Overview
Summer is here, so it's time to hang out by the pool and get a nice tan. Even with central air conditioning, the summer heat can be unpleasant if you have to cope with heated air indoors. The best portable air conditioner is a flexible piece of equipment that can help you easily defeat the heat almost anywhere in your home. Here are the top picks for you!
Top Picks
1. Best Overall: BLACK+DECKER Portable Air Conditioner
2. Best Value: Whynter ARC-14SH Portable Air Conditioner
3. Best Compact: SereneLife SLPAC8 Portable Air Conditioner
4. Best Powerful: DeLonghi Portable Air Conditioner
5. Best Smart: LG Smart Portable Air Conditioner
Reviews
1. BLACK+DECKER Portable Air Conditioner
Why we love it
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Suitable for small areas
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Automatic sleep timer
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Quiet and powerful
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Easy to install
Take note
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It's hard to install a window kit.
Even though you don't want an air conditioner that is too weak, one that gives off too many BTUs is a waste. This Black+Decker model has 10,000 BTU, suitable for small rooms up to 250 square feet. Additionally, the bucket-less design means condensation from the air conditioner may be evaporated without dumping water, making maintenance a breeze.
Almost all you have to do is tidy the filter around twice a month. This air conditioner is easy to place because it has wheels on the bottom. It has an LED display with a control system on the top panel, but you can also use the remote control that comes with it. You'll also like that it can run for 24 hours without being turned off and has an automatic sleep timer.
2. Whynter ARC-14SH Portable Air Conditioner
Why we love it
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Dual-hose system
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Powerful and quiet
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Easy to setup
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Adjustable temperature setting
Take note
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A bit pricey
The Whynter Portable Air Conditioner has two hoses. That makes it more effective and able to cool your area without accidentally sucking in warm air. It has a powerful 14,000 BTU that can efficiently cool a 600-square-foot room by moving 253 cubic feet per minute.
Finding a portable unit that can cool a room more quickly would be hard. Even better, it can remove an excellent 101 pints of water from your home daily and has an automatic drain feature to eliminate moisture. And if you're worried about the air quality, it has a cleanable pre-filter and an activated carbon air filter to keep the air clean. The Whynter air conditioner can be set to a temperature between 61°F and 89°F, letting you choose the temperature you want, and the device does its job.
3. SereneLife SLPAC8 Portable Air Conditioner
Why we love it
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3-operating modes
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Easy to move
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Reasonable price
Take note
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Noisy
The SereneLife SLPAC8 is one of the lowest portable air conditioners because it can cool moderately well and be used in many different ways. The SereneLife SLPAC8 can not only be used as an air conditioner but also as a fan and a dehumidifier.
With 290 cubic meters per hour of airflow, it can keep rooms up to around 270 square feet cool. The SereneLife is just under three feet tall and has a footprint that is 17 inches by 13 inches. It is easy to move around the house, though, because it has wheels that roll easily and handles that are easy to grab. It's not too huge and comes with a remote so you can control it from across the room. It also has a simple control panel on the top.
4. DeLonghi Portable Air Conditioner
Why we love it
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Powerful cooling
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Super quiet
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Trustworthy quality
Take note
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Use much energy while operating
With its AC, fan, and dehumidifier modes, the DeLonghi Air Conditioner is excellent for large rooms. The remarkable thing about this machine is something called "ECO Real Feel," which makes it work like it has an inverter by changing the compressor's work so that when the correct temperature is reached, it doesn't work at full speed anymore.
Instead, it uses the same amount of power needed to keep the temperature the same. That saves energy. Its "swing" function lets more of the room get air, and its "quiet" mode makes the already quiet fan even quieter. Keep in mind that, while it works well in larger rooms, it used the most powerful of all the models we evaluated if you don't use the ECO Real Feel feature.
5. LG Smart Portable Air Conditioner
Why we love it
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Easy to use and control
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Quiet operation
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3-in-1 operation
Take note
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A bit pricey
This LG Smart Air Conditioner should be quiet for what it does and easy to move when needed. With WiFi built-in, you can start or stop the cooling from a distance, which helps you get the most out of a room before you go in.
Or, if you want the most flexibility and ease, you can use an Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant tool to control it. It can be set to a cool mode, a fan mode, or a dry mode, so you can make the best environment for the day. We also found that the machine's controls were clear and easy to use. It can make temperatures among the lowest of all the units we evaluated.
FAQs
1. Do portable air conditioners work well?
Yes, they do, as long as you buy the correct one for your room. Even though they lack the cooling strength of window ACs or central cooling, portable air conditioners do an excellent job; the finest models are a happy medium between an effective fan and a window AC.
2. When is a portable air conditioner better than a window air conditioner?
Window-mounted air conditioners are great for long-term cooling, but they are usually heavier, harder to set up, and less flexible than portable ones. Most of the time, portable air conditioners are the best choice if you need to shift your unit from one room to another room or even from building to building.
3. Is a portable air conditioner worth the money?
Portable air conditioners can be beneficial for many house owners and renters, and they are a cheap way to bring some cool air into your home. If your conventional air conditioner breaks down, it can be a lifesaver in the interim.
Choosing the best portable air conditioner becomes easier and easier if you select one of these models. Whether it's ultra-compact cooling, high-fashion design, or just a great all-around option that accomplishes what you need at the lowest cost feasible, they all have their place in the home comfort space.
