I also have been debating this, though we are looking at column fridge/freezer. I prefer the True/Bluestar applainces due to the stainless and glass interiors, which just seem more substantial. I have seen a True at an AJ Madison, but it was not working and had glass doors (I prefer stainless). I live in a major metro area and the appliance sales people all seem biased toward SZ even though the True are more expensive, due to service and reliability. If i could find someone who had a True and could speak to their experience I would feel more comfortable, but i cant find anyone! Its possibly chicken/egg situation, but we are leaning toward SZ. Curious to know what you decide!

@sbpham -- nice to know I'm not alone! I saw the glass door True (column) at one store, but didn't really get a good feel for it until I saw the solid front version at another store. I've attached a (not great) picture I took of the 42 inch unit so you can see what the interior looks like -- I was unable to find a good picture online. TBH, I really want the 2 30" columns, but I think it may be too big, but those are originally what I went in looking at.

@cheri127 -- interesting data point. Approximately when did you get your appliances? Were they marketed as "residential"? When I listened to the column in the showroom, it seemed as quiet as the SZ, but that's not a great listening environment.

They are three years old and are residential. The columns may be better but I'm buying Subzero for my remodel. :)

@TXGuy, great comparison of the Sub Zero and True. Thank you! I have the same dilemma. I am concerned about noise levels because we will have an open floor plan. I do like the True stainless interior and soft close in both freezer and frig. Noise will be a big issue though.

The lack of door bins in the freezer would be a deal breaker for me - I have enough problems with things getting "lost" in my current counter depth freeze WITH bins. Making that cavern deeper would only lead to more frozen mystery items.

@JJ Mekai I am also concerned about noise...and it's so difficult to assess that until you get a unit installed in your house, at which point it's too late.

@just_janni My initial reaction was that the lack of freezer door bins was a big deal, but when I got home and looked at my current freezer, I realized I currently have very minimal door bins, and that I don't really use them organizationally....just as targets of opportunity that support more storage. So for me personally, I'm thinking this isn't a huge deal, especially with the pull-out freezer bins that I could use for organization (I currently have only shelves and then a single pullout bin at the bottom, and it is rather deep, so doesn't offer much in the way of organization).

Some additional info some people may find useful -- the chart shows the refrigerator and freezer space as reported by True and Sub Zero. Although comparing across brands may not be appropriate because we don't know if both brands measure the same way, comparing within brands should be useful. A key observation is that with the SZ, when you go from 42" to 48", you gain additional refrigerator and freezer space, whereas the same move on the True gains only additional refrigerator space. In addition to the functional aspect of where you gain the space, there seems to be an aesthetic aspect of the ratio of the door sizes changing. I had always thought the 48" SZ looked more balanced, but couldn't put my finger on it, and this explains why. Since my current Kenmore unit is 25 cu ft, I won't even be considering the 42" because I don't want to go down in capacity (I suppose I may consider the 42" if augmented by additional refrigeration).

And for anyone wondering why I didn't include the SZ columns in my chart, it's because I am really trying to avoid having the ice maker in the freezer, but I don't have a good solution for ice yet. I don't want to break up the front with an external ice maker, and I don't want to open the door every time I need ice. And since the ice maker is the most trouble-prone part of a modern freezer, I'm trying to decouple it from my main freezer. On the other hand, the clear ice undercounter units have horrible reliability records, require routine maintenance that I'll admit I'm not keen on, and are very wasteful of water and electricity. So I'm looking at an undercounter crescent ice maker (essentially what you'd have in an in-freezer ice maker) but they are made only by Marvel and U-Line -- which means they aren't super popular, and that concerns me. If I end up breaking down and adding an ice maker back to my freezer, that would obviously rule out the True, and then I'd consider the SZ columns to reclaim some of the space I'd lose to the ice maker and storage bin, although I'd lose the aesthetic of the visible grill (which I like).

I'm also vertically challenged and I like that Sub Zero still has a top compressor option for the columns and the 48". Some other brands like Hestan & Thermador have bottom compressors and the butter bin on them and the upper shelves are way too high for me. It looks like the True has the compressor on top so the upper interior shelves should be within reach for me.

@JJ Mekai Yes, I like the top compressor for both aesthetics and for usability. I found reaching into the back of the bottom-mount compressor units challenging. I also think the top-mount design is somewhat more convenient to service. I was very interested in the Perlick, but eliminated that because it has a bottom-mount compressor.

ETA: True definitely has the compressor on the top, and I found the top shelf easy to access with both the SZ and True

I am buying the SubZero due to longevity of the brand (for the price!), but also due to more available sizes. I'm looking at a 36 inch column fridge and a 24 inch column freezer. I also really love the full door of shelves on the 36inch SubZero. I can't wait to organize all my sauces and such there. I have had a counter depth fridge for 5 years and love that I don't loose food at the back of the fridge, so I am not interested in deeper shelves. The SubZero freezer also has some awesome door bins. I realize that you are currently making use with the little amount of door bins you have now, but I do believe that these bins almost double the usability and the organization of the units.

That being said, I absolutely LOVE the TRUE as well as the Bluestar fridges. I am undecided, but considering splurging on one as my pantry fridge. Will also be doing undercounter refrigeration, which may be True or Bluestar. I love the blue lighting in the True as well as the Stainless. I am amazed SubZero doesn't have a stainless interior option. If True or Bluestar came out with a few more options prior to me making my purchase, I very likely would switch brands as I do love the look/feel of them better...but for now, I will be going with SubZero.

I don't really want an ice maker in my freezer either...and may take that out of the SubZero. I know you said you didn't want an undercounter ice maker, but I am so excited to have a space for the Scotsman undercounter nugget ice maker! Sonic ice at my disposal!!! There are also a few countertop models (maybe for a pantry counter?) if you really don't want the undercounter option. I drink so much more liquids when the ice is better...so the investment of the undercounter option is worth it to me. My kids also always need ice for sports and my pre-teen son mows 10+ hours a week and keeps adding more lawns. No more buying ice from the gas station!

@B Carey I hadn't really looked at the Blue Star refrigerators before....they do look very nice. Many of the design elements remind me of the True. I'm not a fan of the columns having the compressor on the bottom, though....it makes the top of the unit too hard to access IMHO. I also like the exposed grill at the top. I find that it softens the look a bit by breaking up the large mass of flat stainless steel.

Have you had a chance to hear the True undercounter units? Some people are concerned about noise.

For completeness, I should point out that SZ does have a stainless interior on the Pro model. Although I like the look and functionality of the external drawers on the refrigerator and freezer, it is only available with an ice maker, and there are no door bins at all, making it a "pass" for me.

I want an undercounter clear ice maker in theory, but really do have concerns about reliability and maintenance. Even salespeople who are trying to sell me more appliances have told me they try to avoid them. And area reps for 2 of the big brands have admittedly to be privately that the units are troublesome. I've looked at the countertop models, and would consider one, but those require cleaning as well. However, if something goes wrong with a $500 countertop unit, that is less troubling than a $4000 undercounter unit. I am hoping someone will chime in about their experiences with undercounter crescent ice units. That's my current plan, but I'm not entirely happy about it. Not only will I lose clear ice, but I'll also need to make sure I use the ice in a manner that some of it doesn't get old and stale. Clear ice makers handle this issue naturally through the melting process, and (most) standard freezer units handle it by dispensing the oldest ice made first. Neither of those occurs with an undercounter crescent unit.

Quick update -- I've somehow moved from the 48" SxS unit and fearing 2 30" columns would be too big to 2 36" columns! I'm 99% settled on the True, but I won't be "locked in" until we place appliance orders, hopefully in a month or so. The design aspect of my project really got bogged down due to a number of factors outside of my direct control. I've also decided to go with undercounter icemakers from Scotsman, which seem to have good reliability if maintained (cleaned) properly, and they also seem to have the easiest cleaning regimen of any unit I've looked at, with SZ being a close second.

@TXGuy, please do keep us updated. I'm with you about having the grill at the top. The compressors on the bottom make the top shelves way too high in the units. Really looking forward to hearing how you like the True and the Scotsman once they are up and running for you.

@JJ Mekai I will keep you posted. Just be aware that I won't be in the house for 12 months or so, likely more.

@TXGuy Please come back and let us know how they are.

@cheri127 I will, although about an hour ago my builder told me March 2024 is the new target completion date :(

Don't know the lead times of your chosen brands but it is time to order. We're installing an order from 12 months ago ... 48" range, & one DW are missing

@Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor Absolutely. While some brands are (much) worse than others, in general I'd try to order everything ASAP. I'm curious, what brands are the range and DW? I'm looking at appliances from True, Blue Star, Gaggenau, Perlick, Scotsman, F&P, Marvel, Miele, and Bosch -- with the last 2 being more concerning based on what I'm hearing...I'm especially concerned about getting the specific Bosch dishwasher than I want.

One Bosch dishwasher delayed, but the fisher & paykel arrived. One 48" Wolf dual fuel range MIA. It was "available" a month ago so the mystery continues as a regional distributor started emptying its warehouse. Both Subzero columns arrived along w Wolf micro, speed oven & hood.

Recently retired our 14 year old Bosch DW and its a fav of most of our clients so may be worth the wait. People feel the same re Wolf.

@Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor Thanks for the info. I do hope to be patient and get exactly what I want, so I'm optimistic it will work out with the Bosch DW. My understanding is that the DW is one of the easiest things to install at the last minute, so presumably I can afford to wait things out.

Yes. Dishwashers are easy and not required, but convenient, clean and stressless after occupancy installs should not be relied on when alternatives are available.

Cooking appliance and hood are required for final.

@Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor Good points. I wasn't thinking of waiting until after occupancy, just that it could be installed right before closing.

@TXGuy Oh dear Lord!!!!! I'm so glad I'm not building a house right now!!!!! I think I'd have a nervous breakdown watching the costs go up, up, up! March 2024! SMH!

I find True to be 2to3k less than the ZF, and True has the vibrent colors to choose from, and i don care for refrigerators with ice makers, the the, the fiilters are too expensive to repace when ti have a-hold- house filtering system plus under- sin, and a BerkyBecky; it an added expense i dont need with 5+ kids

@TXGuy, how are you liking your applianes? Any extra information will be greatly appreciated.