A Smart fridges can be connected to the internet, which allows additional features like voice control through Alexa or Google Assistant. A smart fridge might be able to let you perform diagnostics, let you know if someone left the door open, or keep track of the groceries inside. No longer just a humble icebox to keep your food cold and make ice, the next generation smart fridge also can act as a virtual assistant, control your smart home, and some fridges even can brew your morning cup of coffee.
Although these technical marvels are often at a higher price-point than traditional fridges, they are worth it for the convenience they can bring. Probably you are in the market for a smart fridge, Below are some of the best.
Best Overall: LG LRFDS3016D
Bosch 800 Series 36-Inch 21-Cubic-Foot French Door Refrigerator in Stainless Steel with Refreshment Center
The Bosch 800 series has a lot to offer with a clean design and user friendly features, This fridge uses Home Connect app, which can allow you monitor and control your fridge from a smart device all the standards, like adjusting brightness or receiving open-door notifications and its UltraClarityPro water filter delivers pure, industry-leading results with more than 99.9% of sediments filtered out.
We also thoroughly enjoyed the Bosch Refreshment Center, which is a glass display drawer with pre-programmed beverage settings, such as one with humidity and temperature designed to mimic a wine cellar for all you vinophiles.
Another big feature of the Bosch 800 series is the touch-control displays, which makes it easy to change settings, while dual compressors and dual evaporators keep odors at bay and preserve your food in its best environment. There are Storage options like the flex bar, removable shelves, and bins provide choice in configurations to best suit your individual needs. The door bins can fit gallon containers, which are real space hogs in other fridges.
Advantages
- Intuitive interface
- Minimalist design
- Room for wine
Disadvantages
- Expensive
- No Alexa/Google Assistant compatibility
Key Specs
Model: B36CL81ENG
Energy Star: Yes
Dimensions: 21 cubic feet
Standout features: Home Connect app, UltraClarityPro filter, Refreshment Center
Most Versatile: LG InstaView Door-in-Door Refrigerator
You will really enjoy the features and convenience you get with the LG InstaView refrigerator if you are a tech-savvy individual with an appreciation for smart appliances. Adopting the SmartThinQ technology that works in the company’s televisions, this fridge is very smart.
Smart functions can be used to control different settings with the downloadable app, The app will notify you if you accidentally leave the door open. You can also monitor the content of your fridge. It also allows voice support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, which gives you the opportunity to order food from Peapod or add to a shopping list you’ve already got going.
Tech-savvy touches are not the only highlight of this refrigerator. Its beautiful stainless steel design fits in well with any stylish kitchen. Once it’s in place, drawer dividers make it easy to organize contents. Inside, you’ll find four SpillProtector tempered glass shelves, three fixed shelves, and four split shelves.
The real highlight of this fridge isn’t its smarts or its storage, though. Without a doubt, it’s the InstaView feature. The door-in-door panel provides quick access to contents without letting cold air out. Just knock twice and store your favorite items in this space for quick access.
What is a smart refrigerator?
According to Rachel Rothman, Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director at the Good Housekeeping Institute, “smart can mean a lot of things, but in the case of smart fridges, it usually means that the fridge is connected to the Internet.” Many are equipped with a screen, which Rothman says is nothing new and actually began trending well over a decade ago.
Nevertheless, the difference today is that you can “stream more useful content on displays such as music from Spotify or syncing with Alexa,” she says. Many smart refrigerators are now very practical and even capable of troubleshooting issues and self-diagnosing maintenance needs. Thanks to sensors in the fridge, you can get an alert if a fridge door was left open or be notified when the water filter needs replacing. Other features are for entertainment purposes and can be more or less useful for certain individuals and families.
What to look for when shopping for smart refrigerator?
Smart home compatibility: While all smart refrigerators have built-in Wi-Fi, they won’t always support your voice assistant or existing smart home ecosystem. So you must make sure that the fridge you bought comes fully with a built in assistant if you want to be able to ask Alexa or Google Assistant to make more ice or change the fridge’s temperature.
Maintenance: Mostly, some smart fridges can alert you about maintenance issues and general troubleshooting, such as when a door was accidentally left open or a filter needs to be changed. Such alerts can help prevent serious issues from developing down the line while keeping your fridge in pristine condition.
Cameras and sensors: According to Petrino, With your smartphone or tablet, some smart refrigerators give you the ability to view the inside and know what is there and what is not. This way if you forget to make a grocery list, you have a real-time view of the items in your fridge.” Though a built-in camera isn’t a necessary feature for everyone, it does save you the hassle of accidentally forgetting a key ingredient while you’re out shopping.
Display features: Petrino also shares that “some smart refrigerators can double as your home media center. Your refrigerator can be the new place for family photos, calendars, recipes, and media reducing the amount of clutter in your beautiful new kitchen.” Some even offer a custom user experience, such as being able to “recommend recipes that incorporate soon-to-expire grocery items, reducing food waste and saving you money.” And with certain models, “you can manage automatic food deliveries with third-party delivery services like Fresh Direct or Amazon Prime.”
Style: Modern smart refrigerators come in a different styles, but the most well known ones you will see today are top or bottom freezer refrigerators, French door refrigerators and side-by-side refrigerators. The Top or bottom-freezer refrigerators have a freezer that is located either at the top or the bottom of the fridge, while the main contents are at eye level.
The French door refrigerators has two doors that meet in the middle, along with a freezer on the bottom and sometimes a middle compartment for extra storage of beverages or snacks. On the other hand, A side-by-side refrigerator, has a freezer on one side and a fridge on the other. These doesn’t require much space for doors to swing open but mean you will have to bend down to reach certain items.
Size: Before buying a Smart refrigerator, first consider how big your family is and what the right fridge capacity is for your home. Confirm if the interior of the fridge offer ample storage for the amount of food you regularly keep on hand, Are there convertible sections so you can organize your food so regularly reached for items are easily accessible? Does the ice maker take up a large chunk of space? Always triple-check the dimensions of the fridge to ensure it will fit in between your cabinets so there will be enough airflow around the sides and enough space to open the doors.
