Frigidaire's top-freezer lineup nails the basics: cold air rises, the freezer sits at eye level, and when something breaks, the parts are cheap and the repair guy has seen it before. The Gallery line has a documented compressor-failure problem inside two years (one owner hit the wall at 21 months, facing an $1,100 sealed-system replacement), and the interior components crack and wobble like they were spec'd by the finance team. Temperature consistency has dogged Frigidaire for decades, and these models run louder than the refrigerators they replace. Buy one if you value simplicity and low upfront cost over longevity, or if you're furnishing a rental. If you need a decade of quiet, even cooling without a repair gamble, spend the extra money on a brand with a stronger track record.
LG's top-freezer lineup carries the shadow of compressor failures that have plagued the brand's refrigerator line broadly, including a class action lawsuit over units that died within two years. Some jackhammer noises from the compressor before total cooling loss, others find their freezer can't keep ice cream solid, and at least one repair tech has been caught on record telling shoppers to avoid LG outright. The brand does have 18-year success stories and genuinely quiet operation when the compressor holds, but the failure pattern is serious enough that you're gambling real money on a major appliance. Buy this only if you're getting a killer deal and can afford an extended warranty that covers the compressor specifically.