REVIEW – I absolutely love dual-power, dual-zone portable refrigerators. The concept of keeping food cold—or even frozen—using just 12 VDC car power is undeniably exciting. That’s why I was eager to explore the latest model from BougeRV. This portable refrigerator/freezer has an intriguing feature that I believe will set the standard for future designs in this category. Join me as we dive in!
⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: Price: $399.99 (+$125 per PPS, 2 max, if ordered with refrigerator, $169 otherwise)
Where to buy: BougeRV and Amazon
What is it?
The BougeRV CRX2 31QT Battery Powered Insulated Dual-Zone Portable Fridge is a portable, dual-power, dual-zone, portable refrigerator / freezer capable of running on internal batteries.
What’s included?
- BougeRV CRX2 portable refrigerator
- AC Adapter
- 12/24 VDC Power Cord
- User Manual
BougeRV Portable Power Station
- 220 Wh Portable Power Station
- 60 W USB-C to USB-C Charging Cable
- Car Charging Cable
- QuickStart Guide
Tech specs
Capacity: 31QT = 29L
Dimension: 26.38 x 15.35 x 16.14 inches
Temperature Range: -4℉~68℉
Weight: 18kg / 39.68lb
Voltage: 12/24 V DC or 110～240 V AC
Rated Power: 70W
Noise: ≤45 dB
Warranty: 2 Years
BougeRV Portable Power Station for the CRX2
Capacity: 220WH
Net Weight: 1.5KG/3.3LBS
Product Dimensions: 7.08 x 3.3 x 3 Inches
Solar Recharge: 12-28V, 6A 100W Max, 2 Hours 0-80%
Car Recharge: 12V/6A, 72W Max, 3 Hours 0-80%
AC Recharge: 12.6V/5A, 63W Max, 3.2 Hours 0-80%
Type-C Recharge: 20V/3A, 60W Max, 3.2 Hours 0-80%
Car Charging Output: 14.5V/9A, 130W Max
Type-C Output: 5V/9V/12V/15V/20V, 3A 60W Max
USB-A Output: R-134a 5V/3A, 9V/2A, 12V/1.5A 18W Max
Discharge Temperature: 14°F to 150°F
Charge Temperature: 32°F to 130°F
Design and features
Before diving into the details, I want to note that BougeRV provided me with the BougeRV CRX2 31QT Battery Powered Insulated Dual-Zone Portable Fridge along with a BougeRV Portable Power Station to support this review. While the primary focus will be on the CRX2, I will also reference the Portable Power Station when relevant.
All portable refrigerators on the market can be powered by external AC or DC sources, but the BougeRV CRX2 31QT Battery Powered Insulated Dual-Zone Portable Fridge has a unique advantage, if you have not noticed it already, the CRX2 can also be powered by two optional internally stored batteries, specifically the BougeRV Portable Power Station. This feature significantly enhances the portability of the CRX2 compared to many of its competitors. However, it’s worth noting that some other brands are starting to offer similar capabilities.
Like many portable refrigerators on the market, the BougeRV CRX2 31QT Battery Powered Insulated Dual-Zone Portable Fridge features the capability to maintain two distinct cooling zones. This functionality is achieved through a magnetic switch that is activated by inserting a divider into the refrigerator’s compartment. In the case of the CRX2, the compartment is evenly split in the middle; however, some other models may design one section to be larger than the other.
As with many portable refrigerators, the BougeRV CRX2 31QT Battery Powered Insulated Dual-Zone Portable Fridge offers two operating modes for its compressor: ECO and MAX. In ECO mode, the refrigerator consumes approximately 40 to 50 watts when the compressor is operational, while MAX mode can draw up to 100 watts. From my understanding, the primary purpose of MAX mode is to expedite the cooling process at room temperature, or to provide additional cooling in extreme heat when the refrigerator struggles to maintain a low temperature. However, I was unable to test this scenario during my evaluation.
The sleek all-black design is visually striking, particularly with its eye-catching yellow accents that evoke the colors of teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Iowa Hawkeyes. However, this aesthetic does little to aid the refrigerator’s performance when exposed to direct sunlight.
I absolutely adore the vibrant multicolor display of the BougeRV CRX2 31QT Battery Powered Insulated Dual-Zone Portable Fridge, even though color is used sparingly. Its design is significantly superior to the other portable refrigerator I reviewed, and words alone cannot capture the extent of this difference. That said, two significant differences are the bit mapped display vs a coarse segmented display, and the simple ability to display temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius, vs just Celsius.
The interface is quite user-friendly, consisting of four buttons: On/Off, Gear (Settings), ‘+’ (Plus), and ‘-’ (Minus). These buttons function intuitively, as one would expect. When the unit is powered on and the display is blank, pressing any button will display the current compartment temperature(s), which I will refer to as the default screen. Additionally, every button press is confirmed by a brief beep.
- Temperature Setting
- Battery Protection Switch (High/Medium/Low)
- Temperature Units (Fahrenheit/Celsius)
- Working Mode Setting (Maximum/Economy)
- Language Setting (English/Japanese)
- Factory Reset
Instead of going into exhaustive detail about each menu item, let me summarize the process: First, you select a menu item, then use the ‘+’ and ‘-’ buttons to navigate through the options. To make a selection or return to the previous level, simply press the Gear button again. The manual provides a clear and comprehensive explanation of each operation, featuring both written instructions and helpful graphics.
In the default screen, the ‘+’ and ‘-’ buttons allow you to adjust the current set-point for the refrigerator. If the internal divider is in place, adjustments will first be made to the left compartment. To change the settings for the right compartment, simply press the Gear button to accept the value displayed in the left compartment, and then navigates to allow for the adjustment of the right compartment.
The BougeRV CRX2 31QT Battery Powered Insulated Dual-Zone Portable Fridge comes with a straightforward companion app that allows you to adjust all of the refrigerator’s settings via Bluetooth once paired. This phone app control is a convenient feature that my first portable refrigerator lacked, making it a significant upgrade.
One standout feature of the app is its ability to turn the device on and off. Unlike many companion apps that only offer the option to power down the device—resulting in a severed Bluetooth connection—the BougeRV app allows you to power off the unit while maintaining the Bluetooth connection, provided that power is still supplied. During my testing, I found that the Bluetooth remained connected even when the device was turned off using the app. Note that shutting down the system with a long press of the On/Off button will severe the Bluetooth connection.
However, there are some shortcomings to note. I encountered a bug that may be resolved by the time this review is published: the BougeRV App does not display the correct refrigerator set point when the compartment divider is not installed. I consider this a bug because the app accurately reflects the set point when the divider is in place. While it is helpful to see the incoming voltage value, it would be even better if the app indicated the specific power source—whether it’s an adapter or battery—rather than simply stating “adapter” in all cases. On a positive note, the BougeRV App does provide information about the compressor’s status, which is a nice feature.
In conclusion, the BougeRV 220 Wh Portable Power Station serves as a versatile power source, not only supplying energy to the BougeRV CRX2 31QT Battery Powered Insulated Dual-Zone Portable Fridge but also capable of independently powering your personal electronic devices. Equipped with a user-friendly On/Off switch, it features two output ports—USB-A and a 12V DC carport—allowing for convenient output power options. Additionally, the USB-C port can be used for both charging at 60 watts and powering devices at the same wattage. There’s also a port for solar or DC charging of the Portable Power Station, enhancing its flexibility. Furthermore, the power station includes a multifunctional light, effectively transforming it into a handy flashlight despite its bulkiness. The unit boasts a clear display, although visibility of the display can be compromised when it’s plugged into the CRX2.
Assembly, Installation, Setup
Beyond downloading, installing, and creating an account on the BougeRV App. Below are the screens for setting up the BougeRV App.
The only additional steps required are to provide power, turn on the BougeRV CRX2 31QT Battery Powered Insulated Dual-Zone Portable Fridge, and set your desired temperature(s).
Performance
One of my initial questions was whether the BougeRV CRX2 31QT Battery Powered Insulated Dual-Zone Portable Fridge could freeze water, not merely keep something that is already frozen, but actually create ice. To explore this, I decided to compare the CRX2 with my kitchen freezer.
To prepare for the ice freeze test, it took approximately 30 minutes to lower the temperature of the entire CRX2 fridge compartment from 68°F to 0°F, aligning it with the settings of my kitchen freezer.
The initial water temperature was 70°F. After one hour and thirty minutes, both glasses developed a layer of ice on the surface. In the left photo, you can see the BougeRV glass. After breaking the ice in both glasses, I noticed that the ice in the glass from the freezer was slightly thicker than that in the CRX2 fridge. I checked again after four hours of time and the result was that both of the glasses were frozen solid.
Measuring the ice after five hours, one glass at room temperature and the other in the CRX2 fridge revealed a significant difference: the room temperature ice container had no ice left, while the CRX2 still had some remaining. I think this speaks well to the insulation of the CRX2.
Having previously reviewed a portable refrigerator, I conducted a series of tests to compare the BougeRV CRX2 31QT Battery Powered Insulated Dual-Zone Portable Fridge with the Hcalory 35L portable refrigerator/freezer.
The first noteworthy feature is that the Hcalory boasts a larger capacity, rated at 35 liters, compared to the BougeRV CRX2 31QT Battery Powered Insulated Dual-Zone Portable Fridge’s 29 liters. This additional space is created by a small compartment situated above the compressor. In contrast, the CRX2 utilizes that area to accommodate up to two BougeRV Portable Power Station Batteries.
For me, the ability to self-power a portable refrigerator/freezer is far more valuable than having an additional 6 liters of capacity that I may not need.
I aimed to evaluate the efficiency and cooling times of the two portable refrigerators as they reached the same temperature from room temperature. To power both units, I utilized the Anker Flash 300 Portable Power Station, ensuring that it was fully charged at 100% state of charge (SOC) for both tests.
I began testing the BougeRV CRX2 fridge, which cooled down from 70°F to 1°F in just 38 minutes, using 10% of the battery charge in the process. After running it for an additional 8 hours, the state of charge (SOC) dropped to 30%, and the internal temperature stabilized at 6°F. When I unplugged the fridge for two hours, the internal temperature increased to 50°F.
For the Hcalory, the cooling process from 70°F to 1°F took 44 minutes and consumed 8% of the battery charge. The internal temperature at the start was 20°F. After this cooling period, the resulting temperature dropped to 9°F. After 9 hours of refrigeration, the state of charge (SOC) was measured at 24%. Two hours later, the internal temperature had risen to 61°F.
What I gathered from this is the CRX2 has a more powerful compressor, and thus could cool its compartment faster, albeit using slightly more power than the Hcalory did. The improved insulation of the CRX2 helped maintain the desired temperature, and required less cycles of the compressor, resulting in less power being used over that 9 hours of testing. As would be expected the improved insulation of the CRX2 resulting in a cooler internal temperature following 2 hours of being powered down.
Observing the power distribution to the refrigerator’s compressor, it’s reassuring to note that when external power is supplied, the unit ceases to draw power from the inserted battery. While the external power source does not recharge the battery—something that ideally should happen—it’s a relief to know that the battery remains intact and is not depleted when the BougeRV CRX2 31QT Battery Powered Insulated Dual-Zone Portable Fridge is connected to any external source, whether it be an AC outlet or a vehicle’s DC outlet.
Final thoughts
Although the handles of the BougeRV CRX2 31QT Battery Powered Insulated Dual-Zone Portable Fridge are designed for securing the unit effectively, they are not the most comfortable for hand carrying. Fortunately, the CRX2 features a long handle and wheels on opposite ends making it easy to drag wherever needed.
I am genuinely impressed with the BougeRV CRX2 31QT Battery Powered Insulated Dual-Zone Portable Fridge. Its aesthetic appeal is undeniable. The ability to power the unit internally is invaluable, although there is a minor drawback: the BougeRV Portable Power Station cannot be charged while connected to an external power source. This means that you have to fully charge the Portable Power Station before placing it inside the CRX2 Fridge.
To optimize the setup, you can plug the fridge into an AC outlet, allowing it to cool down to your desired temperature while simultaneously having a fully charged power station inside. Once it reaches the desired temperature, you can carry the fridge to your car, load it up, and then plug it into your vehicle as you head out. This approach ensures that the power station retains its full charge, enabling nearly a full day of cooling at your destination with just one battery installed.
What I like about the BougeRV CRX2 31QT Battery Powered Insulated Dual-Zone Portable Fridge
- Great Display
- Love the looks and build, even though all black is probably not the best for a portable refrigerator.
- Internal battery support is very nice
- The BougeRV App really enhances the entire system.
What needs to be improved?
- Would be great if BougeRV Power Station Battery recharged when external power is present in the CRX2.
- The BougeRV Power Station battery state of charge should be available in the BougeRV App.
Price: Price: $399.99 (+$125 per PPS, 2 max, if ordered with refrigerator, $169 otherwise)
Where to buy: BougeRV and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by BougeRV. BougeRV did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
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