Best Black Friday Deals on Refrigerators

The 28-inch Samsung RT16A6195SR turns in solid, above-average performance among top-freezers, notching our highest possible scores for thermostat control, temperature uniformity, and energy efficiency while earning a middling rating for noise. (Ease of use gets a less-than-satisfactory rating, but that’s typical for top-freezers.) Features are scarce here, per the norm, but it does come with gallon storage on the door and spillproof shelves. In our member surveys, Samsung top-freezers received an exemplary score for predicted reliability but just a passable one for owner satisfaction. This model has an optional icemaker.

The budget-friendly 28-inch Frigidaire FFHT1425VV is a great top-freezer for performance, but it did cost as little as $450 during the July Fourth sale at Home Depot, so this isn’t the steepest discount we’ve seen. It’s extremely energy-efficient, and it garners solid scores in all other tests except ease of use, where it receives an unsatisfactory rating (although that’s similar to many other top-freezers). According to our latest member survey, Frigidaire top-freezers are reliable, but they have a poor owner satisfaction score.

One of our highest-rated top-freezers at the 30-inch width, the LG LTCS20030S is on sale for just $50 more than the best price we’ve seen at Lowe’s, having dropped $50 compared to its pre-Black Friday price at Lowe’s (and $25 less than yesterday at Wayfair). It earns top-level ratings for thermostat control and energy efficiency, and it has a pleasing rating for temperature uniformity. But it gets a less-than-favorable rating for ease of use. Features include an icemaker, touchpad controls, and spillproof shelves, but it lacks a freezer light. In our member surveys, LG top-freezers earned a first-rate score for predicted reliability and a lukewarm score for owner satisfaction.

At just 24 inches wide, the Whirlpool WRT112CZJZ is one of the smallest top-freezers available, yet it delivers strong performance all around—and now it’s $120 less than it was recently. Given its price, it’s an incredible bargain. This refrigerator garners stellar ratings for temperature uniformity and noise output, making it one of the quietest top-freezers we’ve tested, and it receives a strong rating for energy efficiency. But this model receives our lowest rating for ease of use. In surveys of our members, Whirlpool top-freezers got a top-notch rating for predicted reliability but a poor rating for owner satisfaction, a common combination with top-freezer brands.

The LG LRTLS2403S, now $100 more than the lowest price we’ve seen, is the second-best top-freezer model we’ve tested in sizes wider than 30 inches. It nabs an outstanding rating for energy efficiency and very good scores for thermostat control, temperature uniformity, and noise. It falls short on our ease-of-use test. This fridge comes with a built-in water filter and spillproof shelves. LG top-freezers received an excellent score for predicted reliability and a lukewarm score for owner satisfaction in our latest member survey.

This fridge is back down to the same low price we have seen during other major sale moments throughout the year. Equipped with an external water/ice dispenser, touchpad controls, and gallon-sized storage bins on the doors, the low-priced 33-inch Whirlpool WRS321SDHZ hits our thermostat control test out of the park. This side-by-side fridge also earns a solid rating for temperature uniformity, midlevel ratings for noise output and ease of use, and a substandard rating for energy efficiency. In our surveys, members gave Whirlpool’s side-by-side models a passable rating for predicted reliability and a rock-bottom rating for owner satisfaction.

The 33-inch GE GSE23GGPWW boasts stellar ratings on both our temperature uniformity and thermostat control tests. This side-by-side model also receives a near-top-level score for ease of use, and it’s equipped with some nice bells and whistles, including digital controls, a built-in water filter, and an external water/ice dispenser. As a brand, GE side-by-side refrigerators received a very good rating for predicted reliability in CR’s member surveys but a lousy score for owner satisfaction.

The 36-inch-wide, 28-inch-deep GE GZS22IYNFS is a solid all-around performer, netting a strong score for its thermostat control and solid ratings for temperature uniformity and ease of use, though it lags slightly in terms of energy efficiency and noise level. This model comes with an external water and ice dispenser, as well as a built-in water filter and gallon storage bins. In our member surveys, GE side-by-sides received a very good rating for predicted reliability but a poor rating for owner satisfaction.

This 36-inch-wide by 28-inch-deep Frigidaire GRSC2352AF side-by-side comes in a stainless steel finish and features an icemaker, a through-the-door water/ice dispenser, a built-in water filter, an air filter, and digital controls. In our tests, this Frigidaire receives top marks for thermostat control and ease of use, very good scores for temperature uniformity and energy efficiency, and a decent score for noise output. In our latest member survey, Frigidaire side-by-sides received an adequate rating for predicted reliability but a poor rating for owner satisfaction.

The LG LFCS22520S French-door refrigerator, now $20 better than its former best price for members (it’s free to sign up), receives stellar ratings for thermostat control and temperature uniformity, and impresses in our tests for noise performance. This 30-inch-wide LG achieves only midlevel scores for energy efficiency and ease of use. LG French-door refrigerators earned only middling predicted reliability and owner satisfaction scores in our member surveys. This model comes with digital controls, a door-open alarm, an icemaker, and spillproof shelves, but it lacks a built-in water filter. For a similar version to this refrigerator with a through-the-door water/ice dispenser, see the LG LFDS22520S.

While technically 32 inches wide, the Hisense HRB171N6ASE is a great option for a 33-inch space, especially since it’s $200 less than it was before Black Friday. This 27-inch-deep fridge is one of the most budget-friendly bottom-freezers in our ratings, and it performs just as well as models that cost hundreds of dollars more. In our tests, it receives an excellent rating for thermostat control and very good ratings for energy efficiency and noise. However, it receives unfavorable ratings for temperature uniformity and ease of use. It also lacks popular features like an icemaker and a water dispenser, but it does offer digital temperature controls for added convenience. At this time, we don’t have enough survey data on Hisense bottom-freezers to judge them for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction.

The LG LRDCS2603S is first-rate when it comes to thermostat control and temperature uniformity. In addition, the 33-inch refrigerator earns strong ratings for energy efficiency, noise, and ease of use. With 17.5 cubic feet of usable capacity, this LG has the most space of any bottom-freezer we’ve tested, and it’s among the cheapest to operate on a cubic-foot basis. In our member surveys, LG bottom-freezers received a first-rate predicted reliability rating and a passable rating for owner satisfaction. It’s also well appointed, with a built-in water filter, an icemaker, gallon-sized door storage, and a freezer light.