Hungry for a new refrigerator? Replacing or upgrading your fridge is a costly expense. But, if you choose the right model, your new unit could see you through the next 10 to 15 years.
With plenty of top options now on the market, it’s easy to find a reliable model to suit your home and your needs.
RELATED: Best wine fridges to buy in 2023
RELATED: Best freezers and coolers in Australia
To save you from wading through hundreds of products, we’ve rounded up several top-rated refrigerators. One option to check out is the energy efficient Haier 433L Bottom Mount Fridge with Water Dispenser from Harvey Norman, which is currently on sale. With a generous 433 litre capacity, the bottom mount design puts the fridge compartment at eye level. Happy shoppers have praised the “super quiet” fridge and raved that it’s “really energy efficient”.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
Our team of experienced writers spend hours researching products to include in articles. We find out what factors make a good product by talking to experts, reviewing test results and analysing thousands of customer reviews.
In this article
OUR TOP PICKS
BEST ENERGY EFFICIENT FRIDGES
What You Need To Know
If you’re after an energy efficient fridge, the Haier 433L bottom mount refrigerator with water dispenser comes highly rated.
Boasting a 5.5-star efficiency rating, this incredible stylish black unit includes a My Zone adjustable temperature drawer that lets you easily tailor the settings to ensure the best environment for fresh food and refreshing drinks. And if you ever need to cool down, the water dispenser gives you quick access to chilled water without the hassle of plumbing.
Other nifty features include Multi-Zone Air for even cooling throughout the fridge, a Humidity Zone drawer to keep fruits and veggies at optimal temperature, and an Anti-Bacterial Treatment filter that’s designed to kill up to 99 per cent of bacteria.
“Great size, good storage compartments, nice matte finish and really energy efficient!” raved a shopper.
Other reviewers praised the “super quiet” fridge and said it was a “great power saver”.
Hisense 483L Black Steel Bottom Mount Refrigerator (HRBM483B), $1399 (down from $1699), Bing Lee
What You Need To Know
This Hisense bottom mount refrigerator might have it all, especially if you’re after something economical. The unit boasts a ‘super efficient’ six-star rating, which can be handy if you want to minimise your power bills without having to settle for a model that’s too small. It’s also decently priced compared to some other energy efficient bottom mount units with a similar capacity.
“Great product for the price. It’s quite practical and spacious inside and looks amazing on the outside. (The) 6 star energy rating is a massive plus, and it’s also super quiet compared to my previous fridge,” praised a reviewer.
“Saves tons on electricity bills, has great internal space, reliable, clean design, excellent warranty and definitely the way to go if you need a big fridge for a big family. Just superb.” praised another agreed.
BEST BUDGET FRIDGES
Hisense 205L Top Mount Fridge (HRTF205S), $496 (down from $649), The Good Guys
What You Need To Know
You’d be forgiven for questioning the quality of a fridge at such a low price point. But with a near perfect 4.4 average star rating on The Good Guys website, customers prove this Hisense top mount refrigerator is a top seller for a reason.
It features a multi-air flow system to distribute cooled air consistently throughout all compartments, plus frost free technology so you won’t need to manually defrost the refrigerator.
“Everything you’ll need from a bigger fridge, but packed into a smaller unit. Even the space is impressive.
“The default temperatures for fridge and freezer are perfect but adjustable to need. Love the layout, everything always fits snug,” wrote a customer on the Harvey Norman website, calling it the “best value for money fridge on the market”.
This fridge is exactly what I needed! The size is perfect for two people, and we still have plenty of space even after our weekly shop,” agreed another.
BEST BOTTOM MOUNT FRIDGES
LG 402L Bottom Mount Refrigerator (GB-455BTL), $1299 (down from $1399), The Good Guys
What You Need To Know
Another energy efficient fridge that can help save in the long run is this one from LG. Despite its good 4.5 star energy rating, it’s reasonably priced compared to similar options on the market.
Designed with surround cooling, air flows from both the front and back of the fridge to make sure everything inside is chilled evenly. The bottom mount fridge additionally contains an LG Inverter Linear Compressor (with a 10 year parts warranty) to reduce internal temperature fluctuations and keep things at a consistent temperature.
BEST TOP MOUNT FRIDGES
Samsung 599L Top Mount Refrigerator (SR625BLSTC), $1599, Samsung
What You Need To Know
This highly-rated fridge from Samsung is among the most customisable on the market, making it great for households with varying needs. With the touch of a few buttons, the freezer compartment converts to extra fridge space, which is ideal when you’re hosting a party or have more leftovers than you know what to do with.
A separate pantry is meanwhile kept at a lower temperature than the rest of the fridge, so you can store your meat or fish separately and keep it fresher for longer. There’s also an ice maker which can be removed when you need to make more room in your freezer, and then reinstalled when you need it again.
Westinghouse 431L Top Mount Refrigerator (WTB4600WC-R), $1049 (down from $1,299), The Good Guys
What You Need To Know
If you’re picky about brands, it might be worth considering something from the Readers Digest’s Most Trust Brand for fridges – Westinghouse. This top mount appliance offers plenty of versatility with FlexStor adjustable door bins, adjustable rollers and reversible hinges. Additional features include a FreshSeal sealed crisper with humidity control and SpillSafe glass shelves.
“Looks so sleek and stylish, is really high quality with great adjustable shelves for the door and fridge compartment, and operates efficiently and quietly. I’m so happy with my purchase, highly recommend!” a reviewer posted.
BEST UPRIGHT FRIDGES
Beko 351L Upright All Fridge (BAF369W), $1,099, Bing Lee
What You Need To Know
If you don’t have much use for a freezer, you may want to consider investing in an upright or “fridge only” model. This standalone Beko fridge is slim enough to fit into small spaces while holding a 369L capacity, making it ideal for those living in smaller apartments. It also has reversible doors so you can tailor it to best suit your space.
With a wine rack, egg tray and humidity controlled vegetable crisper too, the upright fridge packs everything you need into one compact unit.
BEST SIDE BY SIDE FRIDGE
LG 655L Side by Side Fridge in Stainless Finish (GS-B655PL), $1899, The Good Guys
What You Need To Know
For max storage, one top-rated side-by-side refrigerator is this hefty unit from LG. Loaded up with a whopping 655L worth of space, this model includes the brand’s Pure N Fresh air filtration system to get rid of bad smells. It also includes SurroundCooling to quickly cool the items at the front, ensuring everything stays fresh for longer – no matter where it’s placed.
“Love this fridge. Plenty of space in fridge and freezer. Great price! Very happy with this purchase!” raved a shopper.
“Love it. Finally a fridge that works well,” agreed another.
BEST FRENCH DOOR FRIDGES
Fisher & Paykel 569L French Door Fridge (RF610ADX5), $1999 (down from $2999), The Good Guys
What You Need To Know
Another family size worth checking out is this one from Fisher & Paykel. It has ample space with 417L fridge capacity and 152L freezer capacity, plus adjustable shelves, stackable bottle holders, deli storage bins and crisper drawers. This French door refrigerator also has several features to keep food fresh, including ActiveSmart FoodCare and Humidity Controlled Crisper Drawers.
Several reviewers on The Good Guys website have noted the fridge is “very quiet” and has “lots of room”.
“I love my new French door fridge. It looks amazing and makes my dated kitchen look good. Everything is so easy to access, the food and drinks stay really cold and it is silent so no funny noises in the night,” one reviewer posted.
BEST SMART FRIDGES
LG 508L Slim French Door Fridge (LG GF-V570PNL), $3199, The Good Guys
What You Need To Know
If air fryers and robot vacuums can be activated by voice control, then why not have a fridge that’s just as multi-talented? For those willing to splurge on a smart refrigerator, this LG French Door fridge lets you see what’s inside with just two knocks so you don’t need to open the doors. It also has a door-in-door compartment, which is essentially like a mini fridge built into your fridge door. There’s additionally a water dispenser with a UV LED light to reduce the amount of bacteria on the nozzle.
“I am very happy with this fridge. Not only does it look great but probably one of the best fridges I have owned,” a reviewer commented on The Good Guys website, rating the fridge five stars.
“Water and ice dispenser is great and easy to fill. I really don't have any complaints. Love the glass door that you can open quickly to get milk or a drink out without having to open the fridge completely. Overall, love this fridge.”
BEST WINE AND BAR FRIDGES
Hisense 179L Bar Fridge (HRBF179R), $446 (down from $499), The Good Guys
What You Need To Know
This bar fridge from Hisense is the perfect solution for those who want a little extra storage but don’t want to commit to a second full-sized fridge. With 156L fridge space and 23L freezer capacity, this bar fridge is perfect for storing extra drinks or snacks for entertaining. It might also be suitable as a regular refrigerator for a single-person household.
Despite its size, you can still expect many of the same features such as an egg tray, full-size fruit and vegetable crisper, temperature control and LED lighting.
Similar to a refrigerator with a frost-free function, this bar fridge has a semiautomatic frost system so you can freeze without getting a big build-up of ice.
Devanti 12 Bottle Wine Cooler, $215.95 (down from $269.95), Myer
What You Need To Know
If you like to keep chilled bottles of wine on hand at all times, this 35L Devanti unit is one of our top picks for wine fridges to buy. The sleek, budget friendly and space-saving appliance is claimed to use the latest thermoelectric cooling technology, so your bottles are ready to be uncorked when company comes calling. Plus, it has an intuitive touch control panel to make adjusting temperature simple, with LED lighting additionally available to help make reading labels easier. You can also expect a UV-resistant dual-layer glass door and a child safety lock to keep little hands out.
WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A FRIDGE?
Buying a refrigerator is a costly investment, but it’s an essential home appliance that will last for years. Here are some factors to consider before handing over your card.
• Energy Star Rating: If you’re environmentally concerned – or concerned about your energy bill – you’ll want to choose a fridge with a high energy star rating, which means it’s more energy efficient (more on that below).
• Budget: Higher-priced models may come with more convenient bells and whistles, but it’s worth noting that there are more budget-friendly options that still pack a punch, value wise.
• Size: If you have a specific space your fridge has to fit into, be sure to check the dimensions before you shop.
• Capacity: Yes, this is different to size – we’re talking about the interior of the fridge here. Consider how much room you require for food storage. According to Appliances Online, a 200L to 380L fridge is ideal for households of one to two people, 350L to 530L is great for three to four people, while 440: or more is needed for larger families.
• Type: We’ve divided our buying guide by the type of fridge for your convenience, but the option you choose is based on personal preference in terms of how much freezer or fridge space you might need.
• Frost free: Most fridges now have a frost free function or system that automatically turns on a heating element on and off to prevent ice build-up, so you won’t need to manually clean the freezer.
IS A TOP MOUNT OR BOTTOM MOUNT FRIDGE BETTER?
The traditional top-mount fridge is the design most of us grew up with. With a freezer compartment on top and a fresh food compartment on the bottom, top-mount fridges are the most popular choice for smaller households. They’re also among the most affordable of designs.
With their larger freezer capacity though, the popularity of bottom-mount fridges is on the rise. They tend to be more expensive than top-mount fridges, and if you use frozen produce more than fresh, you might reconsider this fridge being the option for you.
WHAT IS THE ENERGY STAR RATING SYSTEM?
The Energy Rating Label is regulated by the Australian government and shows how energy efficient a model is compared to similar models of the same size. The more stars a product is awarded out of six, the more efficient it is, making it better both for the environment and for your wallet.
Some appliances alternatively have a ‘Super Efficiency Rating’, which has a rating out of 10 stars (and a minimum of six stars).
Have you been thinking about upgrading your other home appliances? We have reviews on gadgets like the iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ robot vacuum, plus guides on the best washing machines, best coffee machines, best air fryers, best stick vacuums, best dishwashers and more.
More Coverage
You can also sign up for our news.com.au Checkout Newsletter to keep up to date with the latest sales and product reviews or head to news.com.au Coupons to see all the latest shopping deals and offers.
More Best Refrigerators Coverage
Originally published as 12 Best fridges of 2023 | How to choose the perfect refrigerator
Tahnee-Jae Lopez-VitoncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrGWcp51jrrZ7wqGcnKOfqsFwtM6mnGaZnpl6qK3RnZynZ5Glva21wKeanqtfrLWqwMSgpqico2Svpr%2FTZp2roZScsnC6xLCqZqukpL%2B6e8VumZxwYWV9coWTa2ednJRsrnd9xHCcnXCUm7NzgMVp