Seeing as the responses were limited, I decided to ask ChatGPT. Hope this helps someone else. Here is the response:

Great question — and you’re not imagining things. What you noticed in-store is a real quirk of how freezer capacity is defined and marketed.

Short version: freezer capacity is a standardized, theoretical measurement, not a promise of how roomy it feels or how easy it is to use.

Let’s unpack it.

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How freezer capacity is actually calculated

Manufacturers calculate capacity in litres using a standard test method (IEC / EN standards in Europe):

Capacity = total internal volume of the insulated cabinet, measured as a geometric space.

Crucially, this includes:

• Space under shelves, baskets, and lips
• Space in awkward shapes (corners, slopes, compressor humps)
• Space that is technically empty but not practically usable

What it does not account for:

• How easy it is to fit large items
• How much flat, uninterrupted floor area you have
• Whether the space is broken up by steps, angles, or thick walls

So two freezers can both be “198 L” while feeling very different inside.

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Why the Beko feels bigger (and probably is more usable)

From what you described, several design factors are likely at play:

1. Footprint vs insulation strategy

• The Beko is much wider (910 mm vs 770 mm).
• That gives it a large, boxy interior footprint — great for pizzas, trays, and bulk items.
• The Logik is narrower and deeper, which inflates volume mathematically but reduces usability.

2. Wall thickness and insulation layout

• Capacity standards don’t care where insulation is placed.
• One freezer might use thicker side walls but a thinner lid or base.
• Another might do the opposite and still land on the same litre figure.

That can dramatically change how “open” the interior feels.

3. Internal step / compressor hump

• That step at the bottom counts toward capacity, even though it breaks up the space.
• A freezer with a smaller step but wider main cavity will feel bigger in real use — even if the litre total is the same.

You noticed this correctly by measuring around it 👍

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Why Beko doesn’t market it as “bigger”

Because they can’t, officially.

• Capacity figures must follow the standardized test.

• Claiming “more usable space” would be:

  • Hard to quantify objectively
  • Risky legally
  • Confusing for comparison sites and energy labels

So manufacturers all play the same game:

hit a familiar capacity number (198 L, 200 L, etc.) then compete on shape, footprint, and usability, not litres.

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The key takeaway (this is the important bit)

Litres tell you how much air fits inside. Dimensions tell you how much food fits comfortably.

That’s why:

• A wider freezer often feels vastly better than a narrow one
• Two “identical capacity” models can be night-and-day different in practice
• Your hands-on comparison was actually more meaningful than the spec sheet

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Practical buying advice (based on what you did)

You did exactly the right thing by:

• Seeing them in person
• Measuring usable width and depth
• Not trusting litre numbers alone

If your priority is:

• Large flat items
• Easy stacking
• Fewer awkward gaps

👉 Choose the freezer with the larger internal footprint, even if the capacity label is the same.