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 Arctic King 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.
But the list has plenty of other efficient models in other styles, as well. Counter-depth, in the strictest sense, means that a refrigerator is shallow enough to sit flush with typical cabinets or countertops, so roughly 24 inches from the front edge to the back wall. These “true” counter-depth models are almost always very expensive built-in units. We point toward a few notable top-freezer models in our section on budget-friendly fridges.
A compact mini fridge makes a great addition to your dorm room or work space. Whether it is to store soft drinks or ingredients for your favorite meal, a sleek mini fridge is just what you need. At Target, find a wide range of mini fridges you can choose from. If you’re looking for a compact refrigerator for your work space, look through a collection of fridges that will fit under your desks. It operates quietly, has an adjustable shelf and just enough space for water bottles, soda, homemade lunches, milk or coffee. Explore a variety of mini fridges in a range of styles and types.
Frigidaire’s lineup really has no standout trait, except that some of its top-freezer models offer stylish pocket handles and glass shelves for lower prices than other brands’ top-freezer models with less-nice features. So, even if a deeper, standard-depth fridge fits your space, we think a counter-depth refrigerator is worth considering. According to our analysis of customer reviews, people who own counter-depth fridges usually find that the fridges have plenty of capacity, and they tend to be equally happy with their fridges overall. Counter-depth fridges are also arguably easier to organize and look better in most kitchens, plus they tend to use a bit less energy. We did spot a few patterns among Frigidaire, Whirlpool, and GE top-freezer models, though we’re not sure how conclusive they are. Whirlpool top-freezer fridges, for example, have significantly higher owner satisfaction and a very low rate of utter hatred.
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.
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.
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 whirlpool mini refrigerator 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.