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Smart fridges are some of the most futuristic and fun pieces of home tech on the market, and it’s no surprise interest in them has skyrocketed during the last couple of years. The question is: are smart fridges worth it?
Leading tech brands, from LG to Samsung, have invested in smart fridges, with plenty on the market to choose from. They are capable of far more than ordinary fridges – from checking expiry dates on food and planning according shopping lists, to checking the weather. That’s on top of their superb energy efficiency, which has obvious perks for both your wallet and the planet.
However, all these great features can come with a hefty price tag, which might leave you wondering – are smart fridges worth it? We’ve been doing our research and we reckon that if you can afford it, smart fridges are a clever investment which will really improve your life.
Current smart fridge deals
- Samsung 23 cu. ft. Smart Counter Depth 4-Door Flex Refrigerator, Black Stainless Steel, $3,806.99 (save $423)
- Samsung – 23 cu. ft. Smart Counter Depth 4-Door Flex Refrigerator, Stainless Steel, $3,725.99 (save $414)
- Samsung – 26.5 cu. ft. Large Capacity 3-Door French Door Refrigerator, $2,753.99 (save $306)
Moreover, they assist you in conserving energy and reducing food wattage and can even suggest a range of different recipes and help you maintain your stock effectively.
But these fridges don’t come cheap, and most people don’t tend to fiddle out with the controls of their fridges that much.
Is a smart fridge worth it? Let’s find out.
What are the Pros & Cons of a Smart Fridge?
Pros
Helps you in properly maintaining your inventory
There are different models of these smart fridges available on the market that can help you maintain your inventory of beverages and foods. In addition, you can check the contents of your fridge at all times through your mobile app and shop for it whenever you are outside.
A plethora of touchscreen
Most smart fridges don’t have an inbuilt display. But some of them (for example, Samsung Family Hub) come with large touch screens (up to 21.5 inches) and a range of other features. For example, you can check the weather with this screen and go through your daily dose of news and entertainment. These screens also support different apps.
App alerts and control with remote diagnosis
These smart fridges come with a range of instruments and sensors. And these sensors can generate different app alerts. For instance, your smart fridge app alert will tell you when your water filter in the fridge needs sapping. You can control various other functions using this app, such as altering the temperature of the ice maker or the refrigerator itself.
Conserving energy and reducing food wastage
The most important factor where these smart fridges can help in conserving energy and reducing any food wastage. It can issue alerts on your app when some food is about to go bad and monitor daily usage to reduce energy consumption.
Cons
Up-front cost is high.
The price differential between traditional and smart fridges has recently reduced but still exists widely. You get access to various features, but most smart fridges tend to cost more than double if you compare them with their traditional counterparts.
Security risk
These smart fridges can become a security risk in your network if their manufacturers drop support for these fridges. But this problem is not only limited to smart fridges but also all other smart devices connected to your internet.
Cyber security is one of the most significant issues with these smart home networks, and that’s why your laptops and phones get regular updates. Unfortunately, when these devices don’t get these updates, they become obsolete and face a security hazard.
Is it worth buying a smart fridge?
There are several top-notch smart fridges on the market to choose from. The Samsung Family Hub 3-Door French Door Refrigerator, currently on sale at Best Buy for just $2,199.99, provides great value whilst still boasting cutting-edge smart home technology. We also love Samsung’s 23 cu. ft. Smart Counter Depth 4-Door Flex™ Refrigerator, which comes with even more space and countless special features, including a UV deodorizing filter.
LG also have some great models available, like the 26 Cu. Ft. French Door-in-Door Smart Refrigerator with Dual Ice Maker and InstaView, which allows you to see the easy access door without opening the fridge. Although these models cost more than standard fridges, their special features make them life-changing appliances, especially for dedicated home cooks.
Conclusion
Is it worth getting a smart fridge? Well, smart fridges bring some good stuff with them and have some issues at the same time.
So if you do want to pick one up, make sure you go for a smart fridge from a reliable manufacturer and opt for features you’ll make use of. If you’re not sure, why not check out some of the smart fridges in our guide?
