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Your Ultimate Guide to the Best Mini Air Conditioners
Perhaps you are unable to install a window-type conditioning system, or you want a portable air conditioning unit for an office or a camping trip in lieu of a cooling pad. In either case, a wonderful mini aircon may provide you with the needed comfort from the summer heat.
While mini portable AC units can’t cool an entire room like their full-sized counterparts, these units are portable enough to be carried everywhere and can provide enough breeze to cool you down.
Regardless of what your living limitations are, a miniature aircon or personal cooler can help cool your personal space for that comfy environment. Listed below are the top 10 best mini air conditioners and coolers you must definitely check out.
What are the Best Mini Air Conditioner in the Philippines?
Editor's Choice  Best Overall |  Best Air Quality |  Best in Aesthetic |
Dowell ARC-08P Mini Evaporative Portable Air CoolerThis mini portable air cooler from Dowell is an ergonomic aircon that has a refillable water tank, direct current charging point, and six-color LED mood lights, perfect for long distance travel! | Evapolar evaCHILLEvapolar evaCHILL is an 2018 German iF Design award winner. This mini aircon is known for its patented and self-develop filter, cooling sea breeze effect, and good skin benefits. | Xiaomi Microhoo 3-in-1 Mini Air CoolerXiaomi Microhoo 3-in-1 Mini Air Cooler is lightweight, portable, and has a user-friendly touch screen interface, and a minimalist design. It’s safe, convenient, and fashionable. |
Functionality: Quality: Price: | Functionality: Quality: Price: | Functionality: Quality: Price: |
Let’s Go Over Each of the Mini Air Conditioner in the Philippines
#1: Dowell ARC-08P Mini Evaporative Portable Air Cooler
Dowell Appliances has been a great service center for Filipinos since 1998. It coined the catchphrase “to do well” that stayed true through its years of innovative advancements. Hence, the Dowell ARC-08P model number brings out nothing but the company’s cutting-edge technology, designed to be reliable and user-friendly.
With its refillable water tank, direct current charging point, and six-color LED mood lights, it’s no wonder this unit is named the best portable unit in this category. It’s also ergonomic and portable, perfect for people who want to stay fresh during long travels. Moreover, its user-friendly interface offers a three-speed function (low, medium, high) for people who enjoy different levels of freshness.
Pros and Cons of the Dowell ARC-08P Mini Evaporative Portable Air Cooler
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Six color UV light ✔️ Three-speed function ✔️ 550ml water tank | ✖️ Slightly expensive |
#2: Evapolar evaCHILL
Summer is never complete without the constant need for refreshments and a cold breeze. Luckily, Evapolar evaCHILL customized mobile air cooler is the perfect answer to your vacation worries. Using patented and self-develop filters, it imitates the natural mood and cooling effect of the sea breeze. Its small and lightweight design appeals to everyone who is always on the go.
The technology behind this mini AC unit won the 2018 German iF Design Award. Hence, it’s a must-have air cooler, which can also keep your skin from drying. The Evapolar eveCHILL also has an energy saver, which is perfect for people who need to stay cool in their living space without spending too much on their electricity bills.
This unit only costs a little over Php 6,000, which is quite an affordable air cooler price in the Philippines.
Pros and Cons of the Evapolar eveCHILL
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Great design ✔️ Natural evaporative cooling effect ✔️ Energy-efficient ✔️ Great air quality | ✖️ Very expensive compared to others on this list |
#3: Xiaomi Microhoo 3-in-1 Mini Air Cooler
Fancy enjoying a refreshing day and night in your living room, without consuming too much electricity? The Xiaomi Microhoo 3-in-1 Mini Air Cooler offers a multi-functional feature, which refreshes, moisturizes, and cleanses the air quality you breathe and feel. It has a large water tank that can fill up to 1000 milliliters.
This portable air cooler also offers the user an opportunity to add their favorite essential oil to help moisturize their skin, while enjoying a cool breeze of air. This air cooler is also lightweight, portable, and has a user-friendly touch screen interface. It’s safe, convenient, and most especially fashionable.
Pros and Cons of the Xiaomi Microhoo 3-in-1 Mini Air Cooler
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ 1000ml detachable tank ✔️ Can work as a humidifier and air purifier ✔️ Touch screen function ✔️ Flexible speed regulation | ✖️ Slightly expensive ✖️ Might not be as fit for traveling as other models in this list |
#4: Baseus Portable Air Conditioner
Aesthetically, the Baseus portable air cooler is the best mini air cooler out of every model on this list. With its retro radio look and overall design, this personal mini cooler is the perfect addition to your workplace, home office, or dormitory room. It is built with 3 fan speeds and adjustable vents, which you can move using its faux rotary encoder.
With its USB charging, you can use this unit almost anywhere. This is perfect for those moments where you feel zero breeze in your room, car, or even in your own home, and you don’t want to bring out a bulky AC unit just to cool down.
Pros and Cons of the Baseus Portable Air Conditioner
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Aesthetically pleasing design ✔️ Can be used as a humidifier ✔️ Adjustable vents | ✖️ Water capacity is only 320ml |
#5: SmartDevil Portable Air Conditioner Fan
The essential feature of any personal air conditioner is its capability to fit in any location, without taking up too much space. Good thing the SmartDevil Portable Air Conditioner Fan is perfect to keep your day cool, whether in your home, office, or anywhere you want to stay. It offers a three-layer cooling option, wherein it absorbs warm air to make it fresh and comforting.
Its built-in ice tray and corrugated pulp wet curtain make your hot summer vacation an enjoyable one. Its 180° speed control knob is adjustable and can act like a personal air conditioner if one wishes for a more intimate air cooling experience. This portable air conditioner fan is also USB powered, which is great for outdoor activities.
Pros and Cons of the SmartDevil Portable Air Conditioner Fan
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Three-layer cooling function ✔️ Built-in ice tray ✔️ Adjustable fan vents | ✖️ Low fan speed ✖️ Slightly pricier than other similar models |
#6: Nexfan 3x Ultra Air Cooler
While it’s good to enjoy a cool and refreshing day, sometimes it’s much of a hassle to clean the internal reservoir of our air conditioner. But with the Nexfan 3x Ultra Air Cooler multi-function technology, cleanup days will no longer be stressful. Aside from its humidification features, it also purifies the air and releases a refrigeration-like coolness to the surrounding.
It also provides UV-C sterilization while keeping a noise level below 68 dB. Ideally, you only need to clean this personal air cooler every two months. Its quick cooling feature can also provide a breeze of 5°C (9°F) at low power consumption, with two other modes to choose from.
Pros and Cons of the Nexfan 3x Ultra Air Cooler
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Easy-to-remove filter ✔️ Quick cooling ✔️ Humidification and purification features ✔️ UV Sterilization Technology | ✖️ A bit noisy when turned on |
#7: Tylex XM33 Mini Air Cooler
In terms of a budget-friendly personal air cooler that still offers great air quality, the Tylex XM33 Portable Mini Air Cooler is easily one of the most affordable products among its competitors. Other brands require removing the entire filter to clean and adding water to its internal reservoir. With the Tyler Mini Air Cooler, however, you only need to remove the top cover and you can conveniently add water to the unit.
Its smart rapid cooling system creates icy wind without too much noise, making it the perfect fit for people who like to stay cool while working. The unit can be efficiently carried anywhere because it has an inner battery to keep it functioning. Additionally, its high-density dust-proof filter water curtain only needs a 6-8 month maintenance change.
Pros and Cons of the Tylex XM33 Mini Air Cooler
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Low noise operation ✔️ Dust-proof filter ✔️ 2000 mAh battery | ✖️ Battery power doesn't last long |
#8: Arctic Air Ultra Evaporative Cooler
Choosing the right portable cooler is not an easy task. Most of the products have the exact same feature, with varying prices. But thanks to the Arctic Air Ultra Evaporative Cooler’s hydro-chill technology, fuming hot places can now be transformed into a much cooler surrounding.
The newly reinforced evaporative filter acts like a sponge, which absorbs hot air and converts it into a refreshing and breathable environment. Artic’s multi-directional air vent is also adjustable, with three customizable fan speeds that can match your preferred cooling experience. If you want to set a relaxing mood for work or sleep, this air conditioner’s fan spins quietly. You can set the type of LED light of your choosing.
The best thing about Artic Air Ultra, however, is its energy-saving feature, which lets you enjoy cool and refreshing air for up to 10 hours straight.
Pros and Cons of the Arctic Air Ultra Evaporative Cooler
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ 750ml water capacity ✔️ 3 wind speed settings ✔️ 90 degrees adjustable vents | ✖️ Water tank design might make it difficult to add ice cubes |
#9: Mondial Household Mini Humidification Air Cooler
The Mondial Household Mini Humidification Air Cooler offers a top injection method of refilling the water in its internal reservoir. This portable air conditioner is versatile and acts as a humidifier, a rotating fan, and an integrated cooling fan.
Additionally, the unit can also function as a night light. Not only does it clean the air, but it also keeps your surroundings free of secondhand smoke, odorous pollutants, and other unwanted smells using its cutting-edge filter.
Pros and Cons of the Mondial Household Mini Humidification Air Cooler
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Great for large spaces ✔️ Large water tank ✔️ Removable dust filter | ✖️ Might be too big for smaller spaces such as cars or small desktops |
#10: Gailang Mini Desktop Air Conditioner
Rounding up our list of the best robot dog toys is a small but adorable puppy that you can bring with you wherever you go. This dalmatian pet dog is the perfect gift for your kid who wants a live toy to play with.
At a low price, Harry has plenty of wonderful features including singing, dancing, barking, and even talking! All you have to do is touch different parts of the dog and it will perform different tricks. It’s equipped with sensors on its head, nose, backside, and tail.
This little toy can be placed on your table or on the floor, and you can even bring it wherever you go. It’s small enough to fit into a bag so the fun continues when you’re in the car, visiting family, or going on a trip.
Pros and Cons of the Gailang Mini Desktop Air Conditioner
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Affordable ✔️ Runs up to 8 hours ✔️ 3 fan speed settings | ✖️ Might not provide the same air quality as higher-priced models |
Mini Air Conditioners vs Portable Air Conditioners
While portable air coolers and mini air conditioners are similar in their portability, the two have significant differences that set them apart. A personal air cooler, often known as a small air conditioner or a swamp cooler, is an evaporative air cooler that draws heated air from your room and circulates it through the cool water in its tank.
That is how personal air coolers work, which is vastly different from how traditional air conditioning home appliances cool a room. They can also work as air purifiers if they’re built with high-quality filters and are more user-friendly given their simple mechanism.
Mini personal air coolers are a less expensive choice, but they aren’t ideal for humid spaces since they don’t produce dry air. Additionally, mini air coolers have fan-only modes, unlike portable units that may have several features depending on their particular model.
An air conditioner, on the other hand, absorbs heat by using a refrigerant fluid. It blows cold air into an open space, lowering the room’s temperature and humidity. This procedure consumes a significant amount of energy and might cause your power bill to rise, which is not ideal if you’re saving money.
However, out of the three, an air conditioner is capable of cooling an entire room, since it was built to do just that. Most units can blow out cold dry air, which makes this type of unit suitable for areas with high humidity levels.
Unlike mini ACs, most window and portable air conditioning units come with multiple extra features such as a remote control, exhaust hose, smart access through a mobile app, Sleep Mode, and many others. In terms of portability, a portable air conditioning unit definitely wins, while larger units are the default victor when it comes to cooling capacity.
Do Mini Air Conditioners Actually Work?
While cheap portable air conditioners technically don’t count as aircon due to their small size and lack of compressors, these units can effectively provide cool air in case the cooling unit in your office or work area isn’t enough to beat the heat. Again, don’t expect it to be on par with portable air conditioners though.
While portable ACs are smaller than a typical air conditioner, these units still contain a compressor, which efficiently sucks up the heat inside a room. A mini air conditioner (or a cooler in this case), due to how they work, will not cool a room as effectively. It may even seem like there are zero breezes coming out of your personal air cooler or swamp cooler if you bring it outdoors.
If you’re looking for a customized mobile air cooler that’s portable and can give you the cooling prowess of a window-type unit, you can check out our best portable air conditioner guide. However, if you’re only looking for a unit you can bring with you everywhere you go, mini portable air conditioning units will do the trick.
What to Look for in a Mini Air Conditioner
Like a conventional AC, there are specific features that make a customized mobile air cooler a worthy pick.
Cooling Capacity
Personal air coolers come in a variety of styles with varying cooling capacities. It’s always ideal to have a mini air cooler with enough cooling power to effectively chill the air and not one that feels like it’s just passing air in your direction.
Water Tank Capacity
When you need to chill a wide area, you should always pick personal air coolers with a high tank capacity. Similarly, if you only need one for a small space, a mini personal air conditioner with a lesser tank capacity would suffice. Do note that while mini portable units with higher power capacity may perform better than units with lower capacity, they won’t outperform a window or a portable AC unit.
Energy Efficiency
One of the most crucial factors to consider when buying a mini ac is energy efficiency. The more energy efficient a product is, the less electricity it uses, which means fewer utility bills to pay. Therefore, you should select an energy-efficient mini portable AC that cools your personal space while consuming as little electricity as possible.
Noise Level
An air conditioning unit may produce noise ranging from 30 to 82 decibels, depending on the brand, the quality of the equipment, and the fan speed settings. A desk air cooler, on the other hand, creates very little noise when operating, with a sound rating ranging from 25 to 45 decibels.
Noise level still varies from model to model, however, so it’s important to choose a unit that isn’t very noisy. This is particularly important if what you’re looking for are desktop mini air conditioners that you’ll be bringing to work.
Additional Features
While not the most important, having additional features, such as a remote control or a USB cable charger for easy charging, with your mini portable unit can be desirable. Some more advanced units may have a remote mobile app function, while others may have self-evaporative settings so you don’t always have to drain the water tank every time you’re done using the mini AC. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which features you want your personal air conditioner to have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best mini air conditioner?
There are several factors to consider before you decide which mini AC unit is the best for you. Such factors include your own personal taste, the space where you’ll be placing the unit, and the frequency of your traveling with the unit.
If you travel often, air coolers with evaporative functions might work since you’re less likely to encounter unexpected spills. Air coolers with larger water capacities will be a great choice if you plan to put them in a large room, while prettier air coolers are best suited for those looking to add more charm to their home office.
Can a mini AC cool a room?
Most air conditioners have an electrical input, refrigerant lines, and a cooling output measured in BTUs. Personal air conditioners and air coolers don’t function in this manner. Instead of a sophisticated refrigerant-based system, desktop and mini portable air coolers use water evaporation to chill your immediate surroundings.
To restate what was said in the article above, mini air coolers are used to provide cool air in a limited personal space. Since a personal air cooler functions differently than a conventional AC, it won’t produce the same results.
Are mini ACs or personal air coolers a scam?
Remember that the air conditioning feature is only available in your personal space when using a personal air cooler. Even if the mini air conditioner is working at 100 percent cooling output, you won’t experience the full effect of the unit if you’re standing 20 feet away from it.
To put it simply, a mini air cooler is designed for personal use only and isn’t suited for room cooling. Mini aircon brands like Blaux have been branded as scams due to consumers’ complaints about their exorbitant prices and their inability to cool a room. However, a Blaux portable AC does work as intended, though you’re able to find cheaper models that can work just as, if not more, efficiently.
Conclusion
Mini air conditioners or coolers, while not the best in terms of cooling capacity when compared with other AC types, are convenient and easy to use. You don’t even need to browse through a complicated user manual just to fully enjoy all its benefits.
Looking for a split-type AC unit or a portable aircon unit that’s on par with window-type air conditioners? You can read through our air conditioner reviews and guides for the best unit fit for your household.
Editor’s Choice
Dowell ARC-08P Mini Evaporative Air Cooler
Coming from a reputable brand known to produce high-quality AC units, Dowell provides one of the best personal coolers you can possibly have.
Built with a portable design and easy-to-use interface, the Dowell ARC-08P Mini Evaporative Portable Air Cooler is a worthy investment for individuals looking for a mini inverter air conditioner to bring to work for trips. It has decent cooling and 6 UV light settings. Overall, it is a great value for its functions.
