Beko BFTF2716SSIM Top-freezer Refrigerator Review

The Beko BFTF2716SSIM has a brushed stainless steel exterior with black plastic trim. Opening its fridge door reveals a standard array of bins on its interior, as well as the main body of the fridge.

The shelves are all glass with spill capture. The temperature control panel is on the right wall and features a clear readout, though it’s a bit far into the fridge. Consequently, it may be hard to access when the shelf is fully-stocked.

Below the shelves are two drawers. The bottom drawer glows with Beko’s Active Fresh Blue Light system, which consists of two blue LEDs along its back edge.

Above the fridge is the freezer, which has a single shelf delineating the space. The top left corner is where you’ll find the ice maker and its reservoir.

About the Beko BFTF2716SSIM top-freezer refrigerator

Dimensions: 67.69” x 27.56” x 26.38” (H x W x D) Measured capacity: 7.01-cubic-foot fridge, 3.13-cubic-foot freezer Finishes: Stainless steel Dispensers: Internal ice maker User manual: Beko BFTF2716SSIM top-freezer refrigerator manual

What we like

Refrigerator temperatures are spot on and consistent

The most common problem we see in cheaper refrigerators is wildly inconsistent temperatures. Either they have difficulty reigning in their own defrost cycles or are incredibly slow to correct after the door has been opened, letting in a bunch of warm air.

The Beko BFTF2716SSIM doesn’t have any such issues. Right out of the box the fridge is calibrated to a near-ideal 36.18°F (ideal would be 37°F). Temperatures tend to only wander from this point by a degree or two, meaning you won’t see any issues with bacteria running amok.

Its narrow width and depth make it perfect for smaller spaces

The Beko BFTF2716SSIM is a counter-depth fridge, meaning it’s more shallow than full-size units—26 inches as opposed to 36 inches—which helps it sit flush with your cabinetry. Additionally, this fridge is narrower than average: 28 inches vs. 36 inches.

This smaller footprint is perfect for apartments, cramped kitchens, and crowded garages.

Its blue-light crispers can keep salad greens fresher, longer

One of the most interesting features Beko has brought to the refrigeration space is its Active Fresh Blue Light system.

According to Beko, the blue LED lights help support photosynthesis, which can improve the freshness and vitamin content of your leafy greens. While some studies do support the claim that blue light helps nutrient retention in leaves, we’re skeptical of the claim that these lights support photosynthesis: The light intensity we measured was about 500 lux, too low to provide enough photosynthetically active radiation.

Even if the lights are too dim to provide all the benefits claimed, there is evidence this technology can still help leafy greens. We’re interested to see how this technology improves over time—we can see Beko’s innovation becoming the standard for crispers everywhere.

What we don’t like

The freezer needs calibration

Most users never touch the controls for their fridge: How it runs out of the box is simply how it runs. This means if the fridge arrives calibrated to incorrect settings, users will experience suboptimal performance. As such, we penalize fridges that require calibration in order to function properly.

Unfortunately, this is the case with the Beko BFTF2716SSIM’s freezer, which averages 6.09°F before calibration. For context, freezers need to be 0°F or colder, or else your food isn’t truly freezing.

Fortunately, there’s the obvious easy fix: Just calibrate your freezer. In the case of the BFTF2716SSIM, this will alleviate the problem almost entirely, as we found temperatures in the freezer to otherwise be incredibly consistent, meaning you won’t run into as many issues with freezer burn.

Bad calibration out of the box is always a difficult problem to have, because while the problem is incredibly simple to fix, most users simply won’t know it’s needed, leading to the needlessly reduced shelf life of their frozen foods.

Its small size means less overall storage space

While the BFTF2716SSIM’s smaller size can be a strength for those low on space, the correlated downside is it also has far less capacity than other counter-depth options.

According to our data, the average counter-depth fridge has a 9.7-cubic-foot fridge and a 3.6-cubic-foot freezer. The BFTF2716SSIM has a 7.01-cubic-foot fridge and a 3.13-cubic-foot freezer. For context, a gallon of milk is 0.16 cubic feet. While the freezer is more or less where it should be, the fridge compartment is significantly smaller than average.

If you’re living alone or with just one other person, and kitchen space is at a premium, the BFTF2716SSIM is a great option. Households of two or more that have the space for a full-size refrigerator should instead go that route.

What owners are saying about the Beko BFTF2716SSIM top-freezer refrigerator

At the moment, there aren’t enough user reviews online to draw any meaningful conclusions. The BFTF2716SSIM is a new fridge from a relatively new brand, so a low number of reviews isn’t unexpected. We’ll update this section as more user reviews are posted.

Warranty

Beko offers a two-year warranty that covers parts and labor, which extends to all major appliances. For fridges specifically, Beko will additionally cover its sealed system (consisting of the compressor, evaporator, condenser or filter) for up to five years. The industry standard warranty is just one year for parts and labor, so we love Beko’s extended guarantee.

The issue some U.S.-based consumers may face, however, is a lack of familiarity with Beko as a brand. While the Turkish manufacturer has been around since the 1950s, it’s only been in U.S. markets for about six years now—much more recently than the familiar names that dominate the space.

Regarding Beko’s U.S. infrastructure, David Riordan, the national service manager at Beko Home Appliances, says, “At Beko, we contract with service agencies in each market where appliance dealers sell our products. As for parts, we are a direct supplier and our parts distribution center is located in Bolingbrook, Illinois, just outside of Chicago and centrally located in the U.S. market. We always have an open line of communication with our dealers, service agencies, and customers to make sure we are providing parts promptly and with the best service possible.”

Should you buy the Beko BFTF2716SSIM top-freezer refrigerator?

Yes, if space in your home is at a premium.

While the Beko BFTF2716SSIM isn’t perfect, we think it has a lot to offer for its purchase price, and most of its issues are either easily overcome or a compromise for another feature. If you’re buying the BFTF2716SSIM for its reduced size, the reduced storage capacity is a necessary concession. Also, for a budget buy like this, we think the BFTF2716SSIM has a nice look and some design flourishes, such as glass spill-capture shelves, which are typically absent from fridges in this price range.

The BFTF2716SSIM has steady temperatures in both the fridge and the freezer. While the freezer will need to be calibrated to function properly, it’s a very easy fix.

While it seems some of the claims about its crispers are exaggerated, there is reason to believe the blue light tech can still help keep leafy greens fresher for longer.

Overall, the BFTF2716SSIM is great for what it is: A high-performance fridge with a small footprint and a budget price that won’t break the bank. We also recommend our current best budget buy, the Haier HA10TG21SS, which is even smaller and cheaper, but has similarly good temperature performance, as another option.