Choosing a refrigerator can be a complex decision.

They can last at least 10 to 15 years, making refrigerators an investment. Considering that even budget types start around $1,000, buyers need to think about their lifestyle needs, said Sharon Franke, kitchen appliances and technology director for The Good Housekeeping Institute.

The good news is, Franke said, refrigerators generally have few performance issues.

“What makes a refrigerator good is that it maintains a steady temperature from place to place and, more importantly, over time,” she said.

Refrigerators generally fall into three categories: top-mounted freezer, side-by-side and bottom freezer. The bottom freezer category also includes the French-door style, which is now the most popular, she said.

Top-mounted freezers. The traditional refrigerator style may be best for budget-conscious buyers who don't need special features. These can be a little smaller than other styles, so they may have a little less capacity, said Daniel DiClerico, home multimedia content specialist for Consumer Reports. That makes them good for smaller kitchens, he said, and their smaller size means they're likely the most energy-efficient too.

Even in the low end of the budget category, English said, buyers can find features like adjustable glass shelves that are spill-resistant, gallon door storage and an ice-maker.

DiClerico said Frigidaire's Gallery FGHT1846QF was one of Consumer Reports' top-rated top-mounted refrigerators and can sometimes be found for less than $1,000.

Side-by-side. These used to be the most popular refrigerator styles, said DiClerico and Franke, until the advent of the French-door style. They are easy to organize because everything is visible.

“People who want a larger freezer space like these. It's really easy to find things in them, unlike in top or bottom freezers where things get buried,” DiClerico said.

Their disadvantage is the fresh-food compartment is narrower, and it's hard to put oversize items like platters in the fresh side or a pizza box in the freezer, they all said.

Still, these are good configurations for people in wheelchairs and small children because they can get easy access to both compartments, she said.

Bottom-mounted freezer, including French door. Fresh food is elevated in the bottom-mounted freezers, so people don't have to bend to get vegetables in the crisper. But people who use a lot frozen foods tend to not like the bottom-mounted freezer, and this style is not as easy to organize.

For budget buyers wanting a bottom freezer, DiClerico said, Consumer Digest likes Kenmore's model 69313, which can be found for less than $1,000.

The refrigerator style most in demand now is the French-door design. This style has two refrigerator doors that can be opened individually and a bottom freezer than can be a single drawer or two individual doors. French-door refrigerators come with more storage compartments, to allow better organization of fresh food, and individual temperature controls of those compartments, she said.

Basic French-door styles start around $2,000, and average models are around $3,000. Consumer Reports' favorite, LG's model LFXF32766S, is $4,000 before rebates.

Franke and DiClerico said some of the new innovations are worth it, such as individual temperature controls and separate evaporators for the freezer and fresh food compartments, preventing odors from passing between the two compartments.

DiClerico is not sold on the “connected” refrigerators, such as the heavily promoted Samsung Family Hub, which ranges in price between $3,800 and $6,000. “It's great as a refrigerator (but) obsolescence will be an issue,” he says. “Samsung says they'll do upgrades for it, but I don't think they'll do it fast enough. I just don't think (connected refrigerators) are ready for prime time.”