There is exactly one specification that matters when buying a mini fridge in India, and most listings hide it: whether the unit has a compressor or a thermoelectric Peltier cooler. A Peltier unit can only cool about 20 °C below the surrounding air, so in a 40 °C room it reaches 20 °C — which is not refrigeration and will not keep milk. It will, however, be cheaper, silent and heavily advertised.
The tell is the BEE label. Peltier coolers do not carry a star rating because they are not classified as refrigerators. If a listing quotes a star rating and a kWh/year figure, it has a compressor. If it advertises only 'silent operation' and a low price, assume it does not, and do not buy it for anywhere that gets hot.
Beyond that, size honestly. A 45-53 L compact holds a couple of days of food for one person, drinks, or medicines — and the chiller box will make ice cubes but is not a freezer. If you need genuine overflow storage for a household, a 190 L single door at ₹13,000-15,000 is far better value per litre than a mini fridge, provided you have the floor space.
