A good fridge freezer is an essential home appliance for any kitchen but choosing the right one can seem like a daunting task, particularly nowadays with so many features to consider.
Luckily for you, I’ve compiled an extensive buying guide of some of the best fridge freezers currently available in the UK. I’ve covered everything, from their key features, pros and cons and even cost to run per year. After reading through the reviews below, you should have a very good idea of which fridge freezer is right for you.
If you want to go straight to the product page for any of the models in the top 5 list, then just click the link next to them.
I have done an update for 2024 to ensure your food is taken care of and also to make sure that the newest models are available for you.
I added direct links to check the price at Amazon, however, you can also buy many of these at Argos, Currys, or B&Q.
Let’s begin by looking at my top choice – the Samsung RB Combi Range Fridge Freezer.
Top 5 Best Fridge Freezers UK
- Top Choice – Samsung RB38T602CWW/EU 70/30 Frost Free Fridge Freezer
- Best American Style – HAEIR HB18FGSAAA American Fridge Freezer
- Best Integrated – BOSCH Serie 4 KIV86VSE0G Integrated 60/40 Fridge Freezer with Sliding Door Fixing Kit
- Best Under £300 – RUSSELL Hobbs RH180FFFF55S Freestanding Frost Free Fridge Freezer
- Best Under £400 – INDESIT IBD 5517 W UK 1 50/50 Fridge Freezer
1. Top Choice – Samsung RB38T602CWW/EU 70/30 Frost Free Fridge Freezer
Annual cost to run: £50.8
Pros:
- Great range of features
- C energy rating
- Large capacity
- Frost free
- 5 year manufacturer warranty
Cons:
- Noise can be an issue for some people
The Samsung RB38T602CWW/EU Fridge Freezer is my top choice and its great performance and range of excellent features make it a pleasure to use. Let’s take a more in-depth look.
It has a 385-litre capacity overall, giving you ample shelving space to store enough food for a week for a family of 4-5. The All-Around Cooling Technology helps to keep your food fresh for longer and the holiday setting is very handy for saving energy when you won’t be using it.
It has an energy rating of C, which makes it great for the environment and makes it very affordable to run annually. Some reviewers did note that the noise from this model was an issue for them, so this is worth bearing in mind.
You get a very generous 5-year manufacturer warranty included as standard and you have the option to have it professionally fitted and your old fridge freezer removed from your home.
2. Best American Style – Haier HB18FGSAAA American Fridge Freezer
Annual cost to run: £63.6
Capacity: 539 Litres
Pros:
- Frost-Free Freezer
- Holiday Mode
- Humidity Control
- Antibacterial System
Cons:
- Not as much capacity as some other models
- No ice dispenser
This sleek fridge freezer has a unique design that makes it extremely user friendly. With the fridge compartment on top, this makes it a very comfortable height to use and the double opening doors make for easy access.
The freezer compartment is contained within the lower portion of the appliance and is accessed by two large sliding freezer drawers. This means you don’t lose all the cool air when you open either drawer so it’s a brilliant design feature to save power.
The Haier is not the most eco friendly with its E energy rating and the annual costs are relatively low for such a big fridge freezer.
It has humidity control so fresh produce (such as fruit and veg) stays fresh for longer and it even has a “dry zone” drawer which keeps humidity below 45% – perfect for meat or cheese.
The freezer is designed so that it doesn’t suffer from frost build-up and has a quick freeze function to rapidly cool it after you stock it up with a load of groceries.
The fridge has a UV system that kills bacteria so your food stays safe and free from germs and it also has an auto-defrost feature, which prevents any frost from the freezer from taking hold.
One more thing I love about this model is the holiday mode. This helps save power whilst you are away by keeping the freezer running as normal yet the fridge stays at a set temperature with the door closed. This prevents that nasty odour from building up and the fridge is good to go once the temperature cools again.
Overall this model has loads of features that make it useful and user friendly. It hasn’t got as much storage space (it holds up to 28 bags of shopping) as some other models but the layout makes up for this. The shelves and drawers in the fridge are designed so that you can actually end up fitting way more in there than you’d expect.
3. Best Integrated – BOSCH Serie 4 KIV86VSE0G Integrated 60/40 Fridge Freezer with Sliding Door Fixing Kit
Annual cost to run: £36.80
Pros:
- Very affordable to run
- LED lighting
- Compact design
- 2 year manufacturer warranty
Cons:
- Quite expensive
The Bosch Serie 4 Integrated 50/50 Fridge Freezer is my best integrated fridge freezer pick. It has some great features and a sleek design that makes it a good choice for many types of kitchens.
A 50/50 Fridge Freezer has the same size of fridge capacity as its freezer capacity.
It has a capacity of 259 litres, which although not as large as the other fridge freezers I’ve looked at so far, still gives you plenty of room and will accommodate around 14 bags of shopping.
A nice feature of this model is VarioZone, which allows you to remove freezer drawers easily so you’re able to fit more boxes inside. It also has LowFreeze technology, so you don’t need to worry about manually defrosting it as often.
The initial cost of this fridge freezer is quite high although this is offset by the very affordable running costs. Overall, this is a very nice fridge freezer and would make a good choice for most medium sized households.
4. Best Under £300 – Russell Hobbs RH180FFFF55S Freestanding Frost Free Fridge Freezer
Cost to run per year: £57.65Dimensions (mm): 180.3H x 59.5D x 54W
Pros
- 204L/75L capacity
- Total frost free technology
- 2 Year Guarantee
Cons
- F rating
I have reviewed quite a few great fridge freezers and if the price is of crucial importance to you I present you Russell Hobbs RH180FFFF55S, at the time of writing (March 2024) it costs less than £300 and given a variety of great features, this is a must in the list like mine.
The capacity of a total 279L is in the middle range and has enough capacity for a medium size family (if you are a family of 5 and more this could be a problem after weeks worth of shopping).
Besides the price, it has great features, such as a frost-free freezer, which doesn’t allow any ice in the freezer so you will never need to defrost your freezer yourself.
After the changes in energy ratings in 2021 F rating sounds terrible, but to be honest it’s certainly not great, however not as bad as it may seem at the start
So in conclusion, it’s an extremely cheap appliance ideal for a medium size family or an individual, who will definitely not regret it
5. Best Under £400 – INDESIT IBD 5517 W UK 1 50/50 Fridge Freezer
Cost to run per year: £48.45
Dimensions (mm): 1780 H x 590 W x 650 D
Pros
- 254L storage capacity
- Quiet 44db
- Anti bacterial liners in Fridge
- Fast freeze freezer
Cons
- No auto defrost in freezer
- Can’t be used in outbuilding
The Indesit is the absolutely perfect combination of price and quality, with a 10 years part guarantee and ample space inside even for a family this is the best value fridge you can get.
It’s cheap to run at an estimated 255 kWh a year, which isn’t the cheapest on the list but it’s the closest, and the only model cheaper to run is the Curry’s Essentials below which is smaller too, so there’s a trade-off to be made.
You’ve also got 3 shelves in the fridge, two salad cripsers, and 3 compartments in the door which you can adjust to your own needs. And the freezer has 4 drawers, ample space for everything you could need.
Having looked at a lot of these I can tell you more drawers is much easier to manage what’s in your freezer, easier to see what you have and easier to fill more efficiently so you’re not having to wrestle everything out of them.
Apart from that you’ve got a reversible door so you can have it just as you need it in your kitchen and the fridge has anti-bacterial liners to keep your food fresh. Everything you could possibly want in a budget fridge freezer, all the quality of a much more expensive fridge freezer.
Buyer’s Guide
Energy Efficiency
Electrical appliances in the UK are rated on a scale from G to A+++, with A+++ being the most energy efficient. It’s important to know how energy efficient any fridge freezers you’re considering are since it will have a big impact on how much they cost to run and how environmentally friendly they are
Water/Ice Dispenser
A lot of fridge freezers have a water/ice dispenser on the front of the unit. This is a very handy feature since you don’t need to bother with dedicated ice cube trays, which are often very fiddly to use and take up space.
Capacity
Capacity is perhaps the most important consideration when buying a new fridge freezer. You should think about how much food you need to store at one time and choose accordingly. It’s usually a good idea to go slightly bigger if possible so you won’t run out of space on special occasions like Christmas.
Outer Dimensions
The outer dimensions of a fridge freezer are another important thing to think about. Whether you get a freestanding or integrated model, you’ll need to make sure you have the right amount of space in your kitchen, so be sure to measure accurately beforehand.
F.A.Q
How long should a fridge freezer last?
Fridge freezers when bought new, should last for roughly 15 years with proper maintenance and care.
Do bottom freezer refrigerators have more problems?
Bottom freezer refrigerators aren’t any less reliable than top mounted freezers but they do have a few other drawbacks, such as the higher cost and the fact that you have to bend down to access heavier items.
Is a noisy fridge freezer dangerous?
All fridges make some amount of noise but if you notice your fridge freezer is especially noisy then it’s probably because there’s a fault that needs repairing. Generally, fridges aren’t dangerous but you should still have a noisy fridge freezer seen to ASAP and never attempt to fix it yourself.
Which is better – integrated or freestanding?
Both integrated and freestanding fridge freezers have their pros and cons. An integrated model will fit in with the style of your kitchen much better but it might be tricky to find the right size/style.
A freestanding fridge might not look quite as stylish as an integrated model but they can be placed anywhere, providing you have the right amount of space.
Other Fridge Freezer Reviews
50/50 Split Fridge Freezers
Beko CFG3582S 50/50 Frost Free Fridge Freezer
Annual cost to run: £45.89
Pros:
- Large capacity
- Frost free freezer
- Very affordable
- Reversible door hinge
- 1 year manufacturer warranty
Cons:
- Silver/black colour options might not suit all kitchens
Next up is the Beko 50/50 Frost Free Fridge Freezer. In addition to being a very affordable model, it has some excellent features that make it very convenient.
It has a storage capacity of 263 litres, which is enough to hold 14 bags of shopping. It has frost free technology, so you don’t have to worry about defrosting it manually and it has reversible doors meaning you have a lot more options for where to place it.
It comes with a 1 year manufacturer guarantee and has an energy rating of A+, making it great for the environment and cheap to run. You can choose to get it in either silver or black.
Electra ECFF165W 50/50 Frost Free Fridge Freezer
Annual cost to run: £40.81
Pros:
- A+ rating
- Frost free freezer
- Reversible doors
- 1 year manufacturer warranty
Cons:
- Can be tricky to fit on your own
The Electra 50/50 Frost Free Fridge Freezer gives you plenty of storage space and has some very handy features including reversible doors and LED lights.
It has a 237 litre capacity – enough for 13 bags of shopping. It also has frost free technology so it’s very low maintenance.
This fridge freezer is quite compact even though it has a good amount of storage space and the reversible doors mean you can choose whether it opens on the left or right – very handy when you’re limited on space.
You get a 1 year manufacturer warranty included and have the option for professional installation as well as having your old fridge freezer removed and recycled.
This would make a good choice if you’re looking for something that’s easy to use, has a decent amount of storage space and doesn’t cost too much to run.
Bosch Serie 2 KGN34NWEAG 50/50 Frost Free Fridge Freezer
Annual cost to run: £37.27
Pros:
- Fast Freeze function
- Affordable to run
- Large capacity
- 2 year manufacturer warranty
Cons:
- On the more expensive side
The Bosch Serie 2 50/50 Frost Free Fridge Freezer is up next. It gives you plenty of space for storage and has plenty of features to boot.
The storage capacity is 297 litres, giving you enough space for 16 bags of shopping.
There are some incredibly useful features with this model, including the Fast Freeze function that allows you to freeze food that much quicker. There’s also FreshSense, which ensures that a stable temperature is maintained inside the fridge so your food stays as fresh as possible.
It features the Bosch MultiAirflow system which maintains optimum airflow to ensure temperature and humidity levels stay even throughout; preserving your groceries for as long as possible.
You can choose from either white or silver with this fridge freezer and it comes with a 2 year manufacturer warranty. If you have a bosch oven, check out this guide to it’s symbols.
Amica FK2623F 50/50 Frost Free Fridge Freezer
Annual cost to run: £40.81
Pros:
- Easy to organize
- Reversible doors
- 2 year manufacturer warranty
Cons:
- On the smaller side
- Only available in white
The Amica Frost Free Fridge Freezer might not have a huge number of features but if you’re simply looking for something that gets the job done at a reasonable price, then this could be right up your alley.
It has a 237 litre storage capacity, so 118.5L of freezer space and 118.5L fridge capacity giving you enough space for 13 bags of shopping. It has frost free technology so you don’t need to defrost it manually and the salad crisper drawer is great for keeping your fruit and vegetables separate from the rest of your food.
It has a compact design and the reversible doors mean you can choose the perfect spot for it without having to worry about space restrictions. It comes in white and you get a 2 year manufacturer warranty included.
Hoover HVBF5182WWK 50/50 Frost Free Fridge Freezer
Annual cost to run: £42.65
Pros:
- Salad crisper drawer
- 255 litre capacity
- Frost free
- 1 year manufacturer warranty
Cons:
- Freezer drawers are quite small
Hoover has an excellent reputation for electrical appliances and this 50/50 frost free fridge freezer lives up to it – providing good storage space, reliable performance and some very useful features.
The 255 litre capacity gives you plenty of space for food and drink, with plenty of drawers and ledges to keep things organised, including a dedicated fruit and veg drawer.
It has reversible doors on the fridge and freezer so you’re not restricted when it comes to placement. It’s a frost free model, meaning you don’t need to defrost it manually. Ideal for keeping the freezer compartment free of space and working properly
It comes in white or silver and has a water dispenser at the front. You get a 1 year warranty included and connection as well as disconnection of your old fridge and removal/recycling.
70/30 Split Fridge Freezers
Hotpoint Day1 H5T811IKH 70/30 Frost Free Fridge Freezer
Annual cost to run: £53.28
Pros:
- Multiple shelves for easy organisation
- Frost free
- Very large capacity
- 1 year manufacturer warranty
Cons:
- Black colour might not suit your kitchen style
The Hotpoint Day1 Frost Free Fridge Freezer gives you a range of great features that help to keep your food fresh and well organised. Let’s take a closer look.
It has a huge 338 litre capacity, allowing you to store 18 bags of food shopping, so this would make an excellent choice if you have a large family. Despite its large size, it’s very economical to run thanks to its A+ energy rating.
Among its features is a FreshZone+ drawer where the humidity is adjusted inside to keep your food fresh for longer. The shelves can also be easily removed for more convenient access to hard to reach items.
This model comes in black, so it would fit well in many modern style kitchens. You get a 1 year manufacturer warranty included as standard and can have it professionally fitted and your old machine removed.
Ideal for those who don’t need as big a freezer or you’ve got a chest freezer available
Smeg FC370X2PE 70/30 Frost Free Fridge Freezer
Annual cost to run: £40.66
Pros:
- Large capacity
- No frost technology
- Fast freeze
- 2 year manufacturer warranty
Cons:
- Expensive
- Silver won’t suit all kitchens
The Smeg Frost Free Fridge Freezer combines sleek looks with generous space in the fridge section and some great features.
The 318 litre capacity gives you enough space for 17 bags of shopping, making this an excellent choice for larger households. The fast freeze technology means you can freeze food very quickly too.
The technology inside helps to avoid any build up of frost and it’s very easy to store food neatly thanks to the many drawers and shelves, including a dedicated meat and cheese drawer.
Although this fridge freezer is quite expensive, it does have an excellent A++ energy rating, meaning it’s very affordable to run despite its large size. It also comes with a 2 year warranty from the manufacturer.
Samsung RB36R8839SR 70/30 Frost Free Fridge Freezer
Annual cost to run: £26.80
Pros:
- Very cheap to run
- Good brand
- Large capacity
- 5 year manufacturer warranty
Cons:
- Very expensive
- Might not be suitable for smaller kitchens
If you’re looking for something that has plenty of space yet is still very affordable to run, then this 70/30 frost free fridge freezer from Samsung could be the perfect choice.
It has a 355 litre capacity, enough space for 19 bags of shopping and the slim walls and range of shelves and drawers make it very easy to organise your food.
You might assume that being such a large model, this would be expensive to run but the opposite is true.
In addition to its large capacity and affordable running costs, this fridge freezer has some very nice features, including frost free technology, separate cooling systems for the fridge and freezer, open door alert and a special drawer for quickly thawing or chilling food.
You get a very generous 5 year manufacturer warranty included as standard as well as a 10-year warranty for the motor for plenty of fresh food for a long time to come.
Miele Blackboard Edition KFN29233Dbb 70/30 Frost Free Fridge Freezer
Annual cost to run: £26.80
Pros:
- Range of useful features
- Large capacity
- 2 year manufacturer warranty
Cons:
- Extremely expensive
The Miele Blackboard Edition 70/30 Frost Free Fridge Freezer is a very unique offering that’s perfect if you’re looking for a high capacity model that offers something different.
The first thing that stands out about this fridge freezer is its look. The front of the unit is covered in a blackboard that you’re able to write or draw on. This is great for quickly jotting reminders or for adding a bit of unique style to your kitchen.
It has a huge 361 litre capacity, holding roughly 20 bags of shopping. Despite its large size, it’s great energy rating makes it very economical to run and good for the environment to boot.
It has No Frost technology, so defrosting manually won’t be a concern and its Click2Open feature is very handy – allowing you to open the door with a simple press.
Admittedly this fridge freezer is very expensive initially, so it won’t be within everyone’s budget. However, if you can afford the high initial expense, it is extremely economical to run and is a pleasure to use all around.
Smeg Right Hand Hinge FAB38RPB 70/30 Frost Free Fridge Freezer
Annual cost to run: £49.43
Pros:
- 461 litre capacity
- A++ energy rating
- No frost technology
- 2 year manufacturer warranty
Cons:
- Expensive
- Retro colours won’t be to everyone’s taste
The Smeg Right Hand Hinge 70/30 Frost Free Fridge Freezer is another distinctive looking offering that comes in a range of retro colours that would look great in many different styles of kitchen.
It has a gigantic 461 litre capacity making it comfortably the largest model I’ve covered and giving you enough space for 26 bags of shopping – perfect for larger families/households.
It has No Frost technology, which prevents ice from building up by circulating the cool air inside the machine. The dedicated salad crisper drawer is great for keeping your fruit and vegetables fresh and separate from the rest of your shopping.
You can choose from a range of retro colours with this fridge freezer, including pastel blue, cream, pastel green and red. You can also get it in black and white if you prefer. It comes with a 2 year manufacturer warranty included as standard.
Fridge Freezers With Water Dispensers
Hotpoint HBNF55181SAQUAUK 50/50 Frost Free Fridge Freezer
Annual cost to run: £39.12
Pros:
- Frost free
- Water dispenser
- Reversible doors
- 1 year manufacturer warranty
Cons:
- Colour looks darker in pictures than in reality
- No open door alert
The Hotpoint 50/50 Frost Free Fridge Freezer gives you a decent amount of space and some good features at an affordable price.
The 245 litre capacity gives you enough space for 13 bags of shopping, making this a good choice for small to medium size households. The water dispenser doesn’t require any plumbing and it also has reversible doors, so you’re not restricted on where to put it.
It has a number of shelves and drawers, so it’s very easy to keep your food properly organised and the frost free technology means you don’t need to worry about manually defrosting.
You can choose from either silver, black or white. It comes with a 1 year manufacturer warranty and you can benefit from free disposal and recycling of your old fridge freezer when you buy this model.
Fridgemaster MC55251MDS 50/50 Frost Free Fridge Freezer
Annual cost to run: £40.35
Pros:
- Plumbing-free water dispenser
- Reversible door
- Frost free
- 1 year manufacturer warranty
Cons:
- Small capacity
Next up is the Fridgemaster 50/50 Frost Free Fridge Freezer.
It has a capacity of 251 litres, giving you space for 13 bags of shopping. The non-plumbed water dispenser means you can benefit from ice cool water without being restricted on placement too.
Being a non frost model, you won’t need to worry about ice building up inside it since the cool air is circulated very well. The reversible doors on the fridge and freezer are another very handy feature and mean you can place this wherever you want without worrying about it clashing with other appliances.
You get a 1 year manufacturer warranty included and have the option to have it professionally connected and your old machine removed and recycled.
Stoves NF60189WTD 60/40 Frost Free Fridge Freezer
Annual cost to run: £44.04
Pros:
- Frost free
- Reversible doors
- 1 year manufacturer warranty
Cons:
- Only available in stainless steel
The Stoves 60/40 Frost Free Fridge Freezer has a good range of features in addition to generous storage space, making it well worth considering.
It has a total capacity of 295 litres, enough space for 16 bags of shopping, making it a good choice for medium sized households. The frost free technology prevents build up of ice and the reversible doors allow you to place this anywhere without restriction.
This is only available in stainless steel, so you should think about whether it will go well in your kitchen.
Overall, it’s an excellent fridge freezer that’s affordable to run, gives you plenty of space and has the features you’d want at this price range. You get a 1 year manufacturer warranty included as standard
Fisher & Paykel Designer RF522WDLUX4 70/30 Frost Free Fridge Freezer
Annual cost to run: £56.20
Pros:
- Huge capacity
- ActiveSmart technology
- Humidity control
- 5 year manufacturer warranty
Cons:
- Expensive price tag
- Would only be suitable for larger kitchens
If you want a fully featured fridge freezer with a large storage capacity, then the Fisher & Paykel Designer 70/30 Frost Free Fridge Freezer could be just what you’re looking for.
It has a 445 litre capacity (24 bags of shopping), making it a great choice if you have a large family or just want a lot of room. The ice maker on the front of the unit means you’ll always have easy access to ice cold drinks and the frost free technology makes this model very low maintenance.
There’s no denying that this is a very expensive model but the running costs are quite reasonable considering its large size thanks to its energy rating.
You get a generous 5 year manufacturer warranty included as standard and you have the option for professional connection as well as having your old fridge freezer disconnected.
Beko CRFG1582DS 50/50 Frost Free Fridge Freezer
Annual cost to run: £48.20
Pros:
- Anti-bacterial protection
- Non-plumbed water dispenser
- 1 year manufacturer warranty
Cons:
- Is much darker than it appears in pictures
Lastly is the Beko 50/50 Frost Free Fridge Freezer. Let’s look at some of its key features.
It has a 261 litre capacity, giving you enough space for 14 bags of shopping, so this would be suitable for medium-sized households. It has anti-bacterial protection, making it ideal for keeping your kitchen hygienic and safe to work in.
The water dispenser doesn’t require any plumbing and so doesn’t restrict you on where to place it. This model has an impressive energy rating, which makes it environmentally friendly and affordable to run.
There are plenty of shelves and drawers, including racks for storing wine bottles and other drinks and the frost-free technology means you won’t need to manually defrost it.
You get a 1-year manufacturer warranty included and you can have it professionally connected for an extra fee. You also have the option to have your old fridge freezer disconnected, removed and recycled.
Final Thoughts
Knowing what to look for when buying a fridge freezer for your home is hopefully something you’re now confident about. Although there are many basic fridge freezers that simply keep your ice cream cold, you can opt for fully-featured models that give you wifi connectivity, a minibar, water/ice dispenser, wine rack, auto-defrost, not to mention glass shelves and any fridge door space.
Although these features aren’t necessary, they can make it that much more enjoyable to use your fridge and for many people, they’re worth the extra cost.
Related Reading
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9 Best Integrated Fridge Freezers UK 2024 – An Expert Buyer’s Guide
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