Top 10 Best Retro Mini Fridge For Drinks & More (Reviews)
While we tend to gravitate toward the looks of an item, there is so much more we should ask ourselves before buying. This buying guide on vintage style mini-fridges will ensure you get the best one to suit your needs.
Best Mini Retro Refregirators
PRODUCT | TITLE | DETAILS | |
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Editor's Choice |
Daewoo Retro Compact Fridge |
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Danby Classic Mini Fridge |
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EdgeStar Fridge or Freezer |
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Frigidaire Retro Mini Fridge |
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Cooluli Mini Fridge Coca-Cola Americana Retro |
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Costway Compact Fridge |
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Bossin Mini Fridge |
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RCA Mini Fridge |
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Uber Mini Fridge |
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Igloo Mini Fridge |
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Table of Contents
- 1 Daewoo Retro Compact Fridge – Best Overall
- 2 Danby Classic Mini Fridge – Energy Star Certified
- 3 EdgeStar Fridge or Freezer – True Stainless Steel With Lock
- 4 Frigidaire Retro Mini Fridge – Wins Most Retro Look
- 5 Cooluli Mini Fridge Coca-Cola Americana Retro – Coca-Cola Collectible
- 6 Costway Compact Fridge – Larger Size With a Vintage Feel
- 7 Bossin Mini Fridge – Includes Freezer Compartment
- 8 RCA Mini Fridge – Very Retro Available in Many Colors
- 9 Uber Mini Fridge – Sleek Vintage Design
- 10 Igloo Mini Fridge – Includes Side Bottle Opener
- 11 Conclusion
Daewoo Retro Compact Fridge – Best Overall
This retro mini fridge by Daewoo has it all. With 2.8 cubic feet, you have plenty of room for drinks, snacks, or whatever you choose. It has a sleek vintage look and is available in mint, red, or white.
It measures 21.6″ x 19.2″ x 28.3″ making it easy to find the perfect spot to use it in any room, camper, or dorm. Inside you’ll find 3 tempered glass shelves that are adjustable. The door also has 2 shelves that are perfect for can drinks or bottled water.
The LED lighting is a great added bonus for grabbing a drink in the middle of the night. It is Energy Star certified and the temperature is easily controlled with a soft dial.
This frost-free fridge also includes a fresh food sliding drawer that is perfect for fruits and vegetables. It’s free-standing, and the hinges are mounted on the right side.
What makes it even greater is the top of the fridge functions as a tabletop and is perfect for placing a matching microwave.
While a little pricier than other brands listed in this guide, you get way more room. It’s also made of metal making it much more durable than those made of plastic. Over 70% of reviewers gave this fridge by Daewoo 5 stars.
PROs
- It has LED lighting
- Daewoo offers matching microwaves.
- It has plenty of room
Cons
- It cost a little more than other brands listed in this guide
Danby Classic Mini Fridge – Energy Star Certified
This Danby classic mini fridge came in at a very close second. With over 450 reviews and almost 70% of them giving it 5 stars, we knew it had to be something special.
It’s affordable, and you completely get your money’s worth. Made of stainless steel, this 1.7 cubic feet fridge has a scratch resistant top, a white LED interior light, and is Energy Star compliant.
The inside will surprise you with 3 roomy shelves. The door has a unique stacking shelf that holds 6 can drinks and a liter bottle drink.
Measuring 20.4″ x 17.7″ x 20.1″, it’s the perfect size for anywhere you need a mini fridge. The door hinges are reversible for convenience, and it also features a rubber-grip door handle. Finally, just when you thought it couldn’t have anymore features, it also has an automatic defrost.
PROs
- It’s very affordable
- It’s Energy Star certified
- Made of stainless steel, it is the perfect size
- It features an interior light
Cons
- This color is the only one available in this size
EdgeStar Fridge or Freezer – True Stainless Steel With Lock
EdgeStar puts a unique spin on the normal mini fridge. Made of stainless steel, this unit can be used as a fridge or switched to a zero degree freezer. At the time of this review, it had over 170 comments with 70% giving it 5 stars.
At 1.1 cubic feet, it’s a bit smaller than the Danby above and cost a bit more. However, you do have the choice of using it as a fridge or freezer, and it does come with a door lock and 2 keys.
The inside has 2 shelves, and the unit measures 19.25″ x 18.5″ x 17.75″. The thermostat allows full range temperature control. The door hinges are reversible, which is something many people look for in a mini fridge.
While not quite as retro or vintage looking as the other units in this guide, it can still pass off as having that feel. The black and stainless steel combo give it a sleek clean look. It has a recessed handle on top for easy transporting.
Again, while not as big as others, it will easily hold 6-12 ounce soda cans and 6-7 other items.
PROs
- This can be used as a fridge or freezer
- It has a door lock with 2 keys
Cons
- You have to manually defrost this unit
- It’s a little pricier than other units that are bigger
Frigidaire Retro Mini Fridge – Wins Most Retro Look
This retro Frigidaire is just adorable; there’s no other way to describe it. If you’re imagining a refrigerator from the 50’s, this would be it. Available in blue, pink, or red, it also features an oval see-through window on the front door.
If you’re looking for a unit with the sole purpose of keeping a few can drinks cold, this is perfect. Very lightweight, it’s made of plastic and measures 10.7″ x 10″ x 7.4″.
It’s inexpensive and great for the office, bedroom, or to take on a trip. It has a removable plastic shelf on the inside and fits 6-12 ounce can drinks. Reviewers are mostly happy with this unit. It appears that most of the negative reviews are from people who did not really pay attention to the size. It arrives with a 12V car adapter.
PROs
- It’s a fun unit that will spark a lot of conversations
- Easily transported, it includes a 12V car adapter
Cons
- It’s made of plastic as the focus was more on the appearance
Cooluli Mini Fridge Coca-Cola Americana Retro – Coca-Cola Collectible
A little roomier than the Frigidaire and about double the cost, this Cooluli mini fridge is still a great buy and has great reviews. In fact, most of the Cooluli mini fridges we looked at had great reviews.
It measures 11.4″ x 9.4″ x 13.4″. To give you a general idea of the size, it holds exactly 12 – 12 ounce can drinks. So, you can choose to put in a few drinks and a few other small items.
PROs
- It can be used as a cooler or warmer
- It holds several drinks and is still lightweight
- Cooluli is a popular brand with positive reviews
Cons
- This particular unit is only available in this one style.
Costway Compact Fridge – Larger Size With a Vintage Feel
The Costway mini fridge has 3.2 cubic feet making it one of the biggest on our list. It’s a great fridge; we only put it a little lower on the list because it has such a small number of reviews. However, out of the nearly 10 reviewers, they all gave it 4 or 5 stars.
It includes a separate freezer compartment which is unique and 2 slide-out glass shelves. The interior of the door features a can dispenser for 12 ounce drinks and a place for a liter bottle.
It has 7 settings on the thermostat plus off, and it’s compressor cooled ensuring the fridge maintains the temperature you want. It can be set from 32 degrees to 50 degrees.
It comes in black and has a retro appearance. It measures 19″ x 18″ x 31″. It’s great for dorms, garages, campers, or wherever you’d like to put one.
PROs
- It has enough space to be used as the main fridge for one person
- It has a separate freezing compartment
Cons
- Other than size and the freezing compartment, there isn’t anything that makes the fridge stand out.
- Although they’re all good, it has a low number of reviews
Bossin Mini Fridge – Includes Freezer Compartment
It’s hard to include a unit with only 2 reviews, but after reading them (both 5 stars) and checking it up, down, inside, and out we couldn’t leave it off. It has a great retro look available in white, red, mint, green, and black so you can definitely find one to match your style. It has tons of room with 3.2 cubic feet and generous shelving and compartments.
It measures 20.1″ x 19.1″ x 33.5″. The adjustable temperature control allows it to cool from 32 – 50 degrees, and the freezer compartment will adjust from 3 to -1 degrees.
The inside glass shelves are removable, and the door features a 12 ounce can drink dispenser. You can also keep a liter bottle in the door, and it has a smaller compartment at the top. The door hinges can be reversed, and it has a bottle opener on the front.
It also comes with 1 ice cube tray and an ice shovel.
PROs
- You can choose from a variety of colors
- The freezer compartment keeps items very cold
- It’s very spacious with plenty of shelving and compartments
Cons
- It has to be defrosted manually
RCA Mini Fridge – Very Retro Available in Many Colors
This RCA mini fridge looks just like a vintage speaker at first glance. The appearance is definitely not an issue, and it can be bought in black, blue, mint, pink, red, or yellow.
It’s very small and measures 10.2″ x 7.4″ x 10.9″. It will hold exactly one six-pack of 12 ounce can drinks. It’s very inexpensive and will easily fit anywhere you want it to go. It’s also a warmer for keeping lunches ready to eat.
It has a thermoelectric cooling system and is vibration free. The door has a small see through window. The shelf will slide out for easy cleaning, and it has a retractable carrying handle that makes it easy to move around.
At the time of this writing, the 180 reviews are mostly positive. It appears the main complaint is that the unit doesn’t keep things cold enough for some users, and possibly some did not realize just how small it would be once it arrived.
If you’re looking for a really vintage piece that will spark conversation and keep a few drinks cool, this is a good buy for the price.
PROs
- It’s available in a variety of colors
- Being very small, it’s easy to transport
Cons
- It has mixed reviews
Uber Mini Fridge – Sleek Vintage Design
The Uber mini fridge is available in blackout matte black with or without a blue LED fan, blue, silver, white, or red. Much like the RCA mini fridge above, it holds exactly one six pack of 12 ounce can drinks.
It is very portable as it has a recessed door handle for carrying and comes with both cords for using in the car or at home.
It can also be used as a warmer or cooler. It measures 11″ x 7.25″ x 10″ and has a removable shelf for easier cleaning. It has a thermoelectric cooler and will keep drinks cold enough to drink, but it’s not for certain food items that need to be kept colder. It has automatic temperature control and can cool down to 32 degrees below room temperature or heat up to 150 degrees. It needs to be plugged in for 12 hours to reach its optimal temperature.
The door features a recessed self-locking door handle. It has over 300 reviews, at the time of this writing, with a little over 50% giving it 5 stars. A few purchasers stated the unit stopped working soon after being used, but it comes with a 6 month warranty, if that eases your mind. It’s very affordable, and is just right for someone looking for a small unit to keep a few drinks cool.
PROs
- It comes with 2 cords for the home and car.
- It’s available in a variety of colors
Cons
- It has mixed reviews
Igloo Mini Fridge – Includes Side Bottle Opener
This looks just like the big Igloo freezers we would see in old country stores many years ago. Igloo definitely nailed the appearance of a retro mini fridge. At 1.6 cubic feet, it has quite a bit more space than the other drink coolers on this list. It’s about mid-price among this top ten, and at the time of this writing, it has a little over 100 reviews which are pretty mixed.
It measures 19″ x 21″ x 21″ so it’s easy to put anywhere you’d like. It has an adjustable thermostat and is compressor cooled. You can choose between black, pink, or red.
The door hinges are reversible, and the feet are adjustable for height. It has slide out shelves for easy cleaning. It is made of plastic, so it’s not quite as durable as others in this price range. It does feature a bottle opener on the side.
It arrives with one ice cube tray and a handle that is just used for cosmetic purposes. The top has an indented grip for easy transporting.
PROs
- It features a bottle opener
- The door hinges are reversible
Cons
- Made of plastic, it's not very durable
- It's a little pricier than we'd expect
Conclusion
So which one do we believe is the best retro mini fridge?
Each one has a unique quality we like, but overall, the Daewoo is the best in our opinion. The size, appearance, the fact that it's frost-free, and has an interior light are all great selling points. We admit the ability to buy a matching microwave that sits perfectly on top is another huge plus!
Like we said above, the Danby is a very close second. It's a bit smaller, but very affordable. It would win best unit for the money for certain.
For those just needing a drink cooler and are looking for that perfect retro feel, the Frigidaire mini fridge is perfect hands down. It's inexpensive, is easily transported and can be used at home or in the car, and it has great reviews.
In closing, our best advice is to figure out exactly what you want in a unit then research similar fridges until you find the perfect one. We hope you found this buying guide useful as you search for your ideal retro mini fridge. Be sure to comment below if you have experience with one of the units on this list. Share this with your friends and family so they can find the perfect mini fridge as well.
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