Best portable air conditioners

The solution to summer air and all its discomfort is the portable air conditioner, a small appliance that uses an ice-cold metal coil and a fan to convert hot and humid air into dry, cool, comfortable air. Since, it's far more portable than air conditioners that are window unitsbest portable air conditioners, you can roll a portable air conditioner to the room where it will do the most good.

Just as quiet as our top pick, this version costs less, has a little less cooling power, and does not include a heater. This portable AC has an efficient variable-speed compressor, a built-in hose for easier setup, and a convenient storage pocket—but it lacks a heating mode. This popular model matches our other picks in cooling performance but feels cheaper—it has chintzy buttons and lacks conveniences such as cord storage. The Midea Duo MAP14HS1TBL delivers better cooling performance than other portable ACs while using less energy and making less noise, thanks in part to its variable-speed inverter compressor and its hose-in-hose design. In our tests, it was good at distributing the cooled air, never leaving more than a 1-degree temperature difference across the room. The Frigidaire FHPHAC1 impressed us not only with its ability to maintain a steady chill throughout the room within one-half of a degree but also with its surprisingly low-volume performance.

Best portable air conditioners

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This Frigidaire model also offers heating capabilities for the cooler months. You can remove the pan and dump it.

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Home » Lifestyle. Everything you need to know before getting a portable air con to cool your apartment, home or office. Every year as the Australian Summer starts to heat up typically hotter than the last , split-system air conditioner specialists are run off their feet and often booked up well into the New Year. That's why so many Australians turn to a trusty portable air conditioner to get the job done. Especially popular with renters, portable air conditioners can be moved from room to room and are easily installed and operated. But as many people who have previously invested in portable air-con would tell you, some products simply don't have the power required to combat the harsh Australian Summer, and sometimes the ones that do can do some serious damage to your energy bill. With that in mind, we've rounded up the best portable air conditioners currently available in Australia based on their coverage, noise levels, budget and cooling features. However, it's not the cheapest model out there. That said, you'd be hard-pressed to find a truly silent portable air conditioner, so expect the usual humming and fan noises. This tiny evaporative air cooler offers comparatively quiet air conditioning for small rooms and studies.

Best portable air conditioners

We've been independently researching and testing products for over years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process. A portable air conditioner is just what it sounds like — a device that delivers cool air where and when you need it most. Over the last five years, the home comfort pros at the Good Housekeeping Institute have reviewed and tested more than thirty portable air conditioners. Here are the six portable air conditioners available today that performed the best in our tests. This powerful portable AC from Whynter has a dual hose so it can cool down a room faster than other portable units. Testers also like the programmable timer that lets you set a schedule for the day, for example programming it to turn on 30 minutes before you'll be home from work. You can monitor the temperature on the digital readout. The storage bag is a nice added convenience if you do need to stow the unit away throughout the year.

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It's also a fully featured appliance, if you need four-season versatility. Once you set it to cool, literally seconds later it's blowing cold air. Simple Cooling. We aim the appliance to discharge cold air at a target 8 feet away. This guide builds on earlier work by writer Liam McCabe. But if you need something that offers more flexibility in how and where it keeps you comfortable, the EcoFlow Wave 2 is worth its markup. Budget pick. The Midea Duo MAP14HS1TBL delivers better cooling performance than other portable ACs while using less energy and making less noise, thanks in part to its variable-speed inverter compressor and its hose-in-hose design. Then we measure the temperature at four locations on the target using an infrared thermometer. A simple wipe with a moist soft cloth is all it takes to keep the LG free of finger prints and dust. Although we're sure it will work in almost all situations, you may have to re-arrange furniture to ensure that you have the Midea optimally located and pointed in the direction it needs. For most users, this three-season versatility is enough. There's no simple answer to that. That counts for something. Portable air conditioners tend to cost more in general than their window-mounted counterparts , and overall AC prices fluctuate throughout the season.

Once the weather turns cool, however, window AC units are either unused, preventing you from using your window, or have to be uninstalled by hand. If you want that fresh, breezy air without the stress of installing and uninstalling window air conditioners , a portable AC unit can be a great solution.

As for the Hisense, it goes about its work quietly and very simply. He is particularly good at being cool. Its front grill and louver design have a distinct horizontal discharge bias. Best Camping Coolers for Drinks and Food. We like the handy placement of its remote—on top and easily visible. That counts for something. It even has a spot to stash the manual, if you want. As a result, you have a little more flexibility in where you vent the air, and where you get the air from. In that regard, it was more consistent than any other AC we tested, with the exception of our also-great pick from Frigidaire. Everything we recommend.