Haier RRTW18VABW 18.2 Cu. Ft. Top Freezer White Review
$704.74
- Sections:
- Specs
- Design
- Performance
- Storage Space
- Usability
Specs
A pretty package does not necessarily make for better performance. The GE GTS21KBXWW, with an $899 MSRP, looks and feels better than the cheaper Haier RRTW18VABW. Costing $195 more than the appliance with the less familiar brand name, it actually performs worse in every respect. It may look nicer in your kitchen, but when you open the doors to the GE interior, you may find that the food in there will end up looking worse.
Design
These two white top-freezers are nearly identical in design. The Haier, though, does feel somewhat cheaper, using full-width wire shelves in the fridge and lacking any shelf in the freezer. The GE, on the other hand, contains half-width glass shelves in the fridge, giving it a higher-end feel by comparison and greater storage flexibility.
Performance
With issues in almost every test, the GE didn't offer a level of performance that could match the Haier. Not only did both appliances have issues with temperature consistency in the freezer, the GE also had similar problems in the fridge. This means food in both appliances are subject to freezer burn, but your refrigerated goods are likely to spoil faster in the GE. It also lost more moisture in the vegetable drawers over time, meaning produce will dry out faster, and it took almost half an hour more to freeze our room-temperature test materials.
Storage Space
The GE trumps the Haier all around with respect to storage. It has almost a full cubic foot a half more room in its fridge, and the freezer - even with the presence of a dividing shelf - squeezes in yet another full cubic foot.
Usability
The GE is very much a mixed bag when compared to the Haier, but on the whole it's a definitely a more user-friendly appliance. Both appliances use temperature controls with bottom grips, which aren't the easiest to adjust, but at least the GE offers dual temperature control. This allows you to tweak the fridge and freezer independently if needed. It also uses glass half-width shelves, meaning you get greater storage flexibility and superior spill containment.
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