Comparison Indesit INFC8 TI22X stainless steel vs Whirlpool W7X 82I W white

Inverter compressors are called compressors that can smoothly change the power of work.

The compressor is a pump that pumps freon through the cooling circuits of the refrigerator. A conventional (non-inverter) compressor has only one power level, and the cooling intensity changes due to periodic switching on and off: the longer the time of continuous operation and the fewer interruptions in operation, the stronger the cooling, and vice versa. Such a design is inexpensive, but it has several disadvantages — in particular, uneven cooling, relatively low temperature control accuracy, and a tendency to create power surges in the network where the refrigerator is connected. Inverter compressors run continuously, while the pump power varies depending on current needs. Thanks to this, refrigerators with compressors of this type are free from the described disadvantages and have some other advantages, such as low noise level and energy efficiency. On the other hand, such units are quite expensive.

Various special features provided in the refrigerator, such as holiday mode, control via smartphone, child lock, ( LED display or TFT display), door alarm reversible door. And now in more detail:

— Holiday mode. A special mode of operation in case of a long absence of users — when there is no foodstuff in the refrigerating chamber and there is no need for the unit to work intensively. In holiday mode, the temperature inside is maintained at about 12 °C; this prevents the growth of mould and unpleasant odours, while the energy consumption is very low.

— Control via smartphone. The ability of access to control the refrigerator via the Internet. The refrigerator, usually, is connected to the World Wide Web using Wi-Fi — via a router or a smart home system. The convenience of this function is obvious: it allows you to control the operation of the unit from anywhere in the world where there is an Internet connection. However, the specific implementation of such control may be different: some models of refrigerators use an application installed on a smartphone or tablet, and others allow you to work through a web page available in any browser. However, the user can thus obtain various data on the unit's operating mode (temperatur...e and humidity in the chambers, the use of special functions, malfunctions and emergencies, etc.) and, if necessary, change its settings.

— Child lock. Various features to keep your refrigerator safe from small children. Often, it means blocking the control panel — so that a curious baby cannot change the settings.

— Display. Refrigerators of any level can be equipped with displays — from the simplest to the most advanced. Anyway, the screen provides additional convenience in operation: it can display various detailed information about the operation of the unit, as well as other useful data (for example, time). But the specific type of display may be different.
— LED display. Usually, they are very simple — they display one colour (maximum two or three basic colours) and a limited set of characters (numbers, individual letters and some special icons). However, such limited functionality is enough even for fairly advanced refrigerators, and LED displays are inexpensive.
— TFT display. These are already the most functional screens — like those used in smartphones, tablets, etc. They are capable to display a huge variety of information and can even be made touch-sensitive. And some units with TFT displays are not just refrigerators at all but multifunctional smart home components. However, such an appliance costs accordingly.

— Door alarm. An alarm system that warns that the refrigerator door is open for a long time (or not closed tightly enough). After some time after opening, such a system gives a signal (usually sound), notifying the user of the need to check the status of the door. It avoids a critical increase in temperature in the refrigerator chamber and damage to the contents. In some models, this system is also complemented by a light indicator that confirms the correct closing of the door — this further reduces the risk of leaving the refrigerator loosely closed.

— Reversible door. The ability to choose from which side the hinges on the refrigerator door will be located and, accordingly, in which direction it will open. It allows you to optimize the space in the kitchen, providing access to the contents of the unit from the most convenient side. Please note that this function is only available for classic design models, including display refrigerators (see “Product type”). In Side-by-Side and French Door refrigerators it makes no sense to provide this feature.

Separate zones that help expand your food storage options. Among these there are multizone — , fresh zone, humidity zone, low temperature zone, wine chamber, bottle rack. More details about them:

— Fresh zone. A special compartment designed for long-term storage of fresh vegetables, herbs and other similar food. Such a compartment can be made in the form of a completely separate chamber. In such cases, it is called the zero chamber and its volume is separately indicated in the specifications. However, more often the fresh zone is located inside the main compartment. Anyway, the humidity in this zone is somewhat higher than in the refrigeration compartment, and the temperature is somewhat lower: in some models, it is about zero (which allows you to store raw meat or fish), in others it is about +1 .. .3 °C (this is only suitable for fruits, vegetables and cheeses). Anyway, the moisture from the products in the fresh zone does not evaporate as quickly as in the main chamber, and the contents retain their original appearance and taste longer. This feature is especially useful if there is a No Frost system (see above) in the refrigeration chamber of the unit.

— Humidity zone. Another feature designed for long-term storage of fresh food is similar to the fres...h zone described above. The difference is that freshness is preserved solely due to the increased humidity of the air (hence the name). The temperature corresponds to the temperature in the refrigeration chamber. The humidity zone is intended mainly for storing vegetables and fruits; in some refrigerators, this compartment has a humidity control that allows you to optimally adjust it to different types of contents (detailed recommendations on this can be found in special sources)

— Low temperature zone. A compartment in which a lower temperature is maintained than in the main chamber of the refrigerator. Typically, fresh meat or fish are supposed to be stored in the low-temperature compartment. The presence of such a compartment allows you to more effectively organize long-term storage of food in the refrigerator and keep it fresh longer.

— Multizone. A compartment that combines the functions of several compartments at once. The simplest option is the ability to work in the mode of a refrigerator or freezer. However, in modern refrigerators, there are multizones with more extensive capabilities. These features can be quite specific — like quickly cooling drinks, slow defrosting, and even cooling hot dishes. So the specific features of the multizone should be specified separately. Nevertheless, its presence significantly expands the capabilities of the refrigerator. Also, in some models, the entire freezer performs the function of such a chamber. However, most often the multizone is still designed separately from other chambers.

— Wine chamber. Specialized compartment for long-term storage of wine. Usually, a temperature of +10..12 °С is maintained in such a compartment — it is this temperature considered optimal for this task. Some models may also provide the possibility of more precise temperature settings — for different types of wine. The traditional equipment of a wine chamber includes a shock-absorbing system that dampens vibrations from the compressor and other shocks, as well as carbon filters to protect against foreign odours; and the door of such a chamber is traditionally made transparent — so that you can see the collection of wines without opening the refrigerator.
Nowadays, this function is found only in some premium refrigerators. It is because most wine connoisseurs prefer to use specialized wine coolers: such devices are less bulky and often more functional.
— Bottle rack. Shelf of a special design for the convenience of storing bottles in the refrigerator. It has the form of stands of a wavy shape. In the recesses of such "waves" it is convenient to keep bottles of small or medium size: they do not roll over the refrigerator and are at hand; you just need to open the door.

This function means that there is a built-in fan that circulates air around the refrigerator compartment. It contributes to the evenest distribution of cold and more efficient cooling than in units without a fan, where the air moves only due to natural convection. The main disadvantages of dynamic air cooling are the increase in noise level, energy consumption and the cost of the refrigerator.

The autonomy time provided by the refrigerator when the power is turned off.

Often, this parameter describes the capabilities of the freezer. In such cases, the autonomy time is indicated as the time during which, at an outside temperature of +25 °C, the temperature in the filled freezer does not rise above -9 °C (this level is considered critical for the storage of frozen foods). Accordingly, the actual autonomy time may differ from the claimed one — depending on the ambient temperature, the frequency of opening the refrigerator, etc. However, this parameter describes the quality of thermal insulation quite accurately, and it is possible to evaluate different models and compare them with each other.

Also, autonomy time can be given for models without freezers: in such cases, we are talking about the time during which the temperature in the refrigerator compartment remains at an acceptable level under approximately the same conditions.

Approximate amount of fresh food that a refrigerator can completely freeze from room temperature to freezer operating temperature in 24 hours. Power up to 10 – 15 kg/day will be quite enough for everyday use, but if you plan to freeze food in large volumes and often — you should pay attention to more performant freezers.

Forced freezing mode, in which the temperature inside the freezer falls below the standard level for a short time. This mode is useful when loading a large amount of unfrozen food into the freezer. The fact is that the heat from these products can lead to an increase in the temperature inside. The fast freeze feature allows you to compensate for this phenomenon and avoid violations of the temperature regime. However, fast freeze, usually, needs to be turned on a few hours before loading new food, and the freezer is usually not designed for permanent operation in this mode, after a while, it needs to be switched to normal mode (in some refrigerators this is done automatically) .
We also emphasize that some units provide separate boxes or zones of “fast freezing”, with a lower temperature. Such equipment is not considered for the fast freeze feature since it has slightly different specifics of work.

The type of controls for refrigerators is indicated primarily by the type of control panel. Often its location is also taken into account. According to these criteria, nowadays, the following options are distinguished: rotary knobs, internal push-buttons, external push-buttons, internal touch controls and external touch controls. Here are the features of each of these options:

— Rotary knobs. Control using rotary knobs. Such knobs are traditionally installed inside the refrigerator, so in this case, the location is not specified. In general, this is the simplest and most inexpensive option used in units of the appropriate level. Most often, there is only one rotary knob; it is directly connected to the thermostat and regulates only the temperature inside the refrigerator (and even then very approximately). However, even this is often quite enough — especially if the refrigerator is operated in more or less constant temperature conditions (for example, in a home or office kitchen). In many cases, the matter is limited to choosing a more or less suitable knob position once and then not touching the settings at all. In addition, the unambiguous advantages of this type of control are reliability and ease of repair.

— Internal push-buttons. Push-buttons are generally considered more advanced th...an rotary knobs. The specific functionality of refrigerators with such control may be different, but among them, models with additional functions and the ability to fine-tune the temperature (and sometimes even humidity) are noticeably more common. As for the interior layout, it allows you to hide the panel behind the refrigerator door, providing a neat appearance with a minimum of protruding parts. And if the door has a child lock, in this case, it also performs the function of protecting against children. However, to access the controls you have to open the refrigerator — but this moment is generally not critical: such access is not needed so often, and changing settings does not take much time.

— External push-buttons. Like the internal push-buttons (see above), such controls are typical mainly for fairly advanced models (although exceptions are possible). And the external location is convenient because you do not need to open the door to access the settings. On the other hand, the real need for such an arrangement is not so often, and push-buttons must also fit into the overall design of the unit (which is not always possible to do in the best way). As a result, the external version of push-button controls is much less common than the internal one.

— Internal touch controls. Internal touch controls are considered the next step in the development of controls, after buttons. So, they look stylish and technologically advanced, they do not need to be pressed hard (just touched), and there are no protruding parts, corners and cracks on the surface of the panel, which simplifies cleaning from dirt. Accordingly, the presence of touch controls is typical mainly for refrigerators of the middle and top levels. It costs a little more than a push-button one, but this is imperceptible against the background of the total price of the units. But specifically, the internal location is much less common than the external one. It is because there is no need to hide the touch sensors behind the door — they can be easily fit into the external design of the refrigerator.

— External touch controls. The general features of touch controls are described above. And external touch panels in refrigerators are used much more often than internal ones: such panels can be given almost any appearance, optimally fitting them into the design of the refrigerator. Besides, placing them outside allows you not to open the door again to access the settings.

Refrigerator energy class according to the old European standard valid until 2021.

The energy class shows how economical the unit is compared to other models with similar specifications. It is used for devices manufactured before March 1, 2021. Initially, in this standard, classes were designated in Latin letters from A (most economical) to G (high power consumption). However, later improved classes A+, A++, and others appeared. (the more pluses, the more effective is the device). For modern refrigerators, marking A according to the old system is actually the minimum level of energy efficiency specific for outdated and low-cost devices; most models are classified as A + and A ++, and most A+++. There is no need to wait for more pluses. Since 2021, all new equipment will be marked according to the new system, where class G will correspond to the old class A, class F to class A+ and so on.

Note that a higher energy efficiency class (with similar specifications) means a higher price but this difference can quickly pay off due to energy savings.