BTU/h on the box, litres of condensate on the floor

The best portable air conditioners for 2026

A portable air conditioner is sold on BTU/h and lived with on what happens to the air it does not exhaust outside. A single-hose unit cools a room while quietly pulling replacement air in from everywhere else in the flat — cracks, corridors, the room next door — which is why two machines rated for the same room size can feel very different. A dual-hose unit avoids most of that penalty at a real cost in footprint and price. We compare rated cooling capacity against the room size the manufacturer states it for, single- versus dual-hose design, how condensate is handled (self-evaporating, a tank to empty, or a permanent drain), noise as published in dB(A), and the diameter of the exhaust hose against the window kit supplied.

The models we recommend

1. 

   Temprium YPK11S-07C/3-W

   7 000 BTU · single-hose · app + voice control

   A 7 000 BTU / 2.0 kW single-hose portable air conditioner for rooms up to 20 m², with touch-panel, remote, app and Alexa/Google Assistant control. Temprium states a built-in self-evaporation system that significantly cuts how often the tank needs draining, and ships a window seal kit it describes as fitting most European window types.

   Best for: Renters or small bedrooms up to about 20 m² who want app and voice control without paying for a higher-BTU unit.

   7.2/10

   ≈ 240 €

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2. 

   Dreo DR-HAC008S

   7 500 BTU · drainage-free · 45 dB(A)

   A 7 500 BTU single-hose portable air conditioner Dreo positions for bedrooms and offices, built around what it calls a true drainage-free system: condensate is evaporated automatically via an internal pump and sensors, Dreo says, even up to 90% humidity. Operating noise is published at 45 dB(A) (61 dB sound power), with control through the Dreo app or Siri/Alexa/Google Home voice commands.

   Best for: Bedrooms or offices where quiet operation and hands-off condensate handling matter more than a low upfront price.

   8.0/10

   ≈ 460 €

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3. 

   Okyuk SKYR-1A07

   7 000 BTU · R290 refrigerant · energy class A

   A 7 000 BTU single-hose portable air conditioner for rooms up to 25 m², built around an R290 refrigerant system Okyuk rates at energy class A. It includes an LED display with a water-level indicator, a 24-hour timer, and a window kit Okyuk describes as fitting widths from 43 to 135 cm, including a stated compatibility with 95% of German sliding windows.

   Best for: Buyers who want a wider 25 m² coverage claim and a published refrigerant/energy class, but don't need app or voice control.

   7.8/10

   ≈ 349 €

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4. 

   Gymax KU65297IJ-BMDE

   16 000 BTU · 4-in-1 with heating · up to 45 m²

   A 16 000 BTU 4-in-1 portable air conditioner that adds a heating mode alongside cooling, dehumidifying and fan, for rooms Gymax rates up to 45 m². It's controlled by remote, on-unit panel, or WiFi through the 'Smart Life' app, and is the largest and most expensive of the four units in this comparison.

   Best for: Larger rooms up to 45 m² where one appliance needs to both cool in summer and add supplementary heat, bought from a market where it's confirmed in stock.

   8.4/10

   ≈ 1 600 €

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