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Head-to-head · Best Electric Coolers

Dometic CFX3 75DZ vs Dometic CFX5 45

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Dometic CFX5 45 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.8 vs 4.7). Dometic CFX5 45 is best for: Campers, overlanders and van travelers who run a powered cooler regularly and want accurate temperature control and low power draw in a mid-size, single-zone unit, and who accept a four-figure price for it. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Dometic CFX3 75DZ
Ranked #2 in Best Electric Coolers
Dometic CFX3 75DZ
1 sourceall derived$1,399.99as of Jul 17

For dual-zone use, the Dometic CFX3 75DZ is the overlander's reference fridge: independent 35L and 40L compartments that hit -7F freezer territory simultaneously, a CFX3 app with true remote monitoring, and an ExoFrame chassis built to take a beating. GearJunkie called the CFX3 line 'the pinnacle of design' from Dometic's portable cooling division, and long-term reviewers report it survives years of vibration and rough handling. It costs roughly triple what a value brand asks, but living out of a truck or trailer is what justifies that.

Strengths
  • — ExoFrame construction with reinforced edges survived rough off-road use in long-term testing
  • — Five-year compressor warranty backed by Dometic's global service network
  • — Runs on 12V/24V DC, 110-240V AC, or solar with built-in 3-stage battery protection
Watch-outs
  • — Larger 75L footprint requires more cargo space than typical 45L units
$1,399.99 · Buy at dometic.comFull review →
Dometic CFX5 45
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Electric Coolers
Dometic CFX5 45
1 source$1,049.99as of Oct 10

A 45-liter single-zone compressor cooler that OutdoorGearLab ranked first of the 11 powered coolers it tested, with an overall score of 86. In that test it held 34.7°F against a 35°F setpoint, chilled warm cans to 35°F in half an hour and used 41 watt-hours over six hours. Dometic lists it at $1,049.99.

Strengths
  • — OutdoorGearLab measured 34.7°F inside with the controls set to 35°F
  • — Brought warm cans down to 35°F in half an hour in OutdoorGearLab's test
  • — Drew 41 watt-hours over six hours, per OutdoorGearLab
Watch-outs
  • — OutdoorGearLab found the lid latch finicky
  • — Not the most portable model in OutdoorGearLab's test: 36.2 lb empty on its scale, and it may take two people to carry when full
  • — Single zone only, so it cannot hold frozen and chilled food at the same time
$1,049.99 · Buy at dometic.comFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Dometic CFX3 75DZ

The Dometic CFX3 75DZ has two independent zones of 35L and 40L, where the Goal Zero Alta 50, the Dometic CFX5 45 and the Whynter FM-45G are all single zone. At 61.3 lbs empty it is heavier than the Alta 50 at 49.4 lbs, and it costs more. Its compressor warranty runs five years against the Alta 50's two-year warranty, and its app connects over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth where the Alta 50's uses Bluetooth.

Dometic CFX5 45

The Dometic CFX5 45 is a single-zone cooler like the Goal Zero Alta 50 and the Whynter FM-45G, where the Dometic CFX3 75DZ has two independent zones. At 40.26 lbs by Dometic's figure it is lighter than the Alta 50 at 49.4 lbs and the Whynter at 54.6 lbs. It costs more than the Alta 50 or the Whynter and less than the CFX3 75DZ.

Specs side-by-side

SpecDometic CFX3 75DZDometic CFX5 45
Capacity75L (113 cans)45L (67 cans, per Dometic); 39.6L measured by OutdoorGearLab
Temperature Range+68F to -7F+68F to -7F
Dual ZoneYes (35L + 40L independent)No (single zone)
Power Input12V/24V DC, 110-240V AC, solar12V/24V DC, 100-240V AC
Power Draw~49W during cool-down41 Wh over 6 hours (OutdoorGearLab)
CompressorHermetically sealed (R134a)VMSO 3.5, R1234yf refrigerant
Dimensions35.1 x 19.5 x 18.6 in27.32 x 15.67 x 18.74 in
Empty Weight61.3 lbs40.26 lbs (Dometic); 36.2 lbs measured by OutdoorGearLab
App ControlWi-Fi + Bluetooth (CFX3 app)Bluetooth
Warranty5-year compressor3-year (per Dometic's product page)
Voltage12 volts—
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