They tend to be slimmer with a width of 24 inches, yet maintain standard heights of 60 to 75 inches. The common capacity for these models range from 11 to 13 cubic feet. Through-the-door ice and water dispensers tend to make a fridge less efficient, partly because they’re essentially a hole in an otherwise insulated box, and partly because the ice maker has extra work to do. It’s usually a difference of a few dozen kilowatt-hours per year compared with fridges of a similar size and style.
They’re often on sale for lower prices than similar Whirlpool models, so if you see one you like for a good price, go for it. There are plenty of other finishes to pick from, though they’re available on fewer models. Other neutral, brushed-metal finishes such whirlpool mini refrigerator as black stainless or slate are common. Glossy black and white are still widely available, particularly on cheaper fridges. Whirlpool and GE sell a bisque finish, though we aren’t sure whether this cream color is a throwback to or a holdover from the ’80s.
If you need a bit of extra storage for groceries or beverages, opt for a model with at least 4 cubic feet of interior space and temperature controls for optimal cooling. If you want a mini fridge for your home or traditional office, choose a slightly smaller model to fit under or next to your desk but still has lots of space for water bottles and your lunchbox. If you’re looking for a mini fridge for your college dorm, an ultra-compact model will be your best choice, since you won’t have a lot of room for appliances.
You can find a few models with door dispensers on the Energy Star Most Efficient list, but they’re the exception. That said, we analyzed more than 28,000 customer reviews for 34 fridges, and we were able to pick out a few models that seemed especially prone to major malfunctions within the first few years of ownership. But even then, the gap between the most-reliable and least-reliable brands looks pretty narrow. And any company can sell you a dud and drag its heels on customer service, even if it has the best reputation.
They’re ideal for kitchens, garages, dorm rooms, bedrooms, and offices. Whirlpool® small space refrigerators are available in top-freezer and bottom-freezer styles. Our bottom-freezer models have a large freezer door that swings outward with multiple drawers inside to help you fit and find items as large as a turkey. Create your perfect entertainment setup with wine fridges or beverage centerfrom Whirlpool brand.
GE has its own repair fleet in some metro areas, which might have something to do with it. To be clear, our data suggests that GE French-door fridges need repairs at a rate similar to that of LG French-door models, and we did see some complaints about customer service among the analyzed reviews. Minor problems like noise may be slightly more common, and a small percentage of customer reviews still cite major cooling failures.
More than half of the respondents in our reader survey said that reliability was one of the top three most important things they wanted in a new fridge. Unfortunately, nobody has a crystal ball that can predict which brand or model—or especially individual refrigerator units on sale today—will last the longest and have the fewest problems. When you’re using a mini fridge for snacks and beverages in your dorm room or home office, you want something small. Since this is a convenience item, affordability is also important. After taking apart fridges and talking to expert technicians, we found that there’s little difference between mini fridges.
The door of this apartment or dorm room-sized fridge has a cubby for your soda cans and a space for two-liter bottles or milk. A drawer gives you a great place for your fruits and whirlpool mini refrigerator veggies while the shelving is just the right size for your other necessities. Don’t forget about keeping some treats in the freezer for late-night snacks or study sessions.
You can always opt for an Energy Star certified model for even better energy efficiency and lower operating costs throughout the year. But keep in mind that use cases and environmental factors will have an impact on energy use. ZDNet’s No.1 choice is the Hisense LCR44D6NSE for its stainless steel design and ample interior space. We compared pricing as well as features like volume/capacity and Energy Star certification to determine our top picks. Compact fridges work well in small areas where every square foot counts and are ideal for apartments or small kitchens.