Serene Life SLPAC10 Portable Air Conditioner Review

Thanks to its cooling power and easy installation, the Serene Life SLPAC10 Portable Air Conditioner earned the title of best budget-friendly pick in our larger tested review of the best portable air conditioners. Here’s what we love about it.

If heat waves have you looking for a quick cooldown, you might consider a portable air conditioner, which is more powerful than a tower fan and more versatile than a window air conditioner. For those in the market for a budget-friendly model, you can’t go wrong with the Serene Life SLPAC10. In testing seven of the best portable air conditioners at home in my 400-square-foot Florida living room, this affordable unit kept up with its much fancier competitors, impressing me with its efficiency and overall ease of use. Though it might not be as powerful or high-tech as other models out there, with 6,000 BTU (DOE) of cooling power, the SLPAC10 can effectively cover rooms up to 350 square feet. (And if you need a portable air conditioner with more oomph for chilling a larger home, you can buy the same unit with more BTU, or British Thermal Units, which measures an air conditioner’s cooling power).

Beyond cooling power, some of the most appealing features of the Serene Life SLPAC10 include its easy installation and user-friendly controls. As a comparatively small and compact portable air conditioner, this model is a great option if you’re intimidated by the thought of venting a larger portable air conditioner through your window. But there’s more to appreciate about this budget portable air conditioner than its price and intuitive set-up. Read on to learn what you can expect from this affordable model.

Serene Life SLPAC10 Portable Air Conditioner Features

Proficient Cooling Performance For An Affordable Price

While the best portable air conditioners meet a variety of criteria—they’re quiet, easy to use and maneuverable, to name a few—the most important requirement for a unit is that it’s effective at cooling a space. In a smaller space, the Serene Life SLPAC10 is a proficient unit. After running this unit for two hours on its highest fan speed in a 400-square-foot room, it lowered the temperature from 76 to 73 degrees . In a smaller room of 300 square feet or less, you will likely see even better performance. It ran consistently to keep the heat and humidity under control, but it wasn’t uncomfortable or annoying to listen to. For hot sleepers who don’t mind white noise, this portable air conditioner would make a great addition to the bedroom; if you have an area of your home that gets intense afternoon sun, this model could supplement your home’s central air.

Impressively Simple Set-Up

If you’re hesitating to purchase a portable air conditioner over concerns about the set-up and assembly process, the Serene Life SLPAC10 is a great option. It weighs only 55 pounds and is much easier to lift and maneuver than heftier models. It’s small enough that it will fit in most spaces, and its simple, white exterior is rather basic but certainly isn’t an eyesore.

While working solo, I had this portable air conditioner set up and ready for use in 10 minutes flat. Out of the seven portable units I tested, it was hands-down the easiest to assemble. Although the exhaust hose and window panel lacked the high-quality feel of some of the more robust portable air conditioners, the design was superior. The window panel insert is more narrow than other options, meaning that it takes up less space in the window. It also has a locking lever that keeps the panel pieces in place once you find the right width for your window.

Convenient And Easy To Use

From its streamlined build to its user-friendly control panel, the Serene Life SLPAC10 is an intuitive pick that makes things easy on you. The functions are clearly labeled and operation is a cinch, whether you need to adjust temperature settings or switch operation modes. The included remote, too, gets the job done: It works just as well from 12 feet as it does from 30. While this model likely won’t satisfy someone who wants bells and whistles like smart features, the SLPAC10 would fit perfectly in the home of someone seeking a no-frills, uncomplicated cooling device.

How Does The Serene Life SLPAC10 Compare?

The Serene Life SLPAC10 is a compact portable air conditioner that’s a great budget buy for small or medium-size spaces. Though it’s not nearly as powerful as the Whynter ARC-1230WN—a 12,000 BTU (DOE) unit that I believe is the best on the market—the affordable model is easier to set up and more maneuverable. Enhancing its portability, the SLPAC10 is mounted on four caster wheels that allow it to freely swivel and roll, and it only weighs 55 pounds (which is relatively light). Even while working alone, unpacking and setting up the SLPAC10 was a cinch. It would be manageable to lift or carry up a few stairs, whereas you’d probably need a helping hand for other top units.

In terms of value, the Serene Life SLPAC10 outshines the Whynter ARC-1230WN. It costs less than $400, saving you a few hundred dollars. If you have a studio apartment or only need the cooling power of a portable air conditioner in a single room, like a home office or bedroom, then save some cash and opt for the budget-friendly Serene Life model.

How I Tested The Serene Life SLPAC10

To thoroughly evaluate the performance and features of the Serene Life SLPAC10, I put it to use in my home for a 24-hour period, comparing its overall performance to six other top-rated models from a handful of trusted brands. Each air conditioner was tasked with cooling down a 400-square-foot room, starting with a baseline temperature of at least 76 degrees Fahrenheit. I monitored the temperature changes in the room, taking a reading every 15 minutes for the first two hours. During the next 22 hours of testing, I put the air conditioners through their paces, adjusting features like the target temperature, fan speed and timer mode to assess their overall functionality and ease of use.

Because portable air conditioners make at least some noise when they operate, I tested the decibel level of each air conditioner at high and low fan speeds to determine which stood out for quietness. In addition, I measured how much condensation was collected in the drain pan after operating for 24 hours, as well as how much electricity each model used (using a kilowatt meter).

My Expertise

As a writer and product tester, I stay up to date on the latest in small and large home appliances, including categories like air conditioners, fans and air purifiers. I’ve been researching appliances since 2017 and, in addition to Forbes Vetted, my work has appeared on sites like U.S. News and World Report, The Spruce and MyDomaine. Since I live in Florida, keeping cool is a top priority—and the heat and humidity I deal with on a daily basis creates an ideal environment for testing portable air conditioners. Whether I’m dealing with a window air conditioner, HVAC system or portable unit, my bottom line for any type of cooling device is how well it works, followed closely by how quiet and unobtrusive it is.