Portable air conditioners to help you beat the summer heat

It's an intensely hot week here across Australia, and if you're anything like me, you've been sweating away.

When it starts hitting 40 degrees, the dusty old fans just don't cut it anymore. You feel dehydrated, you lose energy, and your home starts to feel an unbearable temperature.

If you're in desperate need of a solution, we've rounded up portable air conditioners that'll help you beat the heat. And yes, you'll need to find a window to connect their hoses to.

NOTE: Prices are accurate at the time of publishing.

All-rounder choice

TCL 2.6kW Portable Air Conditioner

Now $525

If you need relief from the heat without spending an unreasonable amount, the TCL 2.6kW offers solid value with its 3-in-1 design. You can choose from air conditioning mode for temperature control, dehumidifier mode to reduce air moisture (to tackle humidity) or fan mode to create a breeze around your room. It also has a sleep mode and a 24-hour timer.

For light sleepers

DeLonghi 2.6kW Portable Air Conditioner

Order for $899

If noise is your main concern, DeLonghi's Pinguino range uses silent technology in an attempt to resolve this issue, and also features an intuitive LED interface that can all be controlled via remote. If you're still after more than just an air conditioner, it also features a dehumidifier and a fan function with three speeds.

Bargain deal

Kogan Smarter 2.0kW Portable Air Conditioner

Now $199

If you need a portable air conditioner now and can't stomach forking out anything over $500, Kogan's Smarter 2.0kW Portable Air Conditioner is a bargain way to get your antidote to this heat. It offers a 3-in-1 design to cool, dehumidify and act as a fan. It can operate via Kogan's SmarterHome app as well on your phone, and it's designed so you can use and move it easily with fitted castor wheels to swivel around the house.

For small apartments

Olimpia Splendid Premium Portable Air Conditioner 2.6kW

Now $699

If you're after a smart air conditioner for your bedroom or a small living room, Olimpia's compact model offers just that, with an easily flexible and programmable unit. It offers two fan speeds, a 24-hour timer, dehumidifier mode, and is Wi-Fi enabled, so you can connect to it and control it with your phone.

For medium-sized spaces

Dimplex 3.5kW Recycled Portable AC w/ Wi-Fi & Dehumidifier

Now $899

If you're after an air conditioner that's appropriate for medium-sized spaces, then Dimplex's 3.5kW Portacle Air Conditioner will suit. It's also made with 25 per cent recycled materials, offers two fan speeds and has on-board dehumidification. The unit is Wi-Fi compatible and can be controlled through the GlenDimplex Connect app.

For larger houses

Rinnai C4.1kW Portable Air Conditioner

Was $1113, now $896

Rinnai's Portable Air Conditioner offers 4.1kW of power to effectively cool larger rooms. A pro is the intelligent self-evaporative system, which evaporates most of the condensation out through the exhaust hose, meaning you rarely have to empty the water tray. Plus, it can be controlled via Wi-Fi and comes equipped with a multi-speed fan and sleep mode with an in-built timer. Good for larger spaces, but it is on the heavy side, weighing 36.5kg.

READ MORE: The one appliance that'll help you survive a humid summer