Optus Mobile Review ALDI Mobile Review Amaysim Mobile Review Belong Mobile Review Circles.Life Review Vodafone Mobile Review Woolworths Mobile Review Felix Mobile Review Best iPhone Plans Best Family Mobile Plans Best Budget Smartphones Best Prepaid Plans Best SIM-Only Plans Best Plans For Kids And Teens Best Cheap Mobile Plans Telstra vs Optus Mobile Optus NBN Review Belong NBN Review Vodafone NBN Review Superloop NBN Review Aussie BB NBN Review iiNet NBN Review MyRepublic NBN Review TPG NBN Review Best NBN Satellite Plans Best NBN Alternatives Best NBN Providers Best Home Wireless Plans What is a Good NBN Speed? Test NBN Speed How to speed up your internet Optus vs Telstra Broadband ExpressVPN Review CyberGhost VPN Review NordVPN Review PureVPN Review Norton Secure VPN Review IPVanish VPN Review Windscribe VPN Review Hotspot Shield VPN Review Best cheap VPN services Best VPN for streaming Best VPNs for gaming What is a VPN? VPNs for ad-blocking Especially popular with renters, portable air conditioners can be moved from room to room and are easily installed and operated. But as many people who have previously invested in portable air-con would tell you, some products simply don’t have the power required to combat the harsh Australian Summer, and sometimes the ones that do can do some serious damage to your energy bill. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up the best portable air conditioners currently available in Australia based on their coverage, noise levels, budget and cooling features. If you’re sensitive to noise, the Pinguino Air-to-Air gets a solid tick for its standout quietness. At a minimum noise pressure level of 47dB, it’s well below the level of normal conversation (around 60db) according to Safe Work Australia and on the lower end of the average sound level of portable air conditioners in our market selection (around 56dB). That said, you’d be hard-pressed to find a truly silent portable air conditioner, so expect the usual humming and fan noises. We also loved the use of low-emission refrigerant R290 and the inclusion of an ultra-smart remote, which can sense the humidity and temperature of a room and adjust the system’s output accordingly. The downside is that portable air conditioners are typically less efficient to run because, unlike exterior window AC units, they generate waste heat indoors so they’ve got extra hot air that needs to be vented outside. Since the generator is kept inside your home, it can also be noisier to run compared to a window unit that has the generator component outside. If you’re more concerned about maintaining good air quality in your home, you should check out our picks for the best air purifiers in Australia. Now, you might be thinking more power means more noise, but in Dimplex’s case, that’s not necessarily true. It’s rated at about 56dB, which is a little noisier than our top quiet picks (understandably), but still well below some of its less-powerful competitors. It weighs in at 34kg, which isn’t the lightest, but it’s still significantly lighter than our runner-up. Speaking of… The Carson 3-in-1 may not have the smart features of our next pick but it does offer the convenience of remote-operated control, a 24-hour timer and a Sleep Mode for quieter operation during the twilight hours. The biggest plus is that it can be completely controlled remotely via a supported smartphone app or device and is compatible with both Google Assistant and Alexa. That means if you’ve forgotten to turn it off before leaving for a weekend away, you can switch your AC off from your phone rather than having to turn back home. What’s more, for an affordable price, as well as decent cooling capacity, you’ll get an AC that isn’t too heavy and dehumidifies (1.2L per hour). Unfortunately, it is quite loud at 65dB and only comes with a one-year warranty. The Dyson Purifier Cool can be a tough sell at the regular retail price of $899 but at the discounted price of $599, it’s much easier to recommend.
Check the cooling capacity (in kW) is appropriate for the room/area you want to cool.How large is the air conditioner? Check the air con’s dimensions against your room size and confirm it fits through narrow corridors and doorways.Do you need heating too? If so, opt for a reverse cycle model.Need dehumidifying? Check for a dehumidifier rating of at least 1L per hour.Check the AC’s maximum sound (dB) levels. A quiet AC should sit under 55dB.Look for a model with Class A energy efficiency or at least a 3-star energy rating.Check the refrigerant’s global warming potential (GWP). Opt for one with a lower GWP if you’re concerned about the environment.Look for a model with castor wheels, which will be much easier to move from room to room.
Still, if you have your heart set on one, there are two reverse-cycle portable air conditioners currently available in Australia: the Kogan SmarterHome 2.7kW Reverse Cycle Portable Air Conditioner, and the Teco 3.5kW Reverse Cycle Portable Air Conditioner. There’s not a one-size-fits-all for the best portable air conditioner in Australia so that’s why we’ve chosen our top picks from several different categories, such as noise levels, room size and smart functionality.