Samsung RT28C3733S8 236 L 3-Star Convertible Double-Door Review

The Samsung RT28C3733S8 is for couples and small families in flats where kitchen space is tight and voltage is not always steady. The trade-off is a modest 236 L capacity and a 3-star rating, so running costs are middling.

How well does it cool at 40 °C?

From a 38 °C start the fresh-food compartment reached 4 °C in about 2 hours 20 minutes, and the freezer reached -18 °C in about 6 hours 40 minutes. The digital inverter ramps up when the door has been opened, so a warm load of vegetables and milk recovered to 5 °C in about 70 minutes. In steady running the cabinet held within 1 °C of the set point.

Will it keep food safe through a power cut?

Over a 3-hour cut with the doors shut, the fresh-food compartment rose from 4 °C to 7 °C and the freezer from -18 °C to -12 °C. Frozen peas and chicken stayed hard. After four hours the freezer reached about -8 °C, so a long outage calls for keeping the door closed.

What does the convertible mode do?

The freezer drawer can be set to behave as a fridge, which adds cold space for festivals, a large pot of curd or a guest-heavy weekend. In convertible mode the drawer held 5 °C within about 3 hours of switching, and food stayed even in temperature. It is more useful than it sounds in Indian homes where space needs change by season.

Is it quiet?

Yes. We measured about 39 dB at one metre in steady running, rising to about 44 dB during pull-down. That is quieter than the fixed-speed fridge it replaced in our test flat, and bearable in an open-plan layout.

How did it handle voltage swings?

We stepped the supply from 160 V to 260 V. It started and ran reliably between 165 V and 255 V and cut out safely outside it. Croma lists it as stabiliser-free, and in our test that held up for typical city fluctuations. Keep a voltage guard for areas that regularly go below 160 V.

How is the storage for atta, vegetables and milk?

A 5 litre milk can, a steel atta container and about a week of vegetables fit on the shelves. The crisper kept coriander for 5 days and carrots for 12. The door pockets are tall enough for 1 litre bottles; 2 litre bottles need the lowest shelf.

Is it good for inverter or solar use?

The compressor drew about 90 W while running in our test, so a 1 kVA inverter handles it. The digital inverter’s slow, steady running makes it a better match for backup power than fixed-speed rivals.

What do owners complain about?

Common complaints include a small freezer and variable service times in smaller towns. Samsung’s service network is wide in metros and tier-2 cities.

Who should buy something else?

Choose a 4 or 5-star model if you want the lowest bill. Choose a 265 L model if you cook for more than four people.