Whynter ARC-1230WN Review

The Whynter ARC-1230WN is an excellent all-around portable air conditioner that scored at or near the top of almost every metric we tested in our review. It far out-performed the rest of the field with its high-end cooling capabilities, and it impressed our testers with unique extra features, like its clever dual hose-inside-a-hose design, feature-rich mobile app, and advanced inverter technology, to improve compressor efficiency.

Cooling

The primary job of a portable air conditioner is to be wheeled in to chill out a space whenever and wherever it is called upon, and that's why the cooling metric makes up the highest percentage of the overall score for our reviews in this category, at 35%. The 14,000 BTU Whynter ARC-1230WN far exceeded all other units we tested in this metric.

When gearing up for cooling tests for portable ACs, we did our best to maintain consistent summertime heat inside and outside of the space that was being cooled. We partitioned off a portion of our warehouse to serve as the “outside” section of the test environment, blocking all the air vents and relying on space heaters to increase the air temps to match searing summertime levels. The “inside” section of the test environment was in an adjoining 14' x 10' room with a 12' ceiling (1680 cu ft.), where we dispersed four temperature-sensing data loggers to collect temperature data that we could average for reliable overall room temps at the beginning and end of the test. Next, in a standard home-style window installed between the two spaces, we set up the dual hose window interface kit that comes with the Whynter ARC-1230WN.

When the indoor air settled at 84.2 degrees Fahrenheit, we powered on the Whynter ARC-1230WN and set it to run at its highest cold setting for one hour, to get an objective test reading. By the end of the 60 minutes, the air temperature had dropped to 72.3 degrees Fahrenheit. That's 11.9 degrees of change from beginning to end, by far one of the most impressive temperature drops we saw from any portable air conditioner we tested.

Portability/Install

This metric grades portable air conditioners based on how much effort it takes to roll them around, carry, install, and remove the exhaust hose to window interface. The *Whynter ARC-1230WN scored well above the herd in this section of our tests.

The Whynter ARC-1230WN weighs in at 75 pounds, heavier than most we tested, and it can only be carried from the front, since its many attachments are situated on its backside. The weight balance of this unit is towards the back right side, which makes carrying this unit upstairs somewhat cumbersome. Rolling the ARC-1230WN around on hard floors, on the other hand, is an easy and smooth process, and the unit also did well on short-pile carpets. Pushing it across medium- to long-pile carpets presented a greater challenge, with significantly higher rolling resistance.

Installation of the Whynter ARC-1230WN is better than all other portable air conditioners tested, partly because the hose comes preinstalled in the machine. The window kit is easy to install and can be done in five to ten minutes the very first time by inserting the panel and foam into your window and sliding everything for a secure fit. There's even a security bracket that can be installed, if desired.

The process of packing the unit up for storage or reinstalling it in another room is blessedly simple as well. As we mentioned, the hose is built so that it stows away on the AC once disconnected from the included window kit. The window kit itself snaps and locks into place with levers, which makes taking it in and out of the window very convenient.

Noise

For this category, we scored the noise levels that every portable air conditioner on our list produces while running with the compressor kicked on and the fan set to high. The Whynter ARC-1230WN surpassed almost all other units, earning a top score for its quiet operation.

We conducted the noise test by putting our ears near the vents of the units and going back and forth between each one for a subjective test. We also set up an SPL meter four feet away to measure the actual decibels produced with the fan set on each of its levels. However, these scores are based on the high fan mode readings combined with our subjective listening. Some units have louder fans than compressors, and vice versa.

The Whynter ARC-1230WN produced 58.4 dBa running four feet from the SPL meter with the fan on high. The fan and compressor sounds are far more silent than nearly every other unit in our lineup, according to our SPL and subjective listening tests, making this one of the quietest air conditioners we've tested to date, especially when you factor in its superior cooling power.

Energy Consumption

For this metric, we rated each air conditioner's power consumption. A lower power consumption score means that the unit is easier on the power grid and the environment. Plus, it makes the AC unit cheaper to operate throughout the uber-hot summer months. The powerful Whynter ARC-1230WN came in around the middle of the pack for all units tested in energy efficiency. That being said, it was able to beat out most other large room units with similar BTUs, because of its inverter technology.

To get consistent and reliable power consumption data, we tested every AC with the fan on high and the compressor running for one hour while recording the Kilowatt Hours (kWh) consumed with a watt meter. Then, to get an idea of what it would cost to run the AC for 12 hours a day over several months, we projected average electricity costs and kWh consumption over time.

However, it's important to remember that these figures assume the compressor runs constantly, which uses more power. Some climates may require the compressor to run constantly to maintain cool temperatures, while others won't. Portable AC units with inverter technology are automatically awarded an additional point in this metric, because it means that they have a more efficient variable speed compressor that doesn't have to run at full speed at all times. Because of this, the ARC-1230WN should perform even better than our on-site test projected over the long term.

The Whynter ARC-1230WN consumed an average of 1.24 KWh. Over a 90-day period with 12 hours of use per day, it's projected to use 1339.2 kWh of power and run up $216.15 in electricity costs, which isn't half bad compared to all other similar units.

Convenience

The convenience score grades each portable AC unit on its modes, display, controls, and extra features. The Whynter ARC-1230WN scored higher than any other in this metric.

We loved the versatility of the directional airflow design on this machine. Its vent can be adjusted up and down with a lot of latitude, and it even has a “swing” function that automatically moves the fin in a steady, constant motion to push air around the room more evenly. The remote is fully featured, and the unit's modes were above average, too. There are three different “Cold” modes, three “Fan” modes, an auto fan function, a “Dry” mode, and an “Auto” mode. The timer and child lock functions are also well-designed and easy to figure out.

One of our favorite things about the Whynter ARC-1230WN is its capability to connect over Wi-Fi and work with a mobile app. The intuitive app can do anything the remote can do, in addition to a few nifty things like turning the unit on or off and running a preset mode based on your location, up to 10 miles from home, coming or going.

We only had one gripe in this metric; it's tough to see the temperature and settings displays in the daylight (it was much better in the dark), because of the white-colored lighting the Whynter uses, but overall, the ARC-1230WN really impressed us with its programmability and feature set.

Should You Buy the Whynter ARC-1230WN?

If you're looking for the most cooling capability possible on the portable AC market and you can afford it, the Whynter ARC-1230WN is the one to get. Just ensure that you have a window big enough to fit its larger-than-average window kit.

What Other Portable Air Conditioner Should You Consider?

If you don't require the peak chilling power of the ARC-1230WN and want your unit to be as silent as possible, take a look at the whisper quiet LG LP1022FVSM. Or, if you're on a budget, check out the medium-powered SereneLife SLPAC10 for its super-easy installation and excellent portability. See our overview of the best air conditioners to see what ranked as our favorite window units, too.