Insignia Refrigerator Reviews 2021 | U.S. News

Insignia is the house brand of the large consumer electronics retailer Best Buy. Headquartered in Richfield, Minnesota, Best Buy sells a wide range of electronic products, including computers, TVs, and cell phones. It also sells kitchen appliances from many of the brands in our ratings. Insignia is designed as a low-price, “store brand” option and offers refrigerators, freezers, and a selection of small appliances. Best Buy contracts out the manufacture of its large appliances, generally to Chinese manufacturers such as Haier, a Chinese company that also owns the appliance division of General Electric. This is the first time Insignia has made our Best Refrigerator ratings, with its Insignia 18.1-Cubic-Foot Top-Freezer Refrigerator placing at No. 10.

The Insignia NS-RTM18 took the No. 10 spot in our Best Refrigerators of 2021 rating, with an overall score of 3.6 out of 5. It’s one of only two refrigerators with top-mounted freezers to make our list; the Samsung Top Freezer beats it with a score of 3.9. This Insignia model is the least expensive refrigerator in our ratings, and it is also the cheapest to run with an annual energy cost of just $43.

For a relatively low list price of $599, there are no bells and whistles. The fridge doesn’t have Wi-Fi connectivity, touch control panels, or an in-door ice or water dispenser (the ice maker is sold separately for $60). However, it is suited to smaller households, featuring a combined storage space of 18 cubic feet. It will also work well in smaller kitchens as it’s more compact than all the French door models in our ratings and a touch shorter than the other top freezer model at 66 inches tall and 29 inches wide. Recessed handles also help it fit more easily in compact kitchens. Inside, adjustable shelves can accommodate tall items, and you can move the in-door storage racks around for flexible storage.

Professional reviewers like this fridge for its low price and running costs, but point out a few flaws such as very dim interior lighting, poor crisper performance. Reviewers also note that Insignia is a newer brand with no solid performance or reliability history. With a smaller freezer space than most other models in our ratings, this is a good fridge for a household of one or two members that favors fresh goods over frozen products.

The Insignia Top-Freezer NS-RTM18 has a list price of $599.99 in a white finish but is often on sale for as low as $499.00. There is a stainless steel version for $679, often available for $579. An ice maker costs an extra $60. This is the lowest-priced refrigerator in our ratings by around $200, more than $3,000 less than our most expensive French door models.

Refrigerator Capacity: 14 cubic feet
Freezer Capacity: 4.1 cubic feet
Total Capacity: 18.1cubic feet
Open Depth: 60.3 inches

Features: Top-mounted freezer, adjustable and spill-proof shelves, interior LED lighting, in-door storage, humidity-controlled crisper, dairy compartment, and reversible doors. Optional ice maker sold separately.
Energy Usage: Energy Star-certified, with a $43 annual energy cost based on an estimated 362 kWh of energy use
Available Finishes: Available in white or stainless steel

The Insignia Top-Freezer fridge is one of the more compact models in our ratings. At just 66.61 inches high and 29.5 inches wide, it’s one of the shortest and narrowest models, although its open depth is the deepest at 60.3 inches. It has close to the smallest capacity among the refrigerators in our ratings at just 18 cubic feet. There is no built-in ice maker or in-door water dispenser, though you can purchase an ice maker separately for $60.

Insignia 18.1-Cubic-Foot Top-Freezer NS–RTM18 Refrigerator vs. Samsung 17.6-Cubic-Foot Top-Freezer RT18M6215 Refrigerator

The Samsung Top Freezer made No. 6 in our Best Refrigerator of 2021 ratings with a score of 3.9 out of 5, compared to the Insignia model’s tenth spot. The Insignia is $150 cheaper than the Samsung, but the Samsung model includes an ice maker, whereas you have to buy one separately for the Insignia. The Samsung RT18 has a slightly smaller overall capacity at 17.6 cubic feet compared to 18 cubic feet, but its freezer capacity is slightly larger. The Samsung has slightly higher running costs but is also Energy Star-certified and comes in a black stainless steel finish in addition to white and stainless steel. One key advantage the Samsung has over the Insignia is that its freezer section can be converted into a refrigerator should you not need the freezer space.

Insignia 18.1-Cubic-Foot Top-Freezer NS–RTM18 Refrigerator vs. Whirlpool 21.4-Cubic-Foot Side-by-Side WRS321SDH Refrigerator

The Whirlpool WRS321SDH is one of the only side-by-side models to make our Best Refrigerators of 2021 ratings, and it offers almost three cubic feet more storage than the Insignia. It placed twelfth in our ratings, whereas the Insignia took No. 10. As a side-by-side model, it has substantially more freezer space, so would be well-suited to households who like to shop in bulk and freeze leftovers. The Whirlpool also has an in-door ice and water dispenser. It isn’t Energy Star-certified, however, and consumes over 50% more energy annually than the Insignia. But it does have a few higher-end features such as a touch control panel and a soda can caddy. It is about double the price of the Insignia, starting at $1,399 compared to $599.

Insignia is Best Buy’s house brand so is only available at Best Buy stores or www.BestBuy.com. Best Buy offers free delivery and installation in most areas but charges $134.99 to install the fridge with a new water line. Best Buy will also haul away or relocate your old appliance for $30. You can learn more about purchasing a refrigerator from Best Buy with our rating of the Best Places to Buy a Refrigerator.

Insignia is a relatively new brand in refrigerators, so there is not a lot of data available on the reliability of its products. Best Buy offers a one-year limited warranty on the NS-RTM18 and will repair or replace it at no charge if it’s deemed to be defective, which is standard in the industry. You will need to take the appliance to a Best Buy store or call Best Buy customer service. You can also add a 3- or 5-year extended warranty through Best Buy’s Geek Squad Protection plan. This starts at $90 and includes in-home service and covers failure from normal wear and tear.

You can return an Insignia refrigerator within 15 days of the date you received the appliance by calling Best Buy’s customer care line.

We make recommendations based on an assessment of what matters to consumers, experts, and the community of professional reviewers. We convey what’s most important about a refrigerator based on an unbiased evaluation of products. Our goal is to empower consumers with the information and tools needed to make their own informed decisions.

You can find more information about our 360 Reviews methodology for evaluating refrigerators here.