This Is Consumer Reports' Highest-Rated Portable AC Unit In 2026

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Some homes don't have the ductwork necessary to install a central air conditioning (AC) unit without major remodeling. In a situation like this, owners can easily install a portable air conditioner in the room where they need cooling the most, such as the bedroom.

If you're ready to buy a portable AC unit, seeking advice from experts first is a smart idea. Consumer Reports published a list of the best portable air conditioners. The non-profit independent organization gave the Hisense HAP0824TWD unit the highest overall score for both large and small portable air conditioners. The Hisense HAP0824TWD is available at Amazon for $499, although you might find it on sale for less than $400.

There are some downsides to portable air conditioners that might make you rethink using them, such as their occasional struggles to quickly cool a room. However, the Hisense model received perfect marks from Consumer Reports' testing experts for creating a comfortable atmosphere with its cooling performance. As the highest-rated model, Consumer Reports says the Hisense portable AC matches the desired temperature setting in the room faster than other models listed in the testing results.

In addition to its perfect score in the category of temperature comfort, the Consumer Reports testing lab gave the Hisense HAP0824TWD a perfect score for its ability to continue running efficiently during periods of dropped voltage or brownouts. The portable AC received an above-average score for ease of use from the testing team thanks to its well-marked control panel that's easy to understand and adjust.

Compared to the other smaller portable air conditioners rated at up to 8,500 BTU per hour on the Consumer Reports' testing list, the Hisense HAP0824TWD is the only one that includes an inverter, which automatically controls the speed of the motor in an effort to improve the energy efficiency of the model. For reference, a unit with 8,000 BTU of cooling capacity should be able to cool a room of 350 to 400 square feet. The testers also mentioned that the Hisense model's weight of about 52 pounds was less than most portable air conditioners, even though it offers 8,000 BTU of cooling capacity, which is near the top of the range for smaller portable ACs (5,000 to 8,500 BTU per hour).

One area where Consumer Reports only gave the Hisense HAP0824TWD an average score was for noise generation. The testers explained that the portable air conditioner generated an average amount of noise at both high and low operational settings. Additionally, the Hisense unit does not have a feature where it automatically adjusts the fan speed to match the conditions or an indicator for when the machine's filter needs changing, which are features commonly found on larger portable AC units (9,000 to 15,500 BTU) and on a few small models.

Members who participated in CR's owner survey for the Hisense HAP0824TWD gave it an average score for brand reliability, trailing brand reliability scores that owners gave to portable air conditioners from brands like Toshiba, Midea, and Honeywell. Results from these surveys show an owner satisfaction score that was well below average, putting the Hisense portable air conditioner behind other tested brands.

Consumer Reports tested and rated many different types of air conditioning units that are an alternative to a central AC setup. Compared to window air conditioners, the Hisense portable air conditioner's score ranked behind more than two dozen window AC tested units. In CR's testing of mini-splits, the Hisense HAP0824TWD's score only trailed a couple of models on the list of the best mini-splits.