What would you normally expect from a premium quality portable air conditioner? It should move from one room to another rather efficiently, right? What else? It must run quietly and smoothly?

Well, due to the heatwave, the demand for portable air conditioners has increased drastically. Now the rooms that lack double window units need a good air conditioner otherwise it’s almost suffocating to sit and relax in that environment. However, the new trend is that people purchase a portable air conditioner as it is convenient and can easily be transferred to other rooms. However, convenience is costly and you must pay a price to make your life simpler. 

If you’re thinking of buying a portable air conditioner for your place, then you must consider four things: room size, outlet type, window size, and additional features.

Matt Brown of the Home Depot says, "ACs are rated by BTU (British Thermal Units) and range from 5,000 to 24,000 BTU, which correlates to 150-to-1500 square feet. The larger the BTU, the larger the room it covers. It's critical to not get a unit too big or small for a room for maximum cooling and efficiency."

"Customers need to confirm the window opening is large enough to accommodate the unit. Each unit specifies how large the window needs to be to accommodate [it]." – He added.

He also said that customers should try and cultivate their taste and invest in an inverter technology. "These units use more efficient motor technology that can ramp power up/down as needed while continuously running."

So, here are our top picks for the best portable air conditioners of 2020!

LG 14,000 BTU Smart Wi-Fi Portable Air Conditioner

This machine comes with smart capability that sets it apart from other options. It is supported by the LG ThinQ app that gives you ability to use your phone as a remote controller – this way you can schedule its run. Furthermore, it has Alexa so you can voice commands and it will follow through.

Image credit: Abt

It also comes with a dual-inverter compressor which is dependent on different motor speed to regulate temperature. This allows you to conserve 40% of energy. In the cooling tests, it performed exceptionally well, but you should know that it comes with only one year of warranty and the set up may take more time than expected. Get it at $689.01 from Amazon!

Black and Decker Portable Air Conditioner

When you compare the price of this device with the rest of the air conditioners on the list, you’ll agree that this one is a total gem as it offers a lot. It performed exceptionally well in its cooling evaluations but you might have to clean the filters regularly otherwise you might have to listen to jarring sounds while it’s switched on. The good news is that it’s fairly easy to clean, however, the bad news is that it consumes an awful amount of energy.

Image credit: Amazon

When you think about it, this machine is cheap but it does come with a long list of cons. For example, it operates loudly to the extent that the control can get clunkier. But at the end of the day, if your pocket is limited, the five-year warranty can save you. Get it for $479 from Amazon!

Whynter 14,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner

This portable air conditioner is perfect for medium to large rooms! Hence, you can easily place in your living room or study. Out of the lot, this machine performed the best in cooling tests it turned out to be the most efficient when it came to energy consumption.

Image credit: The Homedepot

After having a dehumidifier a heater is also installed in this machine. However, this machine is extremely loud and noisy when it comes to functioning. It comes with a three-year warranty and you can get for $520.71 from Amazon.

Honeywell Portable Air Conditioner

This is the quietest air conditioner of the lot. It’s easy to install and promises mobility. It passed the cooling test with flying colors but you must use it only in small to medium rooms. Its machine is sleek, lightweight and easy to move around as it comes with handles.

Image credit: alzashop

Hence, you can say that it’s easy to set up as well as energy-efficient.  Again, since it’s only active in small rooms, the power seems mediocre. Purchase it for $549 from Amazon!

Whynter Elite 12,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner

Since this list is all about portable air conditioners, this one makes a special cut as it fits well for the definition. Basically, all the other air conditioners on the list demanded fitting and some kind of setting, but this one is true to its role as it is genuinely portable and requires no set up whatsoever.

Image credit: Sam's club

This machine operates quietly and is efficient with energy consumption so no excessive electricity bills. The compressor comes with a three-year warranty there is remote control as well. But it may not fit wider windows and the cooling is really average. Get it for $523 from Amazon!