Find The Best Portable Air Conditioner, Australia, And Keep Cool This Summer!

I live in the rainforest, 900km north of Cairns, half the year so air conditioning is a must! BUT, if you aren’t lucky enough to already have it, is it really worth the massive cost of having it installed only to use it part of the year? Finding the best portable air conditioner, Australia, could be a great compromise.

Whether you’re looking for something with all the bells and whistles or just the best cheap portable air conditioner, our portable air conditioner reviews Australia can help.

In a rush? Take a look at the handy comparison chart below! If you have a little more time scroll further down for our in-depth reviews and you’ll never need to ask “what’s the best portable air conditioner” again.

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Our Top Pick:

Coming Soon!

Comparison Chart – Best Portable Air Conditioner, Australia

Product	Power	Noise Level	Timer	Rating	Price
Carson PA200	14000 BTU	55dB	24 hr	4.8/5	Check Price!
DeLonghi PACCN86	9800 BTU	50-52dB	12 hr	4.9/5	Check Price!
Rinnai C4.1kW	14000 BTU	65dB		4.7/5	Check Price!
DeLonghi Pinguino PACN76DG	8200 BTU	61dB	12 hr	4.6/5	Check Price!
Dimplex C3.2kW	12000 BTU	51dB	24 hr	4.4/5	Check Price!
Devanti	13000 BTU	53dB	24 hr	4.4/5	Check Price!
Carson 4-in-1	21000 BTU	56dB	24 hr	4.5/5	Check Price!
Omega Altise	14000 BTU		24 hr	4.4/5	Check Price!
Olimpia Splendid	14000 BTU			4.7/5	Check Price!
Levante	19000 BTU	56dB	24 hr	4.6/5	Check Price!
DeLonghi 2.9kW	9800 BTU	47-62dB	24 hr	4.5/5	Check Price!
Solt 2.56KW	9000 BTU	51.9dB		4.4/5	Check Price!
AirLock Window Seal				4.6/5	Check Price!
BESPORTBLE Exhaust Hose				4.5/5	Check Price!

Air Conditioner vs Evaporative Cooler

Before choosing the best air conditioner, it’s important to know the difference between an air conditioner vs evaporative cooler.

The primary difference is the climate of the area that you live in.

An air conditioner is best for those that live in very humid climates. These units will allow you to dehumidify your home and get some extra cooling on, especially hot days.

The best portable air cooler, however, is best for those that live in dry climates and aren’t typically bothered by humidity. These units are very eco-friendly and will keep the humidity in your home.

In simple terms: if you live in a humid area, you’ll want an air conditioner and if you live in a dry area, you’ll benefit from an air cooler instead.

If you’re interested in learning more about the key differences, check out this article on coolers.

How Do The Best Portable Air Conditioners, Australia, Work

If you’ve never purchased an air conditioner before, you may be unfamiliar with the overall functionality of how the best portable air conditioning units work. While I could go very in-depth, there are a few major things to know.

Why Does A Portable Air Con Need a Hose?

The best portable aircon Australia has works by removing heat and humidity from inside and discarding it outside. Without a hose, you won’t be able to achieve this.

If you fail to properly vent your air conditioner, it is essentially useless to install in the first place. The reason is that hot air will be cycling around the room and in some cases, increase the temperature rather than cooling it down.

Additionally, improper venting will cause humidity levels to rise and I don’t think I need to tell you how miserable that will make you on an especially hot day!

Will There Be Condensation?

Due to the fact that air conditioners are constantly extracting moisture from the air, they will produce a significant amount of condensation. This can become alarming to some buyers if they are unaware of the amount of condensation that can be produced.

To remedy this, make sure your new air conditioner has a draining system. The best portable air conditioner brands will evaporate most, if not all, of the condensation on their own or push it out the window.

Other units, however, will require a bucket system where the condensation can be dripped into a bucket or other container in order to avoid it ending up all over the floor and damaging the carpets.

How Will My Electricity Bill Be Affected?

Many who purchase an air conditioner for the first time can oftentimes be surprised when they see the first electricity bill following their purchase.

While some air conditioners will have little impact on your electricity bills, others may increase it significantly. This fully depends on the portable air conditioner unit.

When trying to decide on the best air conditioner, make sure to look at the power. This can be listed by either BTU or tons. This is the amount of energy required to cool half a kilogram of water down by 17 degrees celsius.

The best value portable air conditioner Australia offers will increase your bill by only $60 or less. For larger units, expect increases by a couple hundred or more.

Features Of The Best Portable Air Conditioners, 2021

When you start shopping around for the best rated portable air conditioner, you might want to consider which features are most important to you. When it comes to the top portable air conditioner unit, you will need to know what features you will sacrifice for the ones that are more important.

So what features should you consider when making a buying decision? Keep reading as we cover exactly that in the following sections.

Noise Level

The first thing to consider is the noise level. Unfortunately, all standing portable air conditioners will have some noise they let off. The more powerful they are and the faster they cool the room, the more noise they will let off.

When considering which unit you will choose, think about the purpose of your unit. What room will it be used for and how bothersome will noise levels be?

For example, a unit intended for use in a home office may want to sacrifice cooling ability for a low amount of noise. The last thing you want while you work is a portable air conditioner that will be a large distraction.

Size/Cooling Ability

As noted previously, the best quiet portable air conditioner will not have the best cooling ability. If the cooling ability is a concern for you, be willing to sacrifice a quiet unit.

The best way to tell how powerful the cooling ability on your unit is would be by looking at the BTU listed. This may also be listed by tons, depending on the model that you are looking at. This tells you how much energy it will take to cool the room that it sits in.

It is important to note that the best portable ac will also be large in size. The more powerful the unit, the more space in a room it will require.

Portability

It goes without saying that the best small portable air conditioner is also very portable. If you choose a unit that is large in size with a lot of power, it is going to lack in portability and may be difficult to move around.

Price

Unless you have a very large budget to work with, the overall price of your unit is also something you will consider.

You may be willing to sacrifice other features to keep the cost down, or you may disregard cost in order to get the best rated portable air conditioner Australia has to offer.

But how much does the top portable air conditioner unit cost? Well, that depends.

On average, you will pay $400-$500 for the best cheap portable air conditioner unit. If you’re looking for a unit that is more feature-rich, however, you’ll want to expect to pay an average of $1,000 for your unit.

Portable Air Conditioner Reviews, Australia

Best cheap portable air conditioner

Carson PA200

I am so glad to say that I am so happy I purchased it. It’s powerful and cooled my 2 bedroom flat within 20 minutes I totally recommend this CARSON aircon it’s fantastic. – Tony

Specifications

• Power: 14000 BTU
• Noise Level: 55dB
• Item dimensions (L x W x H): 32 x 63 x 34 cm

The Carson PA200 gets our vote for the best value portable air conditioner.

This unit does a great job of being portable and only takes up 10-15 meters within a room. We have found it is great for moving around into different areas of the home.

You will love the additional settings included such as timers, speeds, and even a sleep mode. If you are gone for long periods, you’ll rest easy knowing you can set it to be the perfect temperature when you return home.

It is a unit that is very easy to install, however it will require changing the water frequently. It does include an easy to install exhaust kit, however. All things considered, we find this is a great option for a cheap portable ac.

If you’re looking for the top-rated portable air conditioner that won’t break the bank, this is the one you’ll want to consider.

What we like

• It cools down the room well
• Great value for money
• Has fantastic additional settings

What we don’t like

• Very noisy and is hard to put together

Click here to check current price on Amazon

The Rest Of The Top 10 Portable Air Conditioners

DeLonghi PACCN86

Used this unit for a 3X3m bedroom. Cools the room dramatically within 30min of turning it on. Easy to use and maintenance is a breeze. – Maya

Specifications

• Power: 9800 BTU
• Noise Level: 50-52dB
• Timer: 12 Hour

The DeLonghi PACCN86 is our top pick for the best mobile air conditioner. We have found the best thing about this unit is the flexibility to work for your needs.

This unit includes a variety of settings including 3 fan speeds so you can choose between power and noise. As a bonus, it is found to be significantly quieter than the average unit on the market.

While it does cool down a room quickly, we have found it to be best for small rooms due to the limited power. It can work in larger rooms but would take longer to cool down on a hot day.

It’s a great portable unit but can be clunky to move around at times. It comes with an exhaust kit to dehumidify out your window and generally works great, but may not be best for sliding windows

All in all, this is a great option for those looking to cool down a small room quickly.

What we like

• No water to remove 
• Easy to use and maintenance is a breeze
• Love the silent mode

What we don’t like

• Some find it noisy and the installation kit could have been better if it has a longer hose

Rinnai C4.1kW

Excellent product. Cools our living room very effectively and it looks good too. It is easy to assemble and well worth the cost. – Carole

Specifications

• Power: 14000 BTU
• Noise Level: 65 dB
• Speeds: Low, medium, high

The Rinnai C4.1kW can easily be a contender for the best portable air conditioner in Australia. With a sleep mode that adjusts the temperature automatically, this is a great unit to use throughout the summer.

This unit features a very sleek design, cools down a large room quickly, and is quieter than many models available.

We found that it is a great value for the power available with this unit and is incredibly easy to operate and install. Our only complaint is that it can be a bit heavy to move around to another room.

If energy efficiency is important to you, you’ll be happy to know that this unit is a great option. It also works on a self-evaporative system so you don’t have to empty a water bucket.

For those looking for the best portable air conditioner that is a great value for the power it gives and is very easy to operate, the Rinnai C4.1kW is a great option to consider.

What we like

• It is easy to assemble and has a good design
• You don’t have to empty out water as often
• Cools room sufficiently and it comes with a remote control

What we don’t like

• It is noisy

Click here to check current price on Catch.com.au

DeLonghi Pinguino

I tried SO MANY portable aircon (including other Delonghi models) before this one and it is BY FAR the best there is. Best portable aircon! Handles hot days and works just as well as a wall-mounted. – Katherine M. 

Specifications

• Power: 8200 BTU
• Noise Level: 61 dB
• Timer: 12 Hour

With its superior portability, it was easy to include the DeLonghi Pinguino PACN76DG in our list of top 10 portable air conditioners. The handles and castors make this unit a breeze to move around.

This unit has a variety of features that are easy to manage on the touch interface and remote. This includes things like temperature, fan speed, timers, dehumidifier, and conditioner settings. It also includes a 12-hour timer to make sleeping through the night obtainable during hot summer months. Check out my ultimate guide to buying the best mattress topper for a night of better sleep.

The dehumidifier function collects up to 30 litres of water per day. Additionally, this unit features a condensate recirculation system that many might find useful.

Since this model does include 3 fan speeds, it can be much quieter than many models on the market.

If you’re looking for the best portable air conditioner on the market, I highly suggest you consider this model. It is packed with great features that many will benefit from.

What we like

• It’s easy to put together
• Remote and timer feature is very handy
• It’s quiet and it cools a small room easily

What we don’t like

• Window kit is a bit flimsy and fiddly to install

Click here to check current price on Amazon

Dimplex C3.2kW

Specifications

• Power: 12000 BTU
• Noise Level: 51 dB
• Timer: 24 Hour

While looking for the best portable ac unit, you may consider the Dimplex 3kW Portable Air Conditioner as an option. It is fantastic at cooling down even the higher temperatures during the summer very quickly.

Many will love that a drip pan is not needed and only needs to be emptied once per day. However, you will need to wheel it to a concrete floor and it can be slightly bothersome without a hose to empty the unit.

Much like other models on this list, it is very easy to operate all the settings with the remote. This includes things like fan speed, temperature, and timer. We love that this unit includes a 24-hour timer for maximum use.

If you’re looking for a great option for a portable unit that also cools down the hottest of temperatures, we highly recommend this unit. It is a great option for long hot summers and gets the job done with ease.

What we like

• It has a really good temperature range
• Portability is excellent
• A drip pan is not needed and you don’t need to empty it regularly

What we don’t like

• This is a noisy unit

Devanti 13000BTU

 

Specifications

• Power: 13000 BTU
• Noise Level: 53 dB
• Item weight: 25 kg

As one of the top portable ac units, we love the powerful functionality, how easy this unit is to clean, and the portability of this unit.

It features efficient motors that work best in rooms up to 15 square meters. It offers a cooling mode, fan speed, and humidifier setting. The settings are easy to manage on the control panel or using the remote.

This unit includes removable filters so you can wash it anytime you need as well as the ability to drain water when utilizing the humidifier functionality.

Many will benefit from the quiet noise level of this unit as well as how easy it is to move around. The handles and castor wheels make it a breeze to move to different rooms as needed.

If you’re looking for one of the top portable ac units to use in your home, this is a great option to consider.

What we like

• You don’t have to drain water regularly
• Can cool an average size room quickly
• Slightly quieter compared to some models

What we don’t like

• Some users encountered louvre issues

Click here to check current price on Amazon

Click here to check price on Catch.com.au

Carson 4-in-1

This unit includes settings for cooling, heating, use of a fan, and even a humidifier functionality. The use of a remote is included and it features very intuitive controls.

The overall design of the unit is very sleek and it includes an easy to read LCD display so you know exactly how the model is running without confusion.

No installation is required for this unit and it includes a 24-hour timer. It includes castor wheels that make it a breeze to relocate to a different room.

This portable aircon unit is great for those in areas where reverse cycle functionality is a must. It is packed full of features at a great price point.

What we like

• It is a powerful unit that can cool average-sized room quickly
• Great value for money and good quality
• No need to empty the water tank often and remote is very handy

What we don’t like

• A bit loud

Click here to check current price on Amazon

Omega Altise C4.1kW

 

Amazing relief on a hot summer day. Easy to use and easy to store away. Nice and quiet and great value for money. I will recommend this product to all my friends and family. – Michelle

Specifications

• Power: 14000 BTU
• Speeds: Low, medium, high
• Timer: 24hr

This air conditioner is a great option if you want an air conditioner that doesn’t look clunky and overbearing. It’s sleek and subtle and will look good in any home.

It has four operating modes, including cooling, fan, dehumidifying, and auto, so is perfect for keeping your living room, or bedroom, cool on those hot summer days.

There are three speeds, low, medium, and high, meaning you can adjust the airflow to whichever makes you most comfortable, and the touch controls make those adjustments easy.

This model can be quite noisy, but the timer and night mode means it will turn itself off so you can enjoy a good night’s sleep.

What we like

• It cools down the room quickly
• Easy to install and well designed
• Products work well as an air conditioner and humidifier

What we don’t like

• The hose is too short and the unit is noisy

Olimpia Splendid C4.1kW

Specifications

• Power: 14000 BTU
• Speeds: Low, medium, high
• Dehumidification Capacity: 1.1 I/h

If you’re looking for an air conditioner that will work quickly to cool your room, then the Olimpia Splendid could be the one for you.

With plenty of great features, including a timer, touch display and remote, and three adjustable fan settings, this model is designed to make your life easier (and cooler!).

Like with all portable air con units, the noise can be difficult to get used to at first, but Olimpia claims to be the quietest on the market, and it quickly becomes background noise.

The dehumidification capacity is about 25L per day, so it’s also a great option if you live in a more humid climate.

What we like

• Easy to set up and works efficiently
• Cools a small room very well
• Easy to move around

What we don’t like

• Vent only points up

Levante C5.5kW Cooling Only

Specifications

• Power:19000 BTU
• Noise Level: 56 dB
• Timer: 24 hr

This compact unit is specially designed for smaller, residential spaces. Its small size hides big power. The cooling capacity of 5.5kW is strong enough for even the hottest of days.

If you’re worried about the environmental impact of your air-con unit, then the Economy Mode on this model will suit you just fine. With a touch of a button, the energy-saving mode kicks in, meaning you can be cool and save the planet!

Other features include a programmable timer, easy to use controls, and three-speed fan options.

Overall this is a great option for those who have smaller spaces but don’t want to compromise on quality.

What we like

• Cools large room quickly and efficiently
• Light and easy to move around
• Easy to refill the water and you don’t need to fill it up all the time

What we don’t like

• The aircon is pretty loud

DeLonghi 2.9Kw

Specifications

• Power: 9800 BTU
• Noise Level: 47-62dB
• Timer: 24 hr

The De’Longhi 2.9KW portable air conditioner is powerful enough to keep your bedroom or small living space cool during summer days! 

The stand out feature of this air conditioner is its ‘cool surround technology’, which means you can take the remote and move around the room. It’ll effectively track the temperature and humidity and adjust the machine accordingly.

Equipped with a non toxic and low emission R290 refrigerant, this aircon is eco friendly too. The unit has castor wheels and handles, making it easily portable. You will be happy to know that this unit uses silent technology and has a minimum noise rating of 47db.   

Although it is not the cheapest portable air conditioner on the market, this is a great option with some innovative features.   

What we like

• Installation into the window was simple 
• Cools a large room perfectly and quickly
• Its compact and fantastic features

What we don’t like

• Window fitting can be designed better

Solt 2.56Kw

Specifications

• Power: 9000 BTU
• Noise Level: 51.9dB
• Timer: Yes

Packed with plenty of great features, the SOLT 2.56kW is a great choice for a mid range portable air conditioner. It has a handy dehumidifying function for soaking up to 50L of the moisture out of your homes. 

The operating temperature ranges from 17–35°C, and it will provide comfort for both small living rooms and large bedrooms. The Solt Air Con can be easily moved with handles and castor wheels.   

Some added advantages are the auto restart setting with prior settings memory for convenience and quiet operation. It also features an easy to clean filter and water drainage at the rear of the unit as well as an auto power off function for energy efficiency. 

What we like

• Great value for money and does its job pretty well
• Easy to install and use
• Very easy to roll around great for small roo

What we don’t like

• Noise and window fittings issues

Useful Accessories & Extras

In some cases, you may need additional accessories and window fittings. If you have a window style that is not best suited for the air conditioner that you are considering, you may want to buy additional accessories.

This could include things like sliding windows, swinging window doors, awkward heights, an improper seal on your windows or otherwise. In those cases, we find that these accessories are your best bet in remedying any inconveniences due to window styles or other problems.

You may also want to consider additional accessories to add to the convenience of your chosen aircon unit within your home.

AirLock Window Seal

Great for windows that need additional sealing as it can prevent warm air from being returned to the interior and discharge warm air to the outside. This improves the cooling function as well as reduces your energy consumption.

Click here to check current price on Amazon

Extra Long Universal Flexible Exhaust Hose

In some cases, you may need an additional exhaust hose as some units include very short window units. This option is great as it is very long with a 3-meter long hose and is easy to install.

Click here to check current price on Amazon

Final Thoughts

When choosing the best portable air conditioner, know what features are most important to you. You’ll want to consider cooling ability, size, noise level, portability, and of course the price.

We also recommend doing some research to understand how units function so you can choose the best option for your home and needs.

Why not take a look at my top humidifier recommendations next or take a look at all my home tips.