If you find yourself without the luxury of central air conditioning and a window AC unit isn’t feasible for your space, while installing a ductless mini-split or heat pump system seems too daunting or expensive, then opting for a portable air conditioner emerges as your pragmatic alternative.
The Midea Duo MAP14HS1TBL stands out among its peers for its exceptional performance, boasting quieter operation, increased power, and enhanced energy efficiency compared to other portable air conditioners we’ve evaluated. While its price tag aligns with the typically higher costs of portable AC units, its dual functionality as both a cooler and a heater elevates its value proposition, making it a versatile climate control solution suitable for year-round use.
Everything we recommend
Midea Duo MAP14HS1TBL
The best portable air conditioner
With its robust inverter compressor and dual functionality as a heater, this portable air conditioner excels in delivering precise and quiet comfort throughout the year, ensuring effective and efficient climate control.
The Duo MAP14HS1TBL provides a comprehensive suite of smart-home features, encompassing support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, ensuring seamless integration into your connected ecosystem. Furthermore, its dedicated smartphone application and included remote expand the spectrum of customizable control options, enhancing convenience and versatility for users seeking tailored climate management solutions.
The integrated heat pump within this unit seamlessly transitions between cooling and heating modes, ensuring consistent temperature regulation according to your preferences. This versatile functionality enables year-round climate control within your home, extending its utility beyond the summer months to provide comfort and equilibrium throughout all seasons.
Midea Duo MAP12S1TBL
Similar cooling, less power, no heat
The Midea Duo MAP12S1TBL presents a compact alternative to our top choice, boasting identical features and functionalities, with the exception of the heat pump. While technically deemed slightly less efficient based on conventional portable AC efficiency metrics, it shares the same advanced inverter compressor and dual-hose configuration, resulting in comparable performance outcomes.
Frigidaire FHPH142AC1
Powerful, quiet, less efficient
While this air conditioning and heating unit may not utilize inverter technology, it matches the robust power output of our top selection and excels in evenly distributing air throughout the room.
While lacking the efficiency of an inverter model, this single-hose Frigidaire AC unit boasts comparable power and nearly equivalent quiet operation.
This Frigidaire model includes heating features for colder seasons. However, in our tests, we found the window-panel kit to be less sturdy compared to competitors, which resulted in a somewhat frustrating installation process.
Quiet, efficient, convenient, but only cools
This portable air conditioner boasts an effective variable-speed compressor, simplifying setup with its built-in hose, and includes a handy storage pocket. However, it does not feature a heating mode.
In the event that the Midea Duo models are not accessible, the single-hose LG LP1419IVSM stands out as an alternative choice for a portable air conditioner featuring an efficient variable-speed, inverter-powered compressor.
Similar to our second-choice option, this model features a remarkably straightforward setup process and does not include heating capabilities. However, it also offers slightly more power than our runner-up.
This LG model is notable for its high level of self-containment among the portable air conditioners we’ve tested. With a built-in hose and designated storage compartments for window panels and the remote, it simplifies the process of packing up and storing away for the winter season.
Black+Decker BPACT14WT
Just as cool, not as costly
While this widely used model offers comparable cooling performance to our other recommendations, it exudes a cheaper feel with its low-quality buttons and lacks certain conveniences like built-in cord storage.
The widely favored and budget-friendly Black+Decker BPACT14WT excels in cooling performance, surpassing other options within its price bracket. However, it falls short in comparison to our other selections, characterized by louder operation, clunkier controls, and a lack of the refined details found in some competing models.
Nevertheless, it effectively fulfills its intended purpose, making it a suitable option, especially for those seeking a portable air conditioner at a price point more akin to that of a window AC unit.
Actually portable
While this portable air conditioner operates on battery power and provides multiple charging options for versatility, it falls slightly short in terms of power compared to our other recommendations.
