Midea WHD-113FSS1 vs Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge
Midea WHD-113FSS1 (#1, best overall) vs Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge (#3, best premium): in our Mini Fridges for Dorm Rooms scoring the Midea WHD-113FSS1 totals 8.7/10 and the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge 7.4/10. At $239.99 versus $249.99, the Midea WHD-113FSS1 costs $10 less.
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TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| Midea WHD-113FSS1 | Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $239.99 | $249.99 |
| Total Capacity | 3.1 cu ft | 3.1 cu ft |
| Doors | 2 (dual door) | 2 (top freezer) |
| Freezer | Separate-door, 0.92 cu ft | Separate-door top freezer |
| Energy Star | Yes | No |
| Noise Level | Quiet | Moderate |
| Defrost | Manual | Manual |
| Dimensions (D x W x H) | 19.4" x 18.5" x 33" | 19" x 20.5" x 33.5" |
| Weight | 52.2 lb | 45 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 Midea WHD-113FSS1 and the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge made our Top 5 Mini Fridges for Dorm Rooms, at #1 (best overall) and #3 (best premium). It is the only fridge here with a freezer behind its own insulated door, so frozen food stays frozen — the single most useful feature in a dorm fridge. Add ENERGY STAR certification and quiet running and it beats the value and style picks below on the core job of keeping food cold and frozen. 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.
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 Midea WHD-113FSS1 totals 8.7 out of 10 and the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge 7.4. The widest gap is Energy Efficiency, where the Midea WHD-113FSS1 scores 9 against 6 for the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge — ENERGY STAR certification and annual energy draw. Cooling Performance also separates them: 9 for the Midea WHD-113FSS1 versus 7.5 for the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Doors — 2 (dual door) on the Midea WHD-113FSS1 versus 2 (top freezer) on the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge; Freezer — Separate-door, 0.92 cu ft on the Midea WHD-113FSS1 versus Separate-door top freezer on the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge; Energy Star — Yes on the Midea WHD-113FSS1 versus No on the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge; Noise Level — Quiet on the Midea WHD-113FSS1 versus Moderate on the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge; Dimensions (D x W x H) — 19.4" x 18.5" x 33" on the Midea WHD-113FSS1 versus 19" x 20.5" x 33.5" on the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge; Weight — 52.2 lb on the Midea WHD-113FSS1 versus 45 lb on the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge. They match on Total Capacity and Defrost.
Pricing as of August 14, 2026: $239.99 for the Midea WHD-113FSS1 and $249.99 for the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge, a $10 difference in the Midea WHD-113FSS1's favor. Owners praise the Midea WHD-113FSS1 for separate insulated freezer door keeps frozen food genuinely frozen, unlike single-door chiller boxes and ENERGY STAR certified — meaningful when the fridge runs 24/7 in a small closed room; the most common complaint is reviewed.com found it ships running warm and needs the thermostat turned up after setup. 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.
Midea WHD-113FSS1
- Separate insulated freezer door keeps frozen food genuinely frozen, unlike single-door chiller boxes
- ENERGY STAR certified — meaningful when the fridge runs 24/7 in a small closed room
- Runs quietly enough for a shared room, per owner feedback
- Reversible door and adjustable glass shelves fit either side of a dorm layout
- Reviewed.com found it ships running warm and needs the thermostat turned up after setup
- At 52 lb it is the heaviest fridge here to carry up to a dorm on move-in day
- Manual-defrost freezer needs occasional emptying and thawing
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
Which should you buy?
The Midea WHD-113FSS1 is the better fit for students who want a freezer that keeps ice cream and frozen meals solid and shared rooms where quiet, efficient running matters — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Energy Efficiency and Cooling Performance. 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. Since the Midea WHD-113FSS1 is both the higher scorer and $10 cheaper, the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge only makes sense for students who want the fridge to look like part of the room's decor. The Midea WHD-113FSS1 is a poor fit for buyers who need the lightest possible unit for a walk-up dorm; the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge is a poor fit for value-focused buyers who want the most capacity per dollar.
Choose the Midea WHD-113FSS1 if
- Students who want a freezer that keeps ice cream and frozen meals solid
- Shared rooms where quiet, efficient running matters
- Anyone buying one fridge to cover both fridge and freezer needs
Skip it if
- Buyers who need the lightest possible unit for a walk-up dorm
- Anyone who wants a plug-and-play fridge with no thermostat adjustment
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
Common questions
Is the Midea WHD-113FSS1 better than the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge?
In our Mini Fridges for Dorm Rooms ranking the Midea WHD-113FSS1 scores higher overall, 8.7 to 7.4, with the biggest advantage in Energy Efficiency. The Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge does not out-score it on any criterion we weigh.
How much more does the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge cost than the Midea WHD-113FSS1?
$10 more as of August 14, 2026: $249.99 for the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge against $239.99 for the Midea WHD-113FSS1. Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure.
What is the main difference between the Midea WHD-113FSS1 and the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge?
The headline spec difference is Doors: 2 (dual door) on the Midea WHD-113FSS1 versus 2 (top freezer) on the Frigidaire EFR840 Retro Mini Fridge. In use, the gap that matters most is Energy Efficiency (9 vs 6 in our scoring): ENERGY STAR certification and annual energy draw.