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Your Ultimate Guide to the Top Mini Air Conditioners
Of all the portable air conditioners out in the market, you may be thinking about a mini air conditioner. Are they comparable to the cooling performance of portable air conditioners? Or are they merely an alternative to portable air conditioners when you don’t have much space?
For many, mini air coolers can also be their version of portable air conditioners, so throughout this article, we may use the term interchangeably.
You may be unable to install a window-type conditioning system, or you want a portable air conditioning unit for an office or a camping trip instead of a cooling pad. In either case, an excellent mini aircon may provide you with the needed comfort from the summer heat.
While small portable air conditioners can’t cool an entire room like their full-sized counterparts, these units are portable enough to be carried everywhere and provide enough breeze to cool you down.
Regardless of your living limitations, a miniature aircon or personal cooler can help cool your space for that comfy environment. Below are the best mini and small portable air conditioners and coolers you must check out.
What are the Best Mini and Portable Air Conditioners 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 a 2018 German iF Design award winner. This mini aircon is known for its patented and self-developed 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 touchscreen interface, and a minimalist design. It’s safe, convenient, and fashionable. |
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Let’s Go Over Each of the Mini ACs 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,” which 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 among the best portable air conditioners 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, the Evapolar evaCHILL customized mobile air cooler is the perfect answer to your vacation worries.
Using patented and self-developed filters, it imitates the sea breeze’s natural mood and cooling performance. Its small and lightweight design appeals to everyone always on the go.
The technology behind this mini air cooler unit won the 2018 German iF Design Award. Hence, it’s a must-have air cooler that can 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 product among the portable air conditioners in the Philippines.
Pros and Cons of the Evapolar eveCHILL
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Great design ✔️ Natural evaporative cooling performance ✔️ 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 that refreshes, moisturizes, and cleanses the air quality you breathe and feel. It has a large water tank that can fill up to 1000 milliliters.
It is one of those portable air conditioners that 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 touchscreen 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: EcoFlow Wave 2
The EcoFlow Wave 2 redefines the meaning of portability in air conditioning. Unlike most portable air conditioners, it’s lightweight, compact, and ideal for tent camping.
This dual-function unit not only cools but also heats, delivering 6,100 BTUs of heating power to keep your mobile space cozy year-round. Despite its lower cooling performance compared to larger models, it impressed us by cooling down a van quickly, even under intense sunlight.
It offers tailored performance for different needs with three modes—eco, sleeping, and fast. While it doesn’t have a remote control, it has an app where you can control speeds. A good trade-off for small portable air conditioners.
Its optional eight-hour detachable battery, while at an extra cost, ensures true portability, making it a great choice for off-grid adventures. The app integration adds convenience, offering real-time predictions of battery life based on usage.
The cooling performance is consistent, with a quiet hum that doesn’t disrupt sleep, ensuring comfort both day and night.
However, the price is steep, starting at over Php 36,000 without the battery pack. Those relying on mains power or a window kit may find more budget-friendly options, but for frequent travelers seeking a small portable air conditioner with versatility, the Wave 2 is an investment worth considering.
While it may have a lower cooling capacity, it’s still a good buy if you’re the adventurous type.
Pros and Cons of the EcoFlow Wave 2
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Aesthetic and durable ✔️ Great for camping ✔️ Doubles as a heater | ✖️ More expensive than other portable air conditioners ✖️ Limited cooling capacity |
#5: Black + Decker Desktop Air Cooler
The Black + Decker Desktop Air Cooler is a compact and versatile option for personal cooling, offering an efficient alternative to larger portable ACs. Perfect for desks, bedrooms, or small spaces, it delivers reliable performance with a lightweight design that’s easy to move around.
While its cooling capacity is best suited for individual use, it effectively creates a refreshing atmosphere, especially with its built-in water reservoir enhancing airflow.
Unlike traditional air coolers, this device doesn’t require a window kit, making it simple to set up and use in any room. The multiple fan speed modes allow for adjustable cooling, so you can tailor the experience to your needs.
Its portability is a standout feature, ideal for anyone seeking a cooling solution that’s easy to move between spaces.
However, while great for smaller areas, it doesn’t compete with full-sized portable air conditioners for cooling larger rooms. That said, the Black + Decker Desktop Air Cooler excels in convenience, portability, and price, making it a practical choice for targeted cooling.
Pros and Cons of the Black + Decker Desktop Air Cooler
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Great for small spaces ✔️ Aesthetic design ✔️ Highly portable | ✖️ Limited cooling capacity than other portable air conditioners |
Mini ACs vs Portable Air Conditioners
While portable air conditioners and mini air coolers are similar in their portability, they have significant differences that set them apart. A personal air cooler, often known as a small AC or a swamp cooler, is an evaporative air conditioner that draws heated air from your room and circulates it through the cool water in its tank.
That is how personal air coolers work, vastly different from how traditional AC home appliances cool a room. Given their simple mechanism, they can also work as air purifiers if they’re built with high-quality filters and are more user-friendly.
Mini personal air coolers are less expensive, 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.
On the other hand, an AC absorbs heat using a refrigerant fluid. It blows cold air into an open space, lowering the room’s temperature and humidity. This procedure consumes significant energy and might cause your power bill to rise, which is not ideal if you’re saving money.
However, out of the three, an AC can cool 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 conditioners have 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 AC unit wins, while larger units are the default victor when it comes to cooling capacity.
Do Mini Air Conditioners Really Work?
While cheap portable air conditioners technically don’t count as aircons due to their small size and lack of compressors, these portable air conditioners 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 AC, these units still contain a compressor, which efficiently sucks up the heat inside a room. A mini AC (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 portable, customized mobile air cooler that 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 conditioners will do the trick.
What to Look for in a Mini AC
Like a conventional AC, specific features make portable air conditioners 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 more cooling power to effectively chill the air and not one that feels like it’s just passing air in your direction. For example, you can get one with two fan speeds rather than one with a single speed.
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 AC 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 small portable AC that cools your personal space while consuming as little electricity as possible.
Noise Level
An AC unit may produce noise ranging from 30 to 82 decibels, depending on the brand, the quality of the equipment, and the fan speeds. A desk air cooler, on the other hand, creates very little noise when operating, with a sound rating ranging from 25 to 45 decibels.
The noise level still varies from model to model, so it’s important to choose a unit that isn’t very noisy. This is particularly important if you’re looking for desktop mini ACs to bring 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 AC to have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best mini AC?
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 air conditioner cool a room?
Most ACs have an electrical input, refrigerant lines, and a cooling output measured in BTUs. Personal ACs 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 AC feature is only available in your personal space when using a personal air cooler. Even if the mini AC 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.
Can a mini AC compete with the best portable air conditioners?
A mini AC can offer convenience and portability, but its limited cooling capacity often falls short.
Conclusion
Mini ACs or coolers, while not the best in cooling capacity compared to 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 ACs? You can read through our AC 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 AC to bring to work for trips.
It has decent cooling and 6 UV light settings. Overall, it is a great value for its functions.
