Overall, portable ACs work very similar to traditional air conditioning systems, but they have the added benefit of being fully portable and mobile. Both the cold and hot sides of the air conditioning cycle are contained in the housing, and the condenser coil is cooled from the air in the room. An exhaust hose then expels heat and water is condensed out of the air. At that point, depending on the unit, the water is either collected in an internal drain bucket or mostly evaporated through the use of auto-evaporative technology. Furthermore, as an added bonus, because portable ACs cool the air via the refrigeration cycle, they remove moisture from the air and are thus great for those living in climates with high levels of humidity.

Because summer's approaching and a lot of us are already experiencing rising temperatures, our product team has been testing a variety of portable air conditioners and rating them based on their features, power, and ability to cool. One of the most advanced models we found was the NewAir ACP-1400H, and in addition to its powerful motor, what really impressed us was the fact that it was truly a multi-functional appliance and offered a portable air conditioner, heater, and even air purifier in one compact, easy-to-use unit.

Portable air conditioners are therefore becoming increasingly popular and of course some models cool faster and more efficiently than others. In addition, many of the more advanced portable air conditioners also come with high-tech features such as auto-evaporative technology and even built-in air purifiers and space heaters. With summer almost here, our product team has been busy reviewing some of the newest portable ACs on the market, including the NewAir AC-1400H. We tested this unit in a 250 square foot bedroom on an 85 degree afternoon, and we were overall impressed with its performance.

Designed to fit most average-sized rooms including lounges, living rooms, and offices, the NewAir AC-1400H provided us with superb performance at an affordable price. One of the first things we noticed about the NewAir AC-1400H was the fact that the unit was sleek, modern-looking, and compact. It sported a shiny silver finish with black accents, and the unit also came with large casters for added maneuverability. The backlit LCD control panel was easy to read, and it had full thermostat control and even a remote.

With that said, a portable air conditioner is the solution. Primarily used for spot or supplemental cooling, portable air conditioners are great for cooling individual rooms, offices, or even computer server rooms because they can be moved from room to room and offer quick installation without lifting or damaging window sills. Nonetheless, when choosing a portable air conditioner, the key is to find a unit that's not too small to cool the room and not large enough to waste energy.

As such, our product team has been testing a range of the most popular portable air conditioners on the market, and we've come across NewAir's most recent product offering: the NewAir ACP-1300E portable AC. Featuring an ample 13,000 BTUs of cooling power, this unit was not only powerful and affordable, but also chock full of exciting features. We tested this unit on a muggy Los Angeles afternoon in a 200 square foot bedroom of an apartment. Here is our review:

Portable air conditioners work similar to traditional central or window air conditioners in that they utilize the refrigeration cycle and a coolant to cool a room or area. However, they are portable, mobile, and do not require any sort of permanent installation. Instead, they consist of a box-like frame that holds both the cold and hot side of the AC along with an exhaust hose to expel heat. Water is removed from the air, and this condensate is either collected in a tray or bucket located within the unit or in more advanced models, even self-evaporated.

Server Room Air Conditioner

When purchasing a portable air conditioner, one of the most common terms you'll see advertised is a unit's BTU rating. As an acronym for British Thermal Units, BTUs refer to a portable air conditioner's cooling capacity, and this can range anywhere from 5,000 BTUs to 18,000 BTUs. The higher the BTU value, the stronger the air conditioner. To get a ballpark estimation of the amount of BTUs you'll need for your room, simply find the square footage of the room and multiply this number by 35.

However, keep in mind that while BTUs are one of the most important factors to look for in an air conditioner, be aware that many portable AC manufacturers often overstate the BTU rating of their units as a way to market their products. Thankfully, in our quest to find the best portable air conditioners on the market, we found the NewAir AC-1600H to be one of the most powerful portable ACs available.

At a Glance:

When we first removed the NewAir AC-1600H from its package, we were quite impressed with its design. Its sleek silver finished complemented our 400 square foot living room's décor, and the unit itself weighed approximately 75 pounds. Rolling casters made maneuverability a snap, while the large, easy-to-read LCD display panel with remote control made operation simple and hassle-free.

Cooling Abilities:

As mentioned above, BTU ratings are one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a portable AC. The NewAir AC-1600H provided 16,000 BTUs of cooling power - more than many of the units we tested. NewAir recommends this unit to be used in areas 400 square or smaller, but we found that it may have even had the capacity to cool areas slightly larger in ideal conditions (64° to 90° F).

Moisture Removal:

A portable air conditioner's use of the refrigeration cycle also allows it to remove moisture from the air, making it especially great for humid areas. In addition to cooling, the NewAir AC-1600H portable air conditioner also had the ability to remove up to 80 pints of water per day. Moreover, because it utilized advanced auto-evaporative technology, this eliminated the need to empty any water tanks (assuming your climate isn't too humid).

Multi-Functionality:

The NewAir AC-1600H also came with a built-in space heater that offered 16,000 BTUs of heating power. Furthermore, the inclusion of a 3M Filtrete filter removed dust, pollen, bacteria, and animal dander from the air, while the activated carbon filter was able to adsorb odors such as smoke.
Overall, we found the NewAir AC-1600H to be an excellent portable AC that included many advanced features. Best of all, it offers more BTUs than most portable ACs on the market, and its sleek, European design is sure to complement any type of décor in your home.