Midea MERM33S1ABB Review 2027: Freezerless Layout and Buying Checks

My verdict

I would investigate this model for lunches, milk and produce when a freezer is unnecessary and the Danby cabinet is too wide. Midea lists 3.3 cu. ft., three shelves and a reversible door. Those features give it a coherent purpose as a compact all-refrigerator option.

The defrost conflict is not a minor wording issue. The manufacturer webpage says automatic defrost, while its specification sheet says manual. That changes the work involved in ownership. A suitable offer is also unconfirmed, so this is a researched alternative rather than an immediate best-buy recommendation.

Choose refrigerated space deliberately

The all-fridge design makes sense when the normal load contains no frozen meals. I would compare shelf height and door storage with the containers actually used, rather than assuming 3.3 cu. ft. provides a fixed number of lunches.

Three listed shelves can offer useful organisation, but confirm the shipped arrangement and any loose accessories. A related stainless model or a family gallery should not be used as proof of the black unit’s exact package.

A reversible door is helpful only when the conversion and opening space are compatible with the intended location. Check the exact instructions and retain any required parts.

Compare the cabinet saving with the complete installation

The appeal is concentrated refrigerated storage in a relatively narrow cabinet. The stated 3.3 cu. ft. food volume is 50% greater than the 2.2 cu. ft. refrigerator section of the WHD-113FSS1. That is a nominal volume comparison, not a measured increase in lunch-box capacity. In exchange, MERM33S1ABB provides no separate freezer.

At 18.6 × 17.6 inches, the closed cabinet occupies about 2.27 square feet. With our conservative side and rear gaps, the planning rectangle becomes about 3.99 square feet. That is still smaller than the Danby’s approximately 5.62-square-foot placement rectangle, but neither figure includes standing room or an open door. I would compare those complete allocations before choosing on cabinet width alone.

The 260 kWh annual figure is only 10 kWh below the WHD-113FSS1’s published figure: an illustrative $1.80 a year at 18 cents per kWh. That small estimate would not decide the purchase for me. The useful choice is more fresh-food space versus a separate freezer, followed by confirmed maintenance, fit and a suitable offer.

Check the installation before ordering

The model-specific manual gives 18.6 × 17.6 × 34.0 inches; the product webpage gives a slightly shorter 33.9-inch height. I use the taller manual figure when planning space. Its diagram requires more than 100 mm beside, behind and above the appliance. Four inches is 101.6 mm and clears that stated threshold.

Adding four inches on both sides and at the rear and top gives a conservative 26.6 × 21.6 × 38-inch planning envelope. That is the finder input, not a built-in installation approval. The fridge must remain freestanding, and opening the door and removing shelves need their own working area.

The manual also provides a 135-degree door-opening diagram marked 795 × 770 mm, about 31.3 × 30.3 inches. Keep that open-door drawing separate from the closed-unit ventilation calculation. Measure obstructions, the walking route and the actual supplied appliance before committing to a location.

Living with this fridge

The recovered manual includes a power-off defrost procedure, supporting the need to plan for frost removal. The product webpage still calls the system automatic while the specification sheet says manual. I would get the supplied revision’s instructions before choosing it specifically for low-maintenance ownership; the conflict has not disappeared just because a manual is readable.

The published annual energy figure is 260 kWh, giving an illustrative $46.80 per year at 18 cents per kWh. It is not a measurement of a delivered unit. The operating environment still needs to match the model’s instructions; this is not assessed as a garage-ready appliance.

I would make the maintenance answer part of the purchase record. A seller’s general “easy care” description does not resolve the manual-versus-automatic conflict. Once the exact instructions are established, use them to plan food relocation, cleaning and restart checks. The defrosting guide explains the distinction without assuming either system.

Support, condition and warranty

Manufacturer: one-year limited parts-and-labour warranty. Confirm the exact seller, condition and current terms.

The recovered Midea-authored manual explicitly covers MERM33S1ABB and MERM33S1AST. Match it to the supplied appliance and ask the seller to resolve any different revision or maintenance claim.

Check warranty and return conditions for the selected seller and condition. Keep the receipt and model label; readable documentation does not establish an available offer.

When I would choose a different model

More room for fresh food

Danby DAR044A6DDB

Investigate the Danby when documented automatic defrost and more fresh-food space matter, provided its much larger installation area and an actual offer work.

Buy on Amazon ↗Confirm a current offer for this exact model on Amazon before choosing it.

Read the full DAR044A6DDB review →

My pick for a small personal supply

BLACK+DECKER BCRK17B

Choose the smaller BCRK17B for a modest personal supply if you can accept its different layout and short-term internal compartment. It is not an equivalent freezerless capacity.

Buy on Amazon ↗

Read the full BCRK17B review →

Before you buy

Match MERM33S1ABB in black. The latest recorded exact Amazon page showed an unavailable message; use the button to check the current listing rather than assuming a purchasable offer.

I would confirm the current offer and maintenance instructions, then use the documented installation envelope to rule out unsuitable locations. A smaller cabinet width is useful only when the surrounding ventilation and door space also work.

Questions before you choose