Pure Outdoor Emperor 25 Portable Refrigerator by Monoprice 2023 REVIEW

Stay cool on the go with the Pure Outdoor Emperor 25 Portable Refrigerator.

Even before the COVID-19 Pandemic made us all aware of how we could avoid undue illness, my fiancé and I have made every attempt to stave off unnecessary risks when we travel. One of those risks that people rarely think about is reusing hotel refrigerators. While some hotels are meticulous about how they clean after their guests leave, the refrigerator is sometimes an area that is overlooked. So, we started traveling with our own — portable refrigerator.

About two months ago, we took a long weekend trip and our 42L capacity portable refrigerator came with us. While we both agreed that having it with us was a godsend for the trip, it did have its shortfalls. For one thing, having it plugged in and on a floor without any venting caused a lot of condensation to collect. For another thing, the 42L refrigerator is 43 pounds when it is empty. That means it is close to 100 pounds when it is full.

With these things in mind and more long-weekend trips planned for the year, we decided to look into other portable refrigerator options. The Pure Outdoor Emperor 25 Portable Refrigerator was at the top of our list.

About Pure Outdoor Emperor 25 Portable Refrigerator

The Pure Outdoor Emperor Portable Refrigerator is designed to provide insulated, temperature-controlled storage for all your food and beverage needs. Since it is a refrigerator, adding ice is not necessary in order to keep items chilled. There is a layer of premium insulation to keep the cooling contained and the refrigerator features anti-shake and drop protection. The Emperor Portable Refrigerator is quiet and perfect for a picnic or camping.

The refrigerator can be powered by a standard AC power adapter or through a car port using the included DC car adapter. The Emperor comes equipped with a multi‑level battery monitor that protects your vehicle battery against excessive discharging.

When the cooler is operated with the vehicle ignition switched off, the cooler switches off automatically as soon as the supply voltage falls below a set level. The cooler does all the work for you as it switches back on once the battery has been recharged to the restart voltage level.

Main Features

• Large capacity of 25L (26 quarts)
• Lightweight at only 24 Lbs (empty)
• Power Input 45W
• Built‑in LCD Screen provides quick status readouts
• AC power cord and DC car adapter included
• Car Low‑battery protection
• Heavy‑duty construction with hidden handles
• High‑Density Foam Insulation keeps temperatures down to ‑7°F(‑22°C)
• Can work with a small solar system for recharging/powering purposes
• USB socket for charging mobile devices
• Exterior size 23 x 13 x 14 inches
• Package Content: 1 x Pure Outdoor Emperor 25 Portable Refrigerator, 1 x AC Power Adapter, 1 x DC Power Cable, 1 x User Manual

Pricing & Availability

The Emperor Portable Refrigerator is being offered at a list price of $249.99 from monoprice.com.

User Experience

The Emperor 25 Portable Refrigerator ships in a large cardboard box. The name of the product is on the outside, but it’s not heavily branded. Inside, the user will find the refrigerator wrapped in plastic. Inside the refrigerator are the manual and the power cables. One of the only design features I wish this product had is a suitable place to store the cables. When it’s not in use, you can place the cables inside the device, but when it’s plugged into power, you don’t really have a good place to keep the cable that isn’t in use.

While you might be able to ‘get by’ without reading a manual with some products, I would recommend reviewing Emperor 25’s user manual thoroughly. Not only does it explain how to set up the different power-safety settings, but it also provides a lot of good use information such as ensuring the air inlet and outlet are free of dirt and debris. The portable refrigerator shouldn’t be considered a direct exchange for a standard cooler because of the motor on the inside. The manual is very easy to follow and it’s not super long.

Before we took the refrigerator on a field test, I plugged it into power in our house. The purpose of this was to see how long it would take to cool down to the desired temperature. The Emperor 25 started at room temperature — approximately 71º F. I plugged it in using the AC power cable and power supply. Then I set the temperature to 30º. When I first turned it on, the target temp was set to -100º F. At that temp, the device would run continuously. So, it’s important to set your own desired temp.

After only 7 minutes, the Emperor 25 had dropped 21 degrees to 51º F. After only 19 minutes, the temperature reached 30º and the unit kicked off. After about 10 minutes, I heard it kick on again and I checked the display. The temp read 33º. After about 5 minutes, the refrigerator had reached the target temp again and it kicked off. The process repeated itself in another 10 minutes. The nice thing was that it seems that the Emperor 25 does a really good job of regulating its internal temp.

I tested the internal temperature of the unit with a handheld infrared thermometer and got a reading of 33.9-34º F. When testing our larger portable refrigerator I ran into a similar temperature difference and this is the explanation for it. Even though this is from a different manufacturer, I believe it still applies.

Why is the temperature on the refrigerator display different from the temperature I measured with my thermometer? Because of the sinking nature of cold air, the different temperatures may exist in different locations in the refrigerator (the temperature of the bottom will be the lowest). The panel only shows the average temperature of the refrigerator.

As far as the field test goes, we ended up taking the Emperor 25 with us to an outdoor recreational facility where we were going to be spending some time one weekend day. The outdoor temperature was in the 60s but it was sunny. We loaded the refrigerator into the back of our car and plugged it into the car port that is conveniently located in our back storage area. We had pre-loaded it with some drinks (bottles and cans) and turned it on the Max setting. We left it to run while we were driving and did not unplug it while the car was off.

In total, the refrigerator was plugged into our vehicle’s power for around 4-5 hours. The drinks we stored in it were not cold to start and the unit was able to not only chill them all, but it ended up freezing some of them. A couple of the sodas that were located in the bottom closest to the motor area were similar to slushes when we finally opened them. The best part of this test was that there was no condensation on the unit or in a puddle in our car when we removed it at home.

Here are some additional pros and cons from our testing process and observations.

Pros

1. Emperor 25 portable refrigerator kept things very cold.
2. Easy to use – plug and play to start. Can dial in custom settings as needed.
3. Fits plenty of consumables. Has a large main compartment and a smaller recessed area for items that should remain dry.
4. No condensation was collected after running for several hours.

Cons

1. The handles are hard to grip. They are designed to be ‘hidden’ for aesthetic purposes but given the weight of the product, something more functional would be preferred.
2. Can be heavy when filled.
3. No easy place to store the power cables.
4. A power source is required — whereas ice can provide a decreased temp without a power source.

Conclusion

The Pure Outdoor Emperor 25 Portable Refrigerator by Monoprice is a fantastic option for anyone looking for a reliable and durable portable refrigerator. I was thoroughly impressed with this product from the moment I received it.

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