The Midea compact refrigerator offers 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.
Our Rating: 3 / 5 (See: How Leaf Score is calculated)
Table of Contents
Product Highlights
- Features a separate chiller compartment that can keep colder items chilled
- Has adjustable legs and a reversible door, so it is easy to install in small spaces
- Chiller has a manual defrost option which helps to keep energy use low
| Country of Origin: | Not disclosed |
| Power and Capacity: | Total capacity: 4.4 cu. ft. Annual Energy Consumption Kwh/yr per Energy Guide: 226 kWh/yr Electrical Requirements (v/Hz) 115V/60Hz Running Amps 1.02 Noise Level (Db) 42.0 Unit Weights & Dimensions (in Inches) Overall Height (All inclusive) 33.86 Height (Cabinet Only) 32.68 Width 19.72 Depth Cabinet Only 18.5 Depth (Including Door) 21.26 Depth (Including Handle) 21.26 Depth (Door Open at 90°) 39.06 |
| Certifications: | Energy Star® |
| Coolant: | R600a |
Overview
There are no fancy whistles and bangs with this model (it’s actually very quiet). Instead, it offers 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 install in small spaces.
There is a 2L bottle door rack, 3 half shelves and 1 full (wire), and can storage in the door. The Midea comes with a 1-year warranty and uses r600a coolant and high impact polystyrene inner linings (which is recyclable).
Midea vs. EdgeStar vs. Danby Designer
The Midea offers a decent amount of space (4.4 cu. ft) in an attractive design, with low energy usage (226 kWh/yr), giving it an edge over the EdgeStar (270 kWh/yr and just 3.1 cu. ft). It is also very quiet at 42 decibels, compared to the Danby’s 50 decibels, which is helpful in a dorm room. However, the Midea only allows you to set the temperature to 32-35.6 °F, while the EdgeStar has a temperature range of 34-60 °F, and the Danby Designer’s temperature range is 32-50 °F.
The Danby Designer (View Price on Amazon) remains best in this category for energy usage and function. It is most economical both in upfront cost and running costs, comes in three finishes, and is compact and space efficient, with excellent flexible storage and a reversible door, so it can fit in pretty much any space and fit in with any design scheme. It also offers greater functionality for the same energy use (226 kWh/yr) as the Midea. All three of its wire racks (2 full and 1 half) are removable and it features a true freezer compartment instead of just a chiller like the Midea.
The EdgeStar (View Price on Amazon) also 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 might be 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.
All three models use eco-friendly r600a coolant rather than CFCs or HCFCs and both the Midea and the EdgeStar carry a 90 days labor and 1 year parts warranty. The Danby Designer, however, offers 18 months parts and labor coverage with in-home service. The Danby is also available in three finishes, as is the Midea, while the EdgeStar is only available currently in a stainless steel finish. Both the Midea and the Danby Designer are less expensive than the EdgeStar by about 20% on average.