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Short answer: the Australian Smeg FAB38RBLAU is worth considering if you want a very large, bottom-freezer refrigerator with 1950s styling and can accommodate an unusually tall, deep cabinet. Appliances Online lists 510 L of storage, a four-star Australian energy rating and a five-year domestic parts-and-labour warranty. It has No Frost cooling, inverter compression and a manual ice tray, but no plumbed dispenser. The buying risks are fit and model confusion: European FAB38 versions have different capacities and energy figures, while CHOICE recorded the Australian model as discontinued in its 2021 listing. Verify the exact suffix, Australian voltage, current stock and warranty in writing before paying.
What is the Smeg FAB38RBLAU?
The FAB38RBLAU is a black, freestanding refrigerator-freezer sold for the Australian market. It uses a bottom-freezer layout, so the frequently used fresh-food compartment sits at eye level while frozen food is stored below. Its visual appeal is the 1950s-inspired cabinet and hardware, but this is also a full-size appliance that needs careful delivery planning rather than a casual kitchen upgrade.
Appliances Online’s 2026 Australian listing gives the model 510 litres of total volume: 355 litres for the refrigerator and 155 litres for the freezer. The listed external dimensions are 2,050 mm high, 706 mm wide and 771 mm deep, with a shipping/operating weight of 113 kg. Those figures are specific to the Australian FAB38RBLAU; they should not be substituted with measurements from another FAB38 suffix.
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It can be, provided the design and capacity matter more to you than compact dimensions or a built-in water system. The appliance combines unusually generous storage with a five-year domestic parts-and-labour warranty on the Australian retailer listing, but its 2.05-metre height, deep body and side clearance requirement can make installation expensive or impossible in some kitchens.
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Reasons to choose it
- Large 510 L Australian-listed capacity with a practical bottom-freezer arrangement.
- Distinctive black retro styling rather than a conventional stainless-steel finish.
- No Frost or automatic-defrost operation, ventilated/Multiflow cooling and electronic temperature control.
- Inverter compressor, fast-freezing mode, LED interior lighting and door/temperature alarms.
- No plumbing connection: the retailer lists a manual twist ice tray and an egg tray.
- Five-year domestic parts-and-labour warranty on the 2026 Australian listing.
Reasons to look elsewhere
- The cabinet is over two metres tall and more than three-quarters of a metre deep before the handle is counted.
- There is no water dispenser or automatic plumbed ice maker.
- Energy and capacity data vary substantially between regional FAB38 variants.
- Public CHOICE material from 2021 records the Australian model as discontinued and does not publish its expert test scores without membership.
- The Australian listing’s four-star rating does not provide the same annual-kilowatt-hour figure shown on current European energy documentation, making direct efficiency comparisons difficult.
How much can the FAB38RBLAU hold?
For the Australian suffix, the published split is 355 L fresh-food space and 155 L frozen space, for 510 L in total. That is enough room for a large household, bulk shopping or entertaining, but nominal litres do not equal usable shelf area: shelves, drawers, door bins and the evaporator layout consume part of the cabinet.
| Specification | Australian FAB38RBLAU | European FAB38RBL6 | What to take from the difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total volume | 510 L (Appliances Online, Australian listing, 2026) | 481 L (Smeg documentation, 2026) | Do not use the European number when assessing the Australian model. |
| Fresh-food volume | 355 L | 344 L | Suffix and market alter the internal capacity. |
| Frozen volume | 155 L | 137 L | The freezer difference is material if you batch-freeze food. |
| Energy information | Four-star Australian rating; annual kWh not stated on the cited listing | 230 kWh/year, energy class D | Regional labels and test methods are not interchangeable. |
| Noise | Not stated for the Australian listing | 37 dB | The 37 dB figure belongs to the European documentation. |
Smeg’s UK page also describes a FAB38RBL5 variant with 333 L of fresh-food capacity and 128 L frozen capacity. That is further evidence that “FAB38” is a platform, not one globally identical specification. Read the full suffix on the rating plate, retailer invoice and energy label.
What are the dimensions, weight and door-clearance requirements?
Plan around the complete installation envelope, not just the catalogue width. The Australian cabinet is 2,050 mm high, 706 mm wide and 771 mm deep without the handle; Smeg’s installation figures give 811 mm depth with the handle fitted.
| Measurement | Planning value | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 2,050 mm | Check ceiling height, overhead cabinets, door closers and the route’s highest point. |
| Cabinet width | 706 mm | Measure the narrowest doorway, hallway and final recess, including trim. |
| Depth without handle | 771 mm | Determines how far the body projects from the cabinetry. |
| Depth with handle | 811 mm | Use this for the finished front-to-wall projection. |
| Depth with doors open to 90° | 1,340 mm | Allow this clear floor depth for loading shelves and drawers. |
| Maximum door-open width | 1,070 mm | Check adjacent walls, islands and walkways. |
| Hinged-side clearance recommendation | 175 mm beside a wall or unit | Required by the UK installation guidance to let the door open properly. |
| Weight | 113 kg | Delivery equipment, flooring and stairs must be rated for the load. |
Will it fit through a kitchen doorway?
Measure the complete route before ordering: front door, security door, hallway turns, lift, stair landing and the kitchen opening. Record the narrowest clear width with doors removed from the house, not the nominal door size. Because the cabinet is 771 mm deep and 2,050 mm tall, a straight approach may be easy while a turn at a short hallway or low lintel is not.
Ask the retailer whether delivery includes door removal, stair access and packaging disposal. Do not assume that a 706 mm appliance width guarantees passage: the delivery team may need to tilt or rotate a 113 kg cabinet, and the safe route depends on the carrier’s equipment and your flooring. Obtain any extra-delivery charges in writing.
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Does it need plumbing or make automatic ice?
No. The Australian listing specifies no water dispenser and includes a manual twist ice tray, so installation requires an electrical outlet but no water line, filter housing or drain connection. You fill the tray yourself and release the cubes manually; there is no evidence in the cited specifications of an automatic ice maker.
This simplifies placement in a kitchen without nearby plumbing and avoids filter replacement. It also means the appliance cannot provide chilled water at the door, and ice production is limited by the tray and your refill routine.
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No Frost and ventilated cooling
Smeg’s FAB38 documentation lists No Frost or automatic defrost and Multiflow/ventilated air distribution. No Frost reduces the need to empty the freezer for manual defrosting, while circulated air is intended to distribute cold air more evenly than a static compartment. Keep vents and return paths clear; overpacking can still obstruct airflow.
Inverter compressor
The compressor adjusts its speed to the cooling demand instead of operating only at a fixed full-speed cycle. Smeg pairs that design with electronic temperature control. The inverter description is a design feature, not a guarantee of a particular household electricity bill; room temperature, door openings, loading and set points have a large effect.
Fast freezing
A fast-freezing mode is listed for the platform and is useful when adding a large amount of fresh food. Use it as a temporary loading aid and follow the appliance manual for activation and cancellation; leaving any boost mode on longer than necessary can increase consumption.
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Lighting and alarms
LED interior lighting, an acoustic and visual door-open alarm and a temperature alarm are included in Smeg’s catalogue information. These features are most valuable in a large cabinet where an incompletely closed door may otherwise go unnoticed.
Life Plus compartment
The platform includes a temperature-controlled Life Plus compartment. Treat it as a separately managed zone for foods that benefit from a steadier temperature, and use the manual’s recommended setting and loading limits rather than assuming it is a freezer or a substitute for a dedicated wine cabinet.
How efficient and quiet is it?
The answer depends on the exact market version. The Australian FAB38RBLAU listing gives a four-star energy rating but does not state an annual kWh figure in the cited information. Smeg’s current European FAB38RBL6 fiche lists 230 kWh per year, class D and 37 dB. CHOICE’s 2021 Australian entry records claimed energy use of 569 kWh per year for the FAB38RBLAU.
Those figures should not be averaged or treated as a trend. They describe different regional documentation and dates, and the labels use different regulatory schemes. Before comparing running costs, obtain the energy label for the exact Australian unit and multiply its stated annual consumption by your electricity tariff. The 37 dB noise specification is likewise documented for the European version, not confirmed for the Australian listing.
What warranty and availability evidence exists?
Appliances Online’s 2026 Australian page lists a five-year domestic parts-and-labour warranty. CHOICE’s 2021 entry recorded a two-year warranty, a $3,990 price and discontinued availability at the time it was compiled. The difference may reflect a retailer warranty offer, an older sales period or a change in market status; it is not proof that every FAB38RBLAU sold today has the same coverage.
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Check the warranty certificate and the seller’s Australian terms for exclusions, registration requirements, labour coverage outside metropolitan areas and whether the offer applies to domestic use only. Also confirm that the stock is genuinely the Australian suffix, not an imported European appliance with a different plug, voltage, energy label or service arrangement.
What to verify before ordering
- Request a photograph or written transcription of the model and suffix on the rating plate.
- Confirm the Australian energy label, annual consumption figure if shown and warranty duration on your invoice.
- Ask whether the item is current stock, clearance stock or an order with uncertain lead time.
- Provide the carrier with the measured route and disclose stairs, lifts, narrow turns and low ceilings.
- Confirm delivery, unpacking, positioning, levelling, old-appliance removal and packaging-disposal charges separately.
What did CHOICE test, and what remains unknown?
CHOICE identifies the FAB38RBLAU as a freezer-on-bottom model in its large 451–525 L class and says it was tested in 2021. The public entry shows the claimed energy figure, price, warranty, Italian country of origin and a discontinued-availability note.
CHOICE keeps the expert rating, temperature stability, evenness, noise, reliability and other performance scores behind membership. Therefore a public CHOICE page cannot support a numerical verdict on cooling performance or reliability here. Buyers who need independently measured results should access the complete report or rely on a retailer’s return and service terms rather than treating the model’s feature list as test evidence.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How does the FAB38RBLAU compare with other large retro refrigerator-freezers?
Compare the exact appliance, not just the styling family. A useful shortlist should record the following for every candidate:
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|---|---|
| Usable storage | What are the fresh and frozen litres, and how much shelf, drawer and door-bin space remains? |
| Energy | Is the figure measured under the same regional label and expressed as annual kWh? |
| Temperature evidence | Are there independent stability and evenness measurements, or only manufacturer claims? |
| Noise | Is the dB rating for the same suffix and market? |
| Installation | What are body and handle depths, open-door dimensions, hinge clearances and delivery weight? |
| Warranty and service | Who pays for parts and labour, for how long and in which regions? |
| Water and ice | Does it need plumbing, and is ice manual, automatic or unavailable? |
| Availability | Is the exact colour and suffix in stock, and can the seller support it locally? |
On those criteria, the FAB38RBLAU’s strongest differentiators are its Australian-listed capacity, retro appearance, bottom freezer and long retailer warranty. Its weakest are the installation envelope, lack of dispenser and uncertainty created by conflicting regional and historical data.
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Who should buy it?
Choose it if you have a tall, open route into the kitchen, want substantial fresh and frozen storage, prefer a bottom freezer and value the retro design enough to accept the depth and manual ice system. It is particularly sensible for households that do not want to run a water line to the refrigerator.
Skip it if your kitchen has a low overhead cabinet, a tight hallway turn, a wall immediately beside the hinge, or a requirement for door-dispensed water and automatic ice. Also pause if low running cost is your primary criterion and the seller cannot provide the current Australian annual-energy figure for the exact unit.
Final buying checklist
- Confirm “FAB38RBLAU” rather than a similar-looking FAB38 suffix.
- Measure the route and the final position using the handle and open-door figures.
- Reserve the recommended hinge-side clearance instead of pushing the cabinet tight to a wall.
- Plan a grounded electrical outlet; no plumbing connection is required.
- Get the current Australian energy label, warranty document and stock status in writing.
- Arrange delivery for a 113 kg appliance and verify who handles stairs, doors and packaging.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do two retailers show different FAB38 capacity figures?
FAB38 is a family of regional and revision-specific models, not one universal specification. Use the suffix printed on the appliance and its local energy label; a retailer should be able to provide both before sale.
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No. Australian star ratings and European classes are separate schemes with different test and display rules. Compare annual kWh from labels issued for the same market instead of converting stars to a letter grade.
What should I do if the delivery team says the route is too tight?
Do not force or tilt the cabinet without the carrier’s approval. Have the appliance returned to a safe area, document the measured obstruction and contact the retailer about approved door removal, alternate access or rescheduling.
Is the five-year warranty automatically included with every FAB38RBLAU?
The five-year domestic parts-and-labour term is stated on the cited Australian retailer listing. Warranty terms can differ by seller, date and domestic-versus-commercial use, so retain the invoice and read the certificate for the unit you actually receive.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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