrigerator to reach out for the cold water bottle. It is natural that the electricity consumption is more as compared to the other refrigerators in the list.

These are the normal types of refrigerators available in the market today. In addition, you have certain innovative technologies coming up. Let us look at a couple of such innovations.

Environmentally friendly refrigerators

The most common refrigerant in use is CFC. However, this refrigerant is not environmentally friendly. Some of the best alternatives in use are the R134a and the R600a.

• Read – Refrigerants Explained

The BEE Star rating system

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) rates the efficiency of the refrigerators based on the electricity consumption. The ratings are in the form of stars with a 5-star rating being the most efficient.

However, you should note that these ratings are available for the single door and the frost-free refrigerators alone.

Investing in a 5-star refrigerator can be expensive initially but they are economical over a period because of the regular savings in electricity. The inverter models are also very effective.

Conversion Facility

Refrigerators come in various sizes and settings, depending on your requirements.

However, it would be fantastic to change the settings and use it according to your specific needs. Yes, the good news is that the convertible refrigerators allow you this facility.

Generally, you have a fridge to freezer ratio of 70:30 or even 80: 20.

At times, you might not need the freezer at all, especially in the winter months when you might not need ice.

Similarly, people with a vegetarian preference do not feel the necessity to store frozen food like fish, meat, and others. Therefore, the freezer can seem to be a waste of space.

With the convertible refrigerators, it is not so, as you can convert the freezer compartment into a regular fridge portion and enhance the overall storage capacity.

The convertible refrigerator has other benefits, as well

If vegetarians do not need the freezer compartment much, the non-vegetarian population would love to have a more substantial area working as the freezer.

They need not invest in a separate appliance, as the convertible refrigerator allows them the facility to interchange the freezer and fridge compartment, whenever required.

Therefore, you have more space to store your meat and other non-vegetarian food.

How does the convertible refrigerator accomplish both these seemingly opposite tasks?

The settings in a convertible refrigerator are such that the freezer box and the refrigeration compartment have independent cooling arrangements. It enables you to switch off either of these compartments or even interchange them, whenever necessary.

Reputed manufacturers like Samsung, LG, Whirlpool, Haier, and Hitachi offer these convertible refrigerators that come with unique functioning modes.

The names of these different modes can be different for each manufacturer.

• Samsung, the pioneer in introducing this technology, comes with two options, a 5-in-1 and 3-in-1 convertible facility.
• Whirlpool offers a similar 5-in-1 convertible refrigerator.
• LG offers a dual convertible option of using the appliance as a regular refrigerator or only as a fridge without a freezer component.
• Haier offers an 8-in-1 convertible facility by providing a couple of more convertible options.

However, the utility is the same. The endeavour is to enable the refrigerator to offer more storage space, work efficiently, and cater to the changing needs of the consumer.

Inverter Technology

Everyone knows that the compressor is the most critical component of a refrigerator.

It is also one of the most durable parts of any fridge. You will find that the manufacturers offer extended warranties up to ten years on compressors.

Let us understand the functioning of a compressor

Anyone who has used a refrigerator will know that the conventional compressor switches on and off at regular intervals.

As you turn on the appliance, the compressor works at full speed to ensure cooling. Once the temperature reaches a specific pre-determined level, it switches off.

The fridge keeps on working all the time. As the temperatures begin to rise, the compressor switches on again to provide cooling. This procedure keeps oscillating throughout the lifespan of the appliance.

As the compressor works at a single speed, it consumes maximum power. Secondly, when the compressor restarts, it experiences a power surge. Thus, a standard compressor consumes a lot of electricity.

Here is how the inverter compressors can be better.

Today, the technology has improved, whereby you can save power by using compressors that work on inverter technology.

In this technology, the compressors do not switch off at all as long as there is electric supply. However, the compressor does not run at full speed all the time.

The inverter technology senses the load inside the refrigerator, the external weather conditions, and the temperature inside the appliance and adjusts the compressor’s speed accordingly.

Thus, the compressor works at lower speeds if the requirements are low. In contrast, it runs at a higher speed when there is higher demand. Therefore, the inverter technology saves power.

Secondly, the inverter compressor does not switch on and off frequently. Therefore, it does not make much noise when compared to conventional compressors.

Today, all the latest refrigerator models come with inverter compressors. Besides saving power, these compressors enhance the lifespan of the appliance considerably.

Uniform Cooling Technology

Generally, you notice that the earlier generation refrigerators do not offer uniform cooling, especially in the single-door models.

The cooling is concentrated at places near the freezer compartment to enable ice making.

The rest of the areas do not get the same amount of cooling.

Today, the cooling technology has undergone a tremendous change. You have refrigerators that provide uniform cooling throughout the appliance.

These fridges come with multiple air vents located strategically to ensure that cold air reaches every corner of the refrigerator uniformly.

LG models come with specially-designed air vents located below every shelf. Some of the latest refrigerator models also come with unique door cooling technology.

This technology ensures that the cooling is not affected even if you open and close the refrigerator door frequently.

• Haier refrigerators offer 360-degree airflow to maintain a uniform temperature throughout.
• Whirlpool offers a similar facility, but names it 3D Airflow technology.
• LG refrigerators come with Ice Beam Door Cooling technology by decreasing the temperature gap between the door portion and the inner compartments of the fridge. Thus, it cools nearly 35% faster than conventional systems.
• Samsung, Godrej, and Hitachi models come with dual fans to cool the fridge and freezer portions separately.

Dealing with power cuts

Power cuts and load shedding are frequent occurrences in India, especially the smaller towns and villages.

At times, these places can go for more than 10 to 12 hours without electricity. Such power cuts can pose two kinds of problems.

One is that the food can get spoilt. Secondly, there can be damage to the refrigerator because of extreme voltage fluctuations.

The modern refrigerator models like Samsung, Godrej, and Whirlpool come with a special cooling gel that is released inside the appliance in the form of cold gas. This arrangement keeps the refrigerator contents cool for extended periods.

Godrej refrigerators come with StayCool technology that can keep the freezer compartment cold, as well, during power cuts. Thus, your ice creams do not melt quickly.

Samsung offers Cool Wall technology to retail the cooling during power cuts. It also features a Cool Pack that works as a cooling gel to keep the environment cool for up to 12 hours.

Whirlpool refrigerators offer a unique technological solution in the form of insulated capillary technology. This technology surrounds the capillary with cold gas, whereby the freezer compartment attains temperatures up to -26 degrees Celsius.

Haier models come with additional features to complement the cooling gel technology. The inner edges of the appliance feature diamond-shaped edges to slow down the process of melting ice.

Today, most of the refrigerator models are compatible with the home inverter system. Thus, you can connect the fridge to the inverter and ensure that it works 24×7, even during power cuts. Therefore, your food does not get spoilt and remains fresh.

Voltage fluctuations can be hazardous to the refrigerators. In the earlier days, you used external voltage stabilisers to regulate the input voltage.

Today, almost all refrigerators come with inbuilt voltage stabilisers that can withstand voltage fluctuations in the range of 100V to 300V.

Samsung refrigerators are also compatible to work with solar energy. You can connect these appliances to solar-powered batteries to save power.

Customisable interiors

Adjustable Shelves

The refrigerators of the previous generations had wired shelves. The significant disadvantage was that it could become messy if there were a spillage inside the appliance.

Secondly, the shelves were not strong enough to withstand the load of bulky kitchen utensils.

Today, you have refrigerators with toughened glass shelves that can withstand up to 175 Kg. The glass shelves ensure that the spillages do not seep through to the other compartments and accentuate the mess.

Refrigerators come with adjustable shelves that enable you to store kitchen utensils of different sizes inside the appliance.

Similarly, you have refrigerators today with bottle racks capable of accommodating large bottles.

Some of the Godrej models come with unique polybag suspenders with hooks to hang frozen items. The premium NXW Series models come with collapsible wine racks.

Vegetable Crispers

The vegetable box is a crucial component of any refrigerator. The problem with refrigerators is that the vegetables can get wet with excessive moisture.

It affects the overall freshness of fruits and vegetables.

Today, the refrigerators offer various types of crisper designs. Whirlpool refrigerators come with a lattice-type cover to absorb the moisture and prevent the vegetables from getting soggy.

Some of the latest models come with advanced Zeolite technology to prevent excessive ripening of fruits.

Haier offers vegetable crisper boxes up to 50% larger than the other models. Thus, you can store more vegetables comfortably.

The 90-degree contour door design also allows you to remove these crisper boxes even without opening the refrigerator door completely.

Better Illumination

The use of LED lighting has improved the illumination factor in the modern-day refrigerators.

Besides having the advantage of size, the LED lamps are durable and consume less power than the conventional lights.

Some of the latest refrigerator models come with lights inside the freezer compartments.

Today, you have refrigerators with motion-sensing lights that automatically switch on when they sense any activity inside the appliance. 

Water Dispensers

The high-end models, especially the side-by-side door refrigerators, come with an inbuilt water dispenser on the door.

Thus, you do not have to open the fridge to get your glass of cold water. You can fill up your glass using the water dispenser.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Words – Wrapping it up

After all, you put your hard-earned money into buying this essential machine for your house. A little bit of caution in the initial stages can save you a lot of money. This is what everyone is looking for.

We have just seen the features of the top Refrigerators available in the market. Each of these refrigerators is a masterpiece. They can ensure prompt cooling and save power as well at the same time.

Your hard earned money is at stake. Hence, it is advisable to make a correct choice. If you have any queries regarding the selection of best refrigerator in India, post them in the comments section below and I’ll try to answer them.