We tested the Xiaomi smart refrigerator. You can buy it in the Czech Republic for 15 thousand

Xiaomi has been bringing various kitchen appliances to the Czech Republic for years, in addition to phones, smartwatches, and other similar products. However, only last year did the brand send its first pieces of white goods –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ thus, an intelligent washing machine or the Mijia Refrigerator Cross Door 502L refrigerator also arrived on our market. We had the opportunity to test this very one, not at an exhibition, but directly in our home. The Czech representation of the brand provided us with a unit, thanks to which we can share our impressions with you.

The Mijia Refrigerator Cross Door 502L is a so-called American-style refrigerator, suitable for more spacious kitchens. Thanks to its silver metal front, its design fits mainly into more modernly furnished homes. The four-door system separates the refrigerator zone with a total volume of 326 liters and the freezer with a volume of 176 liters, and at the same time divides each of them into two halves. The 29L i Fresh zone is noteworthy; it is part of the cooling section but allows for setting a different temperature for storing specific types of food (such as fish or fruit). The doors can only be opened to a 90° angle, yet all drawers are easily accessible.

From our own experience, we can say that the refrigerator offers a lot of space, making it suitable even for larger households. From our perspective, the arrangement of the side compartments, which can hold many items, is also practical. The freezer is understandably smaller than the cooling section, but it still holds a lot of food, and thanks to its division into 6 sections, you can easily keep it organized.

The refrigerator’s temperature can be controlled both via the integrated panel with a display and buttons, and using the Xiaomi Home mobile application. The advantage is that you can change settings from your phone anywhere in the world, provided the refrigerator is connected to your home Wi-Fi. You can even share access to it with other family members. 

It was a surprise to me that the refrigerator in the app doesn’t offer a particularly wide range of settings, at least compared to the smart washing machine mentioned. Essentially, it only allows temperature regulation, separately for the refrigerator, freezer, and the i Fresh section (Xiaomi deserves praise precisely for this small area with temperature settings independent of the rest of the refrigerator).

For fast cooling or fast freezing, the refrigerator can be switched to a special mode that lowers the temperature to a minimum (which is 2 °C for the refrigerator and -24 °C for the freezer). If you accidentally leave the refrigerator door open for more than 2 minutes, you will receive a notification in the app (though I can’t imagine a scenario where I would personally appreciate that). Smart home enthusiasts, however, might appreciate the option of integration into the Google Home platform.

The Xiaomi Mijia Refrigerator Cross Door 502L is equipped with a dual inverter, whose compressor comes with a ten-year warranty. According to the manufacturer, this system guarantees ecological energy efficiency and quiet operation, but unfortunately, the reality is that the refrigerator audibly hums in silence.

What we were unable to verify is the functionality of the alleged antibacterial protection with odor removal capability. Xiaomi specifically advertises an “antibacterial module with silver ions that eliminates odors in the refrigerator.”

The Xiaomi Mijia Refrigerator Cross Door 502L smart refrigerator arrived on the Czech market last year and is currently selling on Alza for 14 999 Kč. The MIJIA Refrigerator Side-by-Side 621L, a two-door refrigerator with a higher volume, has also arrived in the Czech Republic, costing 17 999 Kč. You can read more about it in our separate article.

Would you buy a Xiaomi smart refrigerator?