What’s up, guys? In this blog, I’ll break down the five best portable air conditioners in 2023. I’ve made this list based on price, performance, reliability, ease of use, and more.
I’ve included options for every type of consumer, so whether you’re looking for something perfect for a small apartment, a large home, or anything in between, I’ll have the perfect AC unit for you.
If you want more information and the most up-to-date pricing on the products mentioned, be sure to check the buy links buttons below.
Whynter ARC-14S
First up, let’s get into it. Most people might be looking for an AC unit that’s easy to install, easy to use, and can effectively deliver enough cooling power for almost any space. The Whynter ARC-14S is my choice as the best portable air conditioner for most people in 2023.
The Whynter ARC-14S is a quality all-around option that comes with an intuitive installation process, a user-friendly remote control to optimize the settings, and enough cooling capacity to efficiently cool larger rooms.
It has a relatively compact frame that only measures around 19 by 16 by 15.5 inches and an intuitive window kit that makes installation and setup a breeze.
You get an included LCD screen that’s easy to use and allows you to toggle through different cooling modes, adjust the thermostat controls, set the 24-hour timer, and cycle through fan speeds.
Alternatively, you can use the remote to adjust settings without getting up. In addition, I like that it has a dual hose design, so it delivers improved airflow and faster, more efficient cooling over larger areas or rooms. And it doesn’t get obnoxiously loud when in use.
The Whynter ARC-14S has a powerful cooling capacity of 14,000 BTUs, which is on par with some higher-end models such as the DeLonghi Pinguino PACEX390LVYN, which I’ll mention later. It can reliably cool spaces up to 500 square feet without drastically skyrocketing your monthly electricity bill.
You get three built-in operational modes, including an air conditioner setting to cool your space, a fan setting to circulate air, and a dehumidifier mode. Even more, it comes with a washable pre-filter to capture larger particles and a carbon air filter to keep your air cool, fresh, and odor-free.
The Whynter ARC-14S is a quality all-around option that can reliably cool spaces up to 500 square feet. You get three built-in operating modes depending on your needs and impressive efficient performance over larger spaces.
If you don’t want to splurge on a high-end option but still want a solid AC unit that can keep your space comfortable, this is a great choice.
Evapolar evaCHILL
Evapolar evaCHILL – Next up, some people might just need a small, portable air conditioner unit that won’t take up much space and can deliver quality and quiet performance. The Evapolar evaCHILL is a great choice if you just need to cool a smaller space.
With its compact and lightweight design, intuitive controls, versatile functionality, and surprisingly effective and efficient cooling performance, the Evapolar evaCHILL is an excellent and affordable option designed for personal use.
It has a compact and lightweight design, weighing only about two pounds, and doesn’t require installation, so you can easily move it from room to room or take it with you on the go. Additionally, it’s available in a few different colors to suit your style.
The evaCHILL is an incredibly easy-to-use air conditioning unit that only requires you to fill an accessible 27-ounce water tank, plug it in via the included USB cable, and press the single button to begin cooling your space.
In addition, it relies on water instead of freon-like liquids and doesn’t consume much power, keeping your monthly bills reasonable. It uses effective evaporative technology to lower the temperature in your space and reliably covers areas up to 26 square feet, making it an excellent choice for single-room or personal use. It offers solid cooling speeds without generating excessive noise.
Furthermore, the evaCHILL offers three-in-one functionality, including a cooling mode, a humidifier mode, and a cartridge material to help clean the air and catch larger dust particles. However, it’s best used in dry climates when humidity levels are under 70 percent.
The water tank can also deliver three to eight hours of uninterrupted cooling per fill, depending on the air temperature and humidity.
The Evapolar evaCHILL is an excellent and highly portable option that offers excellent energy efficiency, easy-to-use controls, a stylish design, and impressive cooling with four fan speeds to deliver customized comfort whenever you need it.
This is an ideal choice if you just need something that can quickly and effectively cool smaller spaces.
DeLonghi PACEX390LVYN
DeLonghi PACEX390LVYN – If you’re looking for the AC unit with the most complete combination of build quality, cooling capacity, and energy efficiency, the DeLonghi PACEX390LVYN is my choice as the best overall portable air conditioner in 2023.
The DeLonghi PACEX390LVYN is a powerful and efficient portable air conditioning unit that comes with ample cooling power, user-friendly controls, and innovative technology that can automatically adjust the temperature to suit your space.
The air conditioner unit has a sleek and sturdy exterior to protect its powerful internal components, and you can get it in black or white color variants to match your other home decor.
Despite having a heavier and bulkier build than many other portable AC units, it’s still reasonably easy to move around when needed and can capably and efficiently cool much larger areas.
It’s also easy to use and features a display screen that allows you to adjust important settings such as the temperature, fan speed, or toggle through the built-in modes.
It delivers more cooling power than cheaper options such as the LG LP1419IVSM, which I’ll mention shortly, and offers up to a 14,000 BTU output that can cool spaces up to 700 square feet surprisingly quickly.
It also comes with Arctic Whisper Extreme technology, which reduces noise by 4 dB without sacrificing power or efficiency to ensure quiet operation.
In contrast to the previously mentioned models, it has an innovative Cool Surround feature that uses Bluetooth to monitor the temperature and humidity in your space and automatically adjust settings to optimize performance.
It offers three different fan speeds. Additionally, it’s surprisingly energy-efficient and offers up to a 17% energy efficiency improvement over the previous model.
The DeLonghi PACEX390LVYN is a heavy-duty portable AC unit designed to quickly and efficiently cool larger spaces. It comes with impressively quiet operation, good speeds, and multiple modes to keep you cool and comfortable in most situations.
If you can afford the price and want a powerful option that can reliably cool larger spaces, this is your best bet.
Black+Decker BPACT08WT
Black+Decker BPACT08WT – Next up, many people might be looking for a solid and compact portable air conditioner that offers powerful cooling performance and good energy efficiency for a decent price.
The Black+Decker BPACT08WT is my choice as the best portable air conditioner for the money in 2023.
Not everyone can afford a premium portable air conditioner unit, and the Black+Decker BPACT08WT is a more affordable alternative that can reliably cool smaller spaces without causing too much noise or taking up much space.
The unit has a compact design, measuring roughly 16.5 by 11.5 by 26 inches, and comes with a convenient built-in handle and four caster wheels, allowing you to easily transport it between rooms or store it in the window.
It comes with a full window kit that allows for an intuitive and fast installation process, and while it should be set up near a double-hung or sliding window for optimal results, the five-foot hose provides solid placement flexibility in your space.
The LED display is also incredibly easy to use, and you can easily slide the filter out when it needs cleaning to maintain performance. It comes with 8,000 BTUs of cooling power, which is impressive for the price and capable of cooling areas up to 150 square feet. So it’s an excellent choice if you need to cool a smaller space like a bedroom or office.
Alternatively, you can opt for a more powerful configuration. Despite its compact size, it offers three-in-one functionality and can be used as an air conditioner, a fan, and a dehumidifier to make your space more comfortable.
It also offers self-evaporating operation for easier upkeep. However, anyone who wants heavy-duty cooling power might be better off with the DeLonghi PACEX390LVYN, which I mentioned earlier.
The Black+Decker BPACT08WT is a quality model designed to efficiently cool smaller spaces, and it comes with three-in-one functionality depending on your needs, user-friendly controls, and effective cooling performance.
This is an excellent choice if you don’t want to spend too much but still want a quality AC unit that can reliably get the job done each time.
LG LP1419IVSM
LG LP1419IVSM – Finally, I have a modern and effective unit that offers ample cooling power, excellent energy efficiency, and can be controlled directly from your smartphone. The LG LP1419IVSM is my choice as the best smart portable air conditioner in 2023.
The LG LP1419IVSM is a powerful portable air conditioning unit that remains reasonably quiet when in use and offers an intuitive installation process, effective dual inverter technology to cool your space, and several built-in smart features.
It comes with a minimalistic design that won’t draw much attention and a window installation kit that fits most standard windows, so it shouldn’t take long to set up and install. However, it is relatively large and heavy, weighing around 70 pounds, and the hose is somewhat short compared to other solid competitors such as the Whynter ARC-14S I mentioned earlier.
It is compatible with the LG companion app, which allows you to monitor or adjust the unit from your smartphone, enable Alexa or Google Assistant for hands-free control, and more.
Additionally, it doesn’t consume much power and offers 15% more energy efficiency than the Energy Star certification requires. It uses sophisticated dual inverter technology to deliver efficient cooling and enough power to cover spaces up to 500 square feet.
It offers versatile functionality and can operate in three modes depending on your needs, including a cooling mode, a fan-only mode with four speeds, and a dehumidifier function.
The LG LP1419IVSM also comes with some additional user-friendly features, such as a sleep mode that reduces noise to around 44 dB for nighttime use, an auto swing setting to provide a more even distribution of cold air, and a timer function.
It features modern technology that allows you to control or adjust the cooling power from almost anywhere, and you get a powerful unit that offers enough cooling power to keep larger rooms or even some smaller apartments cool.
If you can afford the price and want an AC unit that’s easy to use and can routinely deliver noticeable and satisfying results, the LG LP1419IVSM is a great choice.
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