[Coda]

I think Toho's right, here. You should be able to get away with just comparing the reviews and EnergyStar labels to see if a candidate is any good. Unlike compact refrigerators (where a TEC cooler can make something small and cheap and exceptionally crappy), it's hard to screw up a freezer and still have it actually do its job.

That said, if you're worried about limited space, it's worth considering a small refrigerator with a top freezer. It takes up basically the same floor footprint as a small freezer, but it's also a refrigerator, and by virtue of having a freezer in it as well, it's unlikely to suck.