Comparison Whirlpool ARG 7342 vs Whirlpool ARG 734 A+

The amount of shelves in a refrigerator determines the division of space within the refrigeration compartment. Larger refrigeration compartments generally have more shelves, but there are also various configurations available even within the same volume (3 shelves, 4 shelves, 5 shelves and more). It is worth considering that they are mostly removable, which allows you to adjust the height of the shelf. And if necessary, you can buy more.

Forced cooling mode is available in some refrigerators, and it significantly increases the cooling intensity of the refrigerator compartment. It's important to note that fast cooling needs to be turned on and off properly to avoid overloading the compressor. Some models have an automatic shut-off feature, but it's important to check for this feature separately.

The quantity of freezer drawers in a refrigerator affects the optimal organization of frozen foods. A larger number of drawers allows for better separation of different types of frozen products. However, in the majority of standard two-compartment refrigerators, there are typically three freezer drawers.

The lowest temperature provided by a refrigerator freezer.

The lower the freezer temperature indicator, the more advanced the freezer is considered to be, and the better it is suited for long-term food storage with wider capabilities. It's important to note that the standard operating temperature for a fully functional freezer is -18 °C, which is suitable for both storing and freezing pre-frozen foods. Some refrigerators are designed with a temperature indicator of -24 °C, but this is mainly achieved through the quick freezing mode (see "Functions"), and the standard operating temperature is still -18 °C. However, if you plan to freeze food frequently and store it for extended periods, it's better to choose a model with a temperature of -24 °C and consider the freezing power as well.

Less expensive refrigerators have a less advanced freezer with a modest minimum temperature of -12°C or even -6°C, which is only suitable for storing pre-frozen foods, not for freezing fresh food. Although they are much more affordable.

To indicate the temperature of the freezer, markings in the form of asterisks (snowflakes) are often used, each of which means a decrease in temperature by 6 °C. For example, the mentioned -18 °C will correspond to 3 asterisks (***).

Refrigerators with good thermal insulation can maintain low temperatures inside for a significant amount of time even if there is a power outage. This period of time is known as the "keep cold time," during which the refrigerator can preserve perishable food items. A longer keep cold time indicates better thermal insulation, making the refrigerator more suitable for areas where power outages are common.

The freezing capacity of a refrigerator refers to the amount of fresh food it can freeze from room temperature to the freezer temperature within a 24-hour period. For everyday use, a freezing capacity of up to 10 kg/day is sufficient, but if you frequently freeze large volumes of food, you should consider a more powerful freezer.

The energy class that the refrigerator corresponds to.

Energy consumption classes were originally designated with Latin letters from A (the most efficient) to D (least efficient), but with technological advancements, more advanced classes such as "A+", "A++", etc. were introduced to indicate increasing levels of efficiency. The more pluses a device has, the more economical it is. This was necessary due to the correlation between energy consumption and decreasing efficiency.

For modern built-in refrigerators, the efficiency indicator at the level of class A can be called average, A+ — not bad, A++ — good, A+++ — excellent. Energy consumption rates B and C are rare and mostly found in outdated or cheaper models. Achieving high efficiency requires design innovations, which results in higher device prices. However, these prices can be justified by the resulting reduction in electricity bills. It's worth noting that some built-in refrigerator models are available in different energy consumption classes, allowing customers to choose the best option for their budget and energy efficiency needs.

The energy efficiency of a refrigerator is measured by a parameter classified from A to G, with A being the most efficient. Originally, only up to class A was available until newer, more efficient models were introduced and labeled as A+, A++, and A+++. However, in March 2021, manufacturers reverted to the original labeling system from G to A to avoid creating more pluses. This means that modern models will have the new labeling system, while older ones will maintain their original markings.

The average amount of energy consumed by a refrigerator in a year of operation.

The given parameter is an estimated value and assumes that the refrigerator operates under stable conditions without sudden temperature changes, frequent door openings, and within its designated climate class (see below). Actual energy consumption may deviate slightly from the stated value. Despite this, it is a useful parameter that allows for a rough comparison of different models in terms of energy efficiency.

It should be noted that the energy consumption per year is often a more practical and convenient parameter than the energy consumption class (see above), which is a relative indicator of how efficient a refrigerator is compared to other models of similar size and features. The energy consumption per year, on the other hand, provides an estimate of the actual electricity cost when using a particular refrigerator. For instance, a small two-door refrigerator with an energy class of A can consume less energy per year than a large side-by-side refrigerator with a class of A+++, despite the fact that the latter is formally more energy-efficient than the former in terms of its energy class.