A lot of what distinguishes a smart refrigerator from a regular one and makes it a desirable product comes down to cameras and sensors. A smart fridge makes it easier to keep track of what’s inside, when you’ll run out of different food items, and when they’ll spoil. It also provides better control of temperature and humidity — particularly in individual drawers/compartments — to keep your food fresher. It can also tell you if certain parts need repairs, and if you have a refrigerator with a water filtration system built in, it can tell you when the filter needs to be changed. By the same token, smart refrigerators are often more energy-efficient because of their adjustments based on the sensors.
Beyond that? It’s another touchscreen-based computer in the home with all that entails. You can use it as a whiteboard, watch TV on it, look up recipes on it, and have it read recipes to you. But that’s not the kind of thing that’s worth paying a major premium over a regular, not-so-smart refrigerator. Whether or not a smart refrigerator is right for you comes down to your budget and how much the sensor-based features appeal to you.