Although regular-sized refrigerators might have plenty of space, they aren’t always convenient to store in some places. Most offices, dorm rooms, or even studio apartments don’t have the space that you need for a standard size refrigerator. For this reason, it’s usually more convenient to purchase a mini-fridge. Some people might even choose to use a mini-fridge since they often consume less energy. It’s important to note that not all of them are as energy-efficient as they might seem.
Regardless of why you’re buying one, finding the right mini fridge can be a challenge. With so many options out there, choosing one to fit your personal needs and preferences isn’t easy. Luckily, we’ve already compiled a list of the best mini fridges currently on the market:
1. Best Overall: hOmeLabs Mini Fridge
With a stainless steel design and more storage capacity, the hOmeLabs Mini Fridge combines plenty of appealing qualities together into one portable package. One perk of this product is its adjustable temperature control. With one turn of a knob, you can adjust the temperature of the fridge from minimum, medium, or maximum. This feature can come in handy if you’re looking to freeze certain foods or even create ice. When it’s on medium mode, the fridge usually has a temperature right above freezing.
Since it has a reversible door, people can also store items on the inside of the door if they need extra space. Slimmer items like milk or canned beverages easily slip inside the slot and free up room in other compartments.
While it might not be necessary, hOmeLabs does offer a one-year warranty on their products. If customers notice a malfunction with the fridge within that time frame, they might be eligible for a replacement. Within the first month of buying the mini-fridge, customers who are unhappy can also return it or exchange it free of charge.
Pros:
- Has a reversible door
- The temperature is adjustable
- Durable stainless steel design
- Comes with a one-year warranty
Cons:
- Might be louder than some other options
- The inside of the fridge isn’t always bright
2. Best Value: Cooluli Mini Fridge Electric Cooler and Warmer
One of the most important features of the best mini fridges is portability. Factors like storage or durability might not mean much if you aren’t able to safely transport the fridge into a dorm room, apartment, or office. Fortunately, the Cooluli Mini Fridge Electric Cooler and Warmer is specifically designed to be extremely portable.
Only weighing around four pounds, this fridge doesn’t have to stay in one place. On long road trips, this cooler could easily fit inside the car or in tight spaces that traditional fridges might not be able to.
However, as lightweight as it is, the Cooluli doesn’t have as much storage space. This might be the right choice for people who are only looking to keep a few beverages or snacks cool. Skincare products that need to be refrigerated might also be more convenient to store in this mini-fridge. But, if you’re trying to store a lot of extra food, this mini fridge might not have all the space you need.
Pros:
- Lightweight and easy to transport
- Energy-efficient
- Versatile
- Has a warming capacity
Cons:
- Doesn’t have tons of storage space
- No reversible door
3. Best Portability: Coca-Cola Vintage Chic Cooler/Warmer Mini Fridge
Whether you’re a fan of the beverage or not, this Coca-Cola Vintage Chic Cooler/Warmer can add a bit of style to where you store your drinks or food. For fans of Coca-Cola, it might be the ultimate collector’s item. At only four pounds, you can easily transport this mini fridge on car rides, camping trips, or even an outdoor picnic with friends.
As portable as it is, this cooler is only 4-liters, and probably wouldn’t be the best option for storing tons of food or more than three or four beverages at one time. However, it might have just enough space for people who need to keep insulin, medications, or even skincare products cool throughout the day.
One thing to note about this mini fridge is that it is energy-efficient. Unlike some choices, this environmentally-friendly product uses minimal energy and comes with both an AC and DC cord for flexibility.
Pros:
- Comes with a USB cord
- Easy to store smaller items or beverages
- Stylish
- Lightweight and portable
Cons:
- Doesn’t contain tons of space for larger items
- Might not be as durable as some other options
4. Best Storage Capacity: Vremi Beverage Mini Fridge
While some mini-fridges might be built for portability, others are designed for maximizing storage space. The Vremi Beverage Mini Fridge is a great example of this. With a triple-pane, see-through door, it’s easy to keep track of everything you have inside the fridge. The LED light on the inside of the fridge also makes it more convenient to find what you’re looking for during the night or in areas with low lighting.
For people that are looking to store alcoholic beverages, there’s a wine and beer chiller on the bottom shelf. When it’s only storing cans, the Vremi Mini Fridge is capable of holding around 110 cans at one time. To conserve space or make room for certain things, buyers can also adjust the shelves and move them up or down as they want.
In case you need to place this fridge on an uneven floor or surface, the adjustable feet on the bottom of the product can help stabilize it and prevent the items inside from spilling out.
Pros:
- Plenty of storage
- Uses an LED light
- Feet are adjustable and easy to stabilize
- Wine and beer chiller
Cons:
- Some buyers might not like the see-through door
- Not as portable
5. Best Efficiency: AstroAl Thermoelectric Mini Fridge
Plenty of mini-fridges are designed to keep your beverages cool or even frozen, but not many fridges are capable of warming them up as well. Fortunately, the AstroAl Thermoelectric Mini Fridge can act as either a cooler or a warmer. Within an hour, the fridge can significantly warm up and keep your food or even drinks hot. The lightweight, portable design of the fridge also means that it’s significantly more energy-efficient than some other options.
While it can store around six cans at one time, the AstroAl does have a removable shelf, which might make it easier to store larger items. When you want to, all you need to do is take the shelf out to make room for a container or beverage.
On the fridge, there are two AC/DC adapters designed for wall outlets, but there’s also a place for buyers to hook the fridge up to a 12V cigarette lighter in a vehicle. On road trips, all you need to do is plug it into the cigarette lighter and let it keep your food or drinks cold or warm during the ride.
Pros:
- Contains a removable shelf
- Can keep drinks warm or cold
- Lightweight and portable
- Can be plugged into a 12V cigarette lighter
Cons:
- Can only store up to six cans at once
- Not as durable
6. Best Design: NewAir Beverage Cooler and Fridge
Some of the best mini-fridges might be durable or portable, but their poor design can mean sacrificing storage space. Luckily, that’s not the case with the NewAir Beverage Cooler and Fridge. Whether it’s in the office, dorm room, or even an RV, this mini-fridge manages to use space wisely while still remaining compact and portable. The stainless steel design makes the fridge a little more durable and can protect it from cracking or wearing down over time.
Depending on how they’re packed inside, the NewAir fridge can store around sixty cans at full capacity. Another interesting perk of this fridge is that it has adjustable temperature control. With five different settings, buyers can keep their food warm and toasty or on the verge of freezing.
Unlike some mini-fridges, that can be noisy and distracting when you’re in the same room, the NewAir fridge is designed to be quiet. Instead of being loud or distracting, the fridge tends to operate at a quiet hum most of the time.
Pros:
- Not as noisy
- Can store up to sixty cans
- Allows for temperature control
- Compact and easy to transport
Cons:
- Heavier than some other options
- Some buyers might not like the see-through door
7. Best Functionality: Euhomy Mini Fridge
Regardless of how stylish they look, one of the most important parts of a mini-fridge is how it functions. If it doesn’t have enough features or space, you could be wasting your money. The Euhomy Mini Fridge is built to combine several of the features that make other mini-fridges appealing (but without the shortcomings).
The exterior of the fridge looks similar to a larger fridge and contains two reversible doors for even more storage space. People can use the inside of the fridge for storing food and keep beverages or drinks on the reversible doors for easy access.
There’s also a vegetable crisper near the bottom of the product to help maintain the lifespan of fruits or vegetables. While it might not be convenient to haul on a road trip or the outdoors, this mini-fridge might be a suitable choice for a dorm room or even an apartment that doesn’t have tons of space.
Pros:
- Contains two reversible doors
- Has a vegetable crisper
- Has the appearance of a much larger fridge
- Plenty of storage
Cons:
- Not as portable
- Difficult to transport on car rides or camping trips
