Samsung RS27T5561SR refrigerator review

The Samsung RS27T5561SR refrigerator is a smart home enthusiasts’ dream, with features more fitting of a smartphone or tablet than a kitchen appliance. Though it’s at the higher end of the price range, this refrigerator is sure to revolutionize the way a family uses their kitchen space. 

A handful of the best side-by-side refrigerators have snazzy in-door technology so you can grab drinks and snacks to go. This Samsung model takes that idea one step further, with a camera that displays what’s inside your fridge on the exterior touch screen, and technology to identify exactly what those foods are. From there, you can use the screen’s controls to meal plan, shop for missing ingredients, and even preheat your oven, making this refrigerator your one-stop shop when it comes to cooking. 

Besides the range of features that the SmartHub boasts, the refrigerating components themselves are also impressive. With a 26.7 cubic feet capacity, there’s room for anything you’ll need to store, as well as an in-door ice and water dispenser at your disposal. As you might expect from such a high-end model, there’s been so skimping on aesthetics either, with a sleek stainless steel finish which you can select in either silver or black.

The Samsung RS27T5561SR also delivers peace of mind, with a five-year sealed system warranty to protect your investment. It’s also Energy Star certified, so you can worry less about the environmental impact and the running costs of your shiny new appliance.

Samsung RS27T5561SR: How big is it?

• Height: 68.63 inches
• Depth: 33.5 inches
• Width: 35.87 inches

Though it’s easy to be dazzled by the Samsung RS27T5561SR’s smart features, it’s worth remembering that this refrigerator is impressively sized too. With 26.7 cubic feet of capacity and space saved by the water dispenser being inside of the refrigerator door, there’s more than enough room to fit in groceries and beverages and have space left over.

This model is a standard depth size rather than a counter depth fit, meaning that it won’t sit flush with the rest of your kitchen countertops. If your kitchen is big enough for this fridge to stand alone without being obstructed, then this won’t be too much of a problem. But if your kitchen is on the smaller side, then you might want to check out the Frigidaire FGSC2335TF, which has a shallower design in order to fit standard kitchen measurements.

The Samsung RS27T5561SR shares its space between the refrigerator and freezer sections with 17.2 cubic feet of space and 9.5 cubic feet of space respectively. That gives you a lot of space for frozen goods, which is an area often neglected in side-by-side designs. With the refrigerator door open at 90 degrees the depth of this refrigerator is 51.31 inches, which is worth bearing in mind when it comes to installation.

Samsung RS27T5561SR: How easy is it to install?

As far as installation is concerned, this refrigerator is available to be installed without professional help, although Samsung stresses the importance of following the manual that’s packed with the product, to ensure you have all the necessary information. If you don’t fancy installing it yourself, installation is likely to be available from your retailer. In either case, a water connection kit will be required in order to hook up your new appliance, so make sure you add one to your purchase. 

Before installation begins, it’s important you are sure your new fridge will fit in the spot you’ve got in mind for it. That means measuring up space in your kitchen exactly, as well as double-checking the narrowest point in the delivery path of your appliance will still allow whoever is wheeling it through to do so safely. For optimal usage, the manual also recommends not installing it next to a wall, so that you can extend the refrigerator’s door fully.

Samsung RS27T5561SR: What’s good about it?

There are many features about this refrigerator that are seriously snazzy, which is reflected in the hefty price tag. If you have the money to spend you’ll be astounded by the features that it can offer, beginning with the FamilyHub, where can control multiple elements of your life with ease. The large 27.5-inch touchscreen works to connect the whole family together, with something for everyone. And grocery shopping has never been easier with the Family Hub, with a built-in camera to scan and identify the foods inside that can then be transferred to a list to take with you, or bought online to save you the hassle. 

For those in the kitchen who want to be entertained, the FamilyHub can also be used to stream favorite songs or podcasts through a speaker, so you can have a soundtrack to your cooking or cleaning. Or if you fancy catching up on your favorite show whilst you prep food, you can mirror TV or films straight onto your refrigerator’s screen. Kids will be entertained by the ability to leave drawings and messages behind too, as well as the Family Board which can be synced up to your phone’s photostream and calendar. And the smart home features don’t end there; your video doorbell stream will allow you to see who’s at the door from your kitchen once you’ve hooked it up, as well as adjust your thermostat. With a range of apps available to download, there’s so much you can achieve just from your refrigerator.

In terms of the refrigerator itself, the large capacity inside is great for organizing all your foods in whichever way you want. The top shelves and galloon bin doors are capable of handling even the largest of soda bottles, with SpaceMax technology to capitalize on all inner space possible with thinner edges. The shelves themselves are slightly tilted in order to prevent the monumental mess of any spills, as well as using tempered glass shelves so you can see your groceries better when rustling around. In terms of keeping your food cool, this model also uses multi-vent technology in order to circulate cold air evenly, with every shelf being taken care of.

It’s easy to see how the Samsung RS27T5561SR would fit in well to any kitchen, with its stylish design focusing on clean lines, as well as a fingerprint-resistant exterior to help with general upkeep. Illuminated by LED lighting throughout, this refrigerator makes it easy to grab your snacks and go. And with an Energy Star certification, you won’t have to worry about running up a huge bill either, with average running costs being around $83 a year.

Samsung RS27T5561SR: What’s not so good about it?

As you might expect given its features, the Samsung RS27T5561SR doesn’t come cheap. It’s probably best suited to more technologically minded users, as well as those who want to kit out their home with other smart home appliances. If you’re looking for something a little less technical then the Samsung RS25J500DSR still delivers on capacity whilst cutting off some of the cost. 

Samsung RS27T5561SR: User reviews

The Samsung RS27T5561SR currently has a 4.7-star rating on the Home Depot website from 408 reviews. 94% of reviewers would go onto recommend this product, making it exceptionally popular with those who’ve already invested.

One extremely impressed reviewer said that they loved the apps that could be downloaded with the refrigerator’s Wi-Fi connection, saying they regularly used it for “the timer, to Pandora, hooking up our ring doorbell” and “even requesting an Uber”. Another reviewer said that “It seems like every day we learn about some new item or function we can utilize”. The same reviewer found that there was ample space for a large family to store food, as well as the fridge doing a “fantastic job of keeping everything universally cool throughout the fridge without any warm or cool spots”.

Some reviewers took issue with the shelves of this model not being adjustable enough, with one customer saying “ it would have been nice to able to customize the shelf heights in case we ever needed to refrigerate an awkwardly shaped item”. Another reviewer added that the “only negative was there is no light where the ice dispenses”. 

Should you buy the Samsung RS27T5561SR?

If you love playing around with your smart home tech and you have the extra cash to spend, then the Samsung RS27T5561SR will be a winner in your household. The snazzy features that make this refrigerator so expensive offer much more than a regular feature, and are sure to modernize any kitchen. The large capacity of this fridge makes it very suitable for families too, with plenty of space for storing beverages as well as food and more freezer space thanks to the in-door dispenser. You can rest easy knowing that you’ll be able to get help should you run into any problems with this refrigerator to given the five-year warranty, as well as the Energy Star certification. 

Not sure if this is the one for you?

Understandably, you might not be looking to spend so much on your new kitchen appliance. If you fancy something a bit less expensive then the GE GSS25GSHSS is a reliable, no-frills refrigerator that still has a sizable capacity. Or if you want a model with more straightforward in-door technology, why not check out our review of the LG LRSES2706V.

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