I had the opportunity to see the Xiaomi Mijia Refrigerator Cross Door 510L refrigerator which can be said to be still new since it was released in the same year. This is the first time I have been given the opportunity to review a refrigerator and this experience turned out to be interesting and opened up space for me to evaluate it from the perspective of an ordinary user.
Usage Experience
As an ordinary user, my review is not entirely technical. On the contrary, I am more inclined to share experiences based on daily use.
In terms of design, the Xiaomi Mejia 510L refrigerator features a modern and neat style. This design is very suitable for a home kitchen that prioritizes the minimalist concept. The unit I received was placed in an office studio with an open space concept.
Overall, its appearance looks quite attractive. In fact, it seems to fit the environment and successfully completes the atmosphere with a stylish and organized contemporary style.
The exterior finish of this refrigerator comes in gray and as far as I know, only one color option is offered for the Malaysian market. The surface also has a grainy texture that tends to have a matte finish and is not slippery.
This feature makes it comfortable to touch and hold. Therefore, I think that such a design is very practical for use in daily routines.
According to Xiaomi, this design is inspired by the theory of pallasite which combines the beauty of stars with the natural texture of rocks. The combination of these elements not only produces an elegant appearance, but also highlights a space with a classy touch.
In addition, I understand that the dimensions of this refrigerator are designed according to industry standards. The flat surface feature allows it to be arranged more easily and neatly, thus making it suitable for various home layouts.
However, Xiaomi recommends that during the installation process, users provide at least 5cm of space on both sides, top and back of the refrigerator. This step is important to ensure that ventilation and heat dissipation occur more effectively.
Therefore, the actual position of the refrigerator needs to be adjusted according to the user's experience and the layout of their respective home spaces.
In terms of function, this refrigerator is equipped with four doors, two at the top and two at the bottom. Typically, a one- or two-door refrigerator can expose the entire interior when opened, causing a large amount of cold air to escape. This situation not only affects the cooling level, but also increases electricity consumption.
Therefore, I think that the four-door design offered by the Xiaomi refrigerator provides advantages in daily use. I only need to open the necessary parts without exposing the entire interior. This feature is very helpful in maintaining the cold temperature in the refrigerator, thus reducing energy waste.
Not only that, but the design also makes it easier to store and take out items more organized.
In my opinion, this is one of the main advantages that makes this refrigerator a smart choice, especially for those who prioritize efficiency, savings and convenience in daily life.
Xiaomi also states that this refrigerator is one of the thinnest models in its class with a capacity of 510 liters. I cannot confirm this claim since I do not have another refrigerator with the same capacity to compare.
However, in terms of external design, this model looks slimmer and neater than most large-sized refrigerators I have ever seen.
What I can say is that this 510-liter capacity does offer enough space to store a variety of foods and drinks, including fresh and frozen items.
In daily use, this spacious interior space really helps users organize items more organized and easily accessible.
Personally, I consider this size to be a practical choice for medium-sized families or individuals who like to stock up on large amounts of food.
As soon as the refrigerator door is opened, users will be presented with an arrangement of three trays in the middle. These trays are suitable for storing daily staples or sweets such as cakes, chocolates and various other snacks.
Next, at the bottom there are two additional trays specially designed to store fresh ingredients according to category. One tray is suitable for storing fruits and vegetables, while the other can be used for the defrosting process of meat.
Frozen meat usually takes a long time to soften before cooking. However, this refrigerator provides a special compartment that can help speed up the defrosting process more efficiently. More interestingly, the temperature in this compartment can be adjusted according to the type of food stored.
Through the iFresh Convertible Zone feature, users can adjust the temperature between -1°C to 5°C according to the type of food stored. This temperature adjustment can be done with just one touch, thus allowing food to always be fresh through more independent temperature control. Here are the temperature recommendations according to ingredient categories:
0°C for freshness – suitable for storing meat and fish without having to freeze.
Medium cold temperature – suitable for drinks and ready-to-eat foods such as cheese, sausage or sandwiches to always be fresh and free of mold.
Higher temperatures – ideal for storing fruits and vegetables for longer shelf life.
Moving to the side, there are six shelves, three on the left and three on the right, which are suitable for storing drinks or cooking ingredients. The upper space is usually used to place eggs. For users who like to organize ingredients such as sesame seeds, nuts or spices in attractive jars, this shelf can also be used to organize the jars neatly.
I also found the size of this shelf to be large and practical for storing large bottles or boxes of drinks. For example, I placed a 500ml juice box and it fit neatly without any problems.
Some may wonder about the issue of hygiene and odor, since refrigerators usually store various types of food that can produce unpleasant odors. To overcome this, Xiaomi introduced Ag+ Fresh technology, which uses an antibacterial silver ion module to help reduce odors and prevent bacterial growth.
According to Xiaomi, the Ag+ Fresh technology used in this refrigerator is able to remove up to 99.99% of bacteria. In addition, it also helps absorb unpleasant odors, thus maintaining the freshness of food.
Effectiveness tests also showed that this system can reduce fishy odors such as trimethylamine by 97.9%, and rotten odors from spoiled food such as methyl mercaptan by 98.8%. However, all these figures are the results of technical tests conducted under controlled conditions.
In actual use, the level of effectiveness of this technology greatly depends on the care taken by the user. Personally, I can say that its performance is satisfactory.
However, there was an incident where I put a banana in the refrigerator, and after a few days, the fruit became soft and started to emit an unpleasant odor. This situation clearly shows that even with the availability of technology, the aspect of cleanliness still depends on the discipline of the user.
Therefore, I conclude that cleanliness and odor in the refrigerator are subjective matters and very dependent on daily care practices. Technology certainly helps, but the user plays the main role in ensuring that the refrigerator remains clean and fresh for a long period of time.
Finally, the freezer section, there are two doors that house six different compartments. Four of them are tray compartments suitable for storing raw materials such as meat, fish, chicken and so on. This large amount of space makes it easy to organize so that the ingredients do not mix.
For example, fish can be placed in one space, chicken in another, and so on. This makes the freezer section look neater and more organized. The feeling when opening the refrigerator is also more pleasant because you do not have to look for the ingredients stored.
Two additional spaces at the top are suitable for storing frozen items such as ice, ice cream or used to make ice cubes. Imagine, after returning from work, you open the refrigerator and immediately take the ice that is available. Poured into a glass of cold orange water, it is refreshing and gives a sense of relief after a tiring day at work.
Although the size of these two spaces is not too large, it is still sufficient for daily use. Meanwhile, the side of the freezer does not house any additional shelves or compartments. This space is left empty perhaps to maintain a thin and simple design in its class, and it even looks quite minimalist.
During the short period of use, I found the cooling system to work well and quietly without any strange noises that were disturbing. The cold air flow also felt consistent and sufficient. The layout of the interior space is very helpful in facilitating the storage process, especially with the presence of shelves that can be adjusted according to needs and special drawers for storing vegetables and fruits.
I have also used the storage space at the bottom to store sacrificial meat and found that it can maintain the temperature well and help ensure that raw materials are always fresh. Based on that experience, I can say that the design and function of this refrigerator meets basic daily needs quite adequately.
Among other interesting features offered is the 90-degree door opening design, which makes it easy to access even in limited spaces. In addition, the drawers in the refrigerator can be pulled out and closed smoothly without any obstacles.
Based on my own experience, the drawers and trays provided are also very easy to pull out without getting stuck. If there is room for improvement, perhaps the ice section can be equipped with a cover to ensure that it is neater and protected.
Apps and Connections
Additional control of this refrigerator can be done through the Xiaomi Home app, which can be downloaded for free via the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. As usual, account registration is required to enable the connection to proceed.
Once the Bluetooth connection is activated, users can add devices either through the scan function or manually. Based on my experience, I chose the manual method by scrolling down to find the model name of this refrigerator. After that, users need to press the illuminated panel on the refrigerator door for about seven seconds to start the connection process.
The refrigerator will emit a beep as a sign that it has detected the same Wi-Fi connection as the device. Therefore, it is important to mention that both devices, the refrigerator and the smartphone, must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network for this process to be successful.
This connection process may take some time depending on the strength of the Wi-Fi signal in their respective areas. Although there is a possibility of the connection failing, users can still try several times until it is successful.
Once the connection is successful, users will be presented with a control interface that displays the three main temperature modes.
First is Auto Mode, which sets the refrigerator compartment temperature at five degrees Celsius and the freezer compartment at -18 degrees Celsius. Next is Super Cool Mode, which will lower the refrigerator compartment temperature to 2 degrees Celsius for 8 hours before returning to the original temperature.
Finally, there is Super Freeze Mode, which sets the freezer compartment temperature at -24 degrees Celsius for 50 hours before returning to the original setting.
Interestingly, users can also change the device name as appropriate and set the desired settings according to their respective needs. In addition, there is an Intelligent Status Detection feature that works continuously to monitor the condition of the refrigerator at all times. If the door is left open for more than two minutes, the system will activate an alert and send a notification to the smartphone via the Xiaomi Home app.
I myself have experienced a situation where the refrigerator door was left open for too long, and the app immediately sent an alert to my phone. This feature turned out to be very useful because it not only helps save energy, but also ensures that food remains fresh and safely stored.
In addition, there are colored toggles on the control interface that allow users to easily adjust the temperature according to their needs. More interestingly, if you have a device compatible with Google Assistant, voice control can also be used to control this refrigerator more efficiently.
Additional Information
Technically, this refrigerator uses an inverter-type compressor designed to help save energy and support quieter operation. The noise level produced is also low, at around 38dB, making it suitable for those who prioritize a quiet environment. Based on experience, I can also say that there were no strange sounds heard throughout the period of use.
This refrigerator uses No Frost technology that helps reduce ice formation and maintains a consistent internal temperature without the need for manual defrosting. It offers a total capacity of 510 liters with a practical division of space, namely 178 liters for the freezer compartment, 29 liters for the iFresh variable zone, and 303 liters for the main compartment. The total weight is around 85 kilograms. As an added value, this compressor also comes with a ten-year warranty.
Conclusion
Overall, the experience of using this Xiaomi Mijia 510L is very satisfactory. Although I am not a user who is skilled in technical aspects, in terms of daily use, this refrigerator manages to meet the basic needs well. Therefore, I hope this brief review can provide a general overview for anyone who is considering owning a refrigerator in this category.
In terms of price, it is offered at RM2899. However, if you check the official website, the price is now as low as RM2399 and it is likely only for a limited period of time.
Pros
Advanced technology.
Large capacity and free space.
iFresh Convertible Zone with temperature adjustment.
Special defrost compartment.
Practical 90° door design.
Easy-to-pull drawers.
Cons
Ice compartment has no cover.
Quite heavy at 85 kilograms.
