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Telegraph
01-07-2025
- Telegraph
Pro Breeze Portable Air Conditioner review: A great value solution for sweltering temperatures
What is the Pro Breeze 12,000 BTU 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner and Dehumidifier? With the Met Office predicting longer and hotter UK heatwaves, now is the perfect time to consider buying a portable air conditioner. Cooling power is measured in British Thermal Units (BTU); a higher rating means a unit suits a bigger space. With a 12,000 BTU rating, this three in one air conditioner, fan and dehumidifier is a relatively powerful unit intended for 30 sq metre rooms. We rate it the Best Value portable air conditioner you can buy. The versatile design is competitively priced for its output rating. The AEG Comfort 6000, our Best Buy, for example, also has a rating of 12,000 BTU, but costs £160 more at the time of writing. The Pro Breeze can be controlled through onboard controls, a partnering Apple iOS/Android app called Tuya Smart and even voice control if you have Amazon Alexa or Google Home ecosystems. To cool a smaller-sized room, see our full air conditioner guide. We have also reviewed the best fans and best air coolers, some of which double up as air purifiers. JUMP TO: How we test portable air conditioners For fairness and consistency, we always test portable air conditioners using a few key metrics. Portability is a prerequisite, so I check how easy each unit is to move from room to room and down stairs. Cooling ability is obviously massively important, so I also evaluate the speed with which it lowers the temperature in an appropriately sized room. All air conditioners generate noise while working and I consider whether it would be both acceptable during the daytime and at night. I tested this over a couple of weeks which happened to coincide with the hottest period of the year so far, so it got a thorough work-out. You could have the best performing portable conditioning unit in the world but if it's a nightmare to operate, it'll get used less; I look for models that are simple and straightforward for most people to use, regardless of any technological savvy. Aesthetics are subjective, but most manufacturers have a similar blueprint meaning most portable air conditioners look broadly similar. There's more variety when it comes to other design features (like this Pro Breeze model's dehumidifier functionality); I judge whether they are genuinely useful, or best regarded as gimmicks. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best product. No manufacturer ever sees Telegraph Recommended reviews before publication and we don't accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles. All reviews are based on independent expert opinion and our hands-on testing. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. Portability Score: 8/10 Even though this air conditioner weighs in at a hefty 27.3kg, which makes unpacking it a two-person task, a decent set of castors means it rolls around freely on hard floors. There's more friction when you move it up and over onto a carpeted surface or a rug, but then arises the bigger issue; there are no recesses for your fingers to hold onto. I had to rock the unit to move it onto the carpet, which wasn't too much of a trial. Try and carry it up a flight of stairs, however, and you need two people. You also have to avoid accidentally pressing – and breaking – the thin, fragile dust grilles on the back and side faces. If you live in a flat, or don't intend to move the Pro Breeze between floors, this ergonomic failing won't prove a major issue, but it's still worth noting. Cooling Used in a large room that corresponds with its BTU rating, the Pro Breeze performs as you would expect. It cooled down the area within an entirely reasonable time; I recorded a four degree drop, from 24C to 20C, within an hour. While the motorised vanes on the front panel do not move horizontally, their vertical action successfully distributes cold air into the furthest reaches of the room, giving me no cause for complaint. This level of performance, at the Pro Breeze's relatively low price, is its key strength. Given the lack of humidity during the test period I didn't put the dehumidifier setting to work, but the fan, at least, proved powerful and effective on all the three of the provided speed settings. If all you're after is a cooling fan effect, then consider the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo, which is both cheaper, quieter and more portable than this unit. Ease of use Score: 9/10 Operate the Pro Breeze through the responsive buttons on the angled top control panel. There's an LED indicator to show you any set target temperatures although the display is harder to see when sat down. The compact remote control replicates the on-board controls, and lets you switch the display between Centigrade and Fahrenheit and activate the vane movement. Given how useful the latter is, it seems odd that there is no on unit control for this. Downloading the accompanying Tuya Smart app (available on iOS and Android) and connecting it to the Pro Breeze means you can control the unit from your smartphone. Confusingly, the manual refers to an older version called Smart Life. Other than that it is very simple. If you prefer voice control, it's also possible to link the Tuya app to Alexa and Google Home. Both systems were reliable, although Alexa has the edge in terms of the available controls. Design Score: 8/10 Wider than it is deep, the Pro Breeze is easy to accommodate; look for the smaller 9,000 BTU and identically-sized 14,000 BTU versions if you have different room requirements. The secure square latching arrangement for the metal-reinforced, heat exhaust tube is confidence-inspiring, though at just 1.5 metres long when fully extended, it's not the most flexible to position. The unit's three dust filters are easy to remove for cleaning, and I was pleased to find that the zipped fabric window venting kit – secured by Velcro strips – is around four metres long, providing a decent seal if you're venting through a hinged door or window. While the plastic window sealing board kit supplied is of good quality, like all similar designs, it's primarily made to work in a sliding sash-type window; if your window swings open outwards, you'll need to adapt the fabric kit to get a completely effective seal. Volume Score: 8/10 The Pro Breeze's main flaw it's that it's noisy. In its air conditioning mode, its stated level is 65dB and it certainly makes enough of a racket that you'll need to turn up the volume of the television if it's in your living room. Its near constant, underlying mechanical warble doesn't help either, and switching to slower fan speeds doesn't massively reduce volume levels. I think that's a compromise that many people will happily accept during the day, especially in light of how well the Pro Breeze does its fundamental job (i.e. cooling). I didn't particularly enjoy the unit running while I slept. And that was despite its well-thought out sleep mode, which gradually raises the temperature over four hours saving energy and making the room more comfortable. If silent running is a must, then you'll need to spend more for similar cooling; I'd recommend the De'Longhi Pinguino Extreme EX93. Technical specifications Despite a couple of niggles, it's the excellent value air-conditioning performance that the Pro Breeze delivers that sets it apart. For a quieter, but similarly powerful machine (which lacks smart home automation), I'd suggest considering the De'Longhi Pinguino Extreme EX93. Should you buy the Pro Breeze 12,000 BTU 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner and Dehumidifier? If you have a larger than average-sized room that you need to cool quickly, this design will absolutely achieve that, and for a competitive price. Smart home automation is the icing on the cake, but the Pro Breeze's loud operation is a compromise you have to accept. Yes, if: You need to cool down a larger room like a living room You want maximum cooling performance for your money The smart home connected capabilities appeal No, if: Quiet running is your highest priority You'll regularly need to carry it up and down stairs Pro Breeze Portable Air Conditioner FAQs How do I install the window venting kit on my windows? Pro Breeze provide some useful instructional videos that show owners how to correctly install the sealing board kit and fabric sealing assembly. How much does an air conditioner cost to run in the UK? According to the manufacturer, this unit currently costs 21p an hour to run, though that will vary according to your particular tariff. You can work out a rough estimate by multiplying the Wattage by the current energy cap. In this case, it's 0.78/kWh by 27p equating to 78p an hour. What size air conditioner (BTU rating) do I need? The unit tested here is suitable for rooms of up to 30 sq metres; pick the 9,000 BTU version if your room is closer to 22 sq metres in overall area. How noisy are air conditioners? The noise level of all the brand's current range of portable air conditioners is cited at 65dB.
Forbes
29-05-2025
- General
- Forbes
Costway Portable Air Conditioner Review: Strong Cooling For Small Rooms
Compact portable air conditioners can be hit or miss. Sure, they're easy to move around, but too often they end up feeling more like glorified fans, leaving you wondering: Are portable air conditioners worth it? During our recent testing for this Costway Portable Air Conditioner review, it surprised us: It's small enough to easily wheel from room to room, but also strong enough to noticeably cool the area, especially up close. Unlike other compact models we've tested, it didn't fade into just circulating warm air around the room, and the cooling breeze stays consistently strong within several feet of the unit. After testing a range of the best portable air conditioners, the Costway Portable Air Conditioner was the clear winner for small spaces. It's especially good if you want direct air conditioning—think a home office, dorm room or small bedroom—rather than trying to cool your entire apartment. It's not whisper-quiet, but the noise isn't distracting either, and setup was mostly painless (though we did have to get creative with the window inserts). And while this model doesn't have smart features, we didn't really miss them; the basic functions and included remote were easy to operate on their own. Below, in our Costway Portable Air Conditioner review, we share exactly how it performed, including how well it cooled, what we thought of the controls and whether this unit is worth the trade-offs that come with its smaller size. BTU: 10,000 | Coverage: Up to 350 square feet | Noise: 57 to 62 dB | Weight: 45 pounds | Extras: Dehumidifier mode, fan mode, remote control Best for: Skip if: This Costway model doesn't cool down a huge space, but during our testing it noticeably cooled the area right around it. At about 10 feet from the unit, our thermometer recorded a measurable temperature drop compared to the rest of the room. And at just three feet away, we felt a steady flow of cool air that would be ideal for sitting at a desk or relaxing on a couch nearby. Unlike some compact units we've tested, the Costway actually lowered the temperature within its immediate range—just keep in mind that its cooling ability fades as you move farther away. If your goal is to quickly cool a large living room or an open-plan space, you're better off with a bigger and more powerful model like the Midea Duo. But for targeted cooling, especially if you're sitting close to the unit, this smaller model works well. Like most portable air conditioners in this price range, the Costway isn't silent. During testing, we found it produced about as much noise as a standard window AC unit—a steady hum that was noticeable but not distracting. On the plus side, the noise was consistent—there were no sudden spikes, rattling or changes in tone that could be jarring. This Costway model has only two fan speeds, high and low, but we noticed a clear difference in noise levels between the two. Switching to the lower fan speed reduced the sound significantly, so it would be easier to have conversations or watch TV without turning the volume up. Still, even on low, don't expect this model to run quietly enough for extremely sensitive sleepers. If you're particularly bothered by white noise, you might prefer a quieter (though likely pricier) alternative. But overall, we found its noise level reasonable, given its compact size and cooling ability. Getting the Costway up and running was quick. The unit itself is compact, lightweight and took us only a few minutes to unpack, roll into position and attach the exhaust hose. The window installation kit, however, was another story. The provided inserts were clearly designed for vertical sliding windows (ones that move side-to-side), so we had some trouble adapting it to our horizontally sliding window. One insert wasn't wide enough, and two inserts together were too wide. We ended up needing to saw down an insert manually, since the plastic was too sturdy for scissors. As for the controls, the Costway comes with a basic remote that lets you easily adjust the temperature, fan speed and modes from across the room. There's no companion app or smart-home integration, but we didn't particularly miss those features. It's also worth noting that the unit's buttons are touch-sensitive rather than push-to-press; initially, we kept pressing harder and thought the unit wasn't responding, but it worked fine once we realized it required only a gentle tap. There's a Sleep mode as well, which dims the LED display but doesn't fully turn it off, so keep in mind that you can still see some glow at night. After testing the Costway Portable Air Conditioner, we think it's a great pick if you mostly need cooling for a small space or want air blowing directly on you. It doesn't make a major difference in an entire apartment or even a large room, but if you're sitting near it, like at a desk, in bed or on a couch, it definitely makes a difference. The noise is noticeable but steady, and we didn't find it too distracting. It doesn't have any smart features, but the remote was enough to cover everything we wanted the AC to do. Our main issue was the window installation kit, which needed some modification. But once we handled that setup, moving the Costway around was easy, and the cooling was consistent each time we turned it on. If you're short on space or just looking for a basic, budget-friendly air conditioner, this unit does exactly what it needs to do.
