Comparison Atlant XM-4723-500 white vs Atlant XM-6323-100 white

The refrigeration circuit can be described as a heat sink system that has a separate connection to the compressor (see “Number of compressors”) and a separate, independent from other similar systems, regulation of the operating mode.

In the most common variety of modern refrigerators — two-chamber models with a freezer — both one common circuit for both chambers and 2 circuits can be provided. The second option is more expensive, but it gives an important advantage — in such refrigerators, you can completely independently control the operating modes of the refrigeration and freezer compartments. If there is only one circuit, these adjustments turn out to be interconnected: for example, when you turn on the fast freeze mode (see "Features"), the main chamber also starts to work at increased cooling power, which is not always desirable.

As for refrigerators with three or more chambers, usually, the number of circuits in them is less than the number of chambers — otherwise, the design would be unnecessarily complex, cumbersome and expensive.

The compressor is a kind of "heart" of the refrigerator — a pump that circulates freon through the cooling circuits and transfers heat from the contents to the outside.

Most modern refrigerators have one compressor that serves all the chambers at once (if there are several). This design turns out to be as simple as possible, inexpensive and, at the same time, quite functional. For example, it does not interfere with regulating the conditions in different chambers separately (for this, separate cooling circuits serviced by a common compressor are provided). On the other hand, such a refrigerator can only be defrosted as a whole (there is no possibility of completely turning off individual chambers). And when the compressor fails, the entire unit becomes useless.

In turn, more advanced models with 2 compressors(or even more) are devoid of these shortcomings. These compressors (and the chambers connected to them) can be turned off individually, defrosting the refrigerator chambers separately without having to completely unload the contents. And if one pump breaks down, the second one remains operational, and at least some of the chambers also retain their functionality. On the other hand, such a design greatly increases the cost, and its advantages are not so often decisive. Therefore, there are few two-compressor refrigerators nowadays, mostly premium models. And a larger number of pumps is found only in some top models fo...r four chambers or more.

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.

These features relate exclusively to the design and overall appearance of the refrigerator. These features include glass door panel, hidden door handles, handle illumination, customizable panels and retro design. Here is a detailed description of all these items:

— Glass door panel. Refrigerators with this feature have glass doors on the outside. This finish does not affect the functionality of the device but gives it a stylish appearance due to the specific glare on the glass surface. And in some models, a decorative pattern can also be applied to the glass. In addition, such a coating is very resistant to scratches. Its disadvantage is a rather high cost. So the glass door panel is typical mainly for “designer” refrigerators, created with an emphasis not only on functionality but also on the rich design.

— Hidden door handles. Handles made in the form of recesses on the ends of the refrigerator doors. They can be located on the top, bottom and/or side, depending on the design of a particular unit and the location of the door itself. Anyway, thanks to the hidden handles, the refrigerator at least acquires a neat, discreet appearance — with a minimum of unnecessary details on the doors. In addition, a regular handle can be touched by careless movement, but with a hidden one, it is impossi...ble. It is especially relevant in cramped conditions. On the other hand, not all users find hidden handles comfortable enough. Therefore refrigerators with doors of a more traditional design nowadays also continue to be produced.

— Handle illumination. This feature not only gives the refrigerator an interesting appearance but also makes it more visible in low-light conditions. The latter can be useful not only in the evening or at night but also at other times of the day — if the unit is installed in a place that is itself poorly lit. However, there are few models with illuminated handles on the market, and they mainly belong to the middle and premium class.

— Customizable panels. Replaceable panels that allow you to change the appearance of the refrigerator. This feature does not affect the functionality, but it makes it possible to optimally choose the design for the interior of the room and the tastes of the owner. Some units with this feature are initially supplied without decorative panels in the expectation that users themselves choose or order a pattern at their discretion. On the other hand, the real need to use customizable panels rarely arises — even for a non-standard interior, it is easier to choose a refrigerator that was originally made in a certain design. So there are very few models with this feature nowadays.

— Retro design. Refrigerators made in the style of "retro" — in other words, semi-antique. Typically, such models imitate the technique of the 50s — 60s of the twentieth century, with rounded body shapes, massive handles, etc. However, there are other design options — the old sideboard, or even completely non-standard, in the form of a car, aeroplane, etc. Anyway, completely modern technologies are usually hidden under such a case. And the original appearance can be very useful for an interior in an unusual style. On the other hand, it is worth considering that retro design is very expensive. Most of these models are designed for those for whom design is no less important than functionality.

The number of shelves supplied with the refrigerator. In this case, only shelves placed inside the main (refrigeration) chamber are taken into account. And closed drawers, which are usually at the bottom, are not considered shelves.

In general, this amount depends on the volume: the more spacious the refrigeration compartment, the more shelves are usually provided in the kit. At the same time, there is no strict dependence here, and refrigerators of similar capacity can be equipped with a different number of shelves. As for specific options, the most modest models come with 1 – 2 shelves, 3 shelves and 4 shelves can be called an average, and more are found in some units.

In most modern refrigerators the shelves are removable. In addition, they can be installed at different levels. In this case, it is not necessary to use the entire set: for example, if it is planned to place tall objects inside, one of the shelves can be removed, creating a vast space. And vice versa: if necessary, you can, usually, buy additional shelves. So the number of shelves in the kit only allows you to evaluate the overall possibilities for organizing space in the refrigerator. How to use these features depends on the user.

The number of drawers into which the refrigerator freezer is divided. For top-mounted freezers (see “Freezer”), this paragraph may indicate the number of levels, taking into account the shelves the fridge is equipped (drawers are not used in such chambers).

On the one hand, the abundance of drawers makes it easy to distribute different types of foods in different compartments. On the other hand, more drawers (for the same total freezer capacity) mean less height and capacity for each drawer. So when choosing, you should consider what is more important for you — extensive possibilities for sorting content or the capacity of individual drawers. As for the specific quantity, most modern refrigerators have 3-drawer freezers — this number is generally considered the best compromise between the nuances described above. A larger number of drawers is found mainly in high-capacity units, but 1 – 2 freezer drawers can be found in all types of refrigerators — from small classic to large French Door and Side-by-Side (see "Product type").

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.