The Best Refrigerators for 2021

Best Refrigerators for 2021: Here we collect published contents from Digital Trends: Digital Trends regularly test and review appliances both large and small. DT formally tested more than 100 appliances from more than 50 different brands, covering a broad range of kitchen products. This is in addition to the informal testing we perform on dozens of other appliances. Based on roughly 10,000 hours of testing, our pick for the best refrigerator is the Cafe 27.8-inch Smart French Door CVE28DP4NW2, which does an exceptional job of combining useful smart features with a spacious fridge that can do everything.

We have also picked refrigerators for a variety of specific purposes, including fridges for small spaces, beverage coolers, fridges with great top and bottom freezers, more affordable models, and so on. Take a look at the full list to see all of our recommendations.

Best refrigerators at a glance

Best refrigerator: Cafe 27.8-inch Smart French Door CVE28DP4NW2

Why we chose the Cafe 27.8-inch Smart French Door CVE28DP4NW2:

Not all smart fridges have features in which the average buyer would be interested — cameras inside your fridge are nice, but not exactly something that adds a lot of value to the model. But this Cafe fridge manages to combine the right smart features with a beautiful design and a ton of space. The refrigerator includes large French doors with adjustable, humidity-controlled drawers that allow you to set temperature and moisture levels for each. It also includes two separate evaporators for the fridge and freezer, a high-quality feature that allows for better temperature management.

The water dispenser is also worth praise: It can pour hot or cold filtered water and has Precise Fill settings to add a specific amount of water to dishes (hands-free, too, in case you have to hold a bowl). App controls allow you to preheat water remotely, which is great for getting ready to make a cup of tea. The LCD screen on the door can also accomplish other tasks and even show off uploaded family photos.

Finally, note that you can customize the handles and knobs of the Cafe 27.8-inch Smart French Door CVE28DP4NW2 to match the steel selections in your kitchen.

Best refrigerator for limited space: GE GLE12HSPSS

Why we chose the GE GLE12HSPSS:

This 11.9-cubic-foot bottom-mount fridge measures 24 inches across (an excellent choice for narrow spaces), with high-quality, fingerprint-resistant stainless steel, so it’ll maintain its stylish appearance. It has reversible doors, making it even easier to fit the fridge in a smaller space. Plus, it’s counter-deep, which makes it fit flush with most counters and gives it a built-in look.

Although this fridge is small, it still has plenty of space, and it boasts quite a few cool features, including high-quality LED lighting, a removable wine rack, frameless shelves, and a no-frost freezer compartment. There’s also a Temp Zone Drawer where you can choose between three temperature settings for meat, beverages, or produce. It doesn’t come with an ice maker but does allow you to add one later on if you prefer.

Sensors in the fridge monitor and automatically adjust temperature and humidity levels, and Max Cool and Fast Cool options allow you to create the optimal cooling environment for your foods. The GE GLE12HSPSS might not be the best fridge for you if you have a large family and you cook at home a lot, but for those with smaller kitchens or who regularly eat away from home, this fridge is a solid option.

Best budget refrigerator: GE French Door GNE25JMKES

Why we chose the GE French Door GE GNE25JMKES:

This fridge is well-stocked with features. Behind those sleek doors, you’ll find a water dispenser, while a drawer in the freezer fills up with ice, so you don’t have to make it yourself. Its crisp LED lighting helps you see inside the 24.8-cubic-foot interior (17.5 in the fridge, 7.3 in the freezer). That freezer is particularly large, making this fridge a good choice for those who like to keep a large stock of frozen goods. There are two humidity-controlled drawers, so you can choose settings for fruits or vegetables, plus another full-width drawer with temperature controls for cold or coldest.

This Samsung refrigerator suggests cooking recipes, plans your diet and even does grocery shopping(Opens in a new browser tab)

If a recent grocery trip takes the fridge from empty to stuffed, the Turbo Cool button can help bring it back down to the correct temperature. The 6-gallon bins are adjustable, and a “quick space” shelf folds underneath to accommodate taller items. The glass shelves and clear bins will help you keep track of your food, too.

A nice French door fridge for the price, the GE French Door GNE25JMKES is a steal when it goes on sale.

Best French door refrigerator: Samsung RF23J9011SR 4-Door Flex

Why we chose the Samsung RF23J9011SR 4-Door Flex:

If you’re in the market for a unique fridge, the Samsung 4-Door Flex Fridge offers a full compartment that can be either a freezer or warmed up for more fresh food storage. It’s sort of like the Kenmore’s temp-adjustable drawer, but bigger and with a larger temperature range.

Best Cheap Refrigerator Deals for March 2021(Opens in a new browser tab)

The Power-Cool feature is very handy if you need to quickly cool down that six-pack before the game. There’s also a similar Power-Freeze tool for the freezer. Both of these can be selected on the front touchscreen panel. If you want it to be an ice cream holder, one of the four settings is for a soft freeze. The drawback is that the bottom of the fridge is split in half, so you can’t store large frozen pizzas in it — the individual compartments just aren’t wide or tall enough.

As for the design, the Samsung model is a bit shallower than full-sized models. Thankfully, the middle shelves can be repositioned for greater flexibility. Three gallon-sized bins are positioned on the right door to keep bulkier items to the side. The shelf in the middle can be lowered or raised as needed.

The Samsung RF23J9011SR 4-Door Flex has 22.5-cubic-feet of capacity, it’s 36 inches wide, and it costs about $2,500, so it’s meant for a very specific market, but those looking for a large model that’s family-friendly will find plenty to appreci