Wouldn't it be great if you could take your AC with you wherever you went? Imagine having something to cool you off on those hot summer camping trips or long days spent at the beach?
With battery-powered air conditioners, you can. You just need to choose the right one.
This review explores everything you need to know about them, plus our top picks for the best battery powered ACs available.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Best Battery Powered Air Conditioners
- OUR TOP PICK: IcyBreeze V2 Portable AC
- RUNNER-UP: NEXGADGET Portable AC
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Wooboo Mini Cooli 5th Gen
Comparison of the Best Battery Powered Air Conditioners
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Characteristics of Our Favorite Battery Powered Air Conditioners
When choosing the best battery-powered AC, you need to think about what you'll be using it for, why you would need it, as well as how often you intend to use it. The air conditioner you pick needs to deliver on all fronts. Here are the top three characteristics of our favorite products.
Powerful
An AC, whether battery-powered or electric, should be able to cool down a particular space. Otherwise, it's pretty much useless.
Some portable air conditioners usually have BTU ratings to tell you how much space they can cool, although that isn't always the case. Bucket systems rely on the temperature of the water or ice to determine how cold the air gets before it's blown out.
Quiet
While you should expect some level of noise from your battery-powered AC, you want to steer clear of excessively loud products. The ACs we reviewed in this guide gave off a fair amount of noise, but not too much to keep you up at night.
Efficient
The longer the AC runs to achieve the desired temperature, the more battery power it uses. Our top picks for portable air conditioners are extremely energy efficient and suited to cooling down small spaces in the shortest time possible.
Review of the Best Battery Powered Air Conditioners
We've reviewed the top battery-powered ACs that are hot on the market right now. Here are the top seven options worth checking out.
Best Overall:
IcyBreeze V2 Portable AC
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PROS
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What Recent Buyers Report
Most buyers are happy with the overall design and functionality of this unit. It's not your grandpa's cooler, that's for sure. Its modern, sleek design is something many users love, alongside its ergonomic handle with multiple lift points and large roller wheels that make transportation a breeze.
They also like the flexible hose it comes with to direct the breeze in whichever direction they want.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The IcyBreeze V2 portable AC is unlike any other we've come across. It's a two-in-one cooler and air conditioner designed to keep your drinks cold and cool you down while at it.
We particularly like the fact that it doesn't use Freon, nor does it produce exhaust heat. It uses cold water at the bottom of the tub to serve as a cooling agent, so you can conveniently use it both indoors and outdoors.
It has a three-speed high-powered fan that dispenses cold air that's up to 35°F below the ambient temperature. It is powered by a quick detach battery that you can easily switch to a second one once the first one runs out of juice.
Bottom Line
The IceBreeze portable AC is ideal for boaters, campers, tailgaters, and recreational sports lovers. It is durable, sturdy, and extremely energy efficient, which is ultimately what you want in a battery-powered air conditioner. It's a great option to consider.
Runner-up:
NEXGADGET Portable AC
PROS
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What Recent Buyers Report
Several buyers reported that while they did not expect much from this little device, it surpassed all their expectations. It cools small spaces quite effectively and runs for several hours on a single charge.
They also like the different power supply options it has and the fact that you just need to add purified water for it to run. Most people seemed quite pleased with their purchase.
Why it Stands Out to Us
First impressions – The NEXGADGET AC is a beauty. It looks like a smaller version of a window air conditioner. It comes with a 5,000mAH built-in rechargeable battery that charges to full capacity in about four hours and can last up to nine hours.
We especially like the fact that it supports multiple power supply sources aside from plugging it into an electrical power outlet. You can connect it to your laptop, power bank, or car charging port to juice it up.
Aside from air cooling, the NEXGADGET also functions as a humidifier and air purifier. It certainly delivers outstanding value for the money.
Bottom Line
Although this little AC may not look like much, it is quite nifty. Its three cooling levels and wind speeds make it a great addition to your office, bedroom, dorm, desk, and outdoor activities if you need something to cool you off on those hot summer days.
Best for the Money:
Wooboo Mini Cooli 5th Gen
PROS
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What Recent Buyers Report
According to most users, given how small this particular device is, you would need to be quite close to it to feel its effects, and it may not be suitable for cooling large spaces. It is, however, quite effective in reducing the ambient temperature in smaller spaces.
Buyers also like how lightweight and portable it is. Overall, they are generally quite happy with the device.
Why it Stands Out to Us
As far as portable battery-powered air conditioners go, it doesn't get any better than the Mini Cooli from Wooboo. This fifth-generation hand-held AC is smaller than most smartphones, which makes it convenient to carry in your backpack when you're out and about on a hot summer day. You can even hook it up to a stroller to keep the baby nice and cool when it's hot outside.
We especially like that this AC comes with a cooling fan that you can use on your desktop for a cool breeze or even quickly dry wet nails. You can recharge its 1,400mAh battery using a USB cable hooked to a charger, laptop, or power bank.
Bottom Line
The Mini Cooli adds a whole new dimension to convenience. It may be small, but it is one of the most functional portable battery-powered ACs we've encountered. Its air conditioning function is capable of cooling a small space by 3-5°F.
Best Tent Air Conditioner Battery Powered:
GtTech Portable AC
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What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers were pleasantly surprised by how remarkably quiet it is. It produces virtually no sound, which is something you don't often get with portable air conditioners.
It is also quite small and lightweight and can be used in a camping tent, baby's room, bedroom, or car. All in all, most users were pleased with its performance.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The GtTech Portable AC is by far one of the best battery-operated units for tents and small spaces. Unlike other systems we've come across, this particular model is a four-in-one air cooler, desk fan, humidifier, and air purifier.
Its innovative design works by sucking in the surrounding warm air, which then passes over the fine-fiber water curtain to cool it before blowing it back out. The best thing about it is – it doesn't use refrigerants. Just add a little cold water, and it's good to go. It is compatible with multiple power sources that have a USB charging port.
Bottom Line
If you're going summer camping, you'll want to bring this along with you. The fact that it is an air cooler, desk fan, humidifier, and air purifier all in one is something you don't often find with battery-powered ACs.
Best Portable Battery Powered Air Conditioner:
LISOPO Portable AC
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What Recent Buyers Report
Many users seem quite pleased with the overall performance of the gadget. Several of them indicated that it was quite effective in cooling a small room for a few hours, which is ideally what you want in a portable AC.
The price-point isn't too bad either, which is something most buyers didn't seem to mind.
Why it Stands Out to Us
LISOPO portable AC is among the most popular brands of battery-operated cooling systems on the market right now. Given its unique, innovative design, it's not hard to see why.
It uses an entirely different approach to air cooling by adopting ultrasonic atomization and negative ion technology, which atomizes water to blow out cool, moist air. This not only works to lower the temperature of the surrounding space, but it also stops your skin from drying out in the process.
Its built-in 2,000mAh rechargeable battery allows the device to function for up to five hours continuously. It is great for outdoor activities, the office, bedroom, kitchen, and even the car.
Bottom Line
Everything about the LISOPO portable AC was built for portability. Its compact and lightweight design, outstanding functionality, and unique, innovative cooling technology are exactly what you need to keep you cool during those hot summer days and nights.
Best Zero Breeze Battery Powered Portable Air Conditioner:
Zero Breeze Mark 2
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What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers can't get enough of how high-tech it looks. The AC can blow cold air as far as two meters at its highest setting, which is pretty impressive for a battery-operated air conditioner.
Some users noted that it does generate a significant amount of heat from the exhaust hose, but this is easily resolved by positioning the Mark 2 as close to the exterior as possible.
Other than that, most people are generally quite pleased with its cooling performance.
Why It Stands Out to Us
The Zero Breeze Mark 2 is nothing short of innovative ingenuity. It looks amazing, it's easy to operate, and comes with lots of intuitive controls. You can run it on a 24V battery supply or use the rechargeable battery pack it comes with that provides up to five hours of portable usage.
The one thing that sets this particular unit apart from any that we've previously encountered is that it doesn't rely on water or ice to cool you off. Instead, it has a built-in adaptive frequency microprocessor that reduces the outlet air temperature by up to 20 degrees in a 25-40 square-foot space.
Bottom Line
The Zero Breeze Mark 2 is a great AC upgrade for your truck, RV, boat, or even plane. It is compact and lightweight enough to take it with you on your outdoor excursions with no hassle whatsoever. It offers a cooling experience like no other.
Best Battery Powered Air Conditioner for Cars and Trucks:
MightyKool K2
PROS
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What Recent Buyers Report
From the reviews we found online, most buyers' overall experience has been positive. They were impressed by the build quality, weight, size, and cooling power.
However, they did note that the motor was slightly noisy, but not to the extent that it would be considered off-putting. They also indicated that it didn't just produce cool air like other portable cooling systems; the air coming from it was actually cold. This is something many users were quite pleased with.
Why it Stands Out to Us
From an appearance standpoint, the MightyKool may not look like much. If anything, its design is slightly utilitarian and reminiscent of an old-school toolbox. However, this little AC ranks among the top-performing battery-powered air conditioners on the market right now when it comes to functionality.
It sucks in the warm ambient air and passes it through a special wicking filter to cool it. It's then blown back out to lower the temperature of the surrounding space.
You can use it in small spaces like cars, trucks, tents, campers, and boat cabins. It comes with a rechargeable battery pack and cable that's compatible with your car charging port.
Bottom Line
The MightyKool might be small, but it is mighty powerful. All you need to do is charge it, add cold water, and power it on, to enjoy the seven-mph breeze it generates. It is efficient, lightweight, and, more importantly, it works.
When Would a Battery Powered Air Conditioner Come in Handy?
It's hard to imagine life without air conditioning, especially since the summers are getting hotter with each passing year. While we appreciate the importance of central cooling, having battery-operated ACs also comes in handy in different circumstances.
Camping Out in the Woods
Camping is fun – there's no denying that. Camping in the sweltering heat, on the other hand, isn't. Camping in the sweltering heat, with kids? Now, that's just a disaster in the making.
Having a nice cool space to retreat to when you can't take the heat is certainly a nice option to have. A battery-powered AC comes in handy when you don't want to "rough it out" too much.
You Live and Work in an Area With Frequent Outages
Anytime you have a tropical storm headed your way, you know there's a good chance there'll be a power outage at some point. That's frustrating enough as it is, but if that happens in summer, that's a scene straight out of a horror movie.
A battery-powered AC can help cool things down.
For Your Day Out On the Water
A battery-powered air conditioner is a must-have for any boat owner. Given the fact that you'll be spending the better part of the day out on the water, having a nice cool cabin to relax in when it gets too hot is a total lifesaver.
Are All Battery Powered Air Conditioners the Same?
While most battery-operated ACs work in the same way, some, like the Zero Breeze Mark 2, function a little differently. It relies on a frequency microprocessor to reduce the ambient temperatures, unlike most of the ones you'll come across that use water and/or ice.
Additionally, the sizes of portable ACs are not all standard. The Mini Cooli from Wooboo, for instance, is pocket-size. It's small enough to toss into your backpack or handbag and have with you at all times.
Others like the IcyBreeze V2 are slightly bulky since it also doubles up as a cooler. The AC you get ultimately boils down to your individual needs.
What Are the Benefits of a Battery Powered Air Conditioner?
Several benefits come with getting any of the portable ACs we've reviewed in this guide. The top ones include:
Zero Restrictions
Several HOAs, apartment buildings, and in some places, city ordinances prohibit residents from installing window air conditioning systems. Having a small portable AC is a great alternative since it is discreet and doesn't protrude from your home's exterior.
Cost-Effective
The battery-operated ACs we've reviewed all have one thing in common. They are extremely energy efficient.
They don't use nearly as much power as central air cooling systems, which can rack up quite a huge bill as they work to cool your entire house. Spot-cooling the spaces you're using at a particular time will save you loads of cash in the long run.
GtTech Portable AC
Cools and Dehumidifies
As you've seen, many of the portable ACs we've reviewed also double up as dehumidifiers. They not only reduce the ambient temperatures of your space; they also keep humidity levels at a minimum. No more allergies or frizzy hair.
Cooling On-The-Go
Last but certainly not least, battery-powered air conditioners offer a great alternative to the often unreliable cooling systems you find in pop-up campers, travel trailers, or RVs. Some of them don't even have air conditioning at all. A portable AC offers an easy and convenient cooling solution for your recreational needs.
Conclusion
Battery-powered ACs are becoming increasingly popular, particularly among lovers of the great outdoors and budget-conscious individuals looking for an efficient way to stay cool.
When choosing the best portable AC, consider getting one that fits your lifestyle needs. Any of the seven products we've reviewed in this guide would be a great starting point.
People Also Ask
Below are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions by portable AC buyers.
How Many Batteries Does it Take to Run an AC?
It depends on the kind of AC you have. If you wanted to run two 15,000 BTU air conditioners for about an hour, you would need three lithium-ion batteries with a 100-amp-hour capacity each.
If, on the other hand, you had a standard battery-operated portable AC unit, you would need one 5,000mAh lithium-ion battery to run it.
How Much is a Battery Powered Air Conditioner?
The price ranges anywhere between $12 and $1,399. It depends on the size and cooling power (BTUs) of the AC in question. Hand-held cooling systems are generally on the lower end of the price spectrum, while those powered by frequency microprocessors come at a premium price. It all depends on your cooling needs.