Samsung RH9900 First Impressions Review

Design

Starry, starry fridge

Even a cursory glance at the RH9900 reveals a surprisingly different design compared to its four-door predecessor. A stainless steel finish—sporting a fingerprint-resistant coat—with a horizontal grain fits in with the overall Chef Collection design aesthetic.

Despite the unusually large size—at 34 cubic feet, this is the largest fridge that'll be available for consumers—traditional shelf layouts inside the fridge will feel comfortable to most users. Aesthetically, however, this model is as different as night and day compared to the competition. The vibrant blue plastic shelves give the fridge interior a lot of color, while the door shelves have a snazzy diamond-like pattern on the bottom.

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Usability

Seamless controls

In a bold move, Samsung has taken the control panel off of the front door. All relevant information is still visible using Samsung's new Star Display. Small lights inside the fridge are visible through incredibly small holes; it almost looks like a projection coming from inside the refrigerator. The lights are easy to read, and fade away after a few moments of not touching the fridge.

The control console has been split up. Water and ice functions—ice type selection, fizziness level for sparkling water—are still operated using buttons right above the dispenser. The main controls that adjust temperature and activate other features have been moved to the top of the lower right door, leaving them hidden when the doors are shut.

Features

Unexpectedly useful

The sparkling water tank found in the RF31FMESBSR is included, boasting an improved dispenser. Instead of holding a button down to access the sparkling water, you just have to flip a switch and dispense away.

The Chef Pan, which can be used as a deli drawer, also makes for a simple, dishwasher safe marinating bin. When you're ready to cook, the completely stainless pan can be placed directly in the oven to cook. At the back of the fridge interior, you'll see Samsung's Metal Cooling Plate. The idea here is that metal—which retains cold temperatures more effectively than plastic—will help keep the air consistently cold throughout.

Unsurprisingly, Samsung has left the adjustable Fridge-in-Freezer cooling zone intact: The lower right storage area next to the freezer can be adjusted to serve as additional freezer space, or as supplemental storage for drinks, fresh food, and more.

A Dream Fridge

Truly luxurious

Consumers who want a high-end fridge with lots of features—but who don't want a built-in model—should definitely keep an eye on the RH9900. Company reps said the entire Chef Collection is expected to come out some time this spring, so there shouldn't be too much of a wait.

If it performs at least as well as its four-door predecessor, the only two reasons to keep you from this fridge would be if your kitchen is too small or the cost is too high. While We can't speculate on price, the RF32FMQDBSR has an MSRP of $3,999; it seems fair to say that the newer model will cost at least that much.