They’re powerful, easy to use and install, and pretty efficient (even if they can’t match a window unit).
By
Michael Zhao,
a senior writer at the Strategist covering appliances and men's style.
He was formerly a deputy editor at Wirecutter.
Best overall
Quiet, efficient, and affordable window and portable inverter models with the power to cool the largest rooms.
They’re quieter, more efficient, and cheaper to run than the ones most of us have been using.
A portable AC unit can bring cool air into nearly any living space with a window.
They all perform about the same, and none are very quiet, but some have better controls and more features than others.
I tested eight highly rated portable air conditioners on the market, and only one kept me from melting into a puddle.
We’ve used these brands for years and they are still going strong.
