When shopping for a new refrigerator, there are multiple elements for customers to consider, including size, design, price, and finish. What kinds of feathers do customers attach the most importance to? And what kind of refrigerators gain the most popularity among the customers in 2022?

We’ve analyzed the best refrigerators on the market to help narrow down the selection for you when you decide on what kind of refrigerator you will order from your refrigerator manufacturer. Our ratings include finish&color, configuration, size, function, specific features and warranty.

Finish&Color

Stainless steel is one of the most popular options because it has a sleek-yet-neutral look. For those customers who are looking to live out a minimalist’s dream with pristine white cabinetry or yearn for a rustic ambiance with wicker bar stools, stainless steel is among the most popular appliance finishes, as it can work with most design schemes.

But there are also some customers who prefer a black fridge (or the recently popular black stainless steel and even carbon fiber). Built-ins typically offer exterior paneling that matches your kitchen cabinets. Many modern finishes are fingerprint-resistant.

No matter the era, white never goes out of style. White is also one of many top color choices of the year for 2022 kitchen appliances. White ice appliances are introducing a new way to reflect cleanliness in the kitchen while also adding a touch of class.

These white ice designs are a thing of the new year.

Configuration

The big players are side-by-sides, top-freezers and bottom-freezers. Side-by-sides require less space for the doors to swing open and fit better in a smaller kitchen because of their narrow doors, but users need to bend down to find food at the base of the fridge and freezer. Bottom-freezers (like French-door models) put the most-used compartment at eye level. Top-freezer fridges cost less but require you to bend to get into the fridge. French-door models are extremely popular because of their high-end aesthetic.

Compared to the common models, built-in refrigerators come into popularity in 2022.

With optional front panels to match the kitchen cabinets, built-in refrigerators fit almost flush with cabinets and counters. These sleek beauties come in bottom-freezer, side-by-side, and French-door styles. They are usually tall (above 70 inches) and wide (30 to 48 inches), with capacities up to 27 cubic feet (of which only about 70 percent is usable).

Consider Size

Most refrigerator configurations come in a range of sizes and capacities. As for capacity, most manufacturers recommend 19 to 22 cubic feet for a family of four. But COVID-19 changes many families’ shopping habit, and more and more families tend to do big weekly shopping trip or buy in bulk. Thus, capacity of up to 30 or 33 cubic feet is quite popular in 2021.

The amount of usable storage is often less than the amount claimed and don’t forget to remind the customers to measure where they plan to put the refrigerator, including width and height of any doorways, hallways, stairways, etc., that the new one will have to travel through to get to the kitchen. Allow room for the refrigerator’s doors to swing open and for a 1-inch clearance around the sides and back for adequate airflow.

The Refrigerator Revolution

From the beginning, appliances have always had a single function. The fridge to cool down and keep food healthy for longer. The oven to bake. The dishwasher for washing dishes. The washing machine to wash clothes and it goes on and on.

This at first is not that it has already ended, and it is still the case, but when it comes to trends in appliances, we are already seeing some models that combine various functions thus becoming 2-in-1 appliances, such as, ovens that have a dishwasher, or even ovens with a dishwasher and a ceramic or induction hob, also refrigerators that have a ice maker or water dispenser.

Specific Features

More and more customers tend to consider the shelving and internal drawers to see if they work for their family's eating habits. The refrigerators that can store a few bottles of wine in the fridge, with ample height and/or adjustable shelving, or refrigerators that can offer humidity controls on crisper drawers, meat or deli drawers are popular.

Short or limited warranties

The length and comprehensiveness of the warranty is one of the prime determinants of the repair cost. More and more customers attach importance to the warranty. So you need to confirm with the manufacturer if the part the refrigerator that need replacing is covered under the warranty and the longest warranty you customers can be granted. These factors will greatly influence the purchase decision.

If you’re planning to purchase refrigerators for you business, we recommend that you do market research first and then prioritize those must-have features, focusing on models that have the top two or three, such as a water dispenser and icemaker. The longer your list of wants, the more difficulty you’ll have finding models that meet your criteria. But if you find the refrigerators manufacturers that meet the requirements your target market have, the painstaking efforts will pay off. If you want to know more popular models, welcome to check the products list on the website.