Capacity (litres)
Total internal volume.
Why it matters
Under-sizing means food stacked in front of vents, which ruins cooling.
What to check
Roughly 190–250 L for 2 people, 250–350 L for 3–4, 400 L+ for 5 or bulk shoppers.
Home appliances
Refrigerator
A fridge runs 24 hours a day for a decade, so efficiency compounds harder here than on any other appliance. Capacity and door layout decide whether you actually use the space.
Find your fit
A few questions about your situation, not about the product.
Answer all 3 questions to see the spec sheet to shop with.
The spec sheet, decoded
Direct cool vs frost free
Manual defrosting versus automatic.
Why it matters
Direct cool is cheaper and more efficient but you scrape ice; frost free is convenient and slightly drier inside.
What to check
Single-door direct cool models below ~250 L only; larger sizes are frost free.
Door layout
Single door, double door (top/bottom freezer), side-by-side, French door.
Why it matters
Bottom freezer puts everyday fridge items at eye level; side-by-side needs wide clearance.
What to check
Measure your doorway and the swing space before falling for a side-by-side.
Inverter compressor
Variable-speed cooling instead of full-on/full-off.
Why it matters
Lower electricity, less noise, steadier internal temperature and longer food life.
What to check
Compressor warranty is usually 10 years; the rest of the unit is 1 year.
Star rating & annual units
Energy label with a kWh-per-year figure.
Why it matters
Over ten years the gap between 3-star and 5-star is often larger than the price difference.
What to check
Compare annual units within the same capacity class only.
Convertible modes & stabiliser-free
Freezer that can act as fridge space; built-in voltage tolerance.
Why it matters
Useful for seasonal needs and for areas with unstable power.
What to check
'Stabiliser-free' covers a stated voltage band — check yours is inside it.
Before you pay
- ✓Measure the alcove including door swing and 5–7 cm rear clearance.
- ✓Match litres to household size and how often you shop.
- ✓Compare annual kWh printed on the label, not just the star count.
- ✓Confirm inverter compressor and its warranty term.
- ✓Check shelf material — toughened glass holds heavy pots, wire shelves don't.
Common traps
- !Buying capacity you can't fill; a half-empty large fridge is inefficient too.
- !Side-by-side units that don't fit through the flat's door.
- !Ignoring the annual units figure and assuming stars are comparable across sizes.
Star rating differences translate into meaningful annual electricity across ten years.