Portable Air Conditioners: Reviews

One of the most well-liked portable air conditioners for a small room of about 150 square feet, the 8,000-BTU MobilComfort KY-80 is also one of the least expensive. Some owners complain that the exhaust hose attachment is… expanda complicated affair, but the majority of reviewers say assembly and setup is simple and fast. We found abundant praise regarding the compactness of this portable air conditioner, which is slim enough to fit into tighter spaces than most portable units. Many say the KY-80 is relatively quiet, although a number of reviews complain that the fan runs continuously. At the end of the day, however, the MobilComfort KY-80 shines where it matters most -- its ability to cool a room. collapse

The 10,000-BTU NewAir AC-10000E is one of the better values in its class. User reviews indicate that it does a great job of cooling an average-size room (about 250 square feet), and many are pleased with its compact size.… expandA remote control is included, but you can also change settings right on the unit itself -- handy for those times when you misplace the remote. There are some downsides, however: The NewAir AC-10000E is relatively noisy, and many reviewers are unhappy about the brightness of the display, which could pose problems in a bedroom. collapse

For use in a larger room of about 350 square feet, the 12,000-BTU NewAir AC-12000E garners lots of positive feedback. Some owners say it doesn't cool as well as they hoped and its noise level earns some disapproving… expandcomments, but most say they're very happy with the unit's overall performance. Both the 24-hour timer and remote control get positive nods in reviews, and many owners note that the AC-12000E is very easy to set up. Another feature that works well is the auto-evaporative system, which prevents the need for owners to discard collected moisture. collapse