Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge vs Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge
Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge (#3, best premium) vs Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge (#4): in our Mini Fridges for Dorm Rooms scoring the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge totals 7.4/10 and the Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge 7.3/10.
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TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge | Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249.99 | $159.99 |
| Total Capacity | 3.1 cu ft | 3.2 cu ft |
| Doors | 2 (top freezer) | 1 (single door) |
| Freezer | Separate-door top freezer | Internal compartment, 0.2 cu ft |
| Energy Star | No | No |
| Noise Level | Moderate | Moderate |
| Defrost | Manual | Automatic |
| Dimensions (D x W x H) | 19" x 20.5" x 33.5" | 18.6" x 17.1" x 32.5" |
| Weight | 45 lb | 38.5 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 Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge made our Top 5 Mini Fridges for Dorm Rooms, at #3 (best premium) and #4. 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. It offers the most fridge space of any pick and automatic defrost at a low price, which lifts it above the tiny BLACK+DECKER. But its freezer is only a small chiller box and it is not ENERGY STAR certified, so it falls short of the three fridges above that have real, separate freezers.
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 Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge 7.3. The widest gap is Noise Level, where the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge scores 8 against 7 for the Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge — compressor noise in a shared or quiet dorm room. Value also separates them: 8.2 for the Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge versus 7 for the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge. The Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge claws back ground on Capacity & Layout.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Total Capacity — 3.1 cu ft on the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge versus 3.2 cu ft on the Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge; Doors — 2 (top freezer) on the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge versus 1 (single door) on the Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge; Freezer — Separate-door top freezer on the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge versus Internal compartment, 0.2 cu ft on the Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge; Defrost — Manual on the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge versus Automatic on the Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge; Dimensions (D x W x H) — 19" x 20.5" x 33.5" on the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge versus 18.6" x 17.1" x 32.5" on the Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge; Weight — 45 lb on the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge versus 38.5 lb on the Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge. They match on Energy Star and Noise Level.
Pricing as of August 14, 2026: $249.99 for the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge and $159.99 for the Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge, a $90 difference in the Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge'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 Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge for largest fresh-food capacity in this lineup at 3 cu ft for the lowest two-door-rivaling price and automatic defrost means no manual ice-scraping, unlike every other pick here; the most common complaint is the 0.2 cu ft internal freezer compartment is a chiller — it will not keep ice cream hard.
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
Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge
- Largest fresh-food capacity in this lineup at 3 cu ft for the lowest two-door-rivaling price
- Automatic defrost means no manual ice-scraping, unlike every other pick here
- Full-width glass shelves and a single tall door make loading groceries easy
- Lightest full-size dorm option here at 38.5 lb
- The 0.2 cu ft internal freezer compartment is a chiller — it will not keep ice cream hard
- Not ENERGY STAR certified, with a relatively high ~304 kWh/year draw
- Budget build quality and a static-cooling compressor that can hum audibly in a quiet room
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 Noise Level and Cooling Performance. The Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge is the better fit for students who mainly store drinks, leftovers, and snacks, not frozen food and anyone who wants the most fridge room on the tightest budget, and the stronger choice if Value and Capacity & Layout matter more to you than the overall score. If the $90 saving matters more than Noise Level, the Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge 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 Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge is a poor fit for anyone who needs to keep ice cream or frozen meals genuinely frozen.
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 Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge if
- Students who mainly store drinks, leftovers, and snacks, not frozen food
- Anyone who wants the most fridge room on the tightest budget
- Buyers who would rather have automatic defrost than a real freezer
Skip it if
- Anyone who needs to keep ice cream or frozen meals genuinely frozen
- Buyers focused on the lowest running cost or the quietest operation
Common questions
Is the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge better than the Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge?
In our Mini Fridges for Dorm Rooms ranking the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge scores higher overall, 7.4 to 7.3, with the biggest advantage in Noise Level. The Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge is stronger on Value and Capacity & Layout, 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 Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge?
$90 more as of August 14, 2026: $249.99 for the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge against $159.99 for the Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge. Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure. What the extra buys is mostly Noise Level — 8 versus 7 in our scoring.
What is the main difference between the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge and the Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge?
The headline spec difference is Total Capacity: 3.1 cu ft on the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge versus 3.2 cu ft on the Igloo 3.2 Cu Ft Single-Door Mini Fridge. In use, the gap that matters most is Noise Level (8 vs 7 in our scoring): compressor noise in a shared or quiet dorm room.