Which is the best refrigerator Malaysia for your needs?
Of all the kitchen appliances there are, refrigerator have to be the most costly. This means you’re probably pretty budget-conscious right now. Choosing the best fridge for you really depends on your lifestyle and whether you are the kind of person who shops every day or the person who shops once a week.
A small family would be better off with a 2-door fridge, but a large family would certainly need something bigger like a side by side or French door fridge. And for single people like myself, a single door or mini fridge is more than enough.
But here is the thing, there is more than just the style of the fridge to consider. As we delve into various fridge reviews, we uncover the essentials of selecting the perfect refrigerator in Malaysia for every budget.
Top 12 Best Fridge Malaysia For All Budgets
Samsung RT25FARBDUT
One of the top refrigerators in Malaysia, Samsung RT25FARBDUT offers ample storage space and superior temperature control. Its all-around cooling system ensures even cooling, while the Digital Inverter Compressor provides energy efficiency and quiet operation.
Pros:
Spacious interior
Energy-efficient
Digital Inverter Compressor
Cons:
Limited color options
LG GB-B4451GV
The LG GB-B4451GV refrigerator in Malaysia boasts a sleek design and fantastic energy efficiency. With a bottom freezer, we appreciate the convenience in accessing frequently used items in the top fridge compartment.
Pros:
Bottom freezer design
Energy-efficient
Smart Inverter Compressor
Cons:
Smaller capacity compared to other models
Sharp SJX66STSL
Sharp SJX66STSL stands out with its Plasmacluster technology that helps eliminate bacteria and odors, keeping our food fresh and hygienic.
Pros:
Plasmacluster technology
Spacious storage
Stylish design
Cons:
Higher price point
Hitachi R-VG620P3MS
Hitachi R-VG620P3MS refrigerator features a dual fan cooling system to move cool air and maintain optimal temperature in both the fridge and freezer compartments, ensuring our food stays fresh.
Pros:
Dual fan cooling system
Energy-efficient
Adjustable shelves
Cons:
Limited color options
Electrolux ETB3200MG
The Electrolux ETB3200MG refrigerator in Malaysia is a functional and stylish option, with its NutriFresh Inverter technology that maintains consistent temperature settings, preserving our food’s freshness and nutritional value.
Pros:
NutriFresh Inverter technology
Frost-free
LED lighting
Cons:
Design may not suit all tastes
Hisense RS-20DR4SA
Hisense RS-20DR4SA is a compact and affordable refrigerator that still offers impressive features, such as multi air flow and adjustable temperature control.
Pros:
Affordable
Compact size
Multi air flow system
Cons:
Limited storage capacity
Mitsubishi MR-EX655W
This Mitsubishi refrigerator boasts a large capacity and French door design, providing ample space and convenience for most Malaysian households.
Pros:
French door design
Large storage capacity
Energy-efficient
Cons:
Higher price point
Midea MS-196
Midea MS-196 refrigerator is an affordable option with useful features, like adjustable shelves and a crisper drawer for fruits and vegetables.
Pros:
Budget-friendly
Adjustable shelves
Crisper drawer
Cons:
Smaller capacity
Sharp SJ-EX820FSL
The Sharp SJ-EX820FSL refrigerator combines style and function with its spacious compartments, energy savings and efficiency, and elegant design.
Pros:
Stylish design
Spacious compartments
Energy-efficient
Cons:
Higher price point
Panasonic 2-Door Refrigerator NR-BL342VSMY
Panasonic 2-Door Refrigerator has a large enough capacity that will meet the needs of a small family.
This Panasonic refrigerator features a compact size, ideal for small households. With a 5-star energy efficiency rating, we can be confident in saving energy and money.
Pros:
Compact size
5-star energy efficiency
LED lighting
Cons:
Limited storage capacity
Toshiba 2 Door Inverter Refrigerator GR-A28MS(DS)
Toshiba 2 Door Inverter Refrigerator has one of the longest and most reliable compressor warranty of 12 years.
The Toshiba GR-A28MS(DS) refrigerator stands as one of the best two inverter fridge models in Malaysia. With its hybrid cooling system, we can maintain our food’s freshness and minimize moisture loss.
Pros:
Inverter technology
Hybrid cooling system
Energy-efficient
Cons:
Limited color choices
Haier 240L 2 Door Refrigerator HRF-238H
Haier 240L 2 Door Refrigerator is frost-free and has low energy consumption.
Lastly, Haier HRF-238H is a reliable refrigerator with a convenient bottom freezer design and efficient temperature control, making it a solid choice for Malaysian households.
Pros:
Bottom freezer design
Efficient temperature control
Affordable price
Cons:
Limited storage capacity
10 Best Refrigerator Brands in Malaysia
We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 refrigerator brands available in Malaysia based on features, performance, and overall customer satisfaction. Whether you’re after a budget-friendly option, or something high-end, we’re confident you’ll find the perfect fridge among these brands.
LG: Known for their stylish and innovative fridges, LG offers a vast range of options, such as top freezer, French door, and side-by-side refrigerators. They are energy-efficient, thanks to the Inverter Linear Compressor technology and come with great warranty coverage. On the downside, some of their higher-end models are more expensive.
Toshiba: Toshiba’s refrigerators are popular for their quality and long-term reliability. They offer useful features like No Frost technology and digital inverter compressors. However, their design choices may not cater to everyone’s taste, and some users complain about the noise levels.
Hitachi: Hitachi refrigerators boast advanced technology, such as the ActiFresh Hybrid Cooling System. They provide a variety of sizes and finishes for different types of kitchens. The main drawbacks are the slightly higher price tag and limited models with a French door design.
Electrolux: These fridges are known for their sleek look and ample storage space. Electrolux refrigerators also come with energy-saving features like the Spacemax technology. The downsides include the limited range of sizes and a comparatively shorter warranty period.
Samsung: Offering a diverse range of refrigerators, Samsung excels in terms of smart features, such as touchscreen panels and connectivity options. Their refrigerators are equipped with Digital Inverter Compressors for energy efficiency. On the negative side, these advanced features might require a higher budget.
Sharp: Sharp refrigerators feature Plasmacluster Ion technology, which helps preserve food for a longer time. They offer affordable choices with a variety of styles and sizes. However, their fridges may lack some of the more advanced features offered by other brands.
Panasonic: Panasonic is praised for their energy-efficient fridges that come with an inverter compressor. They provide practical solutions to cater to various lifestyles. The downside is that their design may be seen as less stylish compared to other brands.
Hisense: Known for their budget-friendly refrigerators, Hisense offers a variety of single door and top freezer options. Their fridges have basic features and are suitable for smaller families, but may lack the more advanced technology provided by other brands.
Haier: Haier refrigerators are ideal for those on a budget that still want useful features, such as a digital touch panel and child lock. Although their range is not extensive, they provide good value for money. The build quality might not be as high as other brands, but they are still a decent option.
Elba: Elba fridges come in many configurations – from single door to French door refrigerators – and offer features like low noise operation and energy optimized. Their main disadvantage is the limited availability of spare parts and customer support outside of the Malaysian market.
With our list of the top 10 refrigerator brands in Malaysia, you should be able to find the perfect one to suit your needs and preferences. Remember to consider your budget, space, and the unique features each brand offers to ensure you make the right choice!
What Types of Fridges are There On the Market?
Refrigerators for household use come in different types. The best refrigerator Malaysia types include:
Single Door
A single door fridge is compact, very economical, and consumes less power.
As the name suggests, this type of fridge Malaysia has only one door. This is convenient when it comes to putting food items into the fridge and taking them out. This design uses direct cooling technology with natural convection current. A refrigerator Malaysia with one door usually consumes less power compared to other designs on the market.
Pros
An ideal choice for a small family
It takes less space in the kitchen
A very economical choice for a limited budget
It usually consumes less power than bigger designs
Cons
The freezer size is too small
Freezer needs to be cleaned manually
Top Freezer Fridge (2 Doors)
A top freezer double door fridge is a good option with enough capacity for a small family.
If you are looking for the best refrigerator type that is not too expensive in Malaysia, then a top freezer refrigerator is the real deal. Some models under this category may have an evaporator for both the bottom freezer refrigerator and the refrigerator compartments.
If it is a frost-free design, the evaporators are on the outside of the cabinet. They usually use a digital inverter technology and compressor technology for smart adjustments.
Pros
The freezer and refrigerator have separate compartments
You get a slightly large freezer stall
Superior organization compare to a single door
No manual cleaning of the ice
Most designs are frost-free
Cons
Double door designs are pricier compared to single door
They consume more power than a single door
Bottom Freezer Fridge (2 Doors)
A bottom freezer fridge is a convenient choice for those who don’t use the freezer too much.
If a double fridge door with freezer on top isn’t ideal for you, then the best fridge Malaysia offers you is the bottom freezer double door fridge. With this design, the freezer is at the bottom and the refrigerator at the top. This 2 door fridge design functions in a frost-free mode.
Models that don’t have inverter compressors tend to consume more energy, though.
Pros
The freezer at the bottom maximizes efficiency
More organization compared to one door design
It is highly user-friendly compared to the freezer on top design
Frost-free operation
Most models use inverter compressor technology for efficiency
Cons
The power bill is slightly higher than for a single door
An expensive design compared to a one door
Side-By-Side Fridge
A side-by-side fridge provides convenient organization of food items and drinks.
This is a very convenient fridge because you have the freezer and refrigerator side-by-side. The temperature is regulated by the fridge control.
The control may be a high-performing thermostat switch with a sensing bulb or an electronic control system that works with more than one sensor. Most models have a separate control for the freezer.
Pros
Super convenient organization
A great choice for a slightly large family with a squeezed kitchen
It is slightly budget-friendly than a French design
Easy to arrange items according to the frequency of use
Some models come with an ice dispenser
Cons
A side-by-side design takes more space compared to a double door or single door
It is more expensive than conventional designs
French Door
A French door fridge provides the largest refrigerator and freezer capacity for a large family.
This is the best refrigerator Malaysia for larger households. This is the most trending type of fridge among large families in Malaysia. You’ve got two fridge doors at the top and a large two-fold freezer compartment at the bottom.
By design, French door fridge come with an ice dispenser. The most advanced and good fridge Malaysia offers that has a French door construction comes with a water dispenser and a Wi-Fi-ready interface.
Pros
Super large fridge organization
Two-fold freezer compartment improves organization
Intelligent design with Wi-Fi-ready interfaces
French doors are incredibly elegant
The best solution for large families
Cons
Extremely expensive compared to any other type of fridge
Some technological features may malfunction
How Should I Pick the Best Fridge in Malaysia?
When you finally decide to buy the best refrigerator Malaysia, you must find the one that works best for you, your home, and your family. Here are the most important factors that can help you pick the best refrigerator in Malaysia:
Energy Efficiency
Look for the yellow and black EnergyGuide labels when looking for the best fridge Malaysia. Most EnergyGuide labels display the annual energy cost of operating a refrigerator.
These labels help you compare the energy costs of competing brands and models of similar size with similar features in Malaysia. When considered along with the price, the label will help you determine which fridge Malaysia is less expensive to own and operate over its life.
Along with the EnergyGuide label, you also need to look for a model with the Energy Star Label. A new refrigerator Malaysia with an Energy Star Label will save you a lot of money.
Cooling Technology
The cooling technology that a new fridge uses determines the performance of that refrigerator. There are four popular types of cooling technologies.
Mechanical Compression
In this cooling technology, a specific working fluid is used, known as a refrigerant. The refrigerant is compressed. The compressed vapor is then condensed to a liquid. The pressure is reduced through throttling so that the fluid can evaporate at low pressure.
Adsorption Refrigeration
With this cooling technology, sodium chromate, hydrogen gas, ammonia, and water are mixed in a containment vessel (boiler or generator). Each of these elements plays a crucial role in the process of cooling or the preservation of the equipment.
Evaporative Cooling
Unlike adsorption and mechanical compression, evaporative cooling does not use the conventional refrigeration cycle. Instead, water absorbs heat from the air and then evaporates.
Thermoelectric Refrigeration
This is a unique cooling technology that does not use water or a refrigerant. Instead, it uses a thermocouple and an electric current.
Budget
Your budget plays a very important role when looking for the best fridge Malaysia can offer you. The most affordable refrigerators are usually single door designs and the most expensive ones are French door designs.
You can get the best of both worlds with either a double door or side by side refrigerator. But the most popular choice in Malaysia is double door refrigerators, otherwise known as a 2 door fridge, because these have the best refrigerator price Malaysia.
They can cost as little as RM760 and as high as RM1,690. But some brands may have a high refrigerator Malaysia price point.
Freezer Space
By design, refrigerators tend to come with a larger refrigerator compartment. So, what you should be more concerned about is the freezer space. It needs to be large enough to meet your needs. Think about how often you’ll be using the freezer space and how much food you hope to fit in there.
Features
The special features to look for include:
Enough Floor Space
A refrigerator requires sufficient floor space for effective ventilation. In addition to the space you have set aside for your new fridge, you have to make sure that there is half an inch of additional space along the sides as well as top the top of the fridge.
Also, make sure you have enough clearance for the door or doors to open fully depending on the type of fridge you choose to buy.
Fridge and Freezer Placement
The placement of the fridge and freezer compartments affects you with respect to your height. If you decide to buy a double door fridge; for example, consider which compartment you will be using the most.
If the refrigerator compartment is what you will be using the most, then choose a refrigerator on the bottom and a freezer on top if you are a short person and vice versa if you are on the taller side.
Quick Tips for Fridge Shopping in Malaysia
In addition to the aforementioned factors, we would like you to also consider the following tips.
Gross Vs. Net Capacity in Fridges
Gross capacity refers to the total volume of the entire unit. Net capacity; on the other hand, refers to the available refrigerated space that you can use to store drinks and food.
If you are looking for the best fridge Malaysia for a small family, you need approximately 165 liters of net capacity. Then add around 20 liters to get a gross fridge capacity of around 185 liters.
When you get into the market, you will be looking for refrigerators with a gross capacity of around 185 liters and a net capacity of about 165 liters. By design, this would be a 2-door fridge, the freezer can be on top or bottom depending on preference and convenience.
But when looking for something larger like a side by side or French door, the difference between the gross capacity and net capacity would be slightly larger.
A range of 40 to 100 liters probably because the construction is bigger. Most side by side designs would have a gross capacity of around 550 to 650 liters and a net capacity of approximately 500 to 600 liters.
Beware of Poor Delivery Services and Handling
Some challenges that you should expect when buying a fridge online in Malaysia are poor delivery service and handling. This is not usually a common occurrence because every dealer in Malaysia strives to make their customers happy.
But there are a few stores that may have disappointed some customers with poor deliveries and handling. Look for the positive seller, ship on time, and chat response ratings.
If these ratings are all above 80 percent, then that particular store or seller likely does a good job of delivering products.
You should probably avoid stores with ratings below 80 percent. Their delivery service and handling may be okay, but not satisfactory. And we all look for the best, right?
Conclusion
Finding the best fridges in Malaysia for all budgets is more of a process. The style of a fridge is the basis of your search depending on the lifestyle you live.
While a single door fridge is more than enough for one person, it certainly wouldn’t be the right choice for a small family. So, in this case, a small family can survive best with a 2-door fridge.
Then you have to think about your budget and the long-term cost of using the fridge. So, things like energy efficiency and cooling technology should come to mind.
For budget-wise, the best refrigerator Malaysia has to offer you is the Midea 2 Door Fridge 165L Refrigerator. For convenience-wise, the best fridge Malaysia has is the Electrolux 210L NutriFresh Inverter Top Mount Refrigerator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What size fridge do I need?
It depends on the number of people living in the same house and their lifestyle. But in general, one person needs about 100 to 165 liters of net capacity. The capacity of a fridge (both gross and net) is usually listed on the labels. You can also find this info on the product page or the manual.
Q2. Do smart refrigerators exist, and should I buy one?
They do exist and they are trending in today’s market because of the advanced features. But the thing is, those smart features can easily malfunction and you will be left with a very expensive unit with a diminishing resale value.
If you have the budget; however, it is always electrifying to experience newer innovations.
Q3. How do I choose a good refrigerator?
Start by considering a type of fridge that meets the needs of your lifestyle. You can choose a single, a side by side, a double door, or even a French door.
Look for the most energy-efficient model with a manageable yearly cost. Then go for the features that work for you. For instance, if you’re more petite in the fridge size part, you can choose the freezer on top and fridge at the bottom design.
Q4. Which is the best fridge for a home?
The best fridge for a home is one that meets the needs of the whole family. A double door fridge with a gross capacity of around 250 liters is a great choice for a small family.
A side-by-side fridge with a gross capacity of approximately 650 liters is a suitable choice for a medium to large family. The largest families can always consider a French door model.