Best portable air conditioners | Top-rated air cons of 2024
Shoppers say these portable air conditioners have become a "lifesaver" for those humid nights.
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Nothing really screams summertime more than when you peel yourself off a chair for the first time since retiring your Kathmandu puffer vest for the year.
Portable air conditioners are one way to survive the Aussie heat, especially if you're looking for a more affordable or renter-friendly alternative to ducted cooling.
Models with a dehumidifier can help make the season less sticky and gross, such as the De'Longhi Pinguino portable air conditioner which can get rid of up to 50L of moisture a day. Shoppers say this "small but powerful" appliance maintains the set temperature well, so you won't end up shivering one minute and unusually warm the next.
Reviewers have also dubbed the Hyundai 4.1kW Smart Portable Air Conditioner a "lifesaver for those hot nights". Plus, it's $350 off!
OUR TOP PICKS
BEST PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER AND DEHUMIDIFIER
De'Longhi Pinguino 2.6kW Portable Air Conditioner, $799 at De'Longhi
De'Longhi Pinguino 2.6kW Portable Air Conditioner
What You Need To Know
For those seriously humid days, the De'Longhi Pinguino portable air conditioner (PACEM93KSILENT) can get rid of up to 50L of moisture in 24 hours so you can feel cool and dry. It also packs Silent Technology, making sure neither heat or noise prevents you from getting a good night's sleep.
Shoppers call the unit "small but powerful", and "best value for money".
"One of the best portable air conditioners I’ve used. (D)efinitely worth every cent," raved a fan.
"It cooled down my bedroom room real quick. (The) outside temp was around 32°C (and) it got my room down to 20°C and had no problems holding it there."
BEST BUDGET PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER
Solt 2.5kW Portable Air Conditioner, $549 at The Good Guys
Solt 2.5kW Portable Air Conditioner GGSAP2560W
What You Need To Know
Solt offers a variety of wallet friendly home appliances, such as this Solt portable air conditioner (GGSAP2560W). To tackle the heat, this unit features a dehumidifier mode that can remove up to 50.9L of moisture per day. It’s also fairly quiet, operating at 51.9dBA (which is similar to having a conversation).
“Perfect for hot nights in the bedroom. Can’t sleep without it,” praised a shopper.
“Awesome little machine,” another reviewer described, rating it five stars.
“Cools room down quite quickly while being reasonably quiet. Easy to use. Easy to sleep while running. Very happy.”
BEST HUMIDIFIER FOR SMALL ROOMS
Devanti Portable Air Conditioner 2kW, $371.95 (down from $456.95) at Myer
Devanti Portable Air Conditioner 2kW
What You Need To Know
If you're short on space, this Devanti portable air conditioner (PAC-A-14K-WH) is worth checking out for small rooms. It's not overly bulky and provides enough cooling power to keep you cool without wasting too much electricity. Keep in mind it does need to be vented.
Shoppers especially love how it's easy to set up, with one reviewer saying the "little ripper" pumps out enough cool air to keep their work sheed comfortable.
BEST HUMIDIFIER FOR SMALL TO MEDIUM ROOMS
De'Longhi 2.4kw Portable Air Conditioner, $789 at The Good Guys
De'Longhi 2.4kw Portable Air Conditioner
What You Need To Know
Roll into the warmer seasons with this De'Longhi two-in-one portable air conditioner and dehumidifier. It features three fan speeds and a maximum noise level of just 63db(A), which is great if you're not overly concerned about white noise but don't want to be trapped with a loud machine either.
" We've had a few hot nights and this air con is a lifesaver. Cool, efficient and not too loud! The first few nights you'd notice the noise but after a while you get used to it," a happy showed reviewed.
Hyundai 4.1kW Smart Portable Air Conditioner, $549 (down from $899) at Dick Smith
What You Need To Know
Hyundai might not always be a name that quickly comes to mind with home appliances, but many shoppers are steering towards this air purifier for its "instant" and powerful cooling.
Ideal for small to medium rooms, this unit also includes three fan speeds and a dehumidifier that can remove up to 36L of moisture in a day.
"Easy to assemble, looks good and keeps my room cooled in 40°C-plus days," an impressed reviewer posted.
WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER
DO PORTABLE ACS HAVE TO BE VENTED OUT A WINDOW?
Most portable air conditioners require venting through a window, or alternatively a wall, ceiling or door. This is because portable air conditioners draw in warm from inside the room, which then needs to be released outside.
If venting outside isn’t practical for your home, you can opt for a portable split air conditioner, portable evaporative cooler or fan to beat the heat.
Cooling capacity
The higher the power output (kW), the more powerful and pricier it will be to run.
WEIGHT
Portable air conditioners can be surprisingly heavy, despite its name. Although they often come with handles and pre-assembled castors so you can easily wheel it between rooms.
DEHUMIDIFIER FUNCTION
Aussie heat can be brutal, but dehumidifiers can help remove moisture from the air and get rid of that sticky feeling. They're also useful for preventing mould and mildew.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
Our team of experienced writers spend hours researching products to include in articles. We find out what factors make a good product by talking to experts, reviewing test results and analysing thousands of customer reviews.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONERS AND FANS?
Though fans are certainly a more attractive cooling option for your wallet, there are many benefits to airconditioning worth considering when making an investment. Unlike fans, which simply move air around to create a breeze, air conditioners remove warm air from a room, and replaces it with cool air. This is especially useful in larger spaces with direct sunlight, where simply creating cool air would be is insufficient for lowering indoor temperatures.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DUCTED AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS AND SPILT SYSTEM AIR CONDITIONING?
For those looking to make the move to more permanent cooling arrangements in their home, there is the option of built-in air conditioners. But how to decide between ducted air conditioning and split system air conditioning?
DUCTED AIR CONDITIONERS
Ducted air conditioning moves through ducts from a central cooling system, allowing for many different rooms to be heated or cooled at once. Additionally, zones can be created, to allow for cooling or heating of only the rooms in use.
Arguably the most effective and efficient of the air conditioning systems, it also requires the most cost investment and is the most labour intensive to implement.
SPLIT SYSTEM AIR CONDITIONERS
Split-system air conditioning consists of two units: an internal, which ingests the warm air indoors; and external, which pushes out the hot air, away from your home.
It is also responsible for pumping cooled air back indoors. The most common type of air conditioning in Australia, it can cool a sizeable area at much less cost than installing ducted air conditioning – however, due to the need for the internal and external units to be connected, a home will typically need more than one to cool each side or floor.
More summer coverage
Best cooling fans to beat the heat
Best dehumidifiers to buy online in 2023
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