Costway Portable Air Conditioner Review: Strong Cooling For Small Rooms

Forbes

5 days ago

Compact portable air conditioners can be hit or miss. Sure, they're easy to move around, but too often they end up feeling more like glorified fans, leaving you wondering: Are portable air conditioners worth it? During our recent testing for this Costway Portable Air Conditioner review, it surprised us: It's small enough to easily wheel from room to room, but also strong enough to noticeably cool the area, especially up close. Unlike other compact models we've tested, it didn't fade into just circulating warm air around the room, and the cooling breeze stays consistently strong within several feet of the unit.
After testing a range of the best portable air conditioners, the Costway Portable Air Conditioner was the clear winner for small spaces. It's especially good if you want direct air conditioning—think a home office, dorm room or small bedroom—rather than trying to cool your entire apartment. It's not whisper-quiet, but the noise isn't distracting either, and setup was mostly painless (though we did have to get creative with the window inserts). And while this model doesn't have smart features, we didn't really miss them; the basic functions and included remote were easy to operate on their own. Below, in our Costway Portable Air Conditioner review, we share exactly how it performed, including how well it cooled, what we thought of the controls and whether this unit is worth the trade-offs that come with its smaller size.
BTU: 10,000 | Coverage: Up to 350 square feet | Noise: 57 to 62 dB | Weight: 45 pounds | Extras: Dehumidifier mode, fan mode, remote control
Best for:
Skip if:
This Costway model doesn't cool down a huge space, but during our testing it noticeably cooled the area right around it. At about 10 feet from the unit, our thermometer recorded a measurable temperature drop compared to the rest of the room. And at just three feet away, we felt a steady flow of cool air that would be ideal for sitting at a desk or relaxing on a couch nearby. Unlike some compact units we've tested, the Costway actually lowered the temperature within its immediate range—just keep in mind that its cooling ability fades as you move farther away. If your goal is to quickly cool a large living room or an open-plan space, you're better off with a bigger and more powerful model like the Midea Duo. But for targeted cooling, especially if you're sitting close to the unit, this smaller model works well.
Like most portable air conditioners in this price range, the Costway isn't silent. During testing, we found it produced about as much noise as a standard window AC unit—a steady hum that was noticeable but not distracting. On the plus side, the noise was consistent—there were no sudden spikes, rattling or changes in tone that could be jarring.
This Costway model has only two fan speeds, high and low, but we noticed a clear difference in noise levels between the two. Switching to the lower fan speed reduced the sound significantly, so it would be easier to have conversations or watch TV without turning the volume up. Still, even on low, don't expect this model to run quietly enough for extremely sensitive sleepers. If you're particularly bothered by white noise, you might prefer a quieter (though likely pricier) alternative. But overall, we found its noise level reasonable, given its compact size and cooling ability.
Getting the Costway up and running was quick. The unit itself is compact, lightweight and took us only a few minutes to unpack, roll into position and attach the exhaust hose. The window installation kit, however, was another story. The provided inserts were clearly designed for vertical sliding windows (ones that move side-to-side), so we had some trouble adapting it to our horizontally sliding window. One insert wasn't wide enough, and two inserts together were too wide. We ended up needing to saw down an insert manually, since the plastic was too sturdy for scissors.
As for the controls, the Costway comes with a basic remote that lets you easily adjust the temperature, fan speed and modes from across the room. There's no companion app or smart-home integration, but we didn't particularly miss those features. It's also worth noting that the unit's buttons are touch-sensitive rather than push-to-press; initially, we kept pressing harder and thought the unit wasn't responding, but it worked fine once we realized it required only a gentle tap. There's a Sleep mode as well, which dims the LED display but doesn't fully turn it off, so keep in mind that you can still see some glow at night.
After testing the Costway Portable Air Conditioner, we think it's a great pick if you mostly need cooling for a small space or want air blowing directly on you. It doesn't make a major difference in an entire apartment or even a large room, but if you're sitting near it, like at a desk, in bed or on a couch, it definitely makes a difference. The noise is noticeable but steady, and we didn't find it too distracting. It doesn't have any smart features, but the remote was enough to cover everything we wanted the AC to do.
Our main issue was the window installation kit, which needed some modification. But once we handled that setup, moving the Costway around was easy, and the cooling was consistent each time we turned it on. If you're short on space or just looking for a basic, budget-friendly air conditioner, this unit does exactly what it needs to do.