AEG vs Hisense Fridges

AEG and Hisense both make fridges that suit compact or fitted kitchens, but they approach the category from opposite ends of the budget. AEG's built-in range centres on the NSK6I82EF 6000 built-in undercounter larder fridge, and its AWS4052B5B 5000 built-in undercounter wine cooler, which holds 52 bottles, costs £749. Hisense opens at £169 with the RL170D4BCE 133L under counter larder fridge, and its line climbs to the RL5K370GSFC KitchenFit 372L freestanding fridge at £1,199.

AEG's technology is aimed at a premium kitchen. Its CustomFlex door storage lets you reconfigure the door compartments, TwinTech No Frost prevents ice build-up and helps food keep its freshness for longer, and MultiFlow cooling vents hold the interior between 0°C and 3°C. An electronic touch control panel handles temperature settings, and most AEG models carry A++ or A+++ energy ratings with quiet operation as low as 39 dB. The RL170D4BCE offers a reversible door and a salad crisper drawer, the RL415N4ACE adds multi-air flow and interior LED lighting, and the RL5K370GSFC pairs metal-tech cooling with Total No Frost and a humidity control crisper.

AEG suits people who are fitting a built-in unit into a planned kitchen and want an undercounter larder fridge or a wine cooler that sits neatly behind cabinetry. Its drawbacks are a premium price, replacement parts that can be expensive, a limited colour range and some models that need professional installation. Hisense suits renters, students and anyone furnishing a second kitchen, a utility room or a home office, where a 133L under counter model or a 322L freestanding fridge covers everyday needs without a large outlay.

Bottom line: choose AEG if you are fitting a built-in undercounter larder fridge and want CustomFlex storage with a compressor warranty of up to 10 years, and choose Hisense if you need a reliable, low-cost fridge for a small space, starting at £169, or a larger 372L freestanding model with Total No Frost at £1,199.