The Midea compact refrigerator is a top choice for small spaces. Here’s why we like it, and why we like the Danby Designer Refrigerator more.
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Midea Compact Refrigerator
Highlights: Compact, energy efficient refrigerator that is quiet and unfussy. Great for offices, dorms, and small spaces.
- Has a separate chiller compartment to keep colder items chilled
- Adjustable legs and a reversible door
- Easy to install in small spaces
- Manual defrost option (helps reduce energy use)
- Very quiet
- Easier to recycle than many refrigerators
- No actual freezer
- Smaller temperature range than competitors
- No automatic defrost
At a glance:
Capacity: 4.4 cu. ft.
Annual energy consumption: 226 kWh
Noise: 42 dB
Energy Star: Yes
Coolant: R600a (more eco-friendly)
Measurements: Overall Height 33.86 inches; Width 19.72 inches; Depth including door 21.26 inches; Depth with door open 90 degrees 39.06 inches
What we like
The Midea Compact Refrigerator doesn’t boast any fancy whistles and bangs (it’s actually very quiet). Instead, it offers straightforward refrigeration that is reliable, all in a small space ideal for offices, dorms, or small apartments.
The Midea compact refrigerator offers a total of 4.4 cu. ft. of space, with a separate chiller compartment that can keep colder items chilled (but isn’t ideal for freezing food or keeping food frozen for long). The chiller has a manual defrost option (helping to keep energy use low). This model draws just 226 kWh/yr, earning it an Energy Star® rating, and is available in black, stainless steel, and white.
The fridge works with mechanical temperature adjustment for a range of -2 to 2 Celsius (32 to 35.6 Fahrenheit). This model also features adjustable legs and a reversible door, so it is easy to squeeze in where other fridges won’t work.
The fridge also boasts:
- A 2 L bottle door rack
- 3 half shelves
- 1 full (wire) shelf
- Storage in the door.
The Midea comes with a 1-year warranty and uses more eco-friendly r600a coolant and high impact polystyrene inner linings (which is recyclable).
Midea vs. EdgeStar vs. Danby Designer
Midea’s compact refrigerator doesn’t have much competition. Its main challengers come from EdgeStar and Danby. All three models use eco-friendly r600a coolant rather than CFCs or HCFCs.
Here’s a head to head of the three.
| Midea | Danby Designer | EdgeStar | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4.4 cu. ft. | 4.4 cu. ft. | 3.1 cu. ft. |
| Energy use | 226 kWh/yr | 226 kWh/yr | 270 kWh/yr |
| Freezer compartmnet | No (chiller only) | Yes | Yes |
| Removable shelves | Yes | Yes | |
| Coolant | r600a | r600a | r600a |
| Temperature range | 32-35.6 F | 32-50 °F | 34-60 °F |
| Noise | 42 dB | 50 dB | |
| Reversible door | Yes | Yes | |
| Auto defrost | No (manual) | Semi-automatic | Yes |
| Finishes | Stainless steel, black, white | Stainless steel, black, white | Stainless steel only |
| Cost | $$ | $$ | $$$ |
| Warranty | 90 days labor and 1 year parts warranty | 18 months parts and labor coverage with in-home service. | 90 days labor and 1 year parts warranty |
| View price on | Amazon / Walmart | ABT Appliances / AJ Madison | Amazon / Walmart |
The Midea offers a decent amount of space in an attractive design, with low energy usage, giving it an edge over the EdgeStar.
The EdgeStar has slide-out shelves for easier cleaning and a true freezer, with a separate door for fridge and freezer. This is typically better for energy efficiency, but the EdgeStar has an automatic defrost, which I suspect is why it uses almost 20% more energy than the Danby which has a semi-automatic defrost. The Midea only has manual defrost, which may make it less appealing for a student dorm room or office.
The Danby Designer remains best in this category for energy use and overall features and performance. Here’s why we love it:
- Most economical (for upfront cost and running costs)
- Compact and space efficient
- Excellent flexible storage
- Reversible door – can fit in pretty much any space
- Three finishes – fits most design schemes
- Greater functionality for the same energy use (226 kWh/yr) as the Midea
- Three removable wire racks (2 full and 1 half)
- True freezer compartment (not just a chiller like the Midea).
Need a larger refrigerator? See our top choices for eco-friendly, energy efficient refrigerators.
Midea Compact Refrigerator