GE 21.8 Cu. Ft. Counter-Depth Side-By-Side Refrigerator with Fingerprint Resistance

2 reviews for GE 21.8 Cu. Ft. Counter-Depth Side-By-Side Refrigerator with Fingerprint Resistance

1. 

   Author of Many Books – December 1, 2024

   Functional Fridge [GZS22IYNFS] but feels like a shadow of an older predecessor.
   We purchased the GE® 21.8 Cu. Ft. Counter-Depth Fingerprint Resistant Side-By-Side Refrigerator with high hopes, given our positive experience with an older model that lasted over 20 years. Unfortunately, this newer version feels like a step back in terms of durability and quality.Key Highlights:-Design & Build: The refrigerator is much lighter than older models, likely a cost-cutting measure to save on shipping from Mexico. However, this comes at the expense of sturdiness, with noticeably lower-quality plastics in the trays and components. I don’t see them lasting two decades of daily use like my previous fridge.-Energy Efficiency: Despite the Energy Star rating, the improvement is modest, reducing only 1.5 kWh per month over 20 years. Not groundbreaking but better than nothing.-Temperature Control: Temperature is maintained well, and there’s a convenient setting to adjust the factory defaults (37°F/2.8 C for the fridge, 0°F/-17.8 C for the freezer) without opening the fridge door. This is a welcome improvement over older models where adjustments required accessing controls inside the unit.-Noise Level: Generally quiet, except for the ice machine, which gets noisy during ice-making or dispensing.-Water Filter: We chose not to use the water filter and requested a filter cap from GE instead.The Bottom Line:While the overall functionality remains consistent with what GE offered two decades ago, the decline in material quality is a disappointment. If you’re seeking longevity, this fridge might not stand the test of time.For a deeper dive into why modern fridges often fall short on durability, check out “Your fridge isn’t built to last. Here’s why” from the Washington Post.

2. 

   Hobby Poppy – December 1, 2024

   Works great; quiet, light on the amenities
   So far this fridge has been awesome:- Mostly quality feel and construction- Track rollers (like inline skates)- Great temp control- Awesome lighting- Easily accessible water filter- Quiet- Soft close doors (stops midpoint rather than slamming shut, ultimately breaking the door shelves)What’s missing in action for a $2000 fridge (price after taxes):- Drawer slider mechanisms (as in WHAT drawer slider mechanisms? No rollers-sloppy plastic-plastic tongue/groove setup)- Cheap looking lenses for interior lighting- In-door water dispenser angled so far forward it easily misses smaller cups and glasses, shooting water onto the floor unless you’re careful- In-door ice dispenser spews crushed ice everywhere unless your container is right up against the nozzle that’s supposed to prevent it.- No egg tray; seriously?I’ve seen reviews saying this fridge is noisy. Not Mine. It makes noises every so often: a sort of purring sound, a sort of winding sound, ice cubes dropping and tray refilling of course, couple of other random noises. Except for the relatively loud ice cube drops, this fridge is mostly supremely quiet, unless you have super-hero hearing, in which case you should get an old-fashioned ice chest.Except for the disappointingly cheap drawer tracks, cheap-looking light lenses, and cheesy glass shelf mounting design, it’s a great fridge. My daughter has a four-door GE Profile; it’s clear GE knows how to make a sophisticated looking, feeling, and operating fridge. THIS, IS NOT THAT.So basically, what used to cost $900$1100 not that long ago- for a decent fridge like this one, now costs $2000*. I would have expected MUCH better detailing inside at this price point from a manufacturer that CLEARLY knows how to do it.HOWEVER, compared to my Sears Elite, actually an LG (“elite” – that’s a laugh) from a few years ago, this thing is like the latest version of the Star Trek Enterprise. I spent the best part of $1500 in parts and repairs AFTER the TWO COMPRESSOR REPLACEMENTS under warranty. It make a helluva racket, and A LOT of that money was spent on expensive replacement drawers that cracked, partly from the doors slamming instead of having a soft close mechanism of some sort, and partly because they were just made from crap plastic that became brittle at lower temps, which is kind of what fridges do.Would of gave this fridge a 5-star if it cost closer to $1500 “out the door” (taxes/delivery). BUT GE is near or at the top of the reliability and temp control lists, so overall, I’m grudgingly happy w/the purchase.*Home Depot is having some deals as of this writing.