Keep this in mind if you’re after a fan you can easily move around the house. If it’s going to stay in one place, a heavier one should be fine, but opt for a lightweight model if you’ll be carrying it between rooms every day. Smart capabilities There are controls at the base of the fan although these are a little confusing: you have to tap, rather than hold, the power button to change modes. Fortunately, there’s a remote control in the box, which makes it easier to use the Duux Globe.

Air Conditioning Units | Portable Air Conditioners | Argos Air Conditioning Units | Portable Air Conditioners | Argos

In fact, that is probably the ideal use, because it’s heavy enough to pose a problem getting up and down stairs if used at home, as well as taking up a lot of space and making a fairly industrial noise. You wouldn’t choose it for cooling your bedroom at night, but it’s the only one we reviewed that can stand a chance of cooling a 40 square-metre space.

Want to take the edge off the summer heat? Get a blast of water-cooled air with these efficient, economical air coolers

The Princess Smart Air Cooler is a powerful fan, too. At 1m away, the fan is capable of blowing air at between 2.5m/s and 4.1m/s, so you can feel its full effect even in a larger room. We didn’t find this fan noisy, but it does have a slightly annoying whine to it. Finally, air coolers can help to humidify the air in dry climates. This makes them a great choice for those who want to stay cool while also reducing their impact on the environment. Ultimately, the choice between an air cooler and an air conditioner will depend on your room size, budget, and setup needs. * Air cooler running costs Want a fan that ties in with the rest of your smart tech? Look for a WiFi- and voice control-enabled model that can be operated remotely or from another room in the house. Our tester found app control particularly helpful – no more struggling to get the remote to connect if you're not sitting right next to the fan. Air purification We measured noise at a maximum of 48.5dB on the minimum setting, up to a more powerful 60.1dB on maximum – both measured from 15cm. This means that you can always hear the fan when it’s turned on, although it’s not too distracting. This model uses a water tank, which lasts for between four and nine hours, depending on the temperature and humidity level. In either case, it’s enough water to get you through most of a hot night.

Best Fan 2023: Dispel the summer heat with our top picks

Additionally, it should be easy to use and maintain, with features like air cleaning filters, automatic shutoff and timers. You’ll also want to make sure it’s energy-efficient. The more powerful units use more energy, although all air coolers are much cheaper to run than air conditioners.” The Princess – a Dutch brand – was the first air cooler I tried, in the middle of 2022’s heatwave when all the big-beast proper air conditioners were sold out. It was a bit of a revelation, reducing the temperature in my bedroom from an entirely unreasonable 23 degrees (at midnight!) to a more bearable 19. A fan isn’t just about direct cooling, it’s about shifting stuffy, stale air around and refreshing a room. There’s no fan that can do that better than the MeacoFan 1056 Pedestal Air Circulator. A pedestal version of the desktop model, which is still available, this large fan has horizontal and vertical oscillation, so that it pushes air all around, giving full-room recirculation. While some of the water is recirculated through the system, some will inevitably leave the cooler in the air blown out by the fan. Because of this – and the fact that the water in the absorbent pad or membrane can grow stale – you need to keep the air cooler filled and change the water in the tank daily. You should also wash the pad or membrane occasionally or you might get some pretty nasty smells. Is there anything worth looking out for?In terms of size, weight and cooling ability (they rate it at 12,000 BTU) electriQ’s 40-litre unit begins to approach portable air conditioners. It’s the one you’d want in a workshop or office at the height of the summer. Tower fans work by blowing air over your skin, making living, working and sleeping more comfortable when the thermometer rises. This isn’t a noisy fan, but at higher speeds its whine is a little intrusive. I measured a minimum sound volume of 27.2dB, from a metre to the side with the fan at its lowest. My highest measurement was 67.7dB, taken from 15cm in front of the grille on medium power. Opt for the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde and you get air purifying too, but at a cost; for the price, the Princess Smart Heating and Cooling Tower delivers excellent performance all year-around. We’ve seen small, portable models before, and they’ve usually been a bit rubbish. Not so with the MeacoFan 260C Cordless Air Circulator, which has a lot of power, reaching a maximum air speed of 2.3m/s from 15cm away. That’s enough air to give you a cooling dose of air. There are four fan speeds in total, with the lowest running at 49.7dB, or quiet enough to sleep through.