With the first heatwave of the summer set to send temperatures soaring, an air cooler will soon become an essential. While they won’t deliver the ice-cold blast of a portable air conditioner, air coolers are noticeably more effective than a fan, helping to lower the room temperature without guzzling electricity or requiring awkward window-venting kits. Instead, they use evaporative cooling: water and ice are added to a tank, absorbed into an internal filter and circulated back into the room as cooler air.To find out which models will be worth the space they occupy, I tested a range of popular air coolers across the four corners of my home during a hot, sunny period. Some come with smart controls and hefty tanks, while others prioritise portability and ease of use. Importantly, all of them promised to make the heat a little more bearable. These are the ones that delivered on their claims.Read more: Best portable air conditionersI tested a range of air coolers in my own home (Alex Lee/The Independent)Read more: Best fans, reviewedThe best air coolers for 2026 are:Best overall – Princess smart air cooler: £120, Wickes.co.ukBest budget buy – Black + Decker air cooler: £99.99, Amazon.co.ukBest smart tech option – Igenix 10L smart digital air cooler: £122.99, Amazon.co.ukBest for powerful cooling – Pro Breeze air cooler: £134.99, Amazon.co.ukBest budget personal model – JML Chillmax Air Pure 2.0: £39.99, Robertdyas.co.ukRead more: Best portable fans