There's no doubt it looks the part, making a very welcome change from the usual portable air conditioners that tend to be white, boxy, and pretty visually pretty unappealing. Instead, the Duux North 9K Smart Air Conditioner's curved grey front looks sleek and modern, and although it's still fairly sizeable, its curved edges help it to feel a lot visually slimmer, meaning it feels less bulky and more unobtrusive in a room. When positioned in a 4.5m by 4.5m room (approx. 15ft square) with higher than normal ceilings, the air con unit reduced the temperature by approximately two degrees Celsius in just ten minutes, making an almost immediate and noticeable impact. Of course, this temperature decrease became more significant with the unit running over a longer period of time. So whilst the best fans definitely work to cool a person thanks to the breeze they create that does a surprisingly good job of cooling the skin, only an air conditioner can dramatically lower the temperature of an entire room or living space. And only an air conditioner will deliver that fridge-like cold air we all crave in a heatwave. Do portable air conditioners cost a lot to run?

Portable 2 In 1 Air Conditioner - Russell Hobbs RHPAC4002 | Portable 2 In 1 Air Conditioner - Russell Hobbs

Now, if your goal is for a room to be chilled quietly, none of these portable units are going to be for you. Having the whole unit inside, which half of it usually sits outside the home, makes it quite loud under operation. But if the option was to have this little machine loud or to sit in 30c with a fan blowing around that hot air, I would take this every day of the week. Personally, we'd sacrifice some chill (and save a lot of cash) and opt for the Duux Whisper Flex Ultimate Fan over the North Smart every time. Especially if you're looking for ways to keep a bedroom cool as the fan's silent operation won't disturb your sleep. Whilst the fan won't actively lower the room temperature like the North Smart can, all those who've tested the Duux Whisper Fan now swear by it's oh-so-silent 'natural-feeling' breeze, reaching for it as a go-to sleep aid whenever the mercury soars. All in all, the MeacoCool MC Series 7000BTU Portable Air Conditioner is a good all-rounder at an affordable price point.

8 Best Portable Air Conditioners Compared

The Russell Hobbs RHPAC11001 Portable Air Conditioner unit itself doesn't need any assembly, however, if you’re using it to exhaust hot air either on Cool mode (the air conditioning function) or Dry mode (its dehumidifying functionality) then you need to attach the exhaust hose to the unit. One of the USPs of this unit is its 4-in-1 multiple functions, so I made sure to test each one out to see how well it performed and how user-friendly each was to operate. DETACHABLE WATER TANK: Adding water to the tank, you could use air cooler with humidifier. Adding cold water or ice cube will be more cooler. When the water tank is exhausted, the cooling humidifier mode is automatically stopped and then it can be used as a normal fan. Warning: Please keep balance to avoid water leaking. I tested out Staubs Pumpkin Cocotte Cast Iron Casserole to see if it is worthy of a place in your kitchen all year round n the app, you can switch between fan, cooling, dehumidifier, and auto modes as well as control the temperature, fan speed, and timer. Not only is this device loaded with features, but it is also very efficient. While compact, this AC unit is suitable for rooms up to 20 square meters and has a 9,000 BTU cooling capacity.

RUSSELL HOBBS 3 in 1 RHPAC3001B Air Conditioner - Currys RUSSELL HOBBS 3 in 1 RHPAC3001B Air Conditioner - Currys

This type of air conditioner recycles the moisture in the air and does not require a drainage hose. Once inside the unit, moisture moves across the coils and cools them down. If there is any moisture left at the end of the process, it is vented out through the exhaust. The main benefits of self-evaporating air conditioners include energy efficiency and effectiveness. Not only does the recycled moisture cool the coils, but it also helps the machine cool down the room faster. These appliances are also more lightweight and compact. This is very efficient, it says it draws 1.2kw, but I've measured it at most to be 900w. Again, more enclosed space, but very ideal if you're like me and are limited to power consumption.A stylish mobile air conditioner that offers 3-in-1 functionality, WiFi connectivity, and comes with remote control and window kit included, the Duux North 9K Smart Air Conditioner promises a lot. And so it should with a price tag that's double the most affordable air conditioners in our round-up.