Over the last hundred years the climate and the weather have changed significantly.
In everyday life we can feel it mostly in connection to the heat increase. The summers in continental climates are getting warmer and they start earlier and end later as the summer temperatures come in May and the last ones happen around the beginning of October.
Moreover, country parts closer to desserts or the ones which have the ocean climate are having increases of temperature annually.
This is the major reason why more and more households are equipped with AC devices. High-quality air conditioning system requires lots of fresh air. Therefore, air-conditioning equipment is so expensive, whether in terms of acquisition or due to its operating costs.
Nevertheless, air conditioning is in many cases necessary. Imagine yourself waxing your car for hours when it is 90℉ outside, dreaming about cold beer and air conditioned living room, only realizing you don’t have one. The easiest type of AC’s is the portable one, there are almost no issues during installing and the prices are always reasonable.
Best Portable Air Conditioners 2020
Portable air conditioning units are very compact and most of them can be literary placed everywhere.
- Multiple modes
- Quiet
- You can clean filter in washing machine
- Display don't show current temperature only demanded
- Compressor issues
- LCD Display with remote control
- Auto-evaporation system
- Easy to assembly
- Sometimes instead of working as an AC unit, the device works as fan or dehumidifier
- Practical wheels
- 2 cooling/fan speeds
- Extremely noisy
- Location of drain is not practical
- 3 cooling/fan speeds
- Modern design
- Timer function
- Harder to assembly and install
- Compressor issues
- 4 way air direction
- Active carbon filters
- LED display with remote control
- Feasible only for smaller rooms
- Noisy
- Economical solution
- Energy saver
- Quiet
- Only Air Cooler not Air Conditioner
- Low quality components and material
- Strong cooling
- Great design
- Multiple functions
- Exhaust hose is not so flexible so air conditioner needs to be placed on same spot
- Noisy
- Reasonable price for cooler
- Cooler, Fan and Humidifier in 1
- Only Air Cooler not Air Conditioner
- Windows have to be open
1. Whynter ARC-14S – My personal choice
The first air conditioner on my list is the Whynter ARC-14S which can be used in three different ways. You can obviously use it as an air conditioner, but also as a fan and a dehumidifier, for when your environments is overflowing with humidity.
Thanks to its mobility it is a great choice for your home, office or any other place that needs cooling during the warm and hot summer weather. It most certainly ranks among the best air conditioners on the market right now. This portable air conditioner features a full thermostatic control, which ranges from 61°F to 89°F. Plus a possibility to set the timer for 24 hours and a remote control which enables you to control the product from a distance.
As far as filters are concerned, this Whynter has carbon ones and a pre-filter that you can easily clean in your wash machine. It is rightfully labeled as one of the best portable air conditioners. The noisiness is very low, in fact, this cooling product holds the title of the quietest portable air conditioner on my list.
Features
Product dimensions: 16 x 19 x 35.5 inches
Product weight: 80 pounds
Maximum power: 14 000 BTU
- Air conditioner, fan or dehumidifier mode
- Remote control
- Additional Window kit
- Nice design
- It works for spacious rooms or small apartments
- Quite
- Only cooling no heater
- Displays only demanded temperature so the current one is unknown
- Life expectancy is short in many cases, the device completely broke after the warranty period has ended
- Issues with compressor
2. Honeywell MN10CESWW – Best Seller
This Honeywell Portable Air Conditioner with Remote Control is part of the window air conditioner family which makes him a great asset to your office space or home. Thanks to its innovative and polished design it enables the cooling and dehumidifying of an area of up to 400 square feet.
In addition, it uses the auto-evaporation system which contributes to the pleasant status of the environment, plus you don’t have to use any additional equipment. As you have probably guessed it already, this air conditioner can be accessed via a remote control and you can start the fan-only feature from whichever place you like. The LCD display lets you know which mode is currently on. The mobility of the product is guaranteed thanks to its caster wheels.
Features
Product dimensions: 15.2 x 18.1 x 29.4 inches
Product weight: 61.7 pounds
Maximum power: 10 000 BTU
- Digital LCD display and remote control
- Environmental friendly compressor
- Fully portable unit so the easy moving is guaranteed
- Window Kit
- Auto-evaporation system, the unit can still work if there is no water inside
- Dehumidification function
- Easy to assembly
- Low quality components
- Problems with settings, sometimes instead of working as an AC unit, the device works as fan or dehumidifier
3. LG Electronics LP0814WNR
LG Electronics LP0814WNR 115-volt is the right choice for you if you are looking for a new technological alternative to your everyday portable air conditioner. This product has been featured in many air conditioner reviews and there is a reason for that. It can lower the temperature in a room or office with the surface area of 200 square feet and with its LED display you will always be aware which of the two fan speeds or two cooling speeds is currently running.
The dehumidification feature is of course included as well and with the auto evaporation system you can easily use this portable air conditioner during hot summer days. Caster wheel are responsible for the movability of this LG air conditioner and the auto-restart saves all previous choices you have made until the unit is plugged in again. You don’t even have to take care of any water, plus with the 24-hour on/off timer you can cool down the room even if you are not in it.
Features
Product dimensions: 11.8 x 13.9 x 29.8 inches
Product weight: 26. 7 pounds
Maximum power: 10 000 BTU
- Wheels for easier movement
- Two fan speeds and two cooling speeds
- Fast cooling process
- Dehumidification function
- Auto-restart function does the saving of previous settings
- Drain is not located practically
- Due to its size it takes much space
- Extremely noisy even in the fan mode
4. Haier HPN14XCM
The Haier Portable Air Conditioner ranks among the best portable air conditioners on the market right now. It is a portable AC unit which can improve the surroundings of about 600 square feet, cool them down and dehumidify your chosen places, rooms or offices.
As far as the cooling is concerned, this Haier product has three cooling modes and three fan speed. The blue LCD display shows time and temperature and can be operated by the remote control. In addition, the filters of this portable air conditioner can be washed in the washing machine.
Features
Product dimensions: 20 x 33.6 x 16.6 inches
Product weight: 83 pounds
Maximum power: 14 000 BTU
- Three fan speeds and three cooling speeds
- Can be used it bigger rooms or studios
- Modern design
- Timer
- Easy cleaning
- Harder to assembly
- Issues with window installation
- Problems with compressor influencing the whole performance of the AC unit
5. Global Air Portable Air Conditioner
The Global Air is a portable air conditioner that cools down a space of 300 square meters with its two-speed cooling system and 4-way air direction which helps divide the air throughout the whole room so no corner is left behind.
Thanks to the digital LED display you can see the temperature and change it according to your needs. Even from a distance, with the remote control. The self-evaporative feature is included as well and the water gained from this process is re-used. This one is certainly among the best portable air conditioners for the hot holiday season.
Features
Product dimensions: 17 x 13 x 31.3 inches
Product weight: 54 pounds
Maximum power: 14 000 BTU
- Remote control and LED display
- There is no water tank, water circulation is based on self-evaporative system
- Water is being recycled via cooling condenser
- Anti-frozen function undercooling
- Active carbon filters
- Four-way air direction function makes the cooling more effective
- Feasible only for smaller rooms
- The parts do not stick together perfectly, after some time of using it might happen that some pieces will lose or fall apart
- It is very noisy
- Drain is not placed practically
6. Sunpentown SF-608R – Best Budget Portable Evaporative Air Cooler
This Sunpentown indoor air cooling system is of the evaporate category with its evaporative system, humidifier and water air cooling system. It has a 10 liter water tank and three speeds from which you can choose, plus a timer.
As with all of the air conditioners on my list, this one includes the remote control, too. This product serves best in an environment with the humidity below 40%. There is a need for ventilation while using this product, otherwise, humidity is collected in the room.
A big advantage is a movability since this air cooler can move from place to place and can be controlled by a remote. It can either oscillate or evenly spread fresh air through your house. This air cooler was designed for spot cooling and can fulfill its purpose gracefully.
Features
Product dimensions: 13 x 27 x 17 inches
Product weight: 18 pounds
Maximum power: 9 000 BTU
- Price
- Product weight is very low
- Economical solution
- Endothermic reaction is based on heat consumption by the unit
- Energy saver, as this is not an AC device and it works on a different basis, therefore it does not use that much energy
- Humidification function
- Very quiet
- Air Cooler not Air Conditioner
- Lower quality of components’ material
- Windows and doors should be open as the cooler does not work properly without air, it might bring warmer air to the room before it will get colder
- Not suitable for bigger rooms
- Sometimes it might start to leak
7. Honeywell MN12CESBB
This mobile air conditioner is capable of improving the temperature in the total space of 450 square meters and functions with the auto-evaporation system. This Honeywell product has all modern design features such as the digital LCD display which is easy to control also via the remote control.
Its movability is guaranteed thanks to four caster wheels. Therefore, no installation is needed. This can be easily labeled as one of the best portable air conditioners since it also includes a window venting kit which can be simply put down when not used.
Features
Product dimensions: 15.2 x 18.1 x 29.3 inches
Product weight: 68.3 pounds
Maximum power: 12 000 BTU
- Strong cooling
- Auto-evaporation system
- Full function remote control
- Easy-to-install window venting kit which also fits larger windows
- Three functions- cooling, fanning, and dehumidification
- Modern design
- Little noisy
- Lights of buttons and temperature value shine too brightly and they cannot be switch off
- As the hose is not really flexible and needs to be placed on the exact spot, it takes space in the window area of the room
8. Luma Comfort EC111B – Portable Evaporative Air Cooler
The Luma Comfort Portable Evaporative Cooler is one of the best evaporative air coolers on the market. The best conditions for its use are mostly hot dry weather with a low humidity of the soon-to-be cooler area of maximum 250 square meters.
It has a three in one nature since it can function as a cooler, a fan and a humidifier. The rotation and three various speeds cover the before mentioned area whose temperature can be dropped by 20°F – 30°F if used in the ideal setting. Don’t worry about guessing the actual temperature setting, the digital display lets you know all the necessary data, plus this air cooler can be operated by a remote control.
Features
Product dimensions: 12.8 x 11.2 x 34.5 inches
Product weight: 16.2 pounds
Maximum power consumption: 8 000 BTU
- Evaporating cooling system
- Three cooling speeds and wind modes
- Three functions: air cooler, fan, and humidifier
- As it does not work as an AC it saves energy moreover it is equipped with energy-saving timer
- Does not work in humid environment
- It is usable only in smaller rooms
- Windows should be open so the air can circulate in the room
- It takes longer to lower the temperature
9. Costway B071XVKR4T
The usage of this unit is very comfortable. The main panel and the remote control have several buttons by which you can operate the whole unit. Front panel displays the current temperature and you can also choose the demanded temperature. Once this temperature is reached the machine will close down automatically.
Moreover, it’s equipped with the timer. Except for cooling function, there are three other modes; dehumidifier, fan in two speeds, and a sleeping mode. Air filters are washable and can be reused so you don’t have to pay extra to money for replacements. You don’t have to worry about the right time for water tank emptying. Once the light on the front panel turns on just open the little vent on the back of the unit and the water will leak out.
Features
Product dimensions: 12 x 28.1 x 13.3 inches
Product weight: 58 pounds
Maximum power: 10 000 BTU
- Quick-Install Window Kit fits any size or type of window
- Perfect for larger rooms or even studios
- Very easy to set up
- Roll caster wheels make the moving of the unit really easy
- Ample airflow helps the cooling system to cover all hot spots
- Super Intelligent Temperature Sensor and Water-Full Control and Warning
- Drain hose is not included
- Noisy
Best Portable Air Conditioners 2020 – Buyer’s guide
Even though the portable air conditioning units are less costly than the regular installed ones it is still an investment that should work for a longer period of time. That’s why it is important to be focused on several aspects before you will get one.
I would recommend considering the brand and the manufacturer, power of the unit, additional functions, and noisiness.
Manufacturer
The first principle in case you are getting a portable AC unit for the first time is the purchase from a certified brand. A specialized company may advise you in advance, they have service lines and you can consult or review your possibilities and they will help you to choose the most appropriate product for your room or place. I do not recommend buying air conditioners in supermarkets or department stores because you do not have the guarantee that the service staff will give you expert advice and answer the questions connected to the air conditioning units.
Another problem that may unpleasantly surprise you is the absence of a flexible service department or the unavailability of spare parts. Most specialized brands provide repairs and service as a part of their business.
Power of Unit
Air conditioning power performance is the most important technical point when selecting a particular air-conditioning unit. It is important to be sure that the unit you choose has the right performance in terms of the space which is supposed to be cooled.
If the power is too high, the air conditioning will often switch on and off. On the other hand, if the power is too small, the air conditioner will be running continuously, resulting in higher energy consumption with low efficiency.
The power performance of air conditioning depends on several factors:
- the size of the room
- an orientation of the room
- placement and type of windows
- the number of people located in the room or place
- number of electrical appliances
- room insulation
Additional functions
The best portable air conditioners can offer more benefits in addition to its basic function. A very useful one is the humidity removing function, as the air conditioning unit maintains humidity at levels of 40-60%, which has a positive effect on people with allergies. It eliminates dust and mold. On the other hand, if you have a problem with dry air go check out our 9 best humidifiers.
Other features such as fan or sleeping mode are also beneficial.
It is also good if the package includes the window kit which fits with the hose so you will have no extra issues to find the suiting one.
Noisiness
If you have light sleep or constant noisiness disturbs you then you should choose your air conditioner according to the noise it makes. In general, the higher the power performance of air conditioning unit the louder the device is.
However, some of higher quality devices are equipped with a component which makes sound them quietly but this is connected to the price which would be also higher.
Air Cooler alternative
There is a solution in form of an air cooler, which is an economical alternative, plus there is no noise disturbance. However, air coolers are not AC’s and that’s why they do not work on the same basis as an AC.
The positive difference is the fact that it can be moved really easy as there is no need for a hose, but the temperature does not go down that rapidly. Basically, coolers work as high-performance fans.
