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Head-to-head · Best Mini Fridges

Magic Chef Retro 3.2 Cu. Ft. 2-Door Mini Refrigerator vs NewAir AB-1200 126-Can Beverage Center

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

Magic Chef Retro 3.2 Cu. Ft. 2-Door Mini Refrigerator comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.1 vs 4.0). Magic Chef Retro 3.2 Cu. Ft. 2-Door Mini Refrigerator is best for: people who want a retro mini fridge with a separate freezer door and a crisper drawer. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Magic Chef Retro 3.2 Cu. Ft. 2-Door Mini Refrigerator
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Mini Fridges
Magic Chef Retro 3.2 Cu. Ft. 2-Door Mini Refrigerator
2 sourcesall derived

The Magic Chef HMCR320 is a retro-styled two-door mini fridge with a separate top freezer, a crisper drawer and a listed capacity of 3.2 cubic feet. Wirecutter recommends it for buyers who want a tall mini fridge that feels more like a full-size one, recording fridge temperatures between 34.8°F and 37°F throughout its tests. Reviewed also found excellent temperature control, but noted that the door can bounce open and the handles feel cheap. It suits a dorm room, studio or office that needs real freezer space; anyone who needs a reversible door or a sturdy handle should look elsewhere.

Strengths
  • — Wirecutter logged fridge temperatures between 34.8°F and 37°F throughout testing
  • — Reviewed found fridge within a degree or two of target, freezer within one degree
  • — Separate freezer door fits frozen meals, ice cream pints and full-size ice trays
Watch-outs
  • — Door can bounce back open unless it is shut firmly
  • — Retro handle often loosened or came off in Wirecutter's testing
  • — The door is not reversible
Buy at homedepot.comFull review →
NewAir AB-1200 126-Can Beverage Center
Ranked #4 in Best Mini Fridges
NewAir AB-1200 126-Can Beverage Center
1 sourceall derived$373.99as of Oct 11

The NewAir AB-1200 is the specialty pick when beverages come first and food second. Capacity runs to 126 cans, and 7 discrete temperature settings between 34 and 64 degrees Fahrenheit cover everything from ice-cold beer to wine cellar temperatures. The glass door makes it as much a piece of bar furniture as a fridge, though owners consistently call out compressor noise as the main drawback. Aim it at home bars, game rooms, basement rec spaces, and beverage-heavy office break rooms.

Strengths
  • — Seven discrete temperature settings (34 F to 64 F) handle everything from cold lager to red wine cellar temperature
  • — Stainless-trimmed glass door doubles as a display piece and lets you check inventory without opening the unit
  • — Interior LED lighting with manual on/off switch is a thoughtful touch for bar-cart and game-room installs
Watch-outs
  • — No freezer compartment - this is a single-zone refrigerator, not a freezer-equipped mini fridge
$373.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull 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

Magic Chef Retro 3.2 Cu. Ft. 2-Door Mini Refrigerator

Wirecutter describes the Frigidaire EFR840 as virtually the same fridge as the Magic Chef HMCR320, so the choice between them comes down mainly to door storage and finish. Unlike the freezerless NewAir AB-1200, it has a separate freezer compartment, and it adds a crisper drawer that the Midea WHD-113FSS1 is not described as having in the sources.

NewAir AB-1200 126-Can Beverage Center

Unlike every other product in this list, the NewAir AB-1200 has no freezer compartment - it is a single-zone beverage refrigerator. Capacity-wise, its 126-can headline is roughly 10 times what the can-dispenser on the Frigidaire EFR492 holds and 30 times the EFR840's bottle-opener-only setup. Buyers comparing it to the Midea WHD-113FSS1 or hOmeLabs HME030236N should be clear: those are general-purpose dorm fridges, while this is purpose-built beverage furniture. None of the freezer-equipped picks in this list - EFR492, EFR840, Midea, or hOmeLabs - can match its 126-can throughput.

Specs side-by-side

SpecMagic Chef Retro 3.2 Cu. Ft. 2-Door Mini RefrigeratorNewAir AB-1200 126-Can Beverage Center
ModelHMCR320WE—
Listed Capacity3.2 cu ft—
Measured Capacity (Reviewed)2.01 cu ft—
Dimensions33.5" H x 19.1" W x 20.1" D—
ConfigurationTop freezer with separate door—
FinishesWhite, mint green, red, black—
Reversible DoorNoNo
Capacity (cu ft)—3.4
Type—Single-zone beverage center
Freezer Section—No
Temperature Range (F)—34 to 64
Adjustable Shelves—5 flip-orientation wire
Can Holder Capacity (cans)—126 standard 12-oz
Dimensions (HxWxD inches)—33.4 x 18.5 x 19.4
Weight (lbs)—75
Warranty—1-year parts and labor
Voltage—110 volts
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