The Whirlpool WRS588FIHZ is a mid-range 36-inch standard-depth side-by-side refrigerator. It boasts an inverter-controlled compressor and a single evaporator in the freezer cabinet. It features a filtered water and ice dispenser built into the freezer door, which also has in-door ice storage as to not cut into freezer space. Its near 18 cu ft of refrigerator capacity is unusually high for a model of this type. In terms of storage solutions, it has a movable pull-out deli drawer and a pair of crisper drawers stacked two high.
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Our Verdict
The Whirlpool WRS588FIHZ is a decent option for everyday usage. While food storage is traditionally a bugbear for many side-by-side units, the WRS588FIHZ offers excellent overall capacity by virtue of its deep cabinets, which can accommodate things like larger casserole dishes in the fridge or value-sized packs of chicken or fish in the freezer cabinet. However, this can be a double-edged sword, as items placed at the back of the cabinet are hard to reach and may cause accessibility issues for some people. The crisper drawers also do little to keep produce crispy, with the low ambient humidity causing delicate greens to wilt in relatively short order. On the upside, temperatures are quite uniform throughout the fridge cabinet, with the exception of the lower door bins, which are best used for beverages or condiments.
Impressive fridge capacity.
Remarkably spacious freezer cabinet.
Good temperature consistency in main fridge cabinet.
Crisper drawer retains little moisture.
Deep fridge and freezer cabinets can make it difficult to access some items.
Higher-than-expected temperature fluctuations in freezer.
The Whirlpool WRS588FIHZ's produce preservation performance is mediocre. The crisper drawer does a poor job of maintaining a high level of ambient humidity, and the main cabinet is quite dry. As a result, moisture evaporates from delicate greens like spinach, lettuce, or celery, causing them to wilt substantially faster than they would in a fridge with a greater degree of humidity retention.
Crisper drawer retains little moisture.
Dry main fridge cabinet.
The Whirlpool WRS588FIHZ's refrigerator cabinet capacity is impressive. The cabinet is quite deep, allowing you to fit larger casserole dishes or bigger boxed items without too much difficulty. That said, as is to be expected of any side-by-side unit with a deep cabinet, reaching items at the back of the compartment can be a hassle. The door bins within the fridge also offer a fair amount of space, being wide enough to accommodate things like milk jugs, though you might still have to remove a bin to fit taller, narrow-necked bottles inside.
Impressive fridge capacity.
Deep fridge and freezer cabinets can make it difficult to access some items.
The Whirlpool WRS588FIHZ provides a remarkable amount of space for frozen food. It offers remarkable freezer capacity thanks to its in-door ice bucket, which frees up space inside. The cabinet is deep and can easily accommodate family-sized meals or multiple larger meal-prep containers. That said, the narrow but deep design can make it hard to reach items that you've placed at the back of the cabinet.
Remarkably spacious freezer cabinet.
In-door ice maker frees up space in freezer.
Deep fridge and freezer cabinets can make it difficult to access some items.
The Whirlpool WRS588FIHZ's temperature uniformity is good. Temperatures in the fridge compartment are impressively consistent from the top to the bottom shelf, so you won't need to be picky about placing items like sour cream or milk. Things are a little less rosy in the door bins, with the lowest ones trending a few degrees warmer than the rest of the cabinet: use those to chill beverages or store less easily spoiled condiments. Freezer temperatures fluctuate to a greater degree than one would expect for a fridge with an inverter-controlled compressor, which can result in a less consistent freezing process for some items, though this shouldn't have much of an impact on already-frozen items.
Good temperature consistency in main fridge cabinet.
Higher-than-expected temperature fluctuations in freezer.
The Whirlpool WRS588FIHZ does a good job of making ice. Its ice production rate and ice bucket capacity are both well-suited to a moderately sized gathering of four to six people, though with anything beyond that, it's best to fill a bag or separate container with ice well in advance. It's also worth noting that the ice maker in this fridge has been noted as being especially failure-prone, with blockages in the fill tube and damaged wiring from freezer door openings both being likely culprits.
Good ice production rate.
Ice bucket can hold enough ice for moderately large gatherings.
Ice maker has a few obvious failure points.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Mar 05, 2026:
We've added a link to the GE GSS25GYPFS in the Ice Maker section of the review to provide an alternative with a more robust ejector-style ice maker.
- Updated Mar 04, 2026: Version 1.1 of our refrigerator test bench provides new information regarding authorized service provider coverage for different manufacturers, the availability of replacement parts, and operating noise. For a more detailed breakdown of the changes made, see our full changelog.
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Updated Oct 23, 2025:
We added a link to our recommendations for the best side-by-side refrigerators.
- Updated Oct 08, 2025: Review published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
This fridge is available in four different color schemes, each with a different model code.
| Model Number | Color |
|---|---|
| WRS588FIHW | White |
| WRS588FIHB | Black |
| WRS588FIHV | Black Stainless Steel |
| WRS588FIHZ | Stainless Steel |
We tested the Stainless Steel model, and for those interested, here's the product label.
Let us know in the comments below if you come across another variant of this fridge.
Popular Refrigerator Comparisons
The Whirlpool WRS588FIHZ is a mid-range 36-inch side-by-side refrigerator. It provides excellent capacity for a unit with this kind of form factor, with deep fridge and freezer cabinets. In fact, the cabinets are so deep that it can be a hassle to reach items at the very back of the fridge, especially for those with mobility issues. The in-door ice maker also frees up room at the top of the freezer cabinet compared to alternatives like the Frigidaire FRSS2623AS. While temperatures in the fridge are pretty uniform, barring the warmer lower door bins, the freezer experiences somewhat significant temperature swings during normal operation, drastically more so than that aforementioned Frigidaire or the similarly-sized Samsung RS27T5200SR.
If you want recommendations for other side-by-side fridges, take a look at the best side-by-side refrigerators we've tested, or to look at another refrigerator type, read our picks for the best French door fridges or the best refrigerators overall.
Test Results
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