How the Five Compare on the Numbers
Capacity is the first number to check. The Frestec, Upstreman, EUHOMY and Igloo all publish 3.2 cubic feet. The Cooluli publishes 4 liters, which is far smaller. If you need to store groceries for a week, the 3.2 cubic foot models are the ones to compare. If you need a personal cooler for a few cans, the Cooluli is the only one at that size.
Footprint is the second number. The Frestec publishes the largest width at 17.83 inches. The Upstreman publishes the largest depth at 18.7 inches and the largest height at 33.1 inches. The Cooluli is the smallest at 10.2 inches wide, 7.7 inches deep, and 10.5 inches tall. The EUHOMY publishes 30.9 inches of height, against 32.45 on the Frestec, 32.5 on the Igloo and 33.1 on the Upstreman.
The table does not tell you how well any of these units hold temperature, how quickly they cool, or how long they last. Those are performance questions, and nobody at Lush has used these machines. The table also does not show interior layout beyond shelf counts, so you cannot tell from these figures whether a tall bottle will fit upright.
Freezer Compartments and Defrost Systems
Which models include a freezer
The Frestec, Upstreman, and Igloo list a separate freezer compartment. The Upstreman publishes the freezer volume as 0.3 cubic feet and the refrigeration space as 2.9 cubic feet. The Frestec and Igloo do not publish separate freezer volumes. The EUHOMY and the Cooluli do not list a freezer compartment at all, so they are for chilled items only.
If you want to store ice cream or frozen meals, the Frestec, Upstreman, and Igloo are the three to consider. The Upstreman is the only one of the three that publishes the freezer volume, which makes it the easiest to compare against a freezer tray or ice cube bin you already own.
Defrosting methods
The Frestec lists a one-touch defrost system, which the maker describes as a button in the middle of the temperature control. The Upstreman includes a defrost tool for maintenance. The EUHOMY, Igloo and Cooluli do not publish a defrost system. For those three, you should expect to defrost manually. Neither the Frestec nor the Upstreman states how often it is needed.
Manual defrosting is not complicated, but it takes time and a place to put the food while the ice melts. If that sounds like a chore, the Frestec is the only one of the five with a published one-touch system. The Upstreman gives you a tool, which is a smaller convenience.
Beverage Centers and Can Counts
Published can capacity
The EUHOMY publishes the larger of the two can counts here: up to 130 standard cans in 3.2 cubic feet, across 5 removable shelves arranged in 5 slots. The Frestec, Upstreman and Igloo publish 3.2 cubic feet without a can figure, so the comparison stops there. The Cooluli publishes 6 cans in 4 liters, at the far other end of the scale.
The EUHOMY also publishes a temperature range of 37°F to 61°F on a touchscreen, which is warmer at the top end than the Upstreman and Igloo range of 32°F to 50°F. That suits drinks rather than food, and the maker does not publish a recommended setting for a specific drink. The Frestec publishes 6 thermostat settings and no temperature range at all.
Glass doors and shelving
The EUHOMY lists a double layer UV blocking glass door with a high tightness seal, high density foam and five removable shelves across five slots. It is the only pick with a glass door. The Upstreman publishes two adjustable glass shelves instead, and the Igloo publishes no shelf count at all. The Frestec, Upstreman and Igloo have solid doors and publish no UV blocking at all.
Glass doors let you see the contents without opening the door, which can help keep cold air inside. Solid doors block light, which may matter if the fridge sits in a bedroom. The Frestec, Upstreman, and Igloo are the solid door options among the five.
Which One Fits Your Kitchen
Dorm room with a freezer. The Frestec 3.2 Cu. Ft. has a separate freezer, a one-touch defrost system, and a published width of 17.83 inches. It publishes the largest width of the five, so measure your space before buying.
Small apartment with adjustable shelves. The Upstreman 3.2 Cu. Ft. includes two adjustable glass shelves, a crisper drawer, and a 0.3 cubic foot freezer. It publishes the largest depth and height of the five at 18.7 inches and 33.1 inches.
Home bar or game room. The EUHOMY 130 Can Mini Fridge holds up to 130 standard cans and has a double layer UV blocking glass door. It publishes 30.9 inches of height against 32.45, 32.5 and 33.1 inches on the other three full size picks.
Office or garage with simple controls. The Igloo 3.2 Cu. Ft. uses an adjustable mechanical thermostat and static cooling with no fan. It publishes a cooling range of 32°F to 50°F and a separate freezer compartment.
Desk or bedside table. The Cooluli 4L is the smallest and lightest of the five at 10.2 inches wide and 4.19 pounds. It runs on AC, DC, or USB and can cool or warm, but it does not have a freezer compartment.
What We Could Not Verify
The manufacturer does not publish the following figures for these models. We did not estimate them.
- Energy Star certification for the Frestec, EUHOMY, Igloo and Cooluli. Only the Upstreman states it.
- Annual energy use for any of the five. Two publish a daily kWh figure and none an annual one.
- Noise level for the Igloo or the Cooluli.
- Interior dimensions for the Frestec, Upstreman, EUHOMY or Igloo. Only the Cooluli publishes an inner measurement.
- Refrigerant type for all five models.
- Clearance requirements for installing the EUHOMY in a cabinet opening.