Cheap Mini Fridge: Save Your Money With These 6 Best Value Picks

Are you looking for an affordable way to cool your snacks, fruits, and drinks? Check out these mini fridges that offer the same cooling capabilities as a traditional refrigerator but are much more affordable.

We've selected 6 compact refrigerators from 6 brands that are under $200, but still offer a decent capacity of larger than 2 cubic feet, great cooling capabilities, and energy efficiency for the price.

Plus, these models come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors so you can choose the one that best suits your needs and taste. They typically fit anywhere, from kitchen to bedroom, gym, from home bar to living room. Most feature freezers, some a chilling box. Several have reversible doors.

Read on for our top 6 picks of the best-value cheap mini fridges on the market!

6 PICKS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

BLACK+DECKER Compact Refrigerator

Best In Overall Performance

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In The Spotlight

This modern design compact fridge, available in 3 colors, adds a stylish touch to any room.

The low sound operation of 45dB is perfect for places where a noisy appliance is unwanted. This includes baby rooms where it can be used to store milk or baby food.

Pros:

• This is an affordable option for those looking for a mini fridge.
• The removable glass shelves make it easy to clean and expand the storage space.
• The door storage fits five 12 oz. cans and small containers, making it convenient to store beverages and food.
• The 0.2 cubic feet freezer fits ice packs, most frozen dinners, and the included ice tray.
• The adjustable temperature control allows users to set the fridge temperature to their preference.

Cons:

• This model has a capacity of 2.5 cubic feet, which may not be enough for larger households.
• The manual defrost system requires users to defrost the fridge manually.
• The fridge only has one door, meaning that users have to open the door to access both fridge and freezer.
• The fridge has a limited temperature range, with the lowest temperature setting being 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius). This may not be cold enough for some users.

Bottom Line: This is an affordable and modern mini fridge that fits in  small spaces. It's easy to clean, has additional door storage, and a small freezer.

Frigidaire Stainless Steel Mini Fridge

Best In Large Capacity

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In The Spotlight

Its stainless steel finish gives this fridge a sleek, modern look that matches any decor. It has a capacity of 3.3 cubic feet, which is enough to store beverages and healthy snacks or produce.

The compact internal freezer comes with a half-width ice cube chamber that offers additional freezer space. It is ideal for making ice cubes or storing small frozen items.

Pros:

• The adjustable leveling legs make it easy to position the fridge anywhere you like, even on an uneven surface.
• The reversible door can accommodate both right- and left-handed users, making it convenient for everyone.
• The flat-back design of the fridge helps save space in your room or kitchen.
• The mechanical temperature adjustment ranges from -2 to 2 degrees Celsius (28.4 to 35.6 degrees Fahrenheit), which means you can set the temperature according to your needs.

Cons:

• This appliance is not Energy Star certified, which means it may consume more energy than other models that are energy efficient.
• The defrost system is manual, which means you will have to defrost the fridge manually.

Bottom Line: Overall, the Frigidaire mini fridge is a great choice if you are looking for an affordable mini fridge with all the essential features.

Galanz Retro Compact Fridge

Best In Sleek Retro Design

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In The Spotlight

With a sleek, retro design, this compact fridge can store food, soda, beer, and other beverages with minimal energy and without taking up too much space. This makes it fit for college dorm rooms, home offices, garages, and home bars.

For convenient storage, this refrigerator has glass slide-out shelves that can be adjusted to separate different types of food.

Pros:

• This Galanz fridge is energy efficient, thanks to its R600a compressor, which cools the food quickly with lower energy consumption.
• The leveling legs allow for easy adjustment and placement anywhere, ensuring level footing.
• The manual control dial allows for temperature settings and adjustments to fit your specific needs.

Cons:

• This fridge is not Energy Star certified, so it may not be as energy-efficient as other models.-
• The fridge's defrost system is manual, requiring the user to manually defrost the fridge periodically, which can be time-consuming and inconvenient.

Bottom Line: This compact fridge is a great choice for those looking for a stylish, space-saving refrigerator with energy-efficient cooling capabilities at an affordable price.

Midea Mini Refrigerator

Best In Portability

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In The Spotlight

This fridge is Energy Star rated, which means it uses less energy than other models on the market. This is great for the environment and can help save you money on your electricity bill.

The fridge has a reversible door, which means it can be opened from either the left or right side.

Pros:

• The Midea mini refrigerator is perfect for small apartments, bedroom, dorm room, or office space. Its 2.4 cubic feet size can easily fit into tight spaces.
• It's an energy-efficient fridge, consuming less energy than other models.
• The fridge comes with adjustable legs, which makes it easy to level on any surface. This also prevents any unwanted vibrations, keeping your drinks and snacks from toppling over.

Cons:

• This mini refrigerator does not have an automatic defrost system. This means you will need to defrost the fridge manually.
• This mini fridge has two compartments: the fridge, and a small chiller box. However, this is not a freezer, so it's unfit to store frozen foods or to make ice cubes.
• The fridge has a mechanical temperature adjustment that ranges from -2 to 2 degrees Celsius (28.4 to 35.6 degrees Fahrenheit). However, there is no adjustable temperature control, meaning you cannot set a specific temperature.
• The internal walls are slightly tapered toward the back. This makes it difficult to fit larger items in the back of the fridge, which can limit storage options.

Bottom Line: Overall, this is a great option for those looking for a compact and energy-efficient fridge. However, it does have some limitations in terms of storage, freezing and defrosting.

Frestec Mini Refrigerator

Best In Energy Efficiency

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In The Spotlight

The Frestec mini fridge is the top Energy Star rate of all our reviewed fridges, which means it is energy-efficient, ultimately reducing your energy bills and benefiting the environment.

The engineered whisper-quiet compressor of the Frestec mini fridge makes it virtually undetectable, making it fit for quiet spaces like office,  bedroom, and baby room.

The six adjustable temperature settings of this appliance allow for customized cooling from 28°F to 50°F, ensuring the right temperature for your drinks and food.

Pros:

• The refrigerator comes with two adjustable and removable glass shelves, providing ease in organizing storage.
• The refrigerator comes with a reversible door to accommodate different situations.
• Top Energy Star rating makes it a very energy-efficient unit, which means lower electricity bills.
• The freezer is of decent size and can freeze items for up to nine hours.

Cons:

• The Frestec mini fridge comes with a manual defrost system, which requires some attention and time to defrost, unlike an automatic defrost system.
• The refrigerator lacks an interior light, which makes it challenging to locate items in dimly lit conditions.
• Compared to standard-sized refrigerators, the Frestec mini fridge has a smaller capacity, making it suitable for individuals or small families.

Bottom Line: It is typically a great option for a bachelor or small family home requiring an energy-efficient and compact refrigerator.

Antarctic Star Mini Refrigerator

Best In Noise Control

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In The Spotlight

The Antarctic refrigerator boasts a sleek exterior that adds a touch of elegance. It can match any home, dorm room, bar, small office space, garage, or workshop, making it a perfect fit for any setting.

With a temperature control knob that ranges from position 1 (coldest) to 7 (cold), the refrigerator compartment temperature range is 32' to 50' F, while the freezer compartment is 3' to -1'F. This temperature range ensures that your food stays fresh and safe for consumption.

Pros:

• It has a capacity of 3.2 cubic feet, providing sufficient space for storing various food items. It also features a freezer-on-top configuration with an ice cube tray and ice shovel, allowing you to make ice cubes and store frozen foods.
• The refrigerator's double-door design makes it easy to separate your frozen items from your fresh ones. The door has a designated spot for your canned beverages, while the drawer provides ample space for fresh fruits and vegetables.
• The removable slide-out glass shelf offers even more ways to organize your storage needs, allowing you to store taller items.
• With a noise level of only 38 dB, the Antarctic refrigerator operates quietly, making it perfect for quiet spaces like bedrooms and offices.

Cons:

• The refrigerator does not come with an automatic defrost system, which means that you will have to manually defrost it.
• The refrigerator does not come with a temperature display system, making it challenging to monitor the internal temperature accurately.
• Compared to full-sized refrigerators, the Antarctic refrigerator has a smaller capacity, it may not be suitable for large families or those who require more storage space.

Bottom Line: This is an excellent option for individuals or small families looking for an energy-efficient, compact, and practical refrigerator.

The Best Cheap Mini Fridge For You

When looking for cheap compact refrigerators, you have many options to choose from. Each comes with unique features and specs that make them stand out from the rest. Which one out of these 6 is your favorite?

If you can't find your pick, check out the blog post of best cute mini fridges. These are smaller items, under $100.

Happy shopping!

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