Best Air Coolers

The WiLand Air Conditioning Fan Air Cooler is the most intuitive high-output model that we've seen in some time. The controls on this machine are seamless, with wet/cold wind settings and an intensity dial. What sells this product is not its intuitive controls though, it is primarily the cooling time and the output.

While most personal coolers are capping at 5-6 hours, sometimes reaching 10, this one gives you a whopping 30 hours, which is nothing to sneeze at, to say the least. Apart from extending the cooling time, the 65-watt output offers refrigeration that pretty much mimics ACs, something that even the more expensive coolers are seldom offering. Despite its output, the model remains quiet, which's also an impressive feat when we're talking about a unit that almost matches small-time ACs.

What's less impressive are the side handles, a little small and, thus, not necessarily comfortable. Also, at 14.8 x 9.5 x 9.5 inches, this is not the most compact unit and, weighing 8.58 pounds, not the most lightweight but these dimensions are to be expected considering the output.

The ADDSMILE Evaporative Air Cooler is but a humble device in most respects. Looking at its 10-watt output, you can deduce that the unit will not be covering sizable premises, not quite. On the upside, this model stretches the cooling time 9 hours, so you can spend an entire day at work with this portable unit keeping you cool and comfortable.

The unit will let you decide between 3 speed settings and 3 cooling levels, spraying a cool mist at least 5 feet, not bad considering that most models within its class cap at 3, maybe 4 tops. Presenting a cold breeze within seconds, this evaporative device can make the temperature drop quite a few notches, reaching 47 degrees Fahrenheit. Last but not least, you can choose between 60- and 120-degree oscillation, cooling the surrounding evenly or targeting a more specific area.

These settings are accessible via the touch-button controls below the blades. The controls are generally fine except a little sensitive, so you can accidentally misclick them but this is not something that can cause a huge issue.

Taking everything above into account, as well as the sizable 700-milliliter (~23.5 fluid ounces) reservoir, and the 5,000 mAh rechargeable battery, what we're left with is an excellent portable climate control solution.

The Auka Portable Air Cooler is as much a cooler as it is an air conditioner (not the strongest, most multifunctional one but still), desk fan, and a humidifier. The 3 speed settings that this model's adopting will let you choose the intensity. The unit will let you adjust the wind direction. Using an evaporative atomization cooling tech, this device keeps you away from dry air and allows you to enjoy the mist.

What's a little less important but one would argue more impressive (considering an already impressive feature lineup) is that this portable unit also comes equipped with 7 LED lights, so you can put it in the bedroom and create a romantic atmosphere. But when you decide to do that, we would recommend avoiding the highest speed setting since that one produces noticeable noise.

Between its UV sterilizer, washable filter, and a diffuser tray, the only real downside somewhat dragging this product down is that its battery life caps at 5 hours and your only option is the built-in rechargeable battery since the model cannot work off the mains. Still, even with this little flaw, the Auka Portable Air Cooler is the best, most versatile option within its budget price bracket that works both indoors and outdoors.

The Boyon Portable Air Cooler does not just cool the air, it also looks pretty cool. Sure, as far as these devices are concerned, aesthetics are not that important, but they can warrant bonus points as long as the product delivers where it counts, which is pretty much the case here. We're not crazy about its limited (3 feet) range, so you have to place the unit quite close to you. Aside from that though, we have no real complaints.

We're certainly not complaining about the 2- and 4-hour timer options that will let you turn on the device and go to sleep without worrying that you will wake up with a runny nose. We're not complaining about the sizable top handle either, enabling easy transportation. Sure, the 5-hour cooling time is nothing to write home about (though nothing to scoff at as well), but we cannot say the same about the model's practically silent operation, keeping the noise levels below 45 decibels.

The last 2 stops before wrapping this one are the standard 3 speed settings and the less standard 7 LED lights that you can use to illuminate a small area or make the atmosphere a little more romantic.

In short, the Boyon Portable Air Cooler is the one model that you can easily move between rooms without experiencing any discomfort and without sacrificing settings or performance.

The SHSTFD Portable Air Cooler can be used both as an ordinary fan or, when you fill the tank with water and some ice, as an air cooler. Barring that, the device also doubles as a mist humidifier, making the atmosphere indoors less dry. When standing beside the models reviewed above, this model easily holds its ground, except that the whole thing's black, including its tank, so you can easily overfill the unit, an oversight (we presume) that we would like to see improved next time.

Removing its appearance from the equation, the unit borrows multiple elements from its competition (or the industry's playbook), including the 3 speed settings and the on/off cooling mode that lets you switch between fanning and cooling. Likewise, you can adjust the wind direction 120 degrees, making the model blow up or down.

Size-wise, measuring 9.5 x 5.7 x 3.9 inches, this device is quite tall but also quite thin, so you should be able to find enough space on most desks without moving around multiple items. Plus, with the cooling effect lasting 6 hours, you will not have to move these items every few hours.

Bottom line, assuming you're fine with its tall-ish profile, the SHSTFD Portable Air Cooler should satisfy personal use both at home and in the office.