Kenmore 72023 24.7 Cu. Ft. French-Door Stainless Steel Review
$2,349.99
- Sections:
- Specs
- Design
- Performance
- Storage Space
- Usability
Specs
The Samsung RFG297HDRS and the Kenmore 72023 are both fairly expensive fridges on the higher end of the market. The Kenmore, however, exhibited far more substantial reasons to justify the large price tag. True, the Samsung has a higher-end appearance and feel to it, but despite the pretty package, the Kenmore displayed superior temperature consistency and noticeably more storage, factors that are arguably more important than appearance.
Design
With its use of clear plastics and cool blue interior lighting, the Samsung is very much the more attractive appliance. Both fridges are stainless steel French-door models with nearly identical interior layouts—half-width shelves, a deep pull-out freezer, and limited fridge door storage. The Samsung alone, however, has an additional temperature-controlled drawer set below its crispers, a dairy tray, and a retractable shelf for storing tall items easily. On the other hand, the Kenmore limits the ice maker to the fridge door, while the Samsung's unit is split into two sections with part on the door and a large portion taking up space in the fridge's interior.
Performance
Other than the rate of moisture loss in the vegetable drawers which was slightly superior in the Samsung, the Kenmore proved to be a more effective fridge. True, both models had some temperature variance from top to bottom in the fridge section, but it was less severe in the Kenmore. Also, despite spatial degree differences in the Kenmore's freezer, temperatures fluctuated less over time, meaning the Samsung is at greater risk for freezer burn. The Samsung also took an extra 20 minutes to freeze room-temperature items, which could lead to thawed items with inferior quality.
Storage Space
While both of these appliances are very substantial fridges, the Kenmore manages to eke out just a bit more space. The freezers are roughly the same size, but the Kenmore has an extra half of a cubic foot worth of usable storage.
Usability
Due to their nearly identical layouts, both appliances have similar usability strengths and weaknesses. Half-width shelves are easy to remove and clean, though the rear mounts can be a hassle for consumers used to shelves that just slide in. The freezers open and close easily, but the deep main portion can be tough to deal with for consumers with back issues. The biggest variance here is with the ice maker. The large unit in the Samsung can be difficult to remove since it's so heavy and placed high up in the fridge. The self-contained unit on the Kenmore's fridge door, however, is easy to access, remove, and replace.
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