The refrigerator is a constantly used appliance at home. It also doesn't rest, unlike your television, washing machine, or even air conditioner! If you're looking for an efficient and durable refrigerator, consider an inverter model.
Inverter refrigerators are gaining popularity due to their energy-saving features, making them the preferred choice. Our fact-checked guide by Chef Terence Fereday Jr. explains the differences between inverters and conventional refrigerators. We've also compiled a list of top inverter refrigerator picks across different price ranges.
Chef Terrence has 30 years of experience working in the professional kitchen. He graduated from the Professional Culinary Institute in California, USA, and he was a former Culinary Instructor, Corporate Chef, and Executive Chef. He also won several awards in culinary competitions and is the founder and owner of Zilla Pizza.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
The products and services listed are ranked independently by the editorial team based on the points mentioned in our thoroughly researched buying guide (as of 05-23-2023).
Table of Contents
Whether you're a new homeowner or just looking to upgrade your refrigerator, choosing the best inverter refrigerator should be a breeze, especially if you know what to consider. Learn more about these below!
To effectively cater to varying sizes of Filipino families and their respective kitchen spaces, manufacturers have brought various sizes of refrigerators into the market. Now, we suggest measuring how much counter and kitchen space you have and comparing it with the fridge’s dimensions to check if it will fit in your designated space.
Another thing you should take note of is net and gross capacity. Gross capacity refers to the overall volume of the refrigerator, while the net capacity pertains to the total volume where you could store food and drinks.
A fridge’s capacity is often expressed in terms of cubic feet or liters, which refers to the space inside the ref. Refrigerators can accommodate from a modest 4.0 cu. ft. to 24.0 cu. ft, which consists of a two-door type and is suitable for one to four people, to as much as 25 cu. ft. for larger families.
Full-sized refrigerators often come in one door, two door, as well as side by side ones. Each has its own advantage and the right one would depend on how you would use it.
A single door refrigerator is characterized by only one door for both the freezer and the fridge compartment, which means if you open it, both your freezer and fridge are exposed.
If you live alone or have a small family, we suggest going for a single door, as it is modest in both size and capacity. It is budget-friendly too and efficient; it can get the job done of storing your food without much fuss.
Two-door refrigerators have a separate door for your freezer and fridge, which means they can accommodate more items as they have larger compartments.
A larger size means larger accommodation, so this option is perfect for the average Filipino family, as they can store their week’s ulam, groceries, and then some. Two-door refrigerators can comfortably fit your essentials without being too cramped.
A side by side refrigerator consists of 2 side by side doors, which means your freezer is placed on the left door, while the fridge is on the right side. It is the most expensive model and is ideal if you have a large family and need a huge amount of storage space for both the freezer and fridge. Some models even have a water dispenser or smart capabilities.
Configuration here means whether you want your fridge to be equipped with a bottom freezer or the more conventional top freezer. Scroll down to find out more about which one best suits your needs.
This is what you would picture a “standard” refrigerator to be with the freezer placed at the top, and with the actual refrigerator on the bottom.
A top-mount freezer is more energy-efficient and is great for everyday use, especially if you frequently store heavier items such as the buto-buto for your bulalo or for the food storage boxes you meal-prepped for the rest of the week.
A bottom drawer freezer offers more storage space, which is convenient if you always buy frozen goods such as hotdogs or chicken nuggets as it allows for more room to store your food. This also makes for a hassle-free organization.
It also consumes more energy but it is more tech-savvy, as some units offer a smart technology with a soft freeze function or even multiple drawers.
Cooling system refers to how your refrigerator keeps itself cool. You might want a colder fridge or perhaps you prefer to keep it running at a consistent temperature.
Direct cool produces the cold through a natural convection, which results in instant cooling capabilities. Although, you have to manually defrost the fridge when all the frost has built up in the freezer.
This kind of technology is generally more affordable than frost-free types and is more energy efficient. However, it also produces uneven temperature distribution, so you may get patches or areas that are thickly covered in ice.
From its name, frost-free refrigerators do not need to be defrosted. This is because it is developed to produce a more consistent temperature and is better at keeping your foods fresh.
You also get to avoid the accumulation of freezer burn in your goods, which are the white patches of ice you see on frozen food. The drawback is that it is much more expensive than its manual counterpart.
Aside from fridge basics, there are some additional features that are not a requirement but a perk in your refrigerator. You could check if the fridge has adjustable shelves, as this makes it easy to rearrange items inside, whether that consists of water bottles or making room for cake and pizza boxes.
Some refrigerators even come with an ice maker as well as a water dispenser, which is handy so you don’t have to purchase ice. More advanced but expensive refrigerators have smart capabilities in which it is able to display the temperature, and can be controlled by an app, among others.
From ₱29,995
Capacity | 10.2 cu ft |
---|---|
Gross Volume | 290 L |
Type | Two-Door |
Configuration | Bottom Freezer |
Cooling System | No Frost |
Other Features | Electrostatic Touch Control Panel; ECONAVI Sensors; Ag Clean (Antibacterial); Door Alarm; Twist Ice Maker |
From ₱16,998
Capacity | 8 cu ft |
---|---|
Gross Volume | 226.54 L |
Type | Two-Door |
Configuration | Top Freezer |
Cooling System | No Frost |
Other Features | Smart Cooling Technology; Eco-LED light; Reversible Doors; Quick Chill Compartment |
From ₱9,998
Whether you're living solo or in a small household, this single-door refrigerator from Haier is an excellent choice. It has a compact design with a 5 cu ft capacity, which provides adequate space to store groceries for one to three people. The space inside features a freezer shelf, two middle shelves for chilling, a vegetable compartment, an egg tray, and door shelves for drinks.
According to Meralco, the estimated daily cost to run this fridge is 8 pesos! Customers also affirmed that it cools food quickly while conserving energy. As such, reviews highlight its affordable price without compromising quality. Try it out for its space-saving design, which is ideal for apartments, condos, and dorm rooms!
Capacity | 5 cu ft |
---|---|
Gross Volume | 126 L |
Type | Single Door |
Configuration | Top Freezer |
Cooling System | Semi Auto Defrost |
Other Features | Table Top; Adjustable Wire Shelves |
From ₱87,496.5
Capacity | 22.9 cu ft |
---|---|
Gross Volume | 648 L |
Type | French Quad Door |
Configuration | Bottom Freezer |
Cooling System | No Frost |
Other Features | Touch Controls; Door Alarm; Twist Ice Maker; Quick Freeze |
From ₱17,795
Capacity | 7.4 cu ft |
---|---|
Gross Volume | 208 L |
Type | Two-Door |
Configuration | Top Freezer |
Cooling System | No Frost |
Other Features | Easy Slide Shelf; Deodorizing Filter; Twist Ice Maker |
From ₱16,495
Capacity | 7.2 cu ft |
---|---|
Gross Volume | 205 L |
Type | Two-Door |
Configuration | Top Freezer |
Cooling System | No Frost |
Other Features | Multi Airflow; Low Voltage Startability |
From ₱17,200
Capacity | 6.9 cu ft |
---|---|
Gross Volume | 196 L |
Type | Two-Door |
Configuration | Top Freezer |
Cooling System | No Frost |
Other Features | Ag+Cu Nano Deodorizer; Adjustable Freezer/Ref Room Shelves; Twist Ice Maker |
From ₱99,995
Capacity | 24.5 cu ft |
---|---|
Gross Volume | 693.76 L |
Type | Side by Side |
Configuration | Bottom Freezer |
Cooling System | No Frost |
Other Features | Smart Controls; Seamless InstaView Door-In-Door™; Hygiene Fresh+ (Antibacterial) |
From ₱41,995
Capacity | 15 cu ft |
---|---|
Gross Volume | 424 L |
Type | Two-Door |
Configuration | Bottom Freezer |
Cooling System | No Frost |
Other Features | Water Dispenser; Smart Sensor System; Deodorizing Filter; Twist Ice Maker |
From ₱71,999
Capacity | 17.4 cu ft |
---|---|
Gross Volume | 495 L |
Type | French Door |
Configuration | Bottom Freezer |
Cooling System | No Frost |
Other Features | Water Dispenser; Automatic Ice Maker; ECONAVI Sensors; Door Alarm; Nanoe™ X Technology (Antibacterial) |
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
Inverter refrigerators utilize a compressor that can run at a controlled speed, allowing them to minimize energy consumption. Inverter refrigerators also run quietly since their compressor does not have to repeatedly turn on and off. These refrigerators can likewise last longer, provide more consistent temperatures, and store food better.
You can easily know if a refrigerator is an inverter type if it operates quietly. Almost all inverter refrigerators initiate their cycles at low speed, letting them run silently. Conventional refrigerators, alternatively, often emit a buzzing or humming sound, which can be distracting at some point.
After clearing out the content of your inverter refrigerator, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highly recommends wiping the inside of your refrigerator, doors, and drawers with a towel soaked in a hot, soap-water solution. You can then use a solution of 1 tbsp liquid bleach in 1 gallon of water to disinfect your unit. A separate clean towel must then be used to dry the surfaces.
This pandemic had us staying home more often, which means a general increase in the consumption of our household appliances. Here are other items worth checking if you wanted to upgrade some of them for your comfort and convenience.
Author: Justine Cuizon
Re-editor: Christian Autor
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1:Panasonic|2-Door Bottom Freezer Refrigerator|NR-BV320XSPH
No. 2:Fujidenzo|8 cu.ft. HD Inverter 2-door No Frost Ref|INR-82S
No. 3:Haier|Single Door Refrigerator|HR-IV158SBP-S
No. 4:Electrolux|22.9 cu ft (648L) UltimateTaste 900 French Door Refrigerator|EQE6909A-B
No. 5:Samsung|7.4 cu.ft. Top Mount Refrigerator with Moist Fresh Zone|RT20FARVDSA
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