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Verdict: The Australian Smeg FAB38RBLAU is a 510-litre, bottom-freezer refrigerator that combines distinctive 1950s styling with unusually large storage. It is worth considering if you want that design, need a wide fresh-food compartment and can accommodate a 2,050 mm-tall cabinet plus substantial door clearances. It is a less convincing choice if low running costs, a water dispenser, easy installation or proven current availability matter most. The suffix and market are critical: European FAB38 models have different capacities and energy labels, so their figures cannot be substituted for the Australian appliance.
What is the Smeg FAB38RBLAU?
The FAB38RBLAU is a freestanding, black, bottom-mount refrigerator/freezer sold for the Australian market. Appliances Online lists 510 litres of total storage: 355 litres for the refrigerator and 155 litres for the freezer. The cabinet measures 2,050 mm high, 706 mm wide and 771 mm deep, and the listed shipping or operating weight is 113 kg. Those dimensions put it in the large-appliance class rather than the compact retro category.
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The appeal is a combination of capacity and appearance. The FAB38 family uses Smeg’s rounded, 1950s-inspired exterior, while the bottom freezer keeps frequently used fresh food at eye level. Inside, the platform includes automatic defrost/No Frost technology, ventilated or Multiflow cooling, an inverter compressor, LED lighting, fast freezing, electronic temperature control and temperature alarms. The Australian listing includes a manual twist ice tray and an egg tray.
There is no plumbed water dispenser. You do not need a water connection, drain or filter installation; ice is made manually in the supplied tray. That simplifies placement, but it also means the appliance does not provide chilled water or automatic ice production.
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Is the FAB38RBLAU worth buying?
It can be, but the value depends more on your kitchen and priorities than on its styling alone. Its strongest case is for a household that wants a very large fridge section, a bottom freezer and a statement appliance, and is prepared to plan delivery carefully. Its weaker case is for anyone choosing primarily on energy efficiency, narrow-door access, current independent test results or convenience features.
| What you get | Why it matters | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| 510 L total capacity in the Australian listing | Room for large weekly shops, platters and bulky fresh food | The cabinet is 2,050 mm tall and 706 mm wide, so it needs a large, carefully measured location |
| 355 L refrigerator and 155 L freezer | More fresh-food space than many similarly styled appliances | The freezer is substantial but not as large as the refrigerator compartment |
| Bottom-freezer layout | Fresh food and daily-use shelves sit higher, reducing bending | Frozen food is lower and may require crouching for access |
| No Frost, Multiflow and inverter compression | Automatic defrosting, more even air distribution and compressor speed adjustment | These are platform features, not a guarantee of a particular temperature score in your kitchen |
| No plumbing and manual ice tray | Flexible placement and fewer installation connections | No door dispenser and no automatic ice maker |
| Five-year domestic parts-and-labour warranty on the Australian retailer listing | Longer stated domestic coverage than the two-year term shown in an older independent listing | Confirm the warranty, exclusions and service territory on the invoice for your exact suffix |
In practical terms, buy it for capacity, styling and layout—not because all FAB38 appliances share one universally published specification. Verify the exact Australian suffix, electrical requirements, warranty and stock status before paying a deposit.
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For the Australian FAB38RBLAU, the headline figures are 510 litres total, 355 litres of refrigerator volume and 155 litres of freezer volume. The body is 2,050 mm high, 706 mm wide and 771 mm deep, with a listed weight of 113 kg.
| Specification | Australian FAB38RBLAU listing |
|---|---|
| Total volume | 510 L |
| Refrigerator volume | 355 L |
| Freezer volume | 155 L |
| Height | 2,050 mm |
| Width | 706 mm |
| Depth, cabinet | 771 mm |
| Weight | 113 kg |
| Water connection | Not required |
| Ice making | Manual twist ice tray supplied |
| Energy label | Four stars on the Australian listing |
Those are listing figures, not a promise that every compartment offers the same usable space after shelves, drawers and air channels are installed. Measure the route into the kitchen and the final recess rather than relying on the nominal 706 mm width. Skirting boards, wall tiles, benchtop overhangs and packaging can remove the few millimetres that make the difference between a straightforward delivery and a failed attempt.
Why do European FAB38 specifications look different?
Smeg uses the FAB38 name across multiple regional suffixes, and the numbers are not interchangeable. The current European FAB38RBL6 energy documentation lists 481 litres total, 344 litres of fresh-food storage, 137 litres frozen, 230 kWh per year, energy class D and 37 dB of acoustic emissions. Those figures describe the European RBL6 documentation, not the Australian RBLAU listing.
| Market and suffix | Total | Fresh-food | Frozen | Energy information | Noise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia, FAB38RBLAU (retailer listing, 2026) | 510 L | 355 L | 155 L | Four-star rating; annual kWh not stated on the listing | Not stated on the listing |
| Europe, FAB38RBL6 (Smeg fiche, 2026) | 481 L | 344 L | 137 L | 230 kWh/year; class D | 37 dB |
| UK, FAB38RBL5 description | Not directly equivalent | 333 L | 128 L | Not stated in the cited description | Not stated in the cited description |
Different test methods, voltage standards, climate classifications, interior layouts and suffix-specific hardware can all affect the published result. Check the rating plate and the energy fiche for the exact model sold in your country. A European class-D label should not be used to estimate the Australian appliance’s electricity bill, and the Australian 510-litre claim should not be used to describe the RBL6.
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What cooling and convenience features does it provide?
No Frost and automatic defrost
The FAB38 platform is documented with No Frost or automatic-defrost operation. That prevents the routine manual defrosting associated with older static freezers. No Frost can also help maintain usable drawer space because ice is not intended to accumulate on the walls, although correct loading and an unobstructed air path remain important.
Multiflow or ventilated cooling
Ventilated air distribution circulates cooled air through the refrigerator rather than relying only on cold air falling from a single outlet. Smeg describes this as Multiflow on its UK FAB38 information. Do not pack food directly against vents: blocked channels can still produce warm spots or restrict circulation.
Inverter compressor
The compressor is designed to adjust its speed to the cooling demand instead of operating only at one fixed rate. That can reduce abrupt cycling and support steadier temperatures, but the feature alone does not establish a specific annual energy cost or temperature-stability score in an Australian kitchen.
Fast freezing
A fast-freezing mode increases cooling demand temporarily to bring newly added food down to temperature more quickly. Use it when loading a substantial amount of unfrozen food, then return to normal operation according to the control panel’s instructions. Fast freezing is not a substitute for leaving room around packages or for cooling hot food before loading it.
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Official FAB38 information lists electronic temperature control, LED interior lighting, a temperature alarm and acoustic and visual door-open alarms. The alarms are useful in a busy household, but they cannot prevent food warming if the door is left ajar or if the appliance is installed out of level. The Life Plus compartment is temperature-controlled for foods that benefit from a cooler, more stable zone than the main refrigerator area.
Does the FAB38RBLAU need plumbing?
No. The Australian listing does not include a water dispenser and states that the appliance uses a manual twist ice tray. Installation therefore needs an appropriate power outlet and ventilation clearance, not a dedicated water line or drain.
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This is an advantage when the refrigerator must sit on a different wall, in a rental kitchen or far from existing plumbing. It also removes filter changes and leak points. The trade-off is convenience: water must be chilled in a jug or bottle, and ice must be made by filling and turning the tray manually.
Will it fit through a doorway and into a kitchen?
Measure the whole delivery path, not just the final cavity. Smeg’s installation information gives 771 mm depth without the handle, 811 mm with the handle, 1,340 mm depth with the doors opened to 90 degrees, a maximum door-open width of 1,070 mm and a recommended 175 mm clearance on the hinged side beside a wall or unit.
- Measure the destination. Confirm at least 706 mm width and 2,050 mm height, then allow additional space for ventilation, levelling and the manufacturer’s hinged-side clearance. Do not design a tight enclosure around the cabinet dimensions alone.
- Measure the route. Record the clear width and height of the front door, hallway, lift, stair landing and kitchen entrance. Include door stops, handrails, light fittings and skirting boards.
- Plan the turning points. A 771 mm-deep body may need more room to pivot, and the 811 mm handle depth can be the limiting measurement. At the installation position, an open door can require up to 1,340 mm of depth and 1,070 mm of width.
- Check the hinge side. Leave the stated 175 mm beside a wall or cabinet on the hinged side so the door can open and drawers can be removed. A door that technically opens a few degrees may still be unusable if the drawers cannot slide out.
- Confirm delivery handling. At 113 kg, this is a two-person-or-more appliance for professional delivery. Ask the retailer whether doors can be removed for access, whether packaging is included in the measurements and whether old-appliance removal is available.
- Level and test before loading. After positioning, level the cabinet, connect power, verify that doors seal without being pushed and allow the appliance to reach operating temperature before filling it fully.
Do not assume that removing the handle solves every access problem: the cabinet itself remains 771 mm deep and 2,050 mm tall. If a doorway is narrower than the packaged or unwrapped appliance, obtain a written delivery plan from the retailer before purchase.
How efficient and quiet is it?
The Australian retailer listing gives the FAB38RBLAU a four-star energy rating but does not state an annual kilowatt-hour figure in the cited specifications. An older CHOICE listing for the same Australian model recorded claimed energy use of 569 kWh per year and a 2021 test year. Because that is a historical claimed figure, not a current meter reading, use the Australian energy label and your electricity tariff for a present-day cost estimate.
The European FAB38RBL6 fiche reports 230 kWh/year, class D and 37 dB. Those are useful European reference points for that suffix only. They should not be converted into an Australian operating-cost promise, especially when the Australian listing reports a different capacity and rating system.
Noise is likewise market-specific. The 37 dB value belongs to the European documentation; no Australian noise figure is stated in the retailer information cited here. Compressor start-up, fans, defrost cycles and hard flooring can make an appliance sound louder in a real kitchen than a laboratory label suggests.
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What does independent testing say?
CHOICE records the FAB38RBLAU as a freezer-on-bottom model in its large 451–525-litre class, tested in 2021. The public listing shows a $3,990 price, claimed energy use of 569 kWh/year, a two-year warranty, Italy as the country of origin and discontinued availability at the time of that entry.
CHOICE keeps the expert rating, temperature stability, evenness, noise, reliability and other performance scores behind membership. It is therefore not responsible to publish a numerical performance verdict from the public page. The listing is still useful for dating the test and showing that availability and warranty information can change independently of the appliance’s design.
There is an apparent warranty conflict: the older CHOICE entry says two years, while the Australian Appliances Online listing states five years of domestic parts-and-labour coverage. Treat the retailer’s current written warranty for the exact FAB38RBLAU purchase as controlling, and check whether the extra years apply to both parts and labour or only to specified components.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is the FAB38RBLAU discontinued?
Availability is not uniform. CHOICE marked its 2021 listing as discontinued, while a 2026 Australian retailer listing documents the FAB38RBLAU with current specifications and a five-year domestic warranty. That combination suggests that stock status can vary by retailer, import batch and suffix rather than proving that every FAB38 appliance has been withdrawn.
Before ordering, ask for the exact model code on the invoice, the manufacturing or import region, current stock location, expected delivery date and the service process if a replacement part is needed. A retailer showing a similar-looking FAB38 suffix may be offering a different capacity, energy label, plug standard or warranty.
Who is the FAB38RBLAU best suited to?
Choose it if you value
- A large fresh-food compartment and a 155-litre bottom freezer.
- Retro styling as a visible part of the kitchen design.
- A freestanding installation without a water connection.
- Automatic defrosting, circulating cooling, LED lighting and electronic controls.
- A stated five-year domestic parts-and-labour warranty from the Australian listing.
Look elsewhere if you need
- A built-in water dispenser or automatic ice maker.
- A compact cabinet that can pass through narrow doorways without planning.
- A published Australian annual-kWh figure comparable with other models.
- Public, current independent scores for temperature stability and reliability.
- Guaranteed current stock without confirming the suffix and market.
For a household choosing between large retro refrigerators, compare usable fresh and frozen volume, the energy label for your country, independent noise and temperature evidence, door-swing clearances, warranty service, price and availability, and whether ice or water require plumbing. Those criteria reveal more than exterior colour or a headline litre figure.
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What should you check before ordering?
- Exact suffix: Confirm that the invoice says FAB38RBLAU if you need the Australian 510-litre specification.
- Electrical compatibility: Verify the plug, voltage and installation requirements for your location.
- Route measurements: Check the narrowest doorway and every turn, not only the final cabinet opening.
- Clearances: Plan for 175 mm on the hinged side and the stated open-door dimensions.
- Warranty wording: Keep the retailer’s five-year domestic parts-and-labour terms and exclusions with your receipt.
- Energy expectations: Use the local label; do not apply the European RBL6 230 kWh/year figure to the Australian model.
- Ice and water: Confirm that a manual tray meets your needs because there is no dispenser or plumbing connection.
- Service and stock: Ask who handles repairs, where parts are sourced and whether the unit is genuinely available rather than back-ordered.
The FAB38RBLAU is a specialist purchase: a very large, visually distinctive refrigerator that rewards careful planning. Its capacity and layout are compelling, but the 2,050 mm height, deep door swing, regional specification differences and uncertain historical availability make measurement and documentation essential parts of the buying decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Smeg FAB38RBLAU be installed flush against a wall?
Not on the hinged side. Smeg’s installation guidance recommends 175 mm beside a wall or kitchen unit, and the door must open far enough for shelves and drawers to be removed.
How long should a new FAB38RBLAU run before it is filled?
The exact cool-down time depends on room temperature, loading and the installation conditions. Start it level with the doors closed, confirm that it reaches its normal set temperature, and add food in stages rather than loading the entire cabinet while it is still warm.
Can the freezer make ice automatically?
No. The Australian listing specifies a manual twist ice tray, so ice production requires filling the tray yourself. There is no plumbed ice maker or water dispenser.
What does the four-star Australian energy rating mean for my bill?
A star rating ranks the appliance under Australia’s labelling system, but your bill depends on the model’s labelled annual consumption, electricity tariff, room temperature and usage. The cited Australian listing does not provide an annual kWh number, so request the current energy label before calculating running costs.
Is the black finish the only FAB38RBLAU option?
The documented Australian FAB38RBLAU listing is black. Other FAB38 suffixes and colours may be different regional products with different capacities, labels and controls, so colour similarity is not enough to establish interchangeability.
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