Whether you’re chilling late-night snacks or storing beauty products, a mini fridge is always a wise investment. For those who live in dorms and small apartments, they’re a space-saver, too. But with so many options available in the market, it’s easy to wonder what are the best mini fridges? To help you out, we’ve narrowed down our picks to five. While the GE Double-Door Mini Fridge tops this list, each mini fridge still has something special to offer. Read on to get the lowdown on the best mini fridges for home, office, dorms, and more.
And if you’re looking for more space-saving appliances, check out our reviews on the best portable grills and best portable washing machines, too.
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Best Mini Fridge Comparison Chart
Best Overall Mini Fridge
GE’s Double-Door Mini Fridge offers the best value for its versatile storage, performance, and price.
Mini fridges don’t have to be mini in terms of capacity. In fact, the best models are those which offer surprisingly spacious compartments despite their size. It’s precisely for this reason the GE Double-Door Mini Fridge is a favorite among consumers. Known for its sleek design, this compact refrigerator offers ample room for all your snacks and beverages. Plus, it’s ENERGY STAR Qualified and is powered by a durability-tested compressor.
GE’s mini fridge boasts a 3.1 cu. ft. capacity, including a separate freezer compartment. Its refrigerator section, on the other hand, comes with a clear crisper that’s ideal for storing fruits and vegetables. Meanwhile, the bottom door has built-in tall bottle storage, along with a can rack for your favorite sodas and beers. The shelves, however, are not adjustable.
Fortunately, GE makes up for this with a few more convenient features. Recessed handles, for instance, make opening and closing doors simple. The glass shelves in the fresh food section are easy to clean and make organizing goods hassle-free. The refrigerator section even comes with auto-defrost, so you spend less time worrying and more time enjoying your fridge.
Dimensions: 20.1 x 18.8 x 33.4 in. | Capacity: 3.1 cu ft | Warranty: 1 year
Pros
- Two-door style with recessed handles
- Dedicated can rack and tall bottle storage
- Fairly quiet performance
Cons
- Non-adjustable shelves
Best Portable Mini Fridge
AstroAI’s 4-Liter Mini Fridge is an ultra-portable model that’s perfect for food, medication, skincare, and more.
Available in a range of capacities and sporting quirky color finishes, the AstroAI Mini Fridge is an eye-catching addition to any space. But it’s the 4L version that truly stands out. Arguably the best 6 can mini fridge in the market today, the AstroAI is a powerful yet portable appliance. The mini fridge comes with AC and DC adapters so you can plug it into a wall outlet at home or a car’s 12V cigar socket if you’re on the move.
Living up to its portability, AstroAI’s 4-liter mini fridge comes with an easy-carry handle and weighs a little under 5 pounds. Don’t let the size fool you, though. The retro-looking appliance can cool up to 32°F or 18°C below room temperature. It can also go the other direction and keep warm up to 150ºF. And because it’s a small-scale appliance, you can use it for things other than food. Customers vouch that the AstroAI is the best mini fridge for skincare, cosmetics, and medications.
Dimensions: 9.45 x 6.89 x 10 in. | Capacity: 4 liters | Warranty: 3 years
Pros
- Ultra-portable mini fridge
- AC and DC adapters
- Freon-free semiconductor refrigeration chip
Cons
- No temperature control
- Tendency to slip or slide on a surface
Best Mini Fridge For Beverages
Get the hOmeLabs Beverage Refrigerator if you want sleek-looking storage for your favorite drinks.
While some like to stow away every kind of food or drink in their mini fridge, others prefer to keep it to beverages only. If you’re this kind of person, then the hOmeLabs Beverage Refrigerator might be right up your alley. With its see-through design and built-in white LED, hOmeLabs is a stylish addition to any home. The 4-tier beverage refrigerator can store up to 120 cans and comes with removable shelves for flexible storage.
Apart from the stylish exterior and roomy interior, what makes this compact appliance from hOmeLabs a standout is its cutting-edge technology. The beverage refrigerator boasts a 120V 240W heavy-duty vertical chiller that works alongside a whisper-quiet compressor. Meanwhile, temperature settings are adjustable via touch functions. The compact refrigerator even comes with a memory function, so preset temperatures are restored in cases of power outages.
Dimensions: 17.3 x 18.9 x 33.3 in. | Capacity: 3.2 cu ft | Warranty: 1 year
Pros
- Stainless steel frame and double glazed, reversible door
- Removable shelves
- Digital thermostat
Cons
- Cans do not completely fill the racks
Best Mini Fridge For Dorms
Costway’s 3.2 cu. ft. Compact Refrigerator is the best mini fridge for college students staying in dorms.
The two-door Costway Compact Stainless Steel Refrigerator is arguably the best mini fridge for dorms. Like GE’s compact fridge, it offers full-sized features but at a more affordable price point. For instance, there’s a dedicated freezer compartment with an ice tray. The fresh food section, on the other hand, comes with a crisper drawer and adjustable glass shelves. Meanwhile, the interior of the bottom door features a built-in can dispenser and bottle storage.
Of course, all these storage and organization options are meaningless if your fridge can’t cool. In this area, Costway’s mini fridge does a stellar job, too. The compact refrigerator comes with a thermostat to adjust temperatures anywhere between 32℉ to 50ºF. Gone are the days you’ll have to rummage through a fridge during study nights, too. Costway’s refrigerator has wide-angle LED lights so you know exactly what you’re getting.
Dimensions: 20 x 17.5 x 34 in. | Capacity: 3.2 cu ft | Warranty: 90 days
Pros
- Dedicated fresh food and freezer compartments
- Removable shelves
- Freezer is larger than expected
Cons
- Makes a buzzing noise once in a while
Best Mini Fridge For Offices
Midea’s Compact Refrigerator features a flush-back design that keeps its footprint compatible with most office spaces.
Mini fridges are a staple in many offices where employees need a place to store their food without compromising workspace. If you’re looking for one, then the Midea 2.4 Cu. Ft. Compact Refrigerator is a great place to start. At just a little over 2 feet in height and 1.4 feet wide, this mini fridge is easy to tuck under an office desk. Moreover, a flush-back design means you can push it against the wall and get a smaller footprint.
Even with these dimensions, however, Midea’s compact cooler doesn’t skimp on storage space. The reversible door comes with a built-in rack to handle cans and bottles, condiments and beverages. And while it’s a single-door unit, you still get a separate freezer compartment for your frozen treats. The Midea Compact Refrigerator also features adjustable shelves and mechanical temperature control.
Dimensions: 17.52 x 20.08 x 24.8 in. | Capacity: 2.4 cu ft | Warranty: 1 Year
Pros
- Separate freezer compartment
- Reversible door
- Compact, flush back design
Cons
- Requires frequent defrost
Verdict
Among the models listed, GE’s Double-Door Mini Fridge and Costway’s Compact Refrigerator stand to benefit more people.
One of the key benefits of a mini fridge is saving space — if you live in a small home or dorm — or getting additional storage — if your full-sized refrigerator isn’t cutting it.
The AstroAI 4-Liter Mini Fridge is a great purchase if you need a portable yet quirky cooler or warmer. On the other hand, those who want to keep their lunch fresh in the office can look into Midea’s 2.4 cu ft Compact Refrigerator. And if you’re all about having a cold beer or soda ready all the time, then consider hOmeLabs Beverage Refrigerator.
Regardless of the need, however, GE’s Double-Door Mini Fridge is a clear standout. It’s a unit that boasts ample room for all your food and drinks, fresh or frozen. It’s an energy-efficient model, too. Meanwhile, Costway’s Compact Refrigerator comes a close second. It offers full-sized features, like GE’s, but at a more affordable price, making it a solid budget alternative.
FAQs
GE’s Double-Door Mini Fridge is one of the best compact refrigerators to get. The unit comes with its own freezer compartment and built-in can rack on the bottom door’s interior.
Mini fridges aren’t just ideal for small apartments, dorms, and office space. These compact appliances can also serve as additional storage for more specific items like beverages, medication, or skincare products.
Yes, the AstroAI 4-liter mini fridge is available in different color finishes. The ultra-portable cooler and warmer comes in white, black, blue, teal, and pink.
Compact beverage refrigerators are a wise investment. However, they do tend to benefit a more specific demographic. Households who like to have guests over will appreciate how a beverage refrigerator makes it easy to grab a cold beer or a bottle of wine. Large families with limited refrigerator space can make use of a beverage cooler as additional storage.
Last update on 2022-05-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API