Best overallBLACK+DECKER
BLACK+DECKER BCRK25V 2.5 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator
- 2.5 cu ft single-door capacity
- ENERGY STAR certified, about 212 kWh/year
Frigidaire
Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge
- #1 in Best Mini Fridges Under $100
- #2 in Best Mini Fridges for Bedrooms
- #3 in Best Mini Fridges for Dorm Rooms
- 1.6 cu ft capacity, the smallest footprint in this list
- Retro-styled body with a side-mounted bottle opener
- Flush-back design for tight against-the-wall placement
- Wire shelf, 2-liter door bin, small chiller/ice tray compartment
- Reversible door
Sponsored link · confirm price and availability on Amazon · updated
On this page
Is the Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge worth it?
Yes, for the right buyer. The Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge ranks #1 in our Best Mini Fridges Under $100 list (best overall). Its biggest strength: 1.6 cu ft and a flush back give it the smallest usable footprint here. The main caveat: 1.6 cu ft is tight -- mostly drinks and snacks, not a grocery run.
Overview
What the Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge does well
Reliable cooling and real personality in a compact retro body. The highlights are retro styling and a built-in bottle opener add real personality at a budget price and flush-back design maximizes usable floor space. 6 cu ft is genuinely small -- drinks and snacks, not groceries.
Specs that matter
Key features
- 1.6 cu ft capacity, the smallest footprint in this list
- Retro-styled body with a side-mounted bottle opener
- Flush-back design for tight against-the-wall placement
- Wire shelf, 2-liter door bin, small chiller/ice tray compartment
- Reversible door
The trade-offs
Pros & cons
Pros
- 1.6 cu ft and a flush back give it the smallest usable footprint here
- Side bottle opener is a genuinely useful built-in feature
- Retro color options stand out from the typical black or white dorm fridge
Cons
- 1.6 cu ft is tight -- mostly drinks and snacks, not a grocery run
- Plastic door handle feels less durable than the metal handles on larger models
- Runs slightly louder than the Midea at full cooling cycle per owner reports
Fit check
Should you buy the Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro?
Buy it if you're…
- Shopping for budgets under $100
- Shopping for bedrooms
- Shopping for dorm rooms
- Shopping for offices
- Shopping for garages
Think twice if this matters to you
- 1.6 cu ft is tight -- mostly drinks and snacks, not a grocery run
- Plastic door handle feels less durable than the metal handles on larger models
- Runs slightly louder than the Midea at full cooling cycle per owner reports
Where it ranks
Featured in 5 best-of lists
| List | Rank |
|---|---|
| Best Mini Fridges Under $100· Best overall | #1 / 2 |
| Best Mini Fridges for Bedrooms | #2 / 5 |
| Best Mini Fridges for Dorm Rooms | #3 / 5 |
| Best Mini Fridges for Offices | #3 / 4 |
| Best Mini Fridges for Garages | #4 / 4 |
Cross-shop
Alternatives to the Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge
Products ranked near it in our research, each better for a slightly different buyer.
- Midea
Midea WHS-160RB1 4.4 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator
- 4.4 cu ft capacity, the largest single-door option in this list
- 42 dB rated noise level
- Galanz
Galanz GLR31TBEER 3.1 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge
- 3.1 cu ft total, split into 2.1 cu ft fridge and separate top freezer
- True dual-door design with an actual freezer, not just a chiller box
Head-to-head
Compared with
Buying advice: mini fridges
- 1.7 cubic feet fits drinks and snacks. 3 to 4.5 cubic feet fits real groceries.
- Choose a separate freezer door if you need frozen food. Single-door chiller boxes frost up and aren't reliably freezing.
- Compressors cycle on and off. In bedrooms, look for lower noise ratings and place the fridge away from the bed.
- Leave a few inches around the back and sides for ventilation. Built-in placement needs a front-venting model.
- Energy Star certified models use less power. Check yearly kWh on the EnergyGuide label.
Answers
Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge: common questions
Is the Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge worth buying?
Yes, for the right buyer. The Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge ranks #1 in our Best Mini Fridges Under $100 list (best overall). Its biggest strength: 1.6 cu ft and a flush back give it the smallest usable footprint here. The main caveat: 1.6 cu ft is tight -- mostly drinks and snacks, not a grocery run.
Who is the Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge best for?
Based on our research it suits budgets under $100, bedrooms, dorm rooms and offices. It's ranked #1 of 2 in our Best Mini Fridges Under $100 list.
What are the downsides of the Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge?
The main trade-offs owners and reviewers point to: 1.6 cu ft is tight -- mostly drinks and snacks, not a grocery run; plastic door handle feels less durable than the metal handles on larger models; runs slightly louder than the Midea at full cooling cycle per owner reports.
What are the key features of the Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge?
1.6 cu ft capacity, the smallest footprint in this list, Retro-styled body with a side-mounted bottle opener, Flush-back design for tight against-the-wall placement, Wire shelf, 2-liter door bin, small chiller/ice tray compartment and Reversible door.
What are the best alternatives to the Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge?
Worth comparing: BLACK+DECKER BCRK25V 2.5 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator, Midea WHS-160RB1 4.4 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator and Galanz GLR31TBEER 3.1 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge. Each ranks near it in our research for a slightly different buyer.
Where can I buy the Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge?
It's sold on Amazon. Prices and stock change often, so check the current listing before you buy, our link takes you straight to it.
How loud is too loud for a bedroom mini fridge?
Anything rated above 45 dB tends to be noticeable in a quiet bedroom at night, especially during the compressor's cooling cycle. Look for a rated noise level at or below 42 dB, like the Midea WHS-160RB1, or check owner reviews for words like 'humming' or 'clicking,' which usually point to a louder unit than the spec sheet suggests.
Does a bedroom mini fridge need a freezer?
Most bedroom mini fridge use is drinks, medication that needs refrigeration, or late-night snacks -- none of which need freezing. A chiller-only model like the Midea WHS-160RB1 or BLACK+DECKER BCRK25V covers this use case without the extra height and weight of a true freezer compartment.
More mini fridges shortlists
More like this
Other mini fridges we recommend
- Best overallBLACK+DECKER
BLACK+DECKER BCRK25V 2.5 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator
- 2.5 cu ft single-door capacity
- ENERGY STAR certified, about 212 kWh/year
- Galanz
Galanz GLR31TBEER 3.1 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge
- 3.1 cu ft total, split into 2.1 cu ft fridge and separate top freezer
- True dual-door design with an actual freezer, not just a chiller box
- Midea
Midea WHS-160RB1 4.4 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator
- 4.4 cu ft capacity, the largest single-door option in this list
- 42 dB rated noise level
