The 8 Best Mini Retro Refrigerators (Freezer Models/Portable)

Retro mini fridges will not only keep your drinks, food, snacks, or cosmetics cold but also add a touch of nostalgia to your living space.

They come in two different types:

Some retro mini fridges are true refrigerators, with compressor cooling, stable temperatures, and (in some models) a real freezer.

These are ideal for food, drinks, dorm rooms, bedrooms, and small kitchens.

Others are portable mini fridges, often holding 6 cans or cosmetics.

These use thermoelectric cooling, are lightweight and travel-friendly, and are best for bedrooms, offices, skincare, or cars – but they are not designed to replace a real refrigerator.

In this guide, we cover both types, clearly labeled, so you can quickly choose the retro mini fridge that actually fits your needs – without overpaying or being disappointed.

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See our top picks below, or jump to our retro mini fridge reviews!

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What Size Is a Small Retro Mini Fridge?

A small retro mini fridge typically has a capacity of 2.5 to 3.5 cubic feet, with dimensions around 18–19 inches wide, 17–18 inches deep, and 32–34 inches tall.

This compact size is ideal for dorm rooms, small kitchens, offices, studio apartments, bedrooms, garages, or workshops – basically anywhere you want a functional fridge with a vintage vibe.

(👉 See our list of dorm kitchen essentials)

The smallest mini-fridges are meant mostly for cans or cosmetics; they are highly portable, and some of them come with a car plug so you can cool your items while you travel, or use them in a bedroom and bathroom.

Are Mini Retro Refrigerators a Good Investment?

That depends on the model you choose. Some retro-style mini fridges include features like a freezer compartment, separate chambers, a crisper drawer, and dual cooling/warming modes – all of which can make them a great long-term buy.

A good mini fridge provides consistent cooling for snacks, beverages, and short-term food storage.

Most also come with an internal temperature control dial so you can adjust it as needed.

Mini Retro Fridges Pros and Cons

Mini retro fridges are stylish, compact, and convenient for small spaces or on-the-go use, but while they offer decent cooling and portability, they lack advanced features and can underperform if you don’t choose wisely.

Pros

• Cooling Power: Just as cooling as full-size refrigerators, but not as energy-efficient.
• Placement Flexibility: Can be placed anywhere in your home: Bedroom (for heat-sensitive cosmetics or medications), living room (for snacks on movie night), basement, guest room (for a vintage hotel room vibe),
  garage, workshop, or even bathroom.
• Portability: Highly portable, perfect for office or dorm room, travel, with a car plug available for tiny models.
• Compact Organization: Comes with a removable shelf for organization, some space on the door, and small freezer space for an ice cube tray.

Cons

• Limited Features: No ice maker included in mini retro fridges.
• Performance: A low-quality mini fridge may fail to cool items properly, leading to disappointment.

We’re here to help you pick the right one, saving you both money and time.

How Cold Does a Retro Mini Fridge Get?

Most retro mini fridges – unless you’re looking at the tiniest ones – get just as cold as a regular fridge. That’s around 32°F in the fridge and 0°F in the freezer. A lot of them also have a dial inside so you can crank the cold up or down depending on what you’re storing.

The 8 Best (and Cutest) Retro Mini Fridges 

Two Types of Retro Mini Fridges (Know the Difference):

1. Compressor mini refrigerators (with or without a freezer) – These work like traditional refrigerators. They maintain consistent cold temperatures, can safely store food and drinks, and some include a separate freezer compartment.

2. Portable thermoelectric mini fridges – These are compact, lightweight units designed for convenience. They cool relative to room temperature and are best for drinks, skincare, medications, or travel – not full food storage.

Below, we review both types, grouped and clearly labeled, so you can compare them side by side without confusion.

Real Mini Fridges (With Freezer)

These retro mini refrigerators use compressor-based cooling, just like full-size fridges.

They’re designed for food safety, stable temperatures, and everyday use.

If you want to store meals, milk, frozen items, or drinks long-term – especially in a dorm, bedroom, office, or small apartment – this is the category you should focus on.

1. Frigidaire Retro Compact Fridges

The established Frigidaire brand offers a few retro-style small fridges, in beautiful colors and looks, including a single door 3.2 cu. ft. option, and a 3.1 cu. ft. 2-door fridge – with a freezer.

Both look amazing (ideal SMEG dupe at a fraction of the price), are a popular choice for people who like vintage-style appliances, and are roomy and large enough for a lot of food.

Many user reviews mention quiet operation.

Both have a freezer chamber (0.96 Cu ft. in the 2-door model!), which is not a standard feature in mini-fridges, that is suitable for ice and frozen foods when not overfilled. The 2-door model includes a freezer door rack for maximum storage.

You can easily store a few frozen meals, ice cream, and some frozen vegetables and fruits inside (to use in your portable blender).

The 2-door model includes a bottle opener on the side to save space on utensils, and both have adjustable feet for easy placement on uneven surfaces or cramped spaces.

The single-door model’s freezer is much smaller (0.25 Cu. Ft.) but has more room for fresh food and beverages.

You can always use the electronic temperature control dial, and you’ll find the large vegetable crisper, door shelving, and recessed handles very useful.

2. Galanz Dual Door Mini Retro Fridge

This beautiful dual-door fridge by Galanz (a brand that makes many gorgeous retro kitchen appliances) has a separate freezer compartment up top (0.95 Cu. ft!), plenty of space on the door for tall items, a removable glass shelf, and a large crisper door to keep your food fresh.

It also has a thermostat so you can adjust to your optimal temperature, and it operates quietly, according to many user reviews.

We love the Galanz Mini Fridge’s sleek design, the rounded edges, the smooth and shiny surface, and the beautiful colors.

However, it may not accommodate some bottles you are used to having, and the thermostat is mechanical, so it won’t be as precise as a digital thermostat.

Portable Mini Fridges (Cosmetics, Travel, Office)

Portable retro mini fridges are not traditional refrigerators.

They use thermoelectric cooling, which means they cool relative to room temperature, not to a fixed cold point.

These are best for skincare, drinks, medications, or short-term use in bedrooms, offices, dorms, or cars.

They’re lightweight, quiet, and easy to move – but they’re not meant for long-term food storage.

1. Iceman Mini Portable Eraser Board Personal Fridge

This is a portable thermoelectric cooler designed for drinks, snacks, or cosmetics, not full food refrigeration.

It has a large handle for moving around easily, and a blackboard to unleash your creative side or remind you about your next meeting.

It also has a heat function to keep food warm for a while, which works with a flip of a switch and can hold 6 cans of your favorite soda.

We like that it is eco-friendly (Freon-free) and cETL-approved and that it also has a 12V car charger.

2. Frigidaire Retro Bar Fridge 

The Frigidaire 1.6 cu. ft. vintage-style retro mini fridge is often used in bedrooms or offices, though some users note compressor noise when it cycles on.

However, it can be great for a small office as well.

It even has a small freezer area (0.2 cu ft..) for your ice, a bottle opener, and a reversible door, so you can choose which way the door will open.

With a 1.6 cubic foot capacity, it has enough room to store favorite foods and drinks, but some users do complain about noise and freezing capabilities.

It has a little noise when the compressor kicks in that may bother you if it’s beside your bed.

3. Nostalgia Retro Mini Fridge (Cooling & Heating)

The adorable and space-efficient mini-fridge offers enough storage for six 12-ounce cans and features a convenient built-in handle so you can move it around or take it with you in your car (comes with both AC and DC detachable power cords!).

This versatile counter-depth mini-fridge can cool items to about 40–45°F below room temperature, depending on ambient conditions, or warm them up to 130°F.

Its interior is equipped with a removable shelf, allowing you to accommodate taller items like baby bottles or to keep smaller items organized, such as skincare products.

4. AstroAI Mini Fridge

The AstroAI mini fridge has a more modern design, and it has the same features and options as the Nostalgia:

an electric thermostat, a removable shelf, cooling and heating, home and car plugs, and a carrying handle.

The adorable pink color is the most popular choice among all the colors.

However, some users claim that it only marginally cools, and there are mixed opinions about the quality, durability, noise, and value of this cute little fridge.

The noise level is somewhat lower than the Nostalgia (25 dB.).

5. Frigidaire Mini With Built-In Speaker

What’s better than enjoying a nice cold beverage while listening to your favorite music – all from your ultra-cute retro fridge?

This one will be a brag-worthy item in any garage, office, dorm room, or small space, and the price is surprisingly affordable.

The Bluetooth pairing works great, and the sound and volume levels are not bad at all.

You’ll love pairing your phone and listening to your playlist, whether you are enjoying a cold beer or applying cosmetics stored inside.

The Frigidaire Mini Fridge with Speaker is a quiet, lightweight, and portable mini fridge that can be used for snacks, 6 cans of soda, some fresh food, skincare, breast milk, and medication – at home or in your car.

The yellow 50’s style color is gorgeous, and most users report adequate cooling for drinks and small items. But you have to be careful with it – some users reported the door latch breaking after the first use.

And for those who like their Coca-Cola, here’s a cute one with a Bluetooth speaker:

• Type – Portable thermoelectric
• Size – 7.25″D x 9.25″W x 10.25″H
• Weight – 4 lbs.

✅ $75 on Amazon

Prepared to keep up to six of your favorite cold ones refreshingly frosty, this one has a removable shelf and a wireless speaker.

It runs on DC/AC power (with the 2 cords included) and is lightweight and easy to carry around if you wish.

What is the Average Energy Consumption of a Mini Retro Fridge?

The average energy consumption of a mini retro fridge varies depending on the size and model. According to Energy Star, mini-fridges with a size ranging between 1.7 and 4.4 cubic feet use about 233 kWh to 310 kWh annually

Another source states that the average mini fridge uses between 7 and 73 kWh of electricity per month, with the average being 27 kWh per month.

However, the Galanz Retro Compact Mini Fridge with Freezer claims to use a high-efficiency and low-energy consumption compressor, which can cool food quickly with lower energy.

It has an annual energy consumption of 320 kWh.

Energy use varies widely by size, cooling technology, and insulation quality.

How Do You Reduce the Energy Consumption of Mini Fridges?

These tips can not only reduce the energy use of mini fridges but also prolong the life of these adorable coolers.

1. Keep the fridge door closed as much as possible to prevent the compressor from working too hard

2. Keep the fridge coils clean – dirty coils make it hard for the motor to keep the interior cool, and can increase energy consumption by up to 80%. Also, cleaning the coils can help extend the lifespan of the fridge.

3. Keep it in a cool place – Fridges located near heat sources (ovens, radiators, or direct sunlight) need to work against the elements to keep the inside cool. This drives up its energy usage and electricity bills.

4. Give it good ventilation – give at least 5 centimeters of space on the back, top, and side of your fridge so that air can circulate freely.

5. Adjust temperature settings –  make sure you don’t turn the temperature too low, as this will drive up the equipment’s power usage. Fridges shouldn’t be set lower than 5 degrees C, while freezers should be at 18 degrees C.

The KM Team