Midea WHS-160RB1 4.4 Cu Ft vs Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft
Both made our Best Mini Fridges for Bedrooms shortlist, at #1 and #2. Here's how they differ and who each one suits.
- BuyOnceRight Research Desk
- Updated
- 4 min read
Quick verdict
Choose the Midea WHS-160RB1 4.4 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator if you want 4.4 cu ft is enough for two people's groceries, not just drinks and snacks. Choose the Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge if you'd rather have 1.6 cu ft and a flush back give it the smallest usable footprint here. Overall we rank the Midea WHS-160RB1 4.4 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator higher: #1 versus #2 in our Best Mini Fridges for Bedrooms list.
Winner overall: Midea WHS-160RB1 4.4 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator
Midea WHS-160RB1 4.4 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator vs Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge compared
Every difference that matters, in one table.
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Our ranking | #1 of 5 in Best Mini Fridges for Bedrooms | #2 of 5 in Best Mini Fridges for Bedrooms |
| Pick label | ||
| Brand | Midea | Frigidaire |
| Key features | 4.4 cu ft capacity, the largest single-door option in this list; 42 dB rated noise level; Reversible door with adjustable legs | 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 |
| Biggest strength | 4.4 cu ft is enough for two people's groceries, not just drinks and snacks | 1.6 cu ft and a flush back give it the smallest usable footprint here |
| Main trade-off | Chiller compartment is not a real freezer -- no ice cubes, no frozen food | 1.6 cu ft is tight -- mostly drinks and snacks, not a grocery run |
| Best for | dorm rooms | dorm rooms |
Which should you buy?
#1 pick
Choose the Midea WHS-160RB1 4.4 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator if…
- 4.4 cu ft is enough for two people's groceries, not just drinks and snacks
- 42 dB rating is quiet enough for an overnight bedroom or dorm setting
- Adjustable legs make it easy to level on uneven dorm flooring
Best for: dorm rooms
Prefer the alternative? See the Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge section.
#2 pick
Choose the Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge if…
- 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
Best for: dorm rooms
Prefer the alternative? See the Midea WHS-160RB1 4.4 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator section.
Pros and cons of each
Midea WHS-160RB1 4.4 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator
Pros
- 4.4 cu ft is enough for two people's groceries, not just drinks and snacks
- 42 dB rating is quiet enough for an overnight bedroom or dorm setting
- Adjustable legs make it easy to level on uneven dorm flooring
Cons
- Chiller compartment is not a real freezer -- no ice cubes, no frozen food
- 33.86-inch height is taller than most true mini fridges and won't fit under some desks
- Some owners report occasional compressor hum after a year of use
Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge
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
Midea WHS-160RB1 4.4 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator vs Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge: common questions
Which is better, the Midea WHS-160RB1 4.4 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator or the Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge?
Choose the Midea WHS-160RB1 4.4 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator if you want 4.4 cu ft is enough for two people's groceries, not just drinks and snacks. Choose the Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge if you'd rather have 1.6 cu ft and a flush back give it the smallest usable footprint here. Overall we rank the Midea WHS-160RB1 4.4 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator higher: #1 versus #2 in our Best Mini Fridges for Bedrooms list.
What is the difference between the Midea WHS-160RB1 4.4 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator and the Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge?
The Midea WHS-160RB1 4.4 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator stands out because 4.4 cu ft is enough for two people's groceries, not just drinks and snacks, while the Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge stands out because 1.6 cu ft and a flush back give it the smallest usable footprint here. The trade-offs differ too: the Midea WHS-160RB1 4.4 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator's main caveat is that chiller compartment is not a real freezer -- no ice cubes, no frozen food, and the Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge's is that 1.6 cu ft is tight -- mostly drinks and snacks, not a grocery run.
Is the Midea WHS-160RB1 4.4 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator worth it over the Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge?
For most buyers, yes: it's our #1 pick. Consider the Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge instead if chiller compartment is not a real freezer -- no ice cubes, no frozen food is a deal-breaker for you.
Who should buy the Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge instead of the Midea WHS-160RB1 4.4 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator?
The Frigidaire EFR176 1.6 Cu Ft Retro Mini Fridge suits dorm rooms, while the Midea WHS-160RB1 4.4 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator is best for dorm rooms.