Coolers come in handy for keeping food and drinks cold during outdoor activities, such as camping, beach outings, and even during parties; and it’s a real party damper to find your food and drinks drowning in a lake of melted ice. So, why not get a cooler that is designed in such a way that doesn’t rely on ice? You’ll also want it to be smart, capable of cooling on its own and communicating with your other smart devices.
Coolers have evolved slowly since the first cooler—a simple portable ice chest—was invented by Richard C. Laramy on February 24, 1951. Nowadays, we already have thermoelectric coolers that you can readily plug into the cigarette lighter socket of your car. These innovative electric coolers can cool anything down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit or 22 degrees Celsius below ambient temperature. Moreover, there are some coolers that are already powered by solar energy, although these types of coolers are still very expensive and in their incipient stage of development. Some coolers, however, have apps that allow you to control them using your smartphones. And like any smart device, these innovative electric coolers are gaining popularity among consumers. If you’re shopping for an electric cooler, find what you’re looking for in this list of the top 18 electric coolers available now.
Koolatron 36-Quart Kool Kaddy
The Kool Kaddy is awesome because it can work either as an upright or chest refrigerator with its removable shelves. It measures around 15.8 inches by 21 inches by 15.5 inches (40.1 by 53.3 by 39.4 centimeters) with an internal capacity of 36 quarts or about 34 liters. This spacious iceless cooler is capable enough of storing 57 cans of 12-ounce beverages.
This thermoelectric cooler can cool down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit below ambient temperature and can warm its contents up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit or 45 degrees Celsius. You can plug it into the cigarette lighter adapter of any car. Its only big drawback is that it doesn’t have an AC power adapter for off-vehicle use. It is quite affordable, though, and will make a great cooler for any location where you can park your car.
Coleman 40-Quart PowerChill Thermoelectric Cooler
The PowerChill measures around 15 inches by 21.75 inches by 17.125 inches (38.1 by 55.3 by 43.5 centimeters) and weighs around 18 pounds or 8.16 kilograms when empty. It has a 40-quart (37.85 liters) internal space that can hold at least 44 cans of beverage. Its power cord/adapter allows it to connect to any household AC source or to the cigarette lighter port of any car. Its drawback, however, is that it is solely dedicated to cooling, and can’t keep warm contents to temperature. It’s a very affordable cooler that you can take anywhere with a power source.
Coleman 40-Quart PowerChill Hot/Cold Thermoelectric Cooler
“cooler/warmer.” It can be used as a customary chest cooler or as a refrigerator when in its upright position. When used as a fridge, you can set its door to open either from the left or right. The PowerChill Hot/Cold can cool beverages inside its roomy 40-quart compartment down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit below ambient temperature.
The PowerChill Hot/Cold cooler is slightly larger than its cooler-only variant; it measures 16 inches by 24 inches by 17.2 inches (40.6 by 60.9 by 43.9 centimeters), and it weighs around 18 pounds or 8.16 kilograms. It can be connected to the cigarette lighter port of any car or to any household convenient outlet using a separate adapter.
The apparent disadvantage of this Coleman cooler model is its bulky size, which can pose as a problem if you have limited space. Its other disadvantage is that it needs a separate adapter when used indoors. If you need a cooler that can also double as a warmer on occasion, this is an affordable choice.
Wagan EL6224 24-Liter Cooler/Warmer
The Wagan EL6224 uses a 12-volt power input with a power consumption of 40 watts. It can be connected to the vehicle’s cigarette lighter terminal using its 7-foot-long power cord. With an optional power adapter, you can readily plug this cooler/heater into an AC power source.
It measures 11 inches by 16 inches by 16.5 inches (27.9 by 40.6 by 41.9 centimeters) and weighs around 9.75 pounds or 4.42 kilograms. It can accommodate four 2-liter soda bottles or 27 12-ounce cans inside its 24-liter (25-quarts) internal space that measures 8.5 inches by 8.5 inches by 12.5 inches (21.6 by 21.6 by 31.7 centimeters). It’s an affordable choice that will cost a little extra for the 110-240 volts AC to 12-volt DC power adapter and AC/DC converter.
Igloo 40369 Iceless Thermoelectric Cooler
With overall dimensions of 12.9 inches by 16.6 inches by 18.2 inches (32.8 by 42.2 by 46.2 centimeters) and an empty weight of 10 pounds or 4.54 kilograms, the Igloo cooler is one of the most handy coolers. But, as with most cooler products, the base product doesn’t come with the much-desired AC adapter/converter. This model also lacks the ability to warm your food.
Due to these shortfalls, it is generally considered to be an expensive model compared to other similarly-priced products that already have warming functions. Another point of concern is that it’s lid is a bit heavy for its size. Models that come with a 110-240 volts AC to 12 volts DC power adapter/converter cost extra.
NutriChef PKTCEC32SL 32-Liter Portable Cooler/Warmer
The PKTCEC32SL makes use of a thermoelectric system that has a convection fan and brushless motor that work to speed up its cooling or warming process. It can achieve temperatures between 40 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit below ambient temperature. It can also heat its contents up to 122-144 degrees Fahrenheit or 50-62.2 degrees Celsius. Moreover, it has a 32-liter internal space capacity and can hold up to 35 12-ounce cans of beverages.
The PKTCEC32SL cooler/warmer measures around 18.1 inches by 12.6 inches by 18.1 inches (45.9 by 32.0 by 45.9) and weighs around 8.82 pounds or 4 kilograms when empty. You can plug it to the cigarette lighter receptacle of any car. You’ll need to buy the more expensive model, which comes with a separate power adapter/converter if you want to connect it to an AC outlet.
Rockpals 30-Quart Electric Cooler/Warmer
This cooler/warmer comes with a brushless motor and a convection fan on its lid to evenly spread the cool or warm air inside its storage space. It also comes with an 8.5-foot (2.59-meter) 12-volt power cord that you can readily plug into the cigarette lighter port of any car. With this long cord at hand, you can conveniently position this cooler/warmer anywhere.
Like most iceless electric coolers, Rockpals’ main drawback is that the AC adapter/converter costs extra. Its weighs 12.8 pounds or 5.8 kilograms. Moreover, consumers sometimes consider this cooler to be a bit narrow.
Schumacher 1215 20-Liter Cooler & Warmer
Using the latest in thermoelectric technology, the Schumacher 1215 can preserve and heat food inside its 20-liter internal space capacity within a matter of minutes. Power is supplied through a 7-foot (2.13-meter) long power cord that can be plugged into a vehicle’s cigarette lighter receptacle. It lacks the much-needed AC converter/adapter cord for non-vehicle use. It’s also one of the more expensive models on our list.
Bestek Wheeled Electric 30-Quart Cooler and Warmer
It uses a thermoelectric system along with a convection fan to distribute the cold or warm air inside its storage. The Bestek 30-quart cooler, despite its 12.8 pounds or 5.8 kilograms net weight, is considerably lighter than other products. It is conveniently fitted with a pair of wheels and a telescoping carrier handle that can you can extend when moving it from one place to another.
The Bestek 30-quart cooler uses a 12-volt power supply with a maximum capacity rating of 68 watts. It can be connected to a cigarette lighter port using its 8.5-foot cord. You’ll pay a little extra for the Bestek cooler/warmer model that comes with an AC converter/adapter.
Suaoki 7-Quart Portable Car Fridge Electric Cooler and Warmer
With overall dimensions of 15.7 inches by 11.8 inches by 7.9 inches (39.9 by 30 by 20 centimeter) and a net weight of 5.8 pounds or 2.65 kilograms, it is extremely small and can only accommodate nine 12-ounce cans of beverages. It also comes with two molded-in cup holders on top of the cooler.
The Suaoki Portable Fridge Cooler comes with a shoulder strap for easy carrying. It also comes with a power cord that can be connected to the cigarette lighter terminal of any car. When away from your car, you can charge it using a dedicated Suaoki portable generator. Like many other cooler/warmer brands, one major flaw of the Suaoki portable fridge is that the AC converter/adapter costs extra.
Black+Decker TC212B 2.3-Gallon Cooler and Warmer
The TC212B uses a thermoelectric element to cool and heat its storage space. It also needs a 12-volt power supply. Using its power cord, you can easily plug it into the cigarette lighter port of any car. It can heat food up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or 48.8 degrees Celsius or chill food and drinks down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit below ambient temperature. The TC212B is arguably the best small electric cooler at hand, although it also has its shortfalls; it takes a little longer to warm and lacks a built-in AC converter/adapter cord on the base model. You can buy the AC converter/adapter model for a little extra.
Knox 48-Quart Electric Cooler and Warmer
Its 48-quart (45 liters) internal space measuring 17 inches by 12 inches by 11 inches (43.2 by 30.5 by 27.9 centimeters) is spacious enough to contain six 2-liter soda bottles and 15 12-ounce cans of beverage or 60 12-ounce cans of soda or beer. It can cool its contents down to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit or 4.4 degrees Celsius. It can also heat food up to around 130 degrees Fahrenheit or 54.4 degrees Celsius before serving.
The Knox chest cooler/warmer uses 12 volts to power its thermoelectric system, which includes a convection fan. You can connect this cooler/warmer to the cigarette lighter receptacle of any car via the use of its 5.5-foot (1.68 meters) power cord. This cooler/warmer, unlike other coolers, also comes with a built-in AC converter/adapter and a power cord that you can plug into any AC outlet.
Koolatron P27 29-Quart Voyager Cooler
It can hold up to 48 12-ounce cans of soda or beer and can be easily plugged into the cigarette lighter port of any car. It has a hard-body design that can be set horizontally or vertically, and its lid is quite easy to seal. Its dimension is 17.5 inches by16 inches by 15.4 inches.
The known pros of Koolatron based on feedback provided by its users is that it is lightweight as compared to other brands. Next, it doesn’t overheat. One drawback based on users’ feedback is that it is a bit noisy when it’s running. On the plus side, it is very affordable for a larger model.
CATUO 24-Liter Portable Travel Cooler and Food Warmer
Its removable lid allows for easy access when cleaning its inside. It is also equipped with a cool locking mechanism. It measures 15.8 inches by 17.1 inches by 11.8 inches (40.2 by 43.4 by 30 centimeters) and weighs 10.55 pounds or 4.79 kilograms when empty.
The Catuo cooler can be connected to the cigarette lighter receptacle of any car via the use of its power cord. It can also be powered by AC via the use of its AC power cable that you can easily plug into a 110-120V AC power supply (50-60 Hz). Its power consumption is 55-60 watts on and AC power supply and 42-46 watts on a 12-volt DC power source. Its only apparent drawback is that it’s smaller than some of the other models on our list.
Dometic CFX-35US 34-Quart Portable Electric Cooler/Freezer
It is easy to carry around and is very convenient with reinforced corners with heavy-duty details that give it a slim and cutting-edge look. Its hinges are made of stainless steel and it has robust linings. This fantastic heavy-duty cooler can withstand long-term use and demanding loads. Moreover, you can control and monitor it using its Wi-Fi app, making it a smart electric cooler.
It is also energy-efficient with an LED interior light. It also has detachable carrying handles that you can readily fold to save space. Moreover, it has a USB port that allows you to charge your small electronic gadgets. It also has a digital temperature display allowing you to read its inside temp. This cooler is one of the most advanced options you’ll find. Unfortunately, it also has a rather advanced price.
Cooluli 4-Liter Electric Cooler and Warmer
The Cooluli Cooler and Warmer has a sleek but durable design. It is characterized by its beautiful matte finish. With this design, it can easily fit inside your home or any other place. It has a lightweight sturdy polypropylene (PP) plastic design with a magnetic self-locking latching door. It also has a handle for easy movement and convenient handling.
It has a dynamic mechanism by which it cools and heats its contents. It works by simply transferring heat from one part or side of the device to the other side of the device; hence, you need to wait for 30 minutes before its contents totally cool or warm up. The exterior dimension of this cooler is 11 inches by 7.25 by 10 inches and its cooling capacity ranges between 40 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit while its warming capacity is between 122 and 144 degrees Fahrenheit.
Its advantages include that it is that it is noiseless and very light. The only disadvantage is its smaller size that would only be suitable for short trips.
Kinverch 10-Liter Electric Cooler and Warmer
Its unique design allows you to carry it with ease, and its dimensions are 8.19 inches by 11.2 by 12.01 inches. It has a top handle that you can conveniently hold on to while carrying it. It also comes with an 18-month warranty and 24-hour customer service. It is leak-proof, but has one major disadvantage; the more items you store in it, the less it cools. The price is right for this model, so it could make a great choice if you don’t need anything larger.
Housmile 7-Liter Thermoelectric Cooler and Warmer
This chest cooler can easily pass as the smallest and lightest electric-powered coolers. It has a 7-liter capacity storage area that can hold up to 12 12-ounce soda cans or some tall soda or water bottles due to its hollowed lid. It also uses a thermoelectric unit to keep its content chilled down to 27 degrees Fahrenheit or 15 to 17.5 degrees Celsius below ambient temperature. This thermoelectric unit can also warm food up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit or 60 degrees Celsius.
It uses 36 to 68 watts of power or 12-volt DC. You can plug it into the cigarette lighter receptacle of any car. It also comes with an AC/DC converter-adapter for household or extension cord use. Appropriate to its size, it’s one of the least expensive products on the market. One drawback, however, based on feedback provided by consumers, is that it is less reliable than other models of similar size and cost.