Setpower 12V Refrigerator 59QT Dual Zone Electric Cooler Car Fridge

Why it's worth it

The DT55 splits 59 quarts into a 23-quart and a 36-quart compartment you control independently, and it does that on less power than any other dual-zone unit here. Full app control means you can check both sides from inside your tent.

You get a real fridge and a real freezer at the same time. The two compartments have separate digital controls, so one side can hold your beer at 38°F while the other keeps meat at -4°F. That's the single most useful thing a portable fridge can do, and most units here can't. Setpower rates the whole range from -4°F to 68°F, so either side can be either thing.

It's the gentlest unit here on a solar setup. The Smartele compressor draws 38W in MIN mode and 50W in MAX. For a dual-zone box that's remarkably low, and it's the number that decides whether one 100W panel keeps up with you or falls behind. If you're building a van around a finite battery bank, that gap compounds over a week.

From our review of 10 portable car refrigerators, by Ben Carter, Tech Editor

What we like

• +You get a real fridge and a real freezer at the same time
• +It's the gentlest unit here on a solar setup
• +The app does more than the Bluetooth units
• +Small design choices add up

What to know

• –There's no battery inside
• –Running both zones costs you
• –Setpower is newer here than the established names