Top 5 Portable ACs In 2023
Want to stay cool this summer without racking up major electric bills? Portable ACs have surged in popularity in the recent years due to their energy efficiency and convenience. That is why we decided to buy & test the most popular portable ACs in 2023 to find the best option for you. We based our reviews on factors such energy efficiency, time it takes to cool the room and value for price.  Our testing revealed that paying for expensive “big brand name” ACs can often be a waste of money. To our surprise, our test winner was actually made by a smaller German start up company that managed to out perform the big brand names in in all these factors. Here’s a list of our Top 5 Picks for 2023, with a full review of our top pick at the bottom of the page.
Nexfan Evo
CoolEdge AC
AirCooly
Andily
GiveBest
We Bought and Tested the Most Popular Portable ACs, Here’s Why NexFan Evo Is Our #1 Pick.
Summary: Cooling down your room during a hot day doesn’t have to break the bank any more.
During our testing the NexFan Evo Portable AC was able to cool down any room in just minutes, all while using minimal energy meaning that you can save $100s on your electricity bill.
The Nexfan Evo AC is currently on a limited time 50% Off Sale in stores on their website
UPDATE January 15, 2023: Due to frequent media coverage and high consumer demand, the Nexfan Evo is currently sold out in retail stores nationwide. However, it may still be available on their online website HERE.
For the past few years, 3 large corporations have basically had a monopoly on the AC industry. This gave them the power to jack up the prices while not actually improving . The big companies could set whatever prices they wanted to as there was no competition. Until now.
A small startup with almost no funding is disrupting this $135b industry very quickly.
Originating in Germany, a start up called Nexfan Evo has figured out a new way of cooling the air quickly at a fraction of the cost. And it’s so simple it can be built into a tiny, portable device. They are now expanding into global markets like the US.
Weather services are forecasting an extremely hot summer in 2023, so the NexFan Ac couldn’t have arrived at a better time. In fact, they had sold over 50,000 units already before summer even started.
So, What Exactly Is A Portable AC?
While the technology in the NexFan Evo is very advanced, it’s actually very simple to use.
In short it’s a fully portable, light weight AC that can cool down any room in 5 minutes. All you need to do is charge the battery with the USB cable, and pour some water in the tank. That’s it.
The best part about this Portable AC is it’s energy efficiency. Thanks to their new technology, it only uses a fraction of electricity when compared to a traditional AC, or even a regular fan. This has allowed 1000s of Australians to save massively on their electricity bill during the hot summer months.
The goal of the founders of NexFan Evo was to make an affordable, effective way to stay cool without wasting money and hurting the environment. After using it for a few weeks now – I can safely say they succeeded.
So, what can the NexFan AC actually do? Everything your regular AC can do — And more. It also humidifies and purifies the air, getting rid of allergens and dust particles thanks to it’s smart filter technology.
But the game changing factor of the NexFan Evo is it’s compact design and long battery life. Sure, regular AC units are awesome but they only cover the room that they are installed in.
With the NexFan Evo you can bring it wherever you go — even to the office or on a camping trip.
No installation or maintenance costs, all you need is some tap water and the USB charging cable.
After testing this devices for a couple of weeks I can confidently say that this is the next generation of AC units.
How Does It Work?
NexFan Evo uses a patented Rapid Cooling System that uses water to micro-freeze the air flow into it, then pumps out refreshing cold air on the other side.
It’s super easy to set up. Just fill the 500ml (2 normal drinking glasses) water tank and press the power button. If you run out of battery (10 hours of battery life) then simply plug the USB cable in to charge it.
It’s very small compared to other portable Air Conditioning Units. This makes it very easy to carry around with you. The NexFan system uses the water in the tank very efficiently, with 1 full tank lasting you the whole day.
The fan is very strong and doesn’t make any noise at all. All other Portable ACs we’ve tested make a lot of noise, making it annoying to have on while you sleep.
Charge it in any USB port – even your laptop could power it.
The NexFan Portable AC 3 modes:
- Cool Mode –  It’s like a desktop fan, but cold
- Chill Mode – This is great for smaller rooms that get hot
- Freeze Mode – If you need to cool down any size room super fast
In our testing, we decreased the temperature of a medium sized room by up to 7°C within a matter of minutes.
But the Nexfan Evo does a lot more than just making the air cool. It also filters the air around it, clearing our dust particles and allergens. If you live in a dry, dusty place you will love this!
The best part about it is how silent it is. You can barely hear the fan, even on the max setting. This was the main feature that made us rank this #1 in our testing.
What Else Makes Nexfan Evo The #1 Choice?
After testing over 100 different portable AC models, NexFan out performed the competition in many aspects. Here are some of the amazing features that stood out:
- Compact & Portable – We loved how easy it was to transport this cooler as well as how long the batteries lasted (8 Hours).
- Air Purifying Features – It acts as a humidifier & purifier making the air much healthier and more pleasant to breathe in. I usually get a dry throat and blocked sinuses so this feature was perfect for me!
- Efficient Patented Air Cooling Tech -When we measured the energy consumption of this AC we were amazed at how powerful yet efficient it was.
- 3 Different Cooling Levels – Set the temperature that’s makes you most comfortable.
- Ease Of Use – Some AC’s we tested required complicated setup procedures, but not the Nexfan Evo. Simply fill the tank with water and hit the power button.
- Ultra Lightweight – Would hate to have to carry some bulky AC around during an already hot summer day. The Nexfan smart design and weight makes it super easy to transport from room to room.
- Silent Mode – The Nexfan AC is a silent as a mouse. Whether you’re trying to work from home, relax or sleep this AC won’t distract you at all.
But…Is It Really Worth All This Hype?
So far, NexFan Evo has sold multiple thousands of units directly to consumers. It’s has been selling out every time they re-stock, it’s become THAT popular.
All of the success can be attributed to word of mouth referrals. People like you and I are loving it so much they’re posting about it on social media.
Here are some Instagram posts I was able to find:
It’s clear that the NexFan Evo AC is developing a cult like following on social media!
Your Common Questions & Answers
With the rise in popularity, our readers have emailed us many questions about the Nexfan Evo. We’ve picked some of the common questions and answered them using objective tests. Here are some of them:
Q: Does the NexFan Evo require any installation?
No! It’s really easy to setup, just fill it up with water and press the power button.
Q: Do I need to buy batteries for it?
Nope, NexFan has an advanced internal battery just like your laptop or smartphone. You can simply charge it with the included USB charger.
Q: I’m a light sleeper, will I get woken up by it?
You won’t get woken up by the Nexfan Evo. In all of our testing this device was the quietest!
Q: Will this work for large rooms?
Yep, this AC is very powerful and can cool down even large rooms e.g. your living room in under 10 minutes.
How Much Does It Cost?
Normally, AC units go for between A$300-500+, so one would expect the Nexfan AC to be in this price range too…
In reality, the Nexfan Evo sells for only A$250, since the founders are doing everything to keep the prices low. However the company has recently announced a limited time summer 50% off sale bringing the price down to just $A125 on their online site!
You can click HERE to check if the deal is still available on their offical website.
It’s certainly a small price to pay to stay cool all summer.
How Can It Be So Affordable?
The big name brands spend billions on fancy advertising (e.g. $6.5 Million for a 30 sec SuperBowl Ad). Guess who’s paying for that in the end? The customer!
Instead, Nexfan Evo doesn’t run many ads and instead relies on word of mouth referral sales from their customers. That and selling mostly through their online store allowed them to keep costs lower than the competition.
So, What’s The Verdict?
Everyone who has tested the Nexfan Evo unanimously agrees; this is a must have device for anyone who wants to stay cool this summer without breaking the bank.
If you’re thinking of getting one, we suggest taking advantage of the 50% off summer discount before it runs out.
If you’re still on the fence, Nexfan Evo has a 30 day money back guarantee (no questions asked) meaning that you could always buy one and return if if you don’t like it.
Where Can I Buy The Real Nexfan AC In Australia?
To take advantage of the current 50% discount and order simply follow these steps:
- Visit the official website to check stock
- Select the amount of devices you want to purchase
- Fill your shipping information and payment method
- Enjoy a cool and refreshing summer for minimal cost.