Galanz Freezers Reviewed: Chest Or Upright Options, Galanz Has It Covered

As more Americans warm up to Galanz freezers and discover more qualities beyond the brand’s affordability, this review shines a light on the brand’s freezer range, features, and technology. 

Freezers aren’t the most exciting item to shop for. Most times we just go for any of the more recognizable brands. After all, they all perform the same. While any of the more familiar brands should work just fine, there is a case to be made for Galanz freezers.

Galanz is not a brand that immediately jumps off the screen when you are shopping for freezers. It is not a legacy, made-in-American brand and has its work cut out trying to establish a foothold in the market. However, we are seeing more consumers choosing Galanz freezers and having a lot of good things to report.

This Galanz freezer review will answer your most pressing questions about this brand so you can make your purchase with complete confidence. We perused hundreds of Galanz freezer reviews on Amazon, the Home Depot, and other retail sites to get the opinions of people who have bought and used Galanz freezers. 

After reading this article, you will know what to expect from a Galanz freezer and the options the brand offers. We will start with some general information on the Galanz brand.

The 4 Best Galanz Freezers You Can Buy Right Now

Galanz GLF11URDG16 11-Cu. Ft. Convertible Upright Freezer/ Refrigerator

Google’s Rating: 4.5

Retro-themed fridges have been mocked for looking good while failing at their primary task. The 11-cu. ft. Galanz freezer looks as good as its functionality. For one, this model is convertible, which is fabulously convenient. The freezer’s rather slim profile means it will fit in most places, including offices, kitchens, and dorm rooms.

Inside, the freezer is a dream to organize. It has 11 cubic feet of space to work with and adjustable glass shelves as well as the extra storage option of the door bins. There is even a glass crisper drawer that will help preserve the taste and freshness of your fruits and vegetables.

Galanz GLF31UWED 3.1-Cu. Ft. Upright Freezer

Google’s Rating: 4.5

This is a highly functional little freezer whose compact size adapts it for use in different settings. Just as it would blend in well in a kitchen, the small size and pristine white color work just as well in an office setup as it does in the living room. 

The reversible door allows more placement options, while the leveling, adjustable legs mean it shouldn’t be a headache using the freezer in a room with uneven floors.

Galanz GLF70CWED01 7-Cu. Ft. Chest Freezer

Google’s Rating 4.2

With all the 7 cubic feet of space totally usable, the Galanz GLF70CWED01 Manual Defrost Chest Freezer is deceptively compact. It has four casters that make it easy to move around when cleaning the house. 

Galanz GLF50CWED01 5-Cu. Ft. Chest Freezer

Google’s Rating 4.1

While you can never have too much freezer space you can have too little space in which to fit the freezer itself. The Galanz 5.0-cu. ft. chest freezer is compact enough to fit in a cramped kitchen, yet it offers enough secondary storage for a small family. 

For perspective, this freezer occupies just slightly more floor space than the 3.1-cu. ft. upright freezer but offers almost twice as much usable space. The two freezers are about the same height. This freezer uses a low-energy compressor, cools very fast, and  is so quiet you barely hear it run.

Who Makes Galanz Freezers?

Galanz freezers are produced by the Guangdong Galanz Enterprises Company of China. The appliance maker is headquartered in Foshan, Guangdong. It produces refrigerators, freezers, and a range of home appliances.

 The company did not start out by making electronic appliances. Instead, it started out trading duck feathers back in 1978. It was not until 1992 that the company entered the home appliance trade, trialing with 10,000 microwave ovens that hit stores in 1993.

Galanz quickly rose to become the market leader for microwaves in China. By 1998, the company had assumed the mantle of the world’s largest maker of microwave ovens, controlling over 40% of the market. 

That rapid success spurred the company to expand into other home appliances, adding air conditioners and refrigerators in 2000. Over the ensuing years, the brand added other appliances to its line. Today it markets such appliances as toasters, washing machines, clothes dryers, and electric ovens.

The Galanz line of refrigerators has grown to include upright fridges, chest freezers, upright freezers, convertible freezers, and compact freezers. No longer content with just its products going global, Galanz is now keen to see its brand becoming known to every household. 

Is Galanz a Good Freezer Brand?

Galanz freezers hold their own against many American-made freezers in terms of quality. They are also some of the most affordable. This is something that hasn’t always worked in the brand’s favor as consumers have grown accustomed to cheaper electronics being of poorer quality.

The overbearing perception of Chinese-made products is that they are poorly made. You hear complaints of all manner of made-in-China electronic products breaking after a few months of light use.

Though Chinese brands and manufacturers haven’t always covered themselves in glory, many do strive for quality. Galanz is one of the brands that is making the effort, at least where freezers are concerned.

Galanz’s commitment to globalizing the brand and improving the quality of its products can be seen in the strategic partnerships it has entered with such powerhouse global brands as Bosch of Germany. Through such cooperation, the company’s technology and manufacturing have improved greatly.

Since 2015, Galanz has been building fully automated lines at its Foshan production base. This shift towards automation has improved production efficiency and quality control, which leads to better quality freezers coming off the line.

Interested in learning more about Galanz? Check out our in-depth review of the brand here.

Galanz Freezer Buying Guide

Galanz makes both refrigerators and standalone freezers. When you shop for a freezer, you are going to find two main options – upright and chest freezers. As do other major appliance brands, Galanz makes both freezer types.

There are key differences between upright and chest freezers that you need to know. We will take an in-depth look at each of the two types of freezers in a moment. As we do that we will break down the different freezer options that Galanz offers. 

First, do you even need a standalone freezer?

Who Needs a Galanz Freezer?

Before buying a freezer, you will need to work out how much freezer space you need. If you don’t already own a refrigerator, it’s worth asking if buying that instead isn’t a better option. You may find that the freezer compartment on a regular upright fridge may have all the frozen storage you need. 

Chances are you already own a fridge, but you constantly find yourself running out of freezer space. Instead of investing in a larger fridge, you may find that buying a secondary, standalone freezer is better. 

That said, you may lack the funds to splurge on a premium freezer. Galanz freezers may not be in the premium ranks, but they have dependable quality and are available at more affordable prices. They could be what you need at this point. That also means you may be able to buy a larger freezer.

A standalone freezer with a huge capacity will give you extra storage to buy your frozen groceries in bulk. If you hunt, fish, or grow your own food, it will give you the reassurance that you will not run out of storage, no matter how big your catch or harvest. 

There are also practical reasons you might want to get a freezer that’s just big enough for your immediate needs. One such reason is the space where the freezer will sit. It’s an important factor that will influence your choice between a chest and an upright freezer.

Upright or Chest, Which Galanz Freezer Should You Buy?

Most people get the image of a chest freezer when they think of freezers in general. It is only after some research that a second type – upright freezers – emerges as an option. For a person with a different set of needs, a third type – convertible fridge/freezer – may be a more practical option.

If you have set your sights on the Galanz brand, the good news is you can get any of the three types of freezers. Let’s discuss those options individually so you can see where your needs fall.

Galanz Chest Freezers

Also known as deep freezers, chest freezers have the shape of a large chest with a lid on top that opens to reveal the storage space. The freezers have a low profile such that you must bend over to pack or retrieve items. 

Chest freezers have plenty of usable storage space, but they aren’t the easiest to organize. They also take up considerable floor space, though their low profile does offer the convenience of placing them under windows where it would be impractical to place upright freezers.

Because they are so roomy, chest freezers make it easier to store large items that would never fit in an upright freezer. They also trap and retain colder temperatures for longer, which helps in times of power outages.

Different Galanz Chest Freezers Options

Galanz chest freezers come in five different capacities. The 3.3-cu. ft. model is the smallest while the 15.0 cu ft is the largest. However, by far the most popular with buyers is the Galanz GLF70CWED01 7.0 cu ft chest freezer.

Seeing that there isn’t much that separates the five models in terms of features, it would seem the 7.0-cu. ft. capacity is the sweet spot for most consumers. That flies in the face of the popular perception that most households’ frozen storage needs fall in the 10 cubic feet range.

Maybe the 7.0-cu. ft. model has a better price-performance balance than all the other Galanz chest freezers. Buyers on Amazon say the 7-cu. ft. model performs better and has more useful features than higher-priced options from competing brands.

Which Features Should You Look For in a Chest Freezer?

Chest freezers aren’t known to be feature-rich, but there are a few features that you must insist on. The most critical one is storage capacity. As a guide, budget for 2.5 cubic feet of freezer space for every member of your family.

Here are other must-have chest freezer features:

• Safety lock, which protects children from falling into the freezer. A lot will also keep out noisy people.
• Power-on light, so you can tell  immediately whether the freezer is powered. This prevents food spoilage in the event the freezer stops working.
• Drain plug, which makes it easy to clean the freezer seeing that most chest freezers must be manually defrosted.
• Interior light, so you can easily find and pack items in the freezer especially at night.

There are other features that will enrich your experience using your freezer. Galanz chest freezers have a few of these. One is a running indicator that shows that the freezer is running and not just powered up.

While the power light may indicate that a freezer is ‘on’, it is possible the freezer may, in fact, not be working. Or it may not be cold enough to receive food, like soon after switching it on for the first time. 

The temperature alarm indicator will tell you when the alarm sounds, and the red light goes out that the freezer is cold enough to receive food. If the red light is on, the freezer is still too warm. Many reviews mentioned that feature as being convenient.

Another feature that several Galanz freezer reviews mention is the casters that make it easy to move the freezers. A 15-cu. ft. freezer full of frozen groceries is almost immovable. The casters make it an easy, one-person job.

Galanz Upright Freezers

Upright freezers have the same space-saving configuration as upright refrigerators, though they are slightly smaller and have a single door. These freezers have grown in popularity and are now a common feature in both residential and commercial kitchens. 

Just like chest freezers, these freezers are perfect for large families and anyone who needs dedicated frozen storage. The biggest benefit the upright configuration has over chest freezers is their smaller footprint, which fits perfectly where space is limited. 

Upright freezers are also easier to organize. With doors that run the height of the freezer and adjustable shelves with which you can organize your different groceries. This type of freezer is a lot more convenient to use. 

Unlike deep freezers where you must dig down to find items buried at the bottom, with upright freezers, it is easier to locate things. Door bins also offer additional storage options that make it easier to keep the freezer organized.

While it means the upright freezers consume more electricity than chest freezers, it makes life a lot easier since they have an auto-defrost feature. Perhaps a bigger disadvantage of freestanding freezers is that they are not as efficient at maintaining cold temperatures as chest freezers. 

Upright freezers let in more warm air and allow more cold air to escape when you open the door. That warms the freezer and therefore means it must work harder to maintain a safe temperature. This leads to higher energy consumption and while the adjustable shelves help to keep the freezer organized, it also reduces usable space.

Different Galanz Upright Freezers Options

Galanz has just two upright freezer models – the smaller 3.1-cu. ft. model and the family-size 11.0-cu. ft. model. The wide difference in capacity makes it an easier choice to make between the two models. 

The smaller fridge is perfect for single-person apartments and dorm rooms, while the 11.0-cu. ft. freezer is an obvious choice for the average household. Between the two, the 11.0-cu. ft. model is more popular.

Perhaps we could throw in the convertible fridge/freezer here too. Galanz offers these in the 3.1-cu. ft. and 11.0-cu. ft. capacities. There are also retro models in the same capacities, among which the 11-cu. ft. is more popular. 

The contemporary GLF11UWEA16 model has the more modern features, with automatic defrost and electronic temperature being the ones that jump off the page. 

As well as the leveling front legs, the retro model also has one crisper drawer as a storage option. Not to mention that it will grab attention and make the dullest of kitchens pop if you choose it in the retro ‘hot hot red’ color.

The Upright Freezer Features to Look For

Upright freezers, including the convertible models, aren’t as heavy on features as upright fridges. Any model that includes the following features should be adequately functional for most needs. 

• Power-on light, which tells you immediately that the freezer is plugged in.
• Interior light that brightens the interior so you can easily pack in stuff and find items.
• Leveling legs that keep the freezer steady on uneven floors.
• Adjustable shelves that help to organize your freezer and separate different groceries. Shoot for at least three shelves.
• Frost-free or automatic defrost, so you don’t have to manually defrost the freezer.

Other upright freezer features that are nice to have include reversible handles, temperature alarms, and door locks. Bar a few, like the safety lock and temperature alarm, the Galanz upright freezer models have most of the standard and nice-to-have features, including electronic temperature control.

Galanz freezer reviews on The Home Depot website show both the contemporary and retro 11-cu. ft. convertible freezers are the more popular of the brand’s upright freezer models. Several reviews mentioned how quiet the freezer is while others remark on how tightly the door seals. 

However, there are complaints about the Galanz customer support in the instances where the delivered freezers were faulty. Overall, the reviews had a positive tone, which suggests the Galanz 11-cu. ft. convertible is a good, reliable freezer.

With not much separating the freezer and convertible models in terms of features, reviews show customers love the added convenience of switching their freezer to fridge mode when it suits their current needs. 

Alternatively, most complaints were about the smaller size of the freezer. Oftentimes, this can be remedied by going with a larger model.

Check Out More Of Our Galanz Appliances Reviews

FAQs

Final Word

So where do your needs fall? Is it the popular 7-cu. ft. chest freezer that is compact yet  roomy enough to fit a cow with space to spare, or the uber-cool 11-cu. ft. convertible upright model in the ‘hot hot red’ color? 

Could be neither of those, but Galanz has enough options that you should be able to find the perfect one for your needs. Whatever choice you ultimately make, we know you will love the price and will likely be just as pleased with the performance.