Frigidaire and GE both offer a wide variety of top freezer refrigerators in sizes from 12 cubic feet to 21 cubic feet. From basic models to modern full-featured top freezer refrigerators, they cover all of the bases and offer products to meet the many different customer needs in the top freezer market. These brands both offer top freezers with the feature packages and styling that customers want for their homes.
This style of refrigerator is still in demand for smaller homes, condos, and apartments. Top freezer models tend to have small footprints and lots of interior space for food storage while being the cheapest out of any refrigerator style. You can save 50% or more on a top freezer refrigerator compared to a trendy French door model.
We'll compare two of the best top freezer refrigerators from Frigidaire and GE to help you decide which brand offers the best value and features that you need. They retail at around $1,049-$1,198 MSRP, but holiday sales and package deals can cut the price by 20%, 30%, or more.
1. The Frigidaire FFTR2045VS - 20.0 cu ft - $1,049
The Frigidaire FFTR2045VS is a 20.0 cubic foot top freezer refrigerator selling for $1,049 in stainless steel that is loaded with features to help you to organize your food and keep it fresh.
Bright LED lighting illuminates the fresh food and freezer sections without putting off heat. The freezer section features a clear and adjustable glass shelf and two door bins. You can install an icemaker as well if desired. The fresh food section has two glass shelves, two clear humidity-controlled crisper bins, and a full-width deli drawer. You can definitely fit more items, and this model can keep a consistent temperature evenly to prevent the food items from being spoiled.
If you're looking for some basic interior upgrades like tempered glass shelves and smudgeproof stainless steel, this model is a great option that will conserve space in your kitchen. It's also ADA compliant, although it is not Energy Star rated.
Dimensions:
Width: 30"
Depth: 32"
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Frigidaire FFTR2045VS - $1,049
2. The GE GTS22KMNRES - 21.9 cu ft - $1,198
New for 2020, GE is replacing GTS21FSKSS with the GE GTS22KMNRES, a 21.9 cubic foot garage ready top freezer refrigerator. This model is a similar size but has a different footprint: it's wider and a bit shorter. This model comes in a wide variety of colors: fingerprint resistant stainless, black slate, or GE slate (read more about GE slate appliances here), as well as black or white. The black and white colors feature a high-gloss finish rather than a textured look, for a sleeker overall appearance.
This model has easy-to-reach up-front controls to regulate the fresh food and freezer compartments. It has two adjustable full-width glass shelves that are "spill proof" and will hold up to 12 ounces of spilled liquid. The convenient half-width snack drawer under one of the fresh food shelves allows for easy-to-reach storage of your favorite foods for quick access. It also has adjustable humidity-controlled drawers to help you keep your produce fresh longer. This new model has updated door storage with clear modular bins, offering more storage flexibility. An optional ice maker is available. The freezer shelf is glass rather than wire, and you'll find LED lighting in the fresh food section.
If you're looking for a garage ready refrigerator, you'll be happy to know that this model offers separate temperature controls for the fresh and frozen sections (eliminating issues with the freezer section thawing when temperatures drop). It's tested to perform from 38-110 °F.
Dimensions:
Width: 32.75"
Depth: 34.5"
Click here to read over 310 real customer reviews of this product!
Features Comparison
Capacity & Storage: Both have similar footprints and capacities. The GE model offers a half-width "snack drawer" while the Frigidaire model comes with a full-width "pantry drawer." The GE model has updated door storage with clear adjustable bins rather than fixed bins. Other than that, both have similar storage configurations with spill-proof tempered glass shelves and humidity-controlled crisper bins.
Look & Feel: The GE model has a slightly more contemporary design with sharper corners and accents on the handles. If you're looking for an alternative to stainless steel like slate, you may prefer the GE option. GE offers more options of colors that are mostly unique in the market. And when it comes to the white and black options, the smooth finish on the doors looks a bit nicer than the textured/"pebbled" look.
Other Features: Both are compatible with optional ice makers. The GE model is garage ready (suitable for mild climates with non-freezing winter temperatures).
If you are in the market for a nice top freezer refrigerator, be sure to look at these two models and others that are offered by Frigidaire and GE. You may prefer the GE model if you're looking for a sleek, more aesthetically appealing top freezer model, or the Frigidaire model if you want a full-width pantry drawer. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide which is the best model for your needs!
We hope you enjoyed this blog featuring top freezer refrigerator reviews for these two great brands. For more reviews, read our article The 6 Best Top Freezer Models of the Year. Please leave us a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!
Editor's Note: This blog was originally written in January of 2017 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy as of the publication date noted above.