Quiet and Compact: The Best Mini Fridges for Your Home
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The mini fridge is a perfect addition to any home theater, gaming room, or even bedroom. However, I’ve found that if you want a fridge in any of these rooms, then it’s best to get one of the quietest mini fridges possible.
Although fridges are never particularly loud, it’s definitely worth investing in a quiet mini fridge if you’re putting them in some kind of entertainment room. After all, the last thing you want is an annoying buzz while you’re trying to watch a movie.
The best quietest mini fridges available
Unfortunately, many mini fridges don’t list their decibel rating, unlike normal fridges. So to get around this, I’ve tested each one myself to confirm they really are the quietest mini fridges on the market in 2020.
1. Smad Mini Quiet Fridge
This mini fridge is a great place to start when it comes to the quietest mini fridges on the market. While it might not be the cheapest, you’re definitely paying for a quality piece of equipment.
What’s more, this mini fridge comes with a range of great features, such as a lockable door and a reversible door hinge. This means the door can be opened from either side, which makes it much easier to position in your room.
The manufacturers claim this mini fridge makes no noise, and they’re not far wrong; it really is incredibly quiet. It’s still very efficient and chills its contents to between 37 and 53 degrees Fahrenheit.
Finally, the fridge comes in 3 size options, with the standard one having 1 cubic foot of internal space. This is enough to fit several drinks and snacks, but won’t fit many big items, although that’s not what this kind of fridge is for.
Pros
- Lockable door and reversible hinges make it suitable for a number of different rooms
- Almost silent
- Keeps contents nice and cool
Cons
- Not the cheapest mini fridge on the market
2. Midea WHS-65LB1
This mini fridge is considerably cheaper than others on the list but does a good job of keeping food cold. It works at a lower temperature than others, with its range falling between 32 and 35 degrees Fahrenheit.
Importantly, this fridge is really quiet and operates at around 1dB. This is about as quiet as you can really get, and is almost unnoticeable when you’re watching a film or listening to music.
There are a number of size and format options for this fridge, but the basic model has 1.6 cubic feet of internal space. The largest option available is 3.5 cubic feet, and there are both single and double door options available.
Although many people don’t buy a mini fridge for its looks, it’s always helpful for it to look nice anyway. Luckily this mini fridge is fairly sleek and is finished in black, meaning it’ll go nicely in almost any room.
Pros
- Fairly inexpensive but still effective
- Chills food very cold
- Almost silent
- Plenty of size options available
Cons
- No lock on the door
3. Cooluli Silent Mini Fridge
One of the main advantages of this mini fridge is that it’s portable, meaning you can move it between rooms and even take it traveling if you want. It includes both AC and DC power cords, along with a USB cord too, allowing you to power it in a car.
Although this mini fridge is nowhere near as big as some of the others – its internal capacity is only 4 liters – it makes up for this by being portable. If all you need is somewhere to cool your drinks, then this model will still be fine.
Importantly, this fridge is almost silent and is also very energy efficient, which is always a big plus. It also comes in 7 different colors, and none of them are particularly expensive.
Finally, another impressive feature of this mini fridge is that it warms as well as cools. It can chill its contents to around 40 degrees lower than the ambient temperature and can warm up to a maximum of 144 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pros
- Can both warm and cool
- Is portable and comes with several power cables
- Comes in a range of colors
Cons
- Doesn’t have a particularly large storage capacity
- Does get a bit of ice buildup after running for a while
4. Midea WHS-65LSS1
Another entry from Midea on this list should tell you that they’re a big name in the quiet mini fridge market. This one has the added benefit of being energy efficient, along with being extremely quiet.
Standing 19.4 inches tall, it’s not the most compact on this list but is still small enough for it to be squeezed into most rooms. Its internal storage is 1.6 cubic feet, which is more than enough to fit drinks and snacks.
However, this model also comes in a number of size options, with the largest featuring 3.5 cubic feet of internal space. I’ve found that the standard model is an ideal size for use in a bedroom or entertainment room.
This model also features a reversible door and adjustable legs, which are always helpful features. Its temperature ranges from 32 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit, so it’ll keep its contents nice and cool.
Pros
- Plenty of internal storage with a number of size options available
- Is almost silent and will go unnoticed in almost any room
- Very energy efficient
Cons
- Only comes in 2 color options
5. Black and Decker BCRK17B Mini Fridge
Black and Decker are known for their quality machines, and this mini fridge is no exception. Along with being reasonably priced, it functions well and a number of practical features, including a small freezer compartment.
This mini fridge makes next to no noise, and hence, is perfect for use in rooms such as a bedroom or living room. The hum is barely audible even when there’s no other noise in the room, and it sounds something like a humidifier.
It has 1.7 cubic feet of internal capacity, but this can be adjusted for taller items by removing the shelf. However, there’s plenty of space in the door for drinks, so this shouldn’t really be necessary.
If 1.7 cubic feet isn’t enough though, you have several size options to choose from, with the largest featuring 4.3 cubic feet of storage space. All size options include a separate freezer compartment.
Pros
- Plenty of internal storage space
- Almost silent
- Comes in a number of size and color options
Cons
- The freezer compartment means it needs defrosting more than some other models on this list
6. Chefman Mini Portable Fridge
This is another good option if you’re looking for a truly portable quiet mini fridge. However, the payoff for this is the massive reduction in internal storage, as this model only has 4 liters.
That said, it’s still enough for a 12 pack of cans, which should be plenty. It can be set to either warm or cool, so you can use it for a range of foods. Just make sure that you turn it off before you change settings so it can acclimatize.
Because it’s portable this fridge is an ideal choice for using around home or in the office, but can also be taken on the road. It comes with a standard power cable but also a USB cable, meaning it can be powered in a vehicle.
Another significant tradeoff compared to other models is that this fridge doesn’t cool as low. However, if all you want it for is cooling drinks and snacks, then it’ll do its job just fine.
Pros
- Lightweight and easily portable
- Comes with several power cables so it can be used at home and on the road
- Is really quiet and is barely noticeable when in use
Cons
- Doesn’t cool as low as some other models on this list
- Cools relative to ambient temperature, so can’t be set at a particular temperature
7. RCA RFR320 Mini Fridge
Fridges should generally be chosen based on their functionality, but sometimes them looking nice really doesn’t hurt. If you want an attractive mini fridge that’s still quiet and functions well, this is the one for you.
It comes in a range of colors, including purple, red, and orange, and so will definitely be a standout piece of equipment in your room. It has 3.2 cubic feet of internal storage, including a small freezer compartment too.
Although this fridge is still really quiet, it’s definitely not the quietest on this list. However, the level of noise it makes really isn’t noticeable, particularly if there’s a TV on in the room. As you might have guessed, though, I wouldn’t recommend it for a bedroom.
The fridge has a reversible door and adjustable feet so it can be put almost anywhere. It’s got a built-in thermostat and can keep your food and drink really cool, which is always helpful.
Pros
- Attractive range of colors available
- Functions well and keeps food pretty cold
- Has the benefit of a freezer compartment
Cons
- Isn’t as quiet as some others on this list
- Isn’t the best choice for a bedroom, but is fine in an office or TV room
8. Phiestina 15-inch Glass Door Fridge
The typical image of a mini fridge is one with a glass door, and this fridge matches that description perfectly. It stands 15 inches tall and has the capacity to hold 96 standard drinks cans!
Importantly, this fridge is incredibly quiet and barely makes any noise at all. That makes it suitable for basically any room in the house. What’s more, it’s also really energy efficient.
Although it’s marketed as a drinks fridge, it’s fairly easy to remove the shelves, which allows you to store larger items. However, its internal storage isn’t as great as some other models on this list but it is more than enough if you just want to cool drinks.
What’s more, there are several sizing options available if you think you need more space. Each model has a reversible door and LED strip lighting, which can be turned off if necessary.
Pros
- Chills down to 38 degrees Fahrenheit
- Can hold up to 96 drinks cans
- Is incredibly quiet and energy-efficient
Cons
- Is taller than it is wide, which can be limiting depending on what you plan to store in it
9. Cooluli 15-liter Classic Mini Fridge
Much like the other Cooluli mini fridge listed above, this one is ideal for taking around with you and is suitable for both homes and on the go. Its 15-liter capacity is more than enough for storing a few drinks and some snacks.
It’s a very quiet fridge and will go unnoticed in basically any room. Also, it’s very energy efficient and doesn’t have frost build-up, meaning it shouldn’t ever need to be defrosted.
Like the other portable models, this fridge can both chill and heat. It chills to 35 degrees below ambient temperature and up to 144 degrees above it, which gives you a great range of options.
Also, it has several power cable options included so you can power it both from mains electricity and using the USB cable in a car. This is easily one of the most useful features, although the constant switching of cables can lead to some wear.
Pros
- Easy to move around
- Very quiet and energy-efficient
- Comes with several power cable options
Cons
- Heats or cools based on ambient temperature, meaning it might not be great in particularly warm areas
10. Daewoo Retro Compact Fridge
This is another fashionable mini fridge, but it is definitely worth it for the interesting choice of colors and retro design. On top of this, it’s also a really quiet and well functioning fridge.
There are 2 size options available with either 2.8 or 4.4 cubic feet of internal storage, and a number of color options. Although it’s slightly more expensive than others on this list, it’s a good piece of equipment.
It also features a separate freezer compartment, and all of the included shelves are removable to make more space for larger items. It even features a salad drawer, although this can also be filled with drinks if that’s what you’re using it for.
The fridge can chill to a fairly low temperature and it has a thermostat fitted that allows you to change the temperature easily. However, the addition of the freezer means that it does need defrosting regularly.
Pros
- Interesting retro design
- Is very quiet and energy-efficient
- Has plenty of internal storage
Cons
- The freezer means it needs defrosting regularly
- Not as compact as some other models on this list
11. NewAir 126 Can Freestanding Mini Fridge
As this fridge stands around 32 inches tall, it’s definitely not the most compact on this list. However, it compensates for this by having enough internal storage for 126 standard drinks cans, which makes it ideal for use in a home theater or bar.
It’s also pretty quiet, which is a big help when using it indoors. Also, it features 7 temperature settings that range between 37 and 64 degrees Fahrenheit, so will keep your food and drink quite cool.
Although it has a glass door, it’s double layered and so provides plenty of insulation. All of the internal shelves are removable, allowing you to make space for larger items when necessary.
What’s more, the door is reversible and so you shouldn’t be limited by placement options. Overall, if you’re looking for a good drinks fridge for either indoor or outdoor use, this is a good option for you.
Pros
- Plenty of internal storage
- Runs very quiet and is energy efficient
- 7 temperature settings to choose from
Cons
- Not particularly compact
12. Danby DAR044A6LDB Mini Fridge
With 4.4 cubic feet of internal storage, this is a great model if you’re looking to chill a large amount of food and drink at the same time. It has several internal and door shelves, all of which can be removed or adjusted.
It comes in a number of colors too, although the nicest is definitely the red. The door has a lock, meaning it can be kept secure when you’re not around. This is a particularly useful feature if you plan on using it at work.
Importantly, it’s incredibly quiet, and most of the time you won’t even notice it’s running. It cools to a minimum of 32 degrees Fahrenheit and is energy efficient, meaning it shouldn’t frost up either.
Pros
- Energy-efficient and quiet
- Good range of colors
- Plenty of internal storage
Cons
- Not the most compact mini fridge
Some final thoughts
Although there are many factors behind choosing a mini fridge, one of the most important is definitely the amount of noise it makes. However, as you can see, there are plenty of quiet mini fridges on the market, and there should one that’s right for you.
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