Version 1.0 of our refrigerator testing methodology aims to help people shopping for a new refrigerator. This test bench provides an overview of a refrigerator's design, including its dimensions, interior volume, cooling system configuration, and convenience features like ice makers and water dispensers. Beyond that, we also assess fridge performance by measuring the appliance's temperature uniformity within its fridge and freezer cabinets, humidity levels in the fridge cabinet and its impact on produce preservation, and the ice maker production rate and max capacity. We provide a comprehensive rundown on how these parameters impact a fridge's ability to slot into your day-to-day life, emphasizing real-world examples.
In the coming months, you can expect a test bench update centered around unit repairability. This update focuses on forecasting the demands of keeping your fridge running long-term by incorporating data concerning service coverage for different US states and the cost and availability of replacement parts from various brands.
That said, neither our current test bench nor the upcoming update will include any hard data concerning long-term reliability. While we can make educated guesses regarding certain likely failure points, predictions aren't the same as hard data. For those interested, you can read our R&D article, which explores our attempts to investigate long-term reliability and our subsequent decision to reorient towards evaluating product serviceability and long-term brand support instead. Many of the findings from this article inform the next version of our refrigerator test bench, which is already well underway.
This is an initial iteration of our testing methodology, so if you have any suggestions on how we can improve, feel free to leave a comment below or email us at feedback@rtings.com. As always, we rely on feedback from users like you to improve our processes, so don't be shy!
We have retested popular models. The test results for the following models have been converted to the new testing methodology. However, the text might be inconsistent with the new results.