Magic Chef MCR170BE Mini Fridge 1.7 cu ft

Overview

The Magic Chef MCR170BE is a 1.7 cu ft Energy Star mini fridge with a small freezer compartment, adjustable dial thermostat, and a reversible door. It suits dorm rooms, offices, and bedrooms needing compact, basic cold storage.

This is a straightforward manual-defrost mini fridge, not a feature-rich one, and that simplicity is part of its appeal to buyers replacing an older unit that lasted decades. The temperature dial is analog rather than digital, which a few buyers found fiddly to dial in precisely. It reads as an entry-level compact fridge rather than one built for heavy daily use across many years, though at least one long-term owner's experience suggests it can last.

• 1.7 cu ft Energy Star capacity
• Reversible door design
• Adjustable leveling legs
• Wire shelf for interior organization

Who it's for

Good for dorm, office, or bedroom use where basic chilled and light frozen storage is enough, and where budget matters more than precise temperature control. Less suited to anyone who needs a fully enclosed back panel look or fine-tuned digital temperature settings.

Pros and cons

Performance notes

Cooling is controlled by a single analog dial covering the full temperature range, which several buyers described as touchy, meaning small dial adjustments can swing the internal temperature noticeably. The 0.25 cu ft freezer section is small, sized for a few frozen items rather than meal storage. Because it's manual defrost, frost buildup in the freezer section has to be cleared by hand periodically rather than automatically.

Where it stands among compact refrigerators

• #8 most-searched brand and model of the 10 compact refrigerators lines we track (by search demand, not sales).

From the specs of the 112 compact refrigerators we list; not a test result.

Specifications

Closest rivals on specs

Galanz GL17BK Compact Dorm Refrigerator 1.7 cu ft

Midea WHS-65LB1 Mini Fridge 1.6 cu ft

BANGSON Mini Fridge with Freezer 1.6 cu ft

• Fresh Food Capacity 1.7 vs 1.4 cu ft (+21%)