Samsung RF4289 Refrigerator With Grocery Manager First Impressions Review

Introduction

Front

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The updated RF4289 is almost identical to the WiFi-connected touchscreen model that debuted last year. It's a French door fridge with a bottom drawer freezer. The big difference between last year's RF4289 and this year's is a capacitive touch screen that's increased in size from 8 inches to 10.2 inches. Samsung says the new screen allows for better functionality of new apps and features.

Interior

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Back

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The fridge was mounted in a display, so the back couldn't be seen

Sides

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The fridge's sides were hidden, since it was mounted in a wall display.

Power Use Per Cu Ft

Fridge Temperature

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Freezer Temperature

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Vegetable Drawer

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Power Loss

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Freezing Performance

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Usable Space

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Below are the manufacturers own figures for capacity, and our own measurements for usable capacity. The manufacturers figures do not take account of the shelves, drawers and other removable features, but our measurements do account for the space these take up.

Ease of Access

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The RF4289 features a new Grocery Manager app that Samsung says will help users keep track of what's in their fridge. After shopping, they'll have to enter in what they bought on the Samsung's touch screen. That information is shared with a smartphone app so RF4289 owners can make virtual shopping lists and find out what's in their fridge when they're not in the kitchen. Users must delete items manually from the inventory once they're gone from the fridge, and the system takes inventory every night.

Controls

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We used Grocery Manager, and though it was somewhat time consuming to drag and drop foods onto virtual shelves, the feature may be worth it for certain perishables. Samsung told us that the average smart fridge owner uses their refrigerator's connected functions for two hours a day, so there's apparently a market for the upgraded RF4289.

In addition to apps, all other controls are on the touch screen. If you've got a Samsung smart washer -- like the new WF6001HF -- you can even monitor and control your laundry from the fridge's touch screen.

Water Dispenser

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Ice Maker

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Cleaning

Noise

Other Features

Conclusion

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Samsung's flagship smart fridge is getting an update. A new Grocery Manager app lets users keep track of what food is in their fridge and access that information remotely via smartphone, and a 10.2 inch capacitive touchscreen replaces the old 8 inch LCD. Energy efficiency specs were unavailable, and will most likely be released when the updated model goes on sale in the second quarter of 2012.

The Grocery Manager seems most useful for keeping track of perishables, though the information it provides is only as relevant as users are accurate, however, since each item has to be manually entered and deleted.