If you’re after a summer cooling unit that can handle a whole garage full of pool tables and dart boards this might just be the one. At 34.3 inches wide by 20.1 inches high, and a depth of 18.3 inches, it’s likely too large for the majority of RVs, but certainly isn’t beyond the realm of possibility. Super-powered cooling—the Whynter ARC-14S might not be as compact as some, but it’s still one of the best portable AC units we’ve ever tested.

Following our cooling tests, our next set of tests assessed how portable these portable air conditioners are. We looked at how much effort it took to roll around each portable A/C, how difficult they are to carry, and how long it took to install or remove the exhaust duct and window insert. These tests account for 25% of the overall score for the ARC-122DS Elite, which delivered an above-average showing. This compares well with the rest of the group. While it’s a little bigger than other portable AC units at 35.5 inches tall, this machine is more than capable, and is just right for daily use in a game room, garage or man cave.

Energy use and environmental impact are also worth considering. While modern AC units no longer use ozone-damaging chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), they do sap a lot more power from the grid than a humble fan and that means slightly higher leccy bills and hence more pressure on the environment. BTU stands for British Thermal Unit, which is the amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. This a measure of cooling strength: The higher its BTU rating, the more heat it can remove from the air. For our final testing metric, we estimated the cost of running each of these units for a summer and scored their performance based on how much additional cost they would add to your power bill. This accounts for the remaining 15% of the total score. We did this by making a few assumptions on the cost of electricity and how much usage the AC will get, but the relative ranking should be the same, even if your usage is wildly different. The Elite is about average when it comes to energy consumption. While it's small in size, it doesn't have any handles to grip onto, making portability more difficult than most. The unit features edges towards its bottom to grab onto, but these can only accommodate fingertips.

Quiet window air conditioners work the same way that all vented AC systems work- they remove heat and moisture from a room and replace it with cooled, dehumidified air. Although, there are great window air conditioners with heat that can be perfect for colder seasons. We set up an initial test in a small bedroom, loading the room with heat from our favorite space heaters to create repeatable conditions. With a small size, decent performance and a value price, this is one of the most RV-ready portable AC units available now. You have a workspace that needs to be quiet: If you have a workspace or home office where noise would disrupt your work, a quiet running AC window unit is a good fit for your needs, like the LG model in our LG LP1217GSR review. I'm Mark Brezinski, and I've been testing and reviewing consumer tech for over a decade. At Reviewed, I’ve spent several years reviewing and developing tests for dozens of different categories, from cell phones to headphones to vacation cruises—and now portable air conditioners!

Wide Variety of Parts for Your Portable AC Unit

A quieter unit usually has a higher price tag, but it also offers better sound insulation and improved motor design for even quieter operation than the average quiet window AC unit. The quietest window AC units are generally even more expensive due to their additional features, such as special noise-reducing components that ensure whisper-quiet operation. Similarly, the quietest wall air conditioners and quiet portable AC units need to run below 60 decibels to be considered low-noise units. Quiet Window Air Conditioners vs Other Models Much like its cousin, the Emerson air conditioner, the Emerson Quiet Kool window air conditioner offers great cooling with this model having a 10,000 BTU rating and is ideal for users that would want to place it in a room up to 450 Sq ft in size. Although there are several models ranging from 5,000 BTU to 15,000 BTU. It was awarded an Energy Star rating in 2020 for its energy efficiency and has 8-way airflow louvers that are ideal for efficient air circulation. It comes with a 24-hour timer for scheduled functioning and can be switched between cool, dry, fan, and auto mode. It has up to three different fan speed settings to choose from, but some users might not like its outdated design. Beyond good cooling, the feature that makes this unit really stand out is its non-toxic components, which are designed to use a CFC-free refrigerant and to eschew lead. At 40%, cooling power is responsible for the largest portion of the overall score for each of these home appliances. Our set of cooling assessments has the biggest impact on the overall score of the ARC-122DS Elite.