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How a smart fridge could help you answer the question of what’s for dinner

Smart fridges are the new 'it' appliance, so what exactly can they do?
diy magic kitchen pray cleanerAlana Landsberry/@aremediasyndication.com.au
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Just about every household appliance now has a smart version – from smart TVs and smart beds to barbecues, ovens and, yes, smart fridges.

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With Wi-Fi connectivity, numerous AI integrations and features like virtual post-it notes, shopping lists and recipe suggestions based on the ingredients that are on your shelves, one of these refrigerators could be a game-changer for your kitchen.

So here we have rounded up some of the best smart fridges in Australia based on features including connectivity, apps and design. We’ve also considered customer reviews where relevant to give you some real-world examples. And you’re new to the whole ‘smart’ thing, or just aren’t sure what to look for, we’ve got more details on the features and trends for the smart fridge market.

2025’s top smart fridge models

  1. Samsung 636L AI Family Hub French door refrigerator, $5099, Samsung (here’s why)
  2. LG 642L French door fridge with InstaView, $4599, LG (here’s why)
  3. Bosch 605L quad door refrigerator, $2399, The Good Guys (here’s why)

The best smart fridges for keeping the family organised

01

Samsung 636L AI Family Hub French door refrigerator

from $5099, Samsung

Best for: large households

Being an Australian Good Design Award winner as well as a Canstar Blue Innovation Excellence winner in the 2024 Kitchen Appliances category, Samsung’s newest smart fridge is making a splash – and with reason. With an internal camera AI Vision Inside, this smart fridge can help identify up to 33 fresh foods when you put them in or take them out (making writing the shopping list that bit easier).

Set use-by-dates, view internal images of the doors and get recipes from this high-tech meal prep hero – as well as share photos and messages via the AI Family Hub. Plus, for the family of entertainers, the internal beverage centre has you sorted with its 1.4 autofill water jug, water dispenser and drinks storage.

“This is the best fridge ever!!! We had the previous model that not only had issues but the design was terrible too! However this model we cannot love anymore, the ice keeps up… the doors hold several bottles, the design of this model has been very well thought out! Have had it 10months, love it,” one customer shared in a 5-star review on the Samsung website, where it has a 4.2-star average from over 23 customers.

Key features:

  • 4-door with Family Hub tech
  • Great capacity for large households
  • Beverage centre
  • 20-year compressor warranty
french door smart fridge with instaview shown with bottles inside door

02

LG 642L French door fridge with InstaView

from $4599, LG

Best for: checking you’ve still got milk

Simply knock twice, and you can see straight into your fridge! If you have kids that love opening and closing the fridge door (and complaining about a lack of snacks), then having the InstaView function from LG will certainly keep your milk and vegies nice and cold. While definitely not a necessary function, you’ll be happy when you’re doing that last minute check for ingredients before heading off to the grocery store.

The same goes for the smart storage design, which includes retractable shelving and built-in extra space zones. The plumbed ice and water dispenser is also a feature that can make it easier to get your 8 glasses a day of water. Pair that will constant SurroundCooling from back to front, and you’ve got a fridge that’s almost as smart as you.

“Great fridge, so glad we bought this the design,” one customer said in a 5-star review on the LG website, where it has a 4.7-star average from over 22 reviews. “The design inside is great and since we have a family member with a dietary needs we are able to split the freezer section for them to have easy access to their needs.”

Key features:

  • See what’s inside your fridge without opening the door with LG’s InstaView – simply knock twice for your view!
  • Use the craft ice maker for automatic ice cube or ball creation
  • Plumbed ice and water dispenser make drinking water convenient
  • Cools from back to front with SurroundCooling
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bosch best smart fridge with silver double doors on fridge and freezer compartment

03

Bosch 605L quad door refrigerator

from $2399, The Good Guys

Best for: doing a big Sunday meal prep

Our favourite feature in this fridge is the ‘Big Box’ drawer. If you love prepping your dinner ahead of time or having heaps of leftover spaghetti Bolognese, then this storage option is for you. It can hold large storage containers in the freezer, or give you just the right amount of space for larger food items like a good cut of meat.

Bright LED lighting will give you the perfect view of your Greek yogurt and shelf of condiments, so you’ll always know when you’ve got enough of one ingredient (everyone always has at least 3 mustards open at the same time, right?). Plus, your crisper will now give you even more crispy, fresh vegetables, with Bosch’s VitFresh XXL drawer.

“The additional functions of Super cooling, Super freezing and Energy saving mode made purchase of this product above others more appealing,” one customer shared in a 5-star review on the Bosch website, where it has a 4.3-star average from over 26 reviews. They also said it was “perfect for our large family” and praised the “sleek design and quiet operation”.

Key features:

  • VitaFresh XXL keeps your food fresher for long in an extra-climate controlled drawer at the bottom of the fridge
  • You can remotely monitor and control your fridge temperature with a smart phone or tablet.
  • LED lighting will give you the perfect view to your groceries
  • Additional ‘Big Box’ drawer to store large storage containers or large food items in the freezer
hinsense fridge that is smart with water dispenser on the left door

04

Hisense 483L PureFlat slim French door refrigerator

from $1616 (usually $1699), Appliances Online

Best for: changing temperature remotely

Worrying about your fridge on a hot day is a standard for most Aussie households. With a Hisense fridge, you need not feel nervous! Using your phone, you can adjust fridge and freezer temperatures throughout the day, and keep your milk cold and fresh without any fuss. Simply connect your fridge up to the Wi-Fi, download an app, and your leftovers are safe for another day.

An automatic ice maker and included water dispenser don’t require plumbing and will ensure you stay hydrated, whether that be with water or a cheeky cocktail on the rocks after work.

As one happy customer shared: “The ability to customise the bottom right section of the fridge means we can either use it as freezer space, fridge space or (and this is my favourite) a dedicated beverage space with drinks kept at just above freezing.” While only got a handful of reviews on Appliances Online, the average rating is a solid 4.5-stars.

Key features:

  • Non-plumbed water dispenser will ensure you stay refreshed at all times
  • Automatic ice maker will keep your drinks fresh and cool
  • Built in Wi-Fi connectivity with ConnectLife-enabled fridge, allowing your to remotely control temperatures
  • Underside diversion cooling system will independently direct air to optimise on space and reduce energy usage
The Electrolux 609L French Door Refrigerator
EHE6899BA.

05

Electrolux 609L French Door Refrigerator

from $3293, The Good Guys

Best for: keeping food fresh

This Electrolux fridge is designed so you can adapt and move the shelves and storage components based on what you put in it. It also has innovative TasteLock crispers that automatically control the humidity levels to keep your fruit and vegetables at their best for longer.

Plus you can monitor and adjust the temperature using the new Electrolux Life app to create the ideal environment for any ingredient.

It’s also one of the most-reviewed smart fridges on our list, with an average 4.5-star rating from over 236 customer reviews on The Good Guys.

“This fridge is brilliant – so much space, so functional, whole family loves the ice and water machine, guests love it. Extra tray where you can change temperature is also super handy,” one customer shared in a 5-star review.

Key features:

  • Plumbed ice and water dispenser
  • Innovative TasteLock crispers to keep fruit and vegies fresh
  • SmartSplit door design so you don’t have to open both sides every time
  • Electrolux Life app to monitor and control the temperatures, get alerts when the door is open and more
  • 2-year warranty
The LG 420L Bottom Mount Non-Plumbed Fridge in Matte Black (GB-W455MBL).

06

LG 420L Bottom Mount Non-Plumbed Fridge

from $1530 (usually $1799), Appliances Online

Best for: smart simplicity

While most of the smart fridges on this list are generous French door designs, this sleek and slim LG model can fit into most homes. It’s also packed with innovative features, like LG’s Door Cooling system, which uses air vents to keep items cool even when the door is open, and the LED temperature display on fridge door.

Thoughtful features – such as the crisper’s ability to retains evaporated moisture from vegetables so they stay fresh – and no plumbing requirements for the ice and water dispenser also add value to the design. Plus Smart Diagnosis technology, which connects with your smartphone to accurately assess your unit and offers guidance if you want to make adjustments or have issues.

“So happy with the fridge, although it is a bit smaller than our old fridge, there seems to be so much more room. I love everything about it, how easy to clean it is, the cold water ready to use and the ease of use,” a customer shared in a 5-star review on Appliances Online. It also had a 4.7-star average rating from over 100 customers via BazaarVoice Authentic Reviews.

Key features:

  • Non-plumbed ice and water dispenser
  • Door Cooling system to keep items consistently cool when the door is open
  • LED temperature display on fridge door
  • Smart Diagnosis app function
  • Inverter compressor comes with 10 year (parts only) warranty
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mirrored best smart fridge from hitachi with 6 compartments

07

Hitachi 735L multi-drawer French door fridge

from $5499, Bing Lee

Best for: optimal energy usage

The Hitachi must be the most outwardly fancy fridge we’ve ever come across. With mirrored doors and drawers, you’ll be able to see your drooling reflection before you decide what to make for lunch.

Aside from it being one of the prettiest white goods out there, it has built in energy efficiency, with Sensor Cooling and Spot Powerful Cooling options, that will ensure fresh food while still operating with efficiency. This is done through the inclusion of an inverter compressor, which reduces energy usage.

“This is a fantastic fridge. The wide shelves have plenty of space and the vacuum section is great for keeping cheeses stay in top condition longer. The vegetable drawer keeps my veggies and fruits fresher far longer than before, and is good for additional fridge storage for taller items,” one customer shared in a detailed 5-star review, adding that “the auto opening is nice when you have your hands full (I swipe with my elbow).” It only has a few reviews but according to Google review data the average rating is 4.3-stars.

Key features:

  • Spacious 735L capacity with French door design for easy access.
  • Sleek mirror glass finish adds a modern touch to any kitchen.
  • Inverter compressor for efficient and quiet operation.
  • Sensor Cooling & Spot Powerful Cooling throughout the fridge.
  • Multiple storage compartments for added convenience.

Is a smart fridge worth it?

The short answer is “it depends”. If you need a new fridge, investing in a smart one could help increase its efficiency, help you reduce food waste and save time coming up with all the dinner ideas. But if your current fridge is perfectly fine, it might be worth waiting.

Consumer advocacy organisation CHOICE stated last year that smart fridges haven’t reached peak functionality just yet. This is due to all the ‘fun stuff’, that borders the line between gimmicky and actually helpful, like Samsung’s ‘Refridgerdating’ app that uses your fridge to create a dating profile.

However, there are plenty of useful features that can expertly assist day-to-day family life. Staying organised and prepared is at the top of the priority list for a smart fridge, and many brands follow through on their promise to keep family dinners as easy as possible every night.

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The fun stuff smart fridges offer

It’s all about integration with a smart fridge. With most home appliances being able to connect to Wi-Fi these days, it’s no surprise that the fridge has followed suit. But what can a fridge possibly need the internet for?

Many brands offer up connectivity as a way to access your fridge remotely; if you need to change the temp of your fridge on an extra hot day, you can do it straight from your phone.

Apart from remote temperature control, some brands use Wi-Fi for access to the outside world. For cooking videos, perusing YouTube or even basic cooking skills classes, you can head straight to the touch panel on your fridge. TV mirroring is also a viable option if you have a one-brand system.

For those that require organisation when it comes to groceries, the top market smart fridges can help with recipe development and your shopping list. The question ‘Would you let your fridge choose what’s for dinner?’ is definitely legitimate if you’ve got a smart fridge in your kitchen.

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Finally, being able to leave virtual post-it notes on your fridge’s screen will give you the satisfaction of notifying everyone that those are your leftovers, and not anyone else’s to eat!

While none of these smart features are necessary for a fridge, or operating a functional kitchen, they certainly do make life that teensy bit easier (and much more fun as well!).

blue kitchen cabinets with fridges and painted splashback
(Photography: Sue Ferris, Brent Wilson, Tim Roberts, Styling: Kate Walsh, Projects: Karenza Jewell, Erin Brikich)

The helpful stuff you can get with a smart fridge

Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. The helpful features of new ‘smarter’ fridges surpass that of the usual; where a normal fridge offers up your usual crisper drawers, condiment shelf, and maybe even an egg compartment, the true convenience of a smart fridge is all of the new physical components it offers.

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And it’s all about temperature. Having a chiller compartment, a multi-zone compartment or even a ‘hot freeze’ zone can mean the difference between ingredients, and delicious, fresh ingredients. While a chiller compartment for meats and poultries isn’t too much of a stretch in a normal fridge, having a multi-zone option – where you can swap between freezing, chilling or thawing – can improve convenience exponentially.

A lockable compartment, for those that need to chill medicines (or just like keeping chocolate out of arms reach) and even hybrid fridge-freezers are all options in the smart fridge world. CHOICE explains that it’s these features that make up a ‘smart’ investment when looking at smart fridges, more than the technological advances that make cooking a more fun process.

To us, joining the fun and the helpful together makes a powerhouse appliance, and definitely a worthy investment for families that need more efficient organisation.

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