7 Portable Air Conditioners Highly Rated Across Top Review Sites

As the weather heats up outside, it feels great to cool off inside. Nothing beats the feeling of stepping out of the hot, humid air into a nice, cool, air-conditioned home or office. Central heat and air are certainly a luxury, but not every home or office building is equipped with an HVAC unit. When it comes to ensuring your comfort on a hot summer day, having a portable air conditioner to keep you cool is the perfect hack.

We sought out the very best of the best, consulting 12 home improvement and tech review websites in an effort to bring you a consensus list of the most recommended portable air conditioners. Our list comprises the seven most frequently listed units from across these sites. Do you think we missed a great option? Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!

The List: Top 7 Portable Air Conditioners, According To Top Reviews

1. LG Dual Inverter (LP1419IVSM)

The top spot on the list of the best portable air conditioners belongs to the LG Dual Inverter (LP1419IVSM). LG is at the top of its game with this extremely effective portable cooling system. Popular Mechanics calls the LG Dual Inverter the top choice on the market for its fast cooling power and efficient design which utilizes twin rotating compressor rings. The twin rotating compressor rings help cool your space fast and make the LG Dual Inverter an energy-efficient option, so you won’t have to break the bank to cool down.

The LG Dual Inverter portable unit is loaded with features that make it one of the best portable air conditioners on the market. As U.S. News and World Report explains, LG designed this air conditioner with four cooling options and fan modes so you can truly customize your space’s temperature. This air conditioner is also Wi-Fi enabled and works with in-home technology such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Simply download the LG ThinQ app and you’ll be able to control this unit with your smartphone.

If you’re not into adding extra apps to your smartphone, this LG Dual Inverter portable air conditioner also comes with a remote for easy controls. Pro Tool Reviews raves about the LG Dual Inverter’s ability to cool a room up to 500 sq. ft while the dehumidifier further cools your room on those really hot, humid summer days. The LG Dual Inverter also comes with a removable, washable filter and a handy “check filter” light that reminds you when it’s time to perform some routine maintenance on the unit’s air filter. You’ll stay cool all summer long with an LG Dual Inverter portable air conditioner.

2. Whynter ARC-1230WN Dual Hose

Blasting into the second spot on the list of the best portable air conditioners is the Whynter ARC-1230WN Dual Hose air conditioner. These versatile air conditioning units offer a staggering 14,000 BTUs of cooling power, notes Good Housekeeping. The dual hose design helps cool spaces effectively and efficiently while the built-in dehumidifier works to make your office, garage, and home comfortable on those humid summer days.

Similar to the LG Dual Inverter, this Whynter air conditioner is Wi-Fi enabled. In fact, U.S. News and World Report calls the Whynter ARC-1230WN the top smart portable air conditioner on the market. The built-in wi-fi on these Whynter air conditioners works with virtual assistants such as Google Home or Amazon Alexa, meaning you can control the comfort of your home with your voice. You’ll also have the ability to download the NetHome app so you can control this portable air conditioner with your smartphone or tablet, ensuring your space is comfortable and cool before you arrive.

Forbes calls this Whynter Dual Hose air conditioner the top choice in portable air conditioners and for good reason. These portable units are effective in spaces up to 600 sq. ft. and run relatively quiet compared to other, similar portable air conditioners. The dual hose design sucks in hot air and replaces it with a cool breeze, effectively transforming a hot space into an air-conditioned oasis in less than a few hours. When the weather heats up outside, it can be Whynter inside with a Whynter Dual Hose portable air conditioner.

3. Black+Decker BPACT14WT

Chilling in the third spot on the list of the top portable air conditioning units is the Black+Decker BPACT14WT. As The Daily Beast explains, if you’re looking for an affordable, quick-working, top-rated portable air conditioning unit capable of cooling a large space, then this Black+Decker air conditioner is for you. These portable air conditioners sport a whopping 14,000 BTUs of cooling power and double as a dehumidifier and a fan, so you can rest assured that your space will be kept cool and comfortable even on a sweltering summer afternoon.

Time Magazine loves the portability of these Black+Deck air conditioners. These air conditioners weigh in at around 70 pounds, so hauling them from room to room or out to the garage is no easy task, but the side handles make it easy to maneuver these units back and forth, wherever you may need them. Black+Decker is one of the most trusted brands in home improvement, so it comes as no surprise that its air conditioning units are packed with helpful features that make cooling your space in the summer simple and convenient.

As Popular Mechanics explains, this Black+Decker portable air conditioner offers exceptional cooling performance for the price. The only real knock on this unit is that the remote doesn’t come with batteries, so if you’re looking to use this model out of the box with the remote, you’ll need to pick up a pack of AAA batteries along the way. However, this unit offers cooling and dehumidification – two of the most important factors when the temperature soars. Take the guesswork out of buying a portable air conditioner with a Black+Decker BPACT14WT.

4. Midea Duo

These dual-purpose air conditioners also double as heaters, giving you plenty of bang for your buck. Bob Vila calls the Midea Duo “the most powerful unit” available on the market today. Like many of the other units on this list, the Midea Duo is Wi-Fi enabled and can be controlled with Google Home or Amazon Alexa, adding to its versatility.

The dual hose design of the Midea Duo takes in hot air from your room or office space and replaces it with cold, frigid air, explains Business Insider. This dual hose design effectively and efficiently cools your desired space in minutes, giving you a nearly instantaneous reprieve from the hot summer sun. The smart features offer full control over the unit even when you’re not home or in the office. You can even dictate the direction of the airflow right from the app.

Men’s Health says the Midea Duo portable air conditioner is its top pick for a portable cooling option because of its efficiency, cooling power, and smart features. These air conditioners pack a staggering 12,000 BTUs of cooling power in one, small, convenient little device. The Midea Duos can effectively cool a space up to 500 square feet and work immediately to cool your area as soon as they’re turned on. If you have a garage, office, or small room that needs cooling in the summer and heating in the winter, the Midea Duo is a great choice that tackles both issues in one unit.

5. ECOFLOW Wave 2

The Wave 2 is another two-in-one portable air machine that provides both air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter. As Good Housekeeping notes, these versatile battery-powered air conditioners come in handy during power outages, camping trips, and any other situation when you don’t have access to electricity. The batteries can be charged using an AC outlet, DC car charger, or solar panels so you can ensure your family can stay cool, or warm when you need it most.

ECOFLOW Wave 2 Portable Air Conditioner (us.ecoflow.com)

Bob Vila raves about the ECOFLOW Wave 2’s versatility and long battery life. These powerful little boxes provide excellent cooling power on the hottest of days, inside and outside. The Wave 2 is an excellent choice for outdoor sporting events in the heat or for cooling down a hot garage on a sweltering summer day. When fully charged, the batteries last an astounding eight hours, giving you peace of mind you can stay cool, or warm, in the harshest environments.

The ECOFLOW Wave 2 is also extremely lightweight and truly portable. At just over 30 pounds, it easily goes where you go, keeping you cool the entire time. The Daily Beast calls the ECOFLOW Wave 2 the most versatile, innovative, and sleek portable air conditioner you can buy. With the ability to charge nearly anywhere and the power to keep you cool on those unbearable summer days, you won’t regret investing in an ECOFLOW Wave 2.

6. Frigidaire 3-in-1 Connected Portable Air Conditioner

Frigidaire is best known for their refrigerators, so it makes sense that it also produces some of the most effective portable air conditioners as well. As U.S. News and World Report notes, these 3-in-1 air conditioners cover up to 700 square feet and connect to your smart devices through Wi-Fi.

Bob Vila loves how easy it is to set up and use these air conditioning units and raves about how quiet they are while in use. The caster wheels on these Frigidaire air conditioners make it easy to roll these units from room to room or out to the garage. You will need to set up the hose with a window, but once this Frigidaire is installed, you’ll love how quickly it cools a room. And, the dehumidifier works wonders in humid climates where it can be harder to cool down your space.

Pro Tool Reviews recommends these units for both the living room and bedroom. These Frigidaire 3-in-1 air conditioners are powerful enough to keep most any room in your home cool throughout the hottest days. Download the app and you’ll be able to control and operate one of these units from anywhere at any time. And, for anyone concerned with air quality, these air conditioners also come with a removable and washable air filter.

7. De’Longhi Pinguino Portable Air Conditioner

These portable air conditioners pack some impressive cooling technology, according to Better Homes and Gardens. These smart cooling machines monitor everything from humidity levels in the air to your position in the room to offer you a top cooling experience for anywhere you go. De’Longhi utilizes smart sensing technology to keep your area cool and comfortable during the dog days of summer.

As USA Today writes, the De’Longhi Pinguino can effectively cool a space within minutes of turning it on. Beware, though, this speed comes with some compromises. These are one of the heaviest units on this list, weighing in at a staggering 83 pounds. You’ll need your weightlifting gear standing by if you plan on frequently moving this air conditioner around the house.

Still, you can’t deny the cooling power of these machines. And, the dehumidifier function is extremely powerful as this unit is capable of holding over 170 pints of water collected from the air. The Spruce sums up the De’Longhi Pinguino air conditioning system as “quiet and effective.” The quietness of these units makes them a great solution for a hot, stuffy upstairs bedroom. You’ll sleep tight and stay cool with a Pinguino from De’Longhi.

Sources we used for our list:

Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This article may contain affiliate links in which we receive a commission if you make a purchase.