Beat Heatwaves UK
Stay Cool with Portable Air Conditioners
Heatwaves are one of the biggest European stories of 2026 so far. With a new heatwave seemingly arriving at least monthly, it’s definitely time to invest in air conditioning. For most people, I’d recommend a portable air conditioner like the Dreo Portable Air Conditioner 318S. It really is a brilliant piece of kit and a proper life- or sleep-saver once the mercury hits obscene levels.
No doubt you’ve experienced air conditioning in a car, hotel room or similar, so you don’t need me to explain what it does or how it works. And while I think everyone should be investing in one now, based on my testing, there are three things you should consider before buying.
The Cost
While an air conditioning unit might seem expensive considering you can get a little fan in the supermarket for likely less than £10, it’s not really a fair comparison. A fan can’t actually lower the air temperature – it can only make you more comfortable in the heat. An air conditioner will actually cool the air around you. Plus, it’s packed with clever tech. For example, the Dreo Portable Air Conditioner 318S has three different modes, including fan and dehumidifier, so it’s more than just aircon. Plus, it’s Wi-Fi-enabled, so I can control it from my phone as well as get info in the app, such as when the filter needs cleaning.
This model is just £399, which I think is very good value. It’s probably cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy S25 smartphone you’re reading this on and will last a lot longer too. Plus, it’s still cheaper than some of the high-end fans you might be considering from the likes of Dyson or Philips.
The Noise
Cost is one thing, but air conditioning isn’t for everyone, even if it does cool a room in a way that a fan can’t. When in cooling mode, the compressor is fairly noisy when it’s in use (which is a lot of the time in a heatwave). This, combined with the fan blowing the cold air out, might be enough to disturb your sleep.
People who enjoy white noise while they’re dropping off might find this to be a plus, so it depends on which camp you’re in. The 318S mostly produces a constant sound but can be a little rattly when it’s windy. If you need absolute quiet to sleep, then getting a fitted air conditioner is the way to go – if you can afford one, perhaps considering the Apple Watch Series 10 or iPad Air M2 as an alternative investment.
The Practicality
A portable air conditioner is great in that you can wheel it around from room to room as and when you need. The units feature wheels, but that’s only a small part of the practicality story here. Wheeling it around is fine if you have space to do it (these things aren’t typically small) and don’t have to deal with moving between hard floors and rugs often.
However, if you want to move it between floors, carrying it up and down stairs is going to be a massive pain, or not possible at all for some people, considering they typically weigh between 20-25kg. Then there’s the vent pipe (to get the hot air produced outside) and the window kits you need to make it work with your window.
