Consumer Reports Ranks 7 Portable Air Conditioners; Hisense Tops for Quiet Cooling
Consumer Reports evaluated seven portable air conditioners, focusing on cooling performance, noise levels, and reliability under brownout conditions. The Hisense HAP0824TWD, priced at $420, earned the highest overall score, with excellent ratings for comfort and brownout resilience; its dedicated quiet mode operates at 42 decibels. The Honeywell HJ2CESWK8 ($560) and Midea MAP12S1TBL ($600) followed, both matching the Hisense in brownout resilience. The Amana AMAP14HAW ($650) was the only unit with a heating mode but ranked last in high-speed noise. The Whynter ARC-1230WN ($755) and two Frigidaire models (FHPC132AB1 at $520 and FHPW142AC1 at $579) also performed strongly. The FHPW142AC1 covers the largest area (700 square feet) and includes Wi-Fi and voice control.
Key facts
- Consumer Reports tested seven portable air conditioners for comfort, noise, and brownout resilience.
- Hisense HAP0824TWD costs $420 and scored highest overall, with excellent comfort and brownout resilience.
- Hisense HAP0824TWD uses a dual-hose design and inverter compressor, cooling up to 350 square feet.
- Honeywell HJ2CESWK8 costs $560 and offers fan-only and dehumidifier modes, with excellent brownout resilience.
- Amana AMAP14HAW costs $650, has a heating mode, but ranked last in high-speed noise.
- Midea MAP12S1TBL costs $600 and claims 40% energy savings compared to federal standards.
- Whynter ARC-1230WN costs $755 and covers up to 600 square feet.
- Frigidaire FHPW142AC1 costs $579, covers 700 square feet, and has Wi-Fi and voice control.
- Frigidaire FHPC132AB1 costs $520 and covers 600 square feet, tying with the FHPW142AC1 in overall score.
Entities
Institutions
- Consumer Reports
- Hisense
- Honeywell
- Amana
- Midea
- Whynter
- Frigidaire
- Amazon Alexa
- Google Assistant
Sources
- Quartz —