Arctic AA-MC4 Portable Air Cooler Conditioner - White

Get this one, not the ultra. Time tested and effective!

I’ve had two of these for several years and an ultra. These are good, but the ultra is terrible and basically non functional; the filter has a fraction of the density. These units are very simple in principle and do an excellent job of spitting out cold, moist air. In California humidity anyways, it feels like a car air conditioner in terms of temperature - obviously your mileage may vary in more humid environments. Basically they soak up water into a big mess of coffee filter material, and a fan blows through it, and the evaporating water cools the air. Shockingly well, actually.

In terms of marketing, it mostly works for 8 hours on a tank as stated, although only if you get the filter wet before starting the count, because it will drink half a tank saturating it. I found that running for 24 hours on medium, it consumed about a third of a gallon of water. I use distilled water because an Achilles heel of the arctic air is bacterial growth on the filter. It’s obvious when it starts because it smells. Apparently you can dishwash or microwave the filter for a few seconds, I haven’t tried it. A filter usually lasts a couple months, although I can make them last longer with care. Replacements are overpriced but not unreasonable.

Another caveat is that it really helps to be close to it, ideally pointing at your face, in order to get the full effect. Don’t expect it to cool a room; it’s certainly for personal use. That said, I have pointed it directly at the intake of a room circulator fan (vornado), and that worked pretty well.

As another point, the fan in it is pretty cheap and therefore louder than it needs to be. It gets obnoxious on high. It’s just a 120mm computer fan soldered to the controller, so it’s just a consequence of being built to a price point.

My first unit had the power connector break after several years of use, so I bypassed the electronics entirely and put a higher quality computer fan in connected to usb, and it’s an excellent modification, except I’m waiting on a part to allow the fan to spin at full power ( it’s getting 5v usb instead of 12v). Still, I was able to repair it without much difficulty and it’s not overly difficult to disassemble and maintain, so gold star for that.

All in all, if you don’t have access to air conditioning or don’t want to run it all the time, the original arctic air is a great little product - compact, portable, and effective. The ultra is a waste of money as far as I can tell. Try to get the original if you can.Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: elanza771

Noisy, barely moves air and LED doesn’t work

This fan is an expensive noise maker that barely moves any air on any setting. The LED light doesn’t work at all, never came on. I wanted to use it while sleeping and sleeping is impossible with the noise this fan makes.Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: elanza771

Great little product, does the job well.

I am in a 30' by 15' room. This product blows out cold air and keeps the proper temperature for what I need to keep cool. I live in a basement apartment with NO windows and yet am able to be comfortable at all time. One thing that would have been nice is that it would automatically turn off when the water is empty. So when I go to bed at night, I have to turn it off. This means using just a fan while I sleep. But while it works, it is a great product.Read full review

For what it cost, it’s great!

A little bit noisy and only 2 functions (fan speed and colors to light up, but for the price it’s perfect! And actually it cooldown so good, better than a regular big fan. But only works good on small spaces (12ft x 12ft), so keep it close to youRead full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: elanza771

I love this product :)

I absolutely love this product.May not be quiet but its well worth the purchase keeps me cool on these hot days.I have one next to my bed and in my office at work and it works wonderfully.

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: carmcclur91

So glad I bought it!!

The Ontel Arctic Air Cooler really does work! It's a little noisy, but not bad. It really does cool down the room fast and I'm really enjoying it. It's definitely worth the money and I've been telling everyone one about it.Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: one_steal_of_a_...

it is cool

I LOVED IT, for the 1st week till I realized it produces mold inside the filter horrible, then the cooling doesn't work as strong as it did at 1st. Either way it does cool the room off really good. This thing should of brought extra filters to change.Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: vipoutlet

Arctic Air

This did not at all turn out to work as we expected. It didn't last as long as it said it would, about half the length and also didn't cool the bedroom which isn't a very big room.

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: bringinguthebes...

Arctic air

It runs as quietly as a little fan. But feels like a little AC unit should. And when the water runs low a light starts blinking to let you know to refill it. Note in the beginning the water will go down fast so that we'll get into the filters. But after that it should last about 8 hours so it says.Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: zraddadz

Chillin chillin in front of my artic air☺️

It does exactly what it's suppose to do. It's great that a product is like that. I tried it and it keeps me very comfortable. I'm going to get another one for me and I'm going to get one for my daughter. Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: escmicesc