Altimo vs Samsung Fridge Freezers

Altimo and Samsung are separated mainly by features and by the size of the freezer. Altimo's AFF144482W is the cheapest option at £219, and the 248-litre AFF173552W costs £280. Samsung's frost-free range starts with the RB34C600EBN in black at £549, then the RB34C632EWW in white at £749, the 538-litre RB53DG703ES9EU SpaceMax model at £969 and the 645-litre American-style RH69DG893EB1EU at £999.

Samsung's models use several cooling features. The RB34C632EWW and RB34C600EBN both have Fast Freeze, All Round Cooling and Digital Inverter Technology. The RB53DG703ES9EU adds SpaceMax, which gives 370 litres to the fridge and 168 to the freezer, plus Smart Things connectivity. The RH69DG893EB1EU has a Beverage Centre and Twin Cooling, which keeps the fridge and freezer separate. Altimo's AFF144482W and AFF173552W both rely on manual defrost, while the frost-free AFF180552W offers LED lighting, three fridge shelves and three freezer drawers. Samsung's Digital Inverter compressor carries a 10-year warranty.

Altimo suits landlords, students and budget buyers who want a basic fridge freezer for a small household. Samsung suits families who want frost-free storage with more capacity, beverage space or smart features, and who are happy to pay more for them. The RH69DG893EB1EU suits households that keep a lot of chilled drinks, while the RB53DG703ES9EU is a good middle choice for a family. Before buying, check the cabinet dimensions and the door swing, since the larger Samsung models need more clearance than a standard Altimo. Samsung's Fresh Zone drawer, which holds temperatures at 0°C, suits anyone who buys a lot of fresh meat or fish.

Bottom line: choose Altimo if price is the main concern and manual defrost is acceptable, such as the AFF144482W at £219; choose Samsung if you want frost-free storage and smart features in a larger body, such as the RB53DG703ES9EU at £969 with its SpaceMax design.