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Head-to-head · Best Electric Coolers

Dometic CFX5 45 vs Whynter FM-45G

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 clear margin (4.8 vs 3.9). 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 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 →
Whynter FM-45G
Ranked #3 in Best Electric Coolers
Whynter FM-45G
2 sources$410as of Oct 10

Budget buyers who need a true freezer land on the Whynter FM-45G. Outdoor Gear Lab measured a -5.8F minimum, which puts it in genuine deep-freeze territory at half the price of Dometic. Everything else is the tradeoff: a 65.5-watt power draw, the worst in the category, 54.6 lbs of weight, the heaviest, and OGL rating it 'the least favorite model to carry.' If you need real freezer performance on a budget and rarely move the cooler, it remains a defensible choice 15 years into its production run.

Strengths
  • — Outdoor Gear Lab measured -5.8F minimum temperature, deep into hard-freezer territory
  • — Long 9'6" DC power cord reaches across full-size truck beds without an extension
  • — Sturdy metal construction with thick walls, durable latch, and rubber feet
Watch-outs
  • — Outdoor Gear Lab measured 65.5 watts power draw, the highest in this category
  • — Actual usable capacity is around 40 quarts vs the advertised 45-quart claim
  • — 54.6 lbs empty with awkward carry handles makes it the least portable in the lineup
$410 · Buy at shopwhynter.comFull review →

How they stack up

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.

Whynter FM-45G

Versus the Goal Zero Alta 50, the FM-45G pulls roughly 8x the steady-state power. For grid-tied use where wattage doesn't matter and budget does, the FM-45G is the lowest-cost true-freezer in this lineup.

Specs side-by-side

SpecDometic CFX5 45Whynter FM-45G
Capacity45L (67 cans, per Dometic); 39.6L measured by OutdoorGearLab45 qt (40 qt actual / 58 cans)
Temperature Range+68F to -7F+50F to -8F
Dual ZoneNo (single zone)No (single zone)
Power Input12V/24V DC, 100-240V AC115V AC, 12V/24V DC
Power Draw41 Wh over 6 hours (OutdoorGearLab)65.5W measured
CompressorVMSO 3.5, R1234yf refrigerantCompressor (R134a refrigerant)
Dimensions27.32 x 15.67 x 18.74 in23.5 x 16.5 x 20.5 in
Empty Weight40.26 lbs (Dometic); 36.2 lbs measured by OutdoorGearLab54.6 lbs
App ControlBluetooth—
Warranty3-year (per Dometic's product page)1-year
Noise Level—40 dBA
Voltage—115 volts
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