Portable Air Conditioner
A practical portable air conditioner (7000 BTU, 4-in-1) for proper, portable cooling around the home.
Portable Air Conditioner vs Air Cooler: What's the Difference?
Portable air conditioners and air coolers look similar and sit side by side in shops, but they work completely differently - and confusing them leads to disappointment. Here's the key distinction.
Portable air conditioner (real cooling)
A portable air conditioner uses a refrigerant compressor, like a fridge, to genuinely lower the air temperature. It produces noticeably cold air and can bring a hot room down to a comfortable temperature. The trade-off is that it must vent hot air through an exhaust hose to a window, it costs more to buy and run, and it makes more noise. If you want the room actually colder, this is the one.
Air cooler (evaporative)
An air cooler (evaporative cooler) blows air over a wet pad or ice, cooling it slightly through evaporation. It needs no hose or window, is cheap to buy and run, and is light to move - but it only takes the edge off, works best in dry air, and can add humidity. In a muggy UK heatwave its effect is modest. It's really a souped-up fan, not an air conditioner.
Which should you buy?
If you want genuine cooling and have a window for the hose, buy a portable air conditioner - it's the only portable option that truly cools. If you just want a cheap breeze with a slight chill and can't vent a hose, an air cooler or fan will do. Don't buy an air cooler expecting air-conditioner results - that's the most common mistake in this category.
Our top picks
#1
#2 
Dreo Smart 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner
A practical portable air conditioner (10000 BTU, 3-in-1) for proper, portable cooling around the home.
#3 
Portable Air Conditioner
A practical portable air conditioner (14000 BTU) for proper, portable cooling around the home.
#4 
Portable Air Conditioner
A practical portable air conditioner (12000 BTU) for proper, portable cooling around the home.
#5 
MOBIS PLUS 10 UK
A practical portable air conditioner (10000 BTU) for proper, portable cooling around the home.
#6 
ZAFRO Inverter Portable Air Conditioner
A practical portable air conditioner (14000 BTU, 42 dB) for proper, portable cooling around the home.
Frequently asked questions
Is an air cooler the same as a portable air conditioner?
No - a portable air conditioner uses a compressor to truly cool the air (and needs a window hose), while an air cooler just evaporates water for a slight chill (no hose). Only the air conditioner properly cools a room.
Why is an air cooler so much cheaper?
Because it has no compressor or refrigerant - it's essentially a fan blowing over water or ice. That makes it cheap to buy and run, but it can't actually lower the room temperature the way an air conditioner does.
Bottom line
Our top pick is the Portable Air Conditioner (our score 9.6/10) - A practical portable air conditioner (7000 BTU, 4-in-1) for proper, portable cooling around the home..