Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge vs BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator
Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge (#3, best premium) vs BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator (#5, best budget): in our Mini Fridges for Dorm Rooms scoring the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge totals 7.4/10 and the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator 7.1/10.
We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. Prices and availability shown are accurate as of Aug 14, 2026 and are subject to change; the merchant's price at purchase applies.
BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator
$141.15Check price at AmazonRead full reviewTopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge | BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249.99 | $141.15 |
| Total Capacity | 3.1 cu ft | 1.7 cu ft |
| Doors | 2 (top freezer) | 1 (single door) |
| Freezer | Separate-door top freezer | Internal chiller, 0.2 cu ft |
| Energy Star | No | Yes |
| Noise Level | Moderate | Quiet |
| Defrost | Manual | Manual |
| Dimensions (D x W x H) | 19" x 20.5" x 33.5" | 18.5" x 17.5" x 19.7" |
| Weight | 45 lb | 34.2 lb |
How they differ in real use
Built from our mini fridges for dorms scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge and the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator made our Top 5 Mini Fridges for Dorm Rooms, at #3 (best premium) and #5 (best budget). The retro Frigidaire ranks above the single-door picks because it keeps a real two-door layout and holds a steady fridge temperature per Reviewed.com, while adding standout looks. Flimsy interior fixtures, no ENERGY STAR rating, and the highest price keep it below the two true value leaders. The cheapest, smallest, and most efficient unit here — ENERGY STAR certified and quiet — which makes it the right call for a shelf or under a loft bed. It ranks fifth only because 1.7 cu ft and a chiller compartment simply hold and cool far less than the larger fridges above.
We score mini fridges for dorm rooms on Cooling Performance (25%), Capacity & Layout (25%), Noise Level (20%), Energy Efficiency (15%) and Value (15%). On that basis the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge totals 7.4 out of 10 and the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator 7.1. The widest gap is Capacity & Layout, where the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge scores 8 against 5.5 for the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator — usable fridge and freezer space, shelves, and door storage. Energy Efficiency also separates them: 9 for the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator versus 6 for the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge. The BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator claws back ground on Noise Level and Value.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Total Capacity — 3.1 cu ft on the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge versus 1.7 cu ft on the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator; Doors — 2 (top freezer) on the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge versus 1 (single door) on the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator; Freezer — Separate-door top freezer on the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge versus Internal chiller, 0.2 cu ft on the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator; Energy Star — No on the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge versus Yes on the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator; Noise Level — Moderate on the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge versus Quiet on the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator; Dimensions (D x W x H) — 19" x 20.5" x 33.5" on the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge versus 18.5" x 17.5" x 19.7" on the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator. They match on Defrost.
Pricing as of August 14, 2026: $249.99 for the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge and $141.15 for the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator, a $108.84 difference in the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator's favor. Owners praise the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge for standout retro design in several colors that reads as decor, not just an appliance and two-door layout with a separate top freezer and a built-in bottle opener; the most common complaint is reviewed.com described the interior fixtures as flimsy and plasticky. Owners praise the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator for lowest price and smallest footprint here — fits under a loft bed or on a shelf and ENERGY STAR certified with R600a refrigerant and just 70 watts of draw; the most common complaint is 1.7 cu ft holds far less than the 3-plus cu ft picks — a personal fridge, not a shared one.
Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge
- Standout retro design in several colors that reads as decor, not just an appliance
- Two-door layout with a separate top freezer and a built-in bottle opener
- Reversible door, spill-proof glass shelves, and adjustable leveling legs
- Reviewed.com found its fridge compartment holds a steady temperature
- Reviewed.com described the interior fixtures as flimsy and plasticky
- The most expensive fridge in this lineup despite modest capacity
- Not ENERGY STAR certified, so it costs more to run than the Midea or BLACK+DECKER
BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator
- Lowest price and smallest footprint here — fits under a loft bed or on a shelf
- ENERGY STAR certified with R600a refrigerant and just 70 watts of draw
- Quiet operation suits a desk-side or bedside spot in a shared room
- Reversible door and a slide-out glass shelf despite the compact size
- 1.7 cu ft holds far less than the 3-plus cu ft picks — a personal fridge, not a shared one
- The chiller compartment with ice tray keeps items cold but will not freeze them solid
- A single shelf limits how you organize taller items
Which should you buy?
The Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge is the better fit for students who want the fridge to look like part of the room's decor and buyers who like the bottle opener and diner-style handle details — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Capacity & Layout and Cooling Performance. The BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator is the better fit for tight spaces like under a lofted bed, on a shelf, or beside a desk and students who want the cheapest, most efficient personal fridge, and the stronger choice if Energy Efficiency and Noise Level matter more to you than the overall score. If the $108.84 saving matters more than Capacity & Layout, the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator is the better value. The Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge is a poor fit for value-focused buyers who want the most capacity per dollar; the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator is a poor fit for students who need to freeze food or share the fridge with a roommate.
Choose the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge if
- Students who want the fridge to look like part of the room's decor
- Buyers who like the bottle opener and diner-style handle details
- Anyone choosing on appearance who still wants a real top freezer
Skip it if
- Value-focused buyers who want the most capacity per dollar
- Anyone who prioritizes energy efficiency or premium interior fittings
Choose the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator if
- Tight spaces like under a lofted bed, on a shelf, or beside a desk
- Students who want the cheapest, most efficient personal fridge
- Anyone who only needs to keep drinks and snacks cold
Skip it if
- Students who need to freeze food or share the fridge with a roommate
- Anyone who wants full-size grocery capacity
Common questions
Is the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge better than the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator?
In our Mini Fridges for Dorm Rooms ranking the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge scores higher overall, 7.4 to 7.1, with the biggest advantage in Capacity & Layout. The BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator is stronger on Energy Efficiency and Noise Level, so it is the better pick if those matter most to you.
How much more does the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge cost than the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator?
$108.84 more as of August 14, 2026: $249.99 for the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge against $141.15 for the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator. Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure. What the extra buys is mostly Capacity & Layout — 8 versus 5.5 in our scoring.
What is the main difference between the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge and the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator?
The headline spec difference is Total Capacity: 3.1 cu ft on the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge versus 1.7 cu ft on the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17 1.7 Cu Ft Compact Refrigerator. In use, the gap that matters most is Capacity & Layout (8 vs 5.5 in our scoring): usable fridge and freezer space, shelves, and door storage.