The best air conditioners you can buy in 2020
WHEN WE’RE in the midst of a heat wave, one thought crosses out minds – every single time. Why didn’t we invest in air conditioning after the last heat wave?
Good news: there are plenty of top air conditioners you can buy online now, from portable models to desktop designs.
While air conditioners tend to be larger and more expensive than fans, they’re also more effective at lowering the temperature of the entire room, as well as lowering the humidity in the air.
Abandon any notion of bulky air conditioners with complicated installation processes: these days, the most common air conditioners you’ll find from leading brands like AEG and De’Longhi are powerful – yet portable.
Air conditioners are costly: top-of-the-range models will typically set you back over £500.
If you’re looking for a cheaper option, check out portable evaporative air coolers, which use water and ice cubes to work as a humidifier or mini air con.
Since air conditioners can be expensive, heavy (even the portable ones aren’t that easy to lift) and energy-inefficient, you may want to invest in one of our top tower fans.
This article and featured products have been independently chosen by Sun journalists. It contains links which are ads, and if you click a link and buy a product we will earn revenue.
1. Best quiet air conditioner: De’Longhi Pinguino PAC N90
- (AD) De’Longhi Pinguino PAC N90, for £540 on Amazon – buy here
De’Longhi’s portable air-con gets an A rating for energy-efficiency – and an A+ for being super-quiet as well as a powerful performer.
The Pinguino PAC N90 doesn’t require any installation, and uses propane to work as both a dehumidifier and an air conditioning fan.
It features digital controls to perform at three different speeds, and runs at a maximum of 52 decibels, so it shouldn’t disturb your sleep at night.
‘The noise level (even on high) is about the same as a desk fan, the exhaust hose is sturdy, and it cools my living room quickly’, notes a reviewer.
2. Best compact air conditioner: Olimpia Splendid Dolceclima
- (AD) Olimpia Splendid Dolceclima, for £270.34 on Amazon – buy here
Whether you’d like your air con installed or prefer a mobile device you can move from room to room, Olimpia’s Compact 8 P can instantly cool smaller spaces.
It helps eliminate heat and expel condensation – using the hose provided – as well as filtering the air in the process.
Fans are impressed with just how well it cools, stating that ‘as cooling goes, it’s the best I’ve tried’, ‘the look and feel is nice, it’s very easy to use and the window attachments are good and solid’ and it ‘makes the room cold in a few minutes’.
3. Best air conditioner to cool quickly: AEG ChillFlex Pro
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AEG ChillFlex Pro AXP34U338CW, for £599.99 on John Lewis – buy here
This air conditioner is so powerful it’s been described as capable of giving someone ‘frostbite’ if they stood in front of it long enough.
Stylish and suitable for a larger space like a kitchen, living room or bedroom, this multi-function air con has an LED display and automatically adjusts to the set temperature, acting as a dehumidifier, too.
It includes a basic remote control and gets an A rating for energy-efficiency. You also get a 2-year guarantee.
4. Best desktop air conditioner: Evapolar evaCHILL
- (AD) Evapolar evaCHILL, for £105 on Amazon – buy here
Ideal for your home workspace, the evaCHILL delivers a cool blast of filtered air, which is capable of taking an entire room’s temperature down by a few degrees (one reviewer claims to have gotten the room 6 degrees cooler after using this product).
It’s portable, quiet, sleek and uses a patented Evabreeze material which is non-toxic and won’t harbour mould or bacteria.
It operates with a USB C cable, and works at the touch of a button.
Reviewers like the ‘cool bubble’ of air it creates around them, recommending it for bedrooms at night and describing this pint-sized air con as ‘chilly’.
5. Best smart air conditioner: electriQ AirFlex 14000
- electriQ AirFlex 14000, for £549.97 on Aircon Direct – buy here
This multi-tasking air conditioner is a heater, dehumidifier, fan and air conditioner in one, with a very high energy-efficiency rating (A/A++).
Castor wheels allow for easy mobility, and the design is well suited for rooms up to 400 square feet.
The best part of this air con design? It’s WiFi enabled – just download the accompanying app and you can control the unit from your smartphone, anytime, anywhere.
It also syncs with Alexa and you can operate multiple units simultaneously, so it’s handy for landlords who need it for commercial use.
‘Cools the entire downstairs (about 35 square meters) of our 5 bedroom house on hot summer days making work much more tolerable’, writes a satisfied customer.
6. Best value air conditioner: Challenge 5K Air Conditioning Unit
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Challenge 5K Air Conditioning Unit, £299.99 on Argos – buy here
With an A energy rating, LED display with timer function and remote, omni-directional castor wheels and hose, this portable air conditioner is a great buy for smaller rooms.
It’s easy to use and move around and, as one reviewer notes, it ‘does a wonderful job of making our master bedroom like ice even when it’s 26 Celsius outside’.
7. Best air cooler: Nobebird Personal Air Cooler
- (AD) Nobebird Personal Air Cooler, £47.99 on Amazon – buy here
This multi-function air cooler works with water or ice, to cool and dehumidify. Or don’t fill it with anything and use it as a desk fan.
It features 7 different coloured LED lights, and can be used as a night light or calming fixture in your space.
This easy-to-use device has three speeds and a timer, and is popular as a compact, value choice that delivers cool air when you need it.
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This article and any featured products have been independently chosen by The Sun journalists. All recommendations within the article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click a link and buy a product we may earn revenue: this helps to support The Sun, and in no way affects our recommendations.