Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

3 portable air conditioner deals you can’t afford to miss today

It’s summertime and you know what that means? No, not spending time on the beach or doing just about anything you want outdoors (you could as long as you observe social distancing). It means sweltering days and hot sweaty nights. If you don’t have the money for centralized air conditioning and hate the fact that window-mounted air conditioners can only cool one room, you could get yourself a portable air conditioner. You can stay cool regardless of where you are at home and they won’t break the bank. We’ve scoured Amazon and Best Buy and found the Black & Decker BPACT08WT, GE APCA09YZBW, and hOmeLabs 12,000 BTU portable air conditioners on sale for as low as $300.

Black & Decker BPACT08WT – $300, was $330

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Black & Decker BPACT08WT’s cooling capability is a bit underwhelming, but its 3-in-1 functionality is very enticing. The problem is the uninsulated exhaust pipe which works against the perfectly fine cooling function. Best wrap a blanket around it. This portable air conditioner is rated at 5,000 BTUs, which means it’s suitable for small rooms up to 150 sq ft. Underneath it are four caster wheels which make it very easy to wheel around the house. It also has integrated handles so carrying it up and down the stairs won’t be a problem, although we advise you to be careful as it weighs roughly 50 pounds. As mentioned, aside from the ability to cool a room down, the BPACT08WT also works as a dehumidifier and air circulator. It has the power to extract up to 50 pints of moisture per day, which isn’t that powerful but is perfectly reasonable for a 3-in-1 machine. By the way, the air circulating function is just a fancy way of saying “it blows air around like a fan.” For a versatile and affordable way to beat the summer heat, get the Black & Decker BPACT08WT for just $300 instead of $350 at Amazon.

GE APCA09YZBW – $330, was $370

Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’ve got a medium-sized room that’s in dire need of cooling down, consider the GE APCA09YZBW instead. This portable air conditioner delivers 8,500 BTUs, making it ideal for rooms up to 250 sq ft. And just like the Black & Decker BPACT08WT, this machine has built-in dehumidifying and fan capabilities. Featuring Auto Evaporation Technology, the GE APCA09YZBW has the power to evaporate the water under most conditions with no bucket to empty. This eliminates the need to throw away a heavy bucket of water regularly. The GE APCA09YZBW comes with a digital thermostat which is very easy to operate. Through it, you can control the temperature and set up the 24 Hour Timer, or you can use the remote control. While the portable AC itself seems quite durable, the window inserts that it comes with are made of flimsy-looking plastic. It can also get rather noisy during operation, but that’s sort of expected of any AC unit. For cooling medium-sized rooms without having to spend a small fortune, get the GE APCA09YZBW for $330 (down from $370) at Best Buy.

hOmeLabs 12,000 BTU – $400, was $430

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Last on our list is the hOmeLabs 12,000 BTU. As its name suggests, this portable air conditioner can cool down large rooms that are up to 450 sq ft. And just like the first two models, the hOmeLabs 12,000 BTU not only keeps the summer heat at bay but also has the power to remove 100 pints of water from the air (this is very powerful by portable AC dehumidifying standards) and comes with multiple fan modes. The hOmeLabs 12,000 BTU works by drawing in ambient air in a room and filtering the air as it’s cooled which also keeps your room smelling fresh. The standard washable filter can be easily removed from the back and it works remarkably well, based on the surprising amount of dust it gathered, although it does not include a HEPA filter. Temperature settings, switching between cooling and dehumidifying modes, and programming the 24-hour timer can be done from the comfort of your bed using the remote control. Finally, unlike other portable and window air conditioners, the hOmeLabs 12,000 BTU is very quiet as it’s designed to operate with a noise level of not more than 53 dB so it won’t disturb you while you sleep. For whisper-quiet and cooler summer nights, get the hOmeLabs 12,000 BTU for $400 instead of $30 at Amazon.

Looking for more? Check out our Deals Hub for more air conditioner deals.

Editors' Recommendations

Timothy Taylor
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Timothy is a deals writer for Digital Trends that specializes in finding the best discounts on smartphones, wireless…
Can’t wait until Black Friday? Today’s best iPad Air deal
A young woman works on an Apple iPad Air with her Apple Pencil.

The Apple iPad Air is seeing an impressive discount at Amazon right now, one that knocks the price all the way down to $520 from its regular price of $600. This is a savings of $80, and while the coming Black Friday deals may hold a better deal to pounce on, the iPad Air is a high-demand piece of tech, and it’s rare to find a discount on it at all, let alone one offering more savings than what we’re seeing here. So it’s a good idea to scoop this iPad Air deal up while you can, and if the Black Friday iPad deals turn up something better, you can always return this purchase and grab your larger savings at that point.

Why you should buy the Apple iPad Air
Over the past decade, the tablet has become a computing device that’s relied upon daily by both businesses and individuals. Apple has played a large part in that, with its iPad lineup offering models to suit just about anyone. The Apple iPad Air sits close to the top of the lineup, offering many of the great features of the iPad Pro, while maintaining a more reasonable price point. In fact, the iPad Air now features the powerful Apple M1 chip, a processor that can be found in many of Apple’s computers. This gives the iPad Air more performance capability than you’ll find in most tablets. Both the Apple iPad Pro and iPad Air are suitable for tablet users with an eye on performance, and with more models in the iPad lineup than ever before, we’ve got you covered in researching the best iPad to buy.

Read more
5 early Prime Day deals you can’t afford to miss at Walmart today
Walmart Prime Day graphic with a screen from Walmart.com.

Amazon's Prime Day deals are set to roll out, but before the retailer officially launches its annual shopping event, competitors like Walmart are trying to draw attention to themselves with their own discounts for all kinds of products. It's highly recommended that you look around, because there's a chance that what you're planning to buy from Amazon on Prime Day is already cheaper elsewhere.

There's no shortage of early Walmart Prime Day deals that you can take advantage of right now -- and you're recommended to do so as there's little chance that the prices will go even lower once Prime Day starts. Whether you're searching for something specific or you're just on the hunt for the best bargains, we've rounded up some of the top offers from Walmart that you won't want to miss. You have to push through with the purchase right away if something catches your eye though, as we're not sure how long these discounts will be online.

Read more
Amazon Memorial Day Sale 2022: 5 deals you can’t miss today
Amazon logo on the headquarters building.

It's Memorial Day and there are plenty of awesome Memorial Day sales going on right now, including the Amazon Memorial Day sale. There are so many great discounts at the major retailer that we've helped you out by highlighting some of our favorite deals below. Read on and we'll guide you through some deep discounts on popular tech including iPads, Bose headphones, and more. Alternatively, hit the button below to check out everything Amazon has on sale right now.

Amazon Memorial Day sale: Today's best deals

Read more