When our summer eventually arrives, staying cool and comfortable within the confines of your home becomes a top priority. One effective, if not cheap, solution is to buy a portable air conditioning unit. They have increased in popularity in recent years due to their convenience and a bit of a reduction in price.
Portable air conditioning units are compact and self-contained systems designed specifically for residential use. They are typically equipped with wheels or handles, allowing you to effortlessly move them from one room to another based on your cooling needs.
One of the key advantages of portable air conditioning units is their flexibility. Whether you live in an apartment, a small house, or a rented space, these units cater to a wide range of living environments. They don't require any permanent installation, which means you can enjoy the benefits of air conditioning without making any structural modifications to your home and i like to use mine with a smart plug.
These units provide effective cooling by utilizing a combination of refrigeration and ventilation processes. They extract warm air from the room, cool it down using a refrigerant, and then release the cooled air back into the space. Some models also incorporate dehumidification functions, reducing excess moisture in the air for added comfort.
Another significant advantage of portable air conditioning units is their energy efficiency. Compared to central air conditioning systems, which cool the entire house even when specific rooms are unoccupied, portable units offer targeted cooling. You can concentrate the cooling power precisely where you need it, saving energy and reducing utility bills in the process.
Furthermore, portable air conditioning units often come with additional features such as programmable timers, remote controls, adjustable fan speeds, and sleep modes, allowing you to customize your cooling experience to suit your preferences.
Just below you will see our top list of air conditioning units. However, we also know you are busy, so if you don't have time to read our full review, we would highly recommend the best rated Inventor Chilly 9000BTU. This model is popular and very well priced.
Just below, we have also completed some summary reviews on each of these, so as you can see which is the best option for you.
Best Portable Air Conditioner
Inventor Chilly 9000BTU Portable 3-1 Air Conditioner
96% buyer satisfaction from over 100+ customer reviews
This is the best rated unit we could find. It has a cooling capacity of up to 7,000 BTU, which is OK for rooms up to 215 ft3 or 20 sqm. The average room size in the UK is approx 16 sq m so this should do fine.
You can use this unit to enhance your indoor air environment, or as a fan/dehumidifier. The temperature goes down to 16℃ when it gets hot and it comes with two fan speeds that can keep the humidity between 40% and 60%.
The display is great. You are able to check the temperatures at a glance with a has a simple LED digital display showing the current temperature and whatever mode you are in.
The control panel and full-function remote control make your life more convenient, so you can easily set a timer, adjust the temperature value, and switch modes, whether getting close or far away. This timer can be set for 24 hours, so if its hot in the bedroom then it can be set for an hour before you go up.
The size is 315x310x698mm, Weight: 24 kg and it comes with wheels.
Avalla S-95 Portable 3-in-1 Air Conditioner
88% buyer satisfaction from over 100+ customer reviews
This Avalla portable air-conditioner comes with a 2 year warranty and a lifetime of product support.
The air conditioning unit comes with 20L dehumidifier mode and a large 50m² or 500 sq ft coverage area. It works very well and is handy if you have any damp problems and is very simple to use.
Comes with a 5m cable and is easily adjusted with a handy remote control, bringing temperature as low as 16°C. .
This unit works very well as an air conditioner unit in the summer, with a dehumidifier mode for winter and fan mode for spring and autumn.
It comes with a sash window kit will allow you to neatly fit the 150mm diameter hose through any sash window, so the hot air goes straight out the window or alternatively, the hose can simply be placed directly through any window.
The size is 31 x 31.5 x 70 cm; 19.38 Kilogram and it has wheels
Orkan 9,000 BTU 5-In-1 Portable Air Conditioner
86% buyer satisfaction from over 100+ customer reviews
9,000 BTU of cooling capacity is one of the highest we have seen, though it only goes down to 17 degrees apparantely. Perfect for quick and efficient cooling of medium to large-sized rooms in the home or office.
There is in-built WiFi for quick and easy smart home connectivity. I found it very easy to just control it with my iphone. Its also fully compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant on Android.
As with most of them, you have an air conditioner, fan and dehumidifier all in one simple unit.
There are 2 fan speeds and a 24 hour timer. All controllable from the wireless remote control.
The package includes window kits for both sliding and hinged windows to allow for the installation of the air conditioner and this is always the best option.
The size is 87 x 40 x 39 cm; 29.67 Kilograms and it has wheels
Portable Air Conditioner 9000 BTU
86% buyer satisfaction from over 300+ customer reviews
This model has a large cooling capacity up to 300 sq ft or 28 sq m and comes in both 7,000 and 9,000 BTU options.
Again it will work for cooling and be a dehumidifier as well and you would expect that at this sort of price
It has a removable and washable double-layer filter to protect you and your family from dust, pet dander and hair.
The unit also has wheels, so it can easily be moved around in any room that is window accessible.
Features a digital touch button control panel which includes the power, mode, timer, temperature and fan speed settings. Other functions such as auto defrost, unit selector (°C/°F), one-click-sleep key can be adjusted using the included remote control as well.
The portable AC features an easy-to-read LED display too. 1+1 extra year of warranty will be offered if you have any product/ technical/using issues, get faster replay via Amazon Message.
The size is 87 x 40 x 39 cm; 29.67 Kilograms and it has wheels
Inventor Magic 12000BTU Portable 5-1 Air Conditioner With Heater
86% buyer satisfaction from over 500+ customer reviews
This is a bit of a step up in price and functionality. It boasts features with auto, cool, dry, fan and heat functions, though really that just means there is a heat function as well as all the standard features.
Also it is the highest powered unit we have seen at 12,000 BTU. So if you have a larger area to cool then this might be the unit for you.
You get a wireless remote control, 3 fan speed, LED display and 24-hour timer, which again you would probably expect at this price.
It comes with an expandable exhaust hose that fits to any Standard Slider (horizontal or vertical), Window Kit is included in the box.
If you think you might need a heater, then this is for you. Otherwise there is no point in spending the extra money.
The size is 345 x 380 x 720 mm and its 33Kg, so it's quite heavy.
Best Mini Portable Air Conditioner
Mini air conditioners are designed to cool smaller spaces effectively. They come in different sizes and cooling capacities, allowing users to choose the unit that best suits their needs. These units often feature adjustable temperature settings and fan speeds, giving users control over the cooling intensity and airflow.
Installation of mini air conditioning units is relatively simple and does not require any specialized tools or professional assistance. Most units come with an exhaust hose that can be easily attached to a window or vent to expel hot air outside.
Just be aware that these smaller models will only cool a small area and they definitely won't cool a whole room. I would say that their main use would be for camping or a caravan.
Portable Air Conditioner
94% buyer satisfaction from over 2,000+ customer reviews
This personal air conditioner can be served as a fan, mini air conditioner, also a humidifier,
iIt comes with a 600ml water tank, and this is larger than most of the other models, so it will work for around 6 hours when it is full.
It will automatically switch to the natural wind when the water runs out, so you don't have to worry about falling asleep.
The transparent water tank allows you to check and control the water level at any time. The top water tank design increases the convenience of adding water and prevents water leakage.
The USB charging port can be powered by a power bank, laptop, adapters, mobile power sources, computers, and vehicle chargers. So it's genuinely mobile and actually comes with a a built-in 4000mAh large-capacity battery
Even at the maximum wind speed, the noise volume is less than 55dB and will not disturb your life, working or sleeping.
Air Conditioner Mini Air Cooler Fan
96% buyer satisfaction from over 2,500+ customer reviews
This won't take up a lot of space and can be easily taken anywhere, such as camping and sports, or just a small office that needs cooled.
The unit is well engineered and the low-noise motor is perfect for your quiet office or reading, it's one of the quietest we have found. I have had it in a bedroom and it doesnt disturb your sleep at all, so could be used all night
You need to add water/ice cube into the tank and turn it on to the mode you need. You can adjust the speed from high to low mode.
There are three levels of fan speed (high, medium, low), so its pretty basic but works well. Also its pretty cheap!
Portable Air Conditioner
96% buyer satisfaction from over 2,500+ customer reviews
This mini air conditioner has a 300ML large water tank that can be used for 4-5 hours when it is full.
It has a built-in high-capacity battery, fully charged can be moved anywhere you want to enjoy the cool.
Its pretty low energy on consumption as it only uses 3.5 watts of power.
Perfect for cooling in summer in the living room, bedroom, office, travel, outdoors etc.
This is also a mini humidifier, which comes with three modes for you to choose from the ordinary fan without water, adding water is like a humidifier, adding ice water is like a mini personal air conditioner.
There are also 3 modes of speed-low, medium, and high, adjustable as your need. Also,there is vertical rotation, so you can direct the flow easily.
It has 7 colours of LED ambient lights that build soft colourful led lights, which create a romantic atmosphere, and a comfortable environment for sleeping.
Air Cooler, ZASTION 90°
92% buyer satisfaction from over 2,500+ customer reviews
Another personal air conditioner cooler, as they call them. You get a desk fan, air humidifier and purifier.
The air cooler has 4 wind modes, the direction can be adjusted up and down by 45°,and 90° and it works pretty well to cool small areas.
It has 3 timing modes (2h-4h-6h) and 2 humidifier modes(low-high) and is very easy to use.
There is a large-capacity water tank, which can operate for a long time, and is convenient for adding ice cubes and cleaning the water tank
Don't be expecting the arctic, but it is still much better than a standard fan
YurDoca Portable Air Conditioner,
94% buyer satisfaction from over 2,000+ customer reviews
This small unit can spray cold air for several hours continuously to keep your body cool at night and is also very quiet when running.
It has three levels of wind speed (high, medium, and low), you can choose the leisure time, sleep time, or working time that suits you best.
The built-in colorful and soft led lights can not only create a romantic atmosphere but also help you improve your sleep.
You can use the USB port of mobile devices such as laptops for power supply.
Again, this works very well but is not great for large or even medium rooms.
A very quick video review
We have looked over all the video reviews and found this great short presentation on these devices. It gives you an instant idea of what to expect as well as telling you all the features and spec in and easy to understand format.
I hope you enjoy watching it as I always think its much better to see a machone in action rather than just reading about it or seeing pictures. This guy is particularly good at explaining the features and he is well known for demonstrating tools.
I hope this has been some help to you. If you are going to use this in the house, to cool your main room, or your bedroom, then don't waste your time with the mini ones. You will only be disappointed. Spend the money and go for the full sized models and you won't regret it.
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