These days, no matter where you are, you need an air conditioner due to the change in environment. However, if you are already investing, why don’t you get an air conditioner with air purifier, which can both cool the temperature and clean the air at once?
Air Purifier Vs. Air Conditioner: What’s The Difference?
| Criteria | Air Purifier | Air Conditioner |
| Application | Cleans the air within a confined space by getting rid of airborne smoke, odors, germs, allergens, contaminants. | Reduces humidity and cools the indoor temperature. |
| Benefits | Increases the air quality all-around, leading to better health for everybody. Especially handy for people with asthma or allergies. | Makes the indoor environment more comfortable. Has some form of air purification. Especially useful for people suffering from respiratory issues that are not good against humid weather. |
| Removes or Reduces | Allergens, Dust, Smoke, Pet Dander, Mold Spores, Bacteria, and some Viruses | Humidity and Temperatures |
As you can clearly see from the table, the main difference between air conditioners and air purifiers is the reason for usage. While air cons are used for comfort reasons, most air purifiers are used for health reasons.
Air cons can make your room feel fresh, but it’s still the same air inside at the end of the day. Even most air conditioners with filter techs can only trap bigger types of pollutants. If you don’t clean the filters regularly, though, these ACs can worsen the room’s air quality.
Another difference between the two is working time, as air purifiers are designed for 24/24 operation.
Of course, air purifiers are not capable of conditioning the room’s temperature. That is why they can only bring through the ultimate comfort when they work together.
IN THIS ARTICLE
COMPARE PRODUCTS
1  | SCORE: 8.6 Brand: Dyson  | |
2  | SCORE: 8.4 Brand: Whynter | |
3  | SCORE: 8.0 Brand: SereneLife | |
4  | SCORE: 7.6 Brand: Honeywell | |
5  | SCORE: 9.2 Brand: BLACK+DECKER |
Detail Reviews
Best 5 Air Conditioner and Air Purifier Combo Reviews 2024
Dyson HP01 HEPA Air Purifier Pure Hot + Cool Air Conditioner – Best All-Around
Specifications:
Brand: Dyson
Color: White/Silver
Item Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.06 x 24.88 inches
Weight: 8.6 Pounds
Area of effect: 999 square feet
Airflow: 425 cubic feet/minute
Energy star: No
While each of the options below has its own unique strengths, none can be compared with this portable AC with HEPA filter. The Dyson HP01 HEPA Air Purifier Pure Hot + Cool Air Conditioner has the best purifier, the best air projection, and the quickest cooling speed.
The Dyson HP01 HEPA Air Purifier Pure Hot + Cool Air Conditioner
We are most impressed with this portable air conditioner HEPA filter (only 8.7 x 6.06 x 24.88 inches and 8.6 pounds). It is a “true HEPA filter”, meaning it is capable of capturing 99.97% of pollutants. The captured pollutants can be as small as 0.3 microns, so things like dust and pollen cannot escape.
It also has the unarguably biggest area of effect out of all the options present on this list. When working at maximum capacity, this portable air conditioner with air filter can cool off 999 square feet. The secret for this huge number lies in the AC’s air multiplier tech, delivering 77 gallons/sec.
It is not only capable of cooling off your room, but also heating it up. As a result, it is usable throughout the year, unlike other types of air conditioners. You can rest assured that the whole room is heated evenly and there is no corner being too cold.
You, however, will need to spend time maintaining this portable air conditioner with built in air purifier regularly. After all, while true HEPA filters are among the best at purifying, they are also the quickest to get dirty.
Pros:
True HEPA filter
Huge area of effect
Having remote control
Nighttime mode with a dimmed display
Quiet operation
Con:
Requiring regular maintenance
Whynter ARC-14S Carbon Filter Portable Air Conditioner – Best For Smell Purification
Specifications:
Brand: Whynter
Color: Platinum and Black
Item Dimensions: 16 x 19 x 35.5 inches
Weight: 80 Pounds
Area of effect: 500 square feet
Airflow: 253 cubic feet/minute
Energy Star: 5
The Whynter ARC-14S Carbon Filter Portable Air Conditioner is, quite possibly, the only option better than the Dyson HP01 at smell purifying. While the Dyson HP01 uses a true HEPA filter, this unit uses a carbon filter.
The Whynter ARC-14S Carbon Filter Portable Air Conditioner
This portable personal AC unit’s carbon filter is not as good as the true HEPA filter at terminating dust or pollen. However, its specialized carbon pores will capture all smell-inducing particles. It’s not at all an overestimation to say that this AC is unbeatable at combating smell.
The auto drain function is also impressive, as it exhausts all the condensation particles out completely the moment they reach a particular threshold. You can save lots of time and effort from having to clean them up regularly.
We also want to mention that this personal portable AC is the only option on this list to have an Energy Star rating of 5. In other words, it is certified as the most energy-efficient. This, coupled with its relatively big area of effect, means you can save quite a bit on the energy bill.
As we have mentioned, the carbon filter, while incredibly strong at purifying smelly particles, cannot take care of pollen or dust. That is why you may need to buy a separate air purifier alongside this model.
Pros:
Incredibly competent at purifying smell
Highly efficient with energy
Dual hose operation
3 operation modes
Eco-friendly
Con:
Requiring a separate air purifier for dust and pollens
SereneLife 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner – Best Portability
Specifications:
Brand: SereneLife
Color: White
Item Dimensions: 17.4 x 13.4 x 32.1 inches
Weight: 62 Pounds
Area of effect: 450 square feet
Airflow: 170 cubic feet/minute
Energy star: No
The focus of the SereneLife 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner is to be as portable as possible. That is why it has a handy, lightweight, and sleek body design.
With the size of 17.4 x 13.4 x 32.1 inches and the 62-pound weight, it is not the lightest or the most compact on this list. Yet, the rolling wheels ensure that you can move it between your garage, living room, and bedroom with no effort at all.
The SereneLife 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner
While this portable air conditioner with filter does have a respectable 12,000 BTU cooling capacity, it does not make any noise. In fact, it is unarguably the quietest of this size, having only 56 dB as its operating noise level.
Another great aspect of this top rated personal air conditioner is its built-in dehumidifier. This feature is literally a deal maker if you live in places with high humidity. With it, the chance of mold and bacteria thriving in your room is significantly reduced.
The biggest issue we have regarding this personal AC system is the fact that there is no rubber seal. This seal is especially vital for the piece going through the window. Without it, there will be a lot of air escaping, and the efficiency is further reduced.
Pros:
3-mode operation with remote control
Quiet operation
High moisture removal pace
Relatively powerful
Con:
No rubber seal
Honeywell HL10CESWK 10000 BTU Dual Filter Air Conditioner – Best Consistent Cooling
Specifications:
Brand: Honeywell
Color: Black/White
Item Dimensions: 18.9 x 15.7 x 31.3 inches
Weight: 64 Pounds
Area of effect: 450 square feet
Airflow: 241 cubic feet/minute
Energy star: No
One of the biggest weaknesses many personal AC units face is a lack of consistent cooling capability. This is not an issue if you have the Honeywell HL10CESWK 10000 BTU Dual Filter Air Conditioner. Thanks to the automatic vertical wind distribution style, its cooling is incredibly steady and reliable.
The Honeywell HL10CESWK 10000 BTU Dual Filter Air Conditioner
Its auto evaporation feature is also quite impressive, as you now no longer need to routinely empty the dehumidifier’s bucket. This feature and the digital control remote mean that you can set it up and just forget about it. Even the maintenance process is bi-annual, thanks to the dual filter design.
All the accessories and attachments are already installed when the AC arrives at your doorstep. As a result, all you need to do is roll it to the space you have already picked, set the window kit up, and press the power button. There is absolutely nothing challenging throughout this process.
What we do want to warn about, though, is the noise it makes while working. The noises can be as high as 62 dB if the AC works at full power. As such, we do not recommend using this particular model as the best AC for bedroom.
Pros:
Consistent cooling capability
Requiring almost no maintenance effort
Dual-layer filters
Stress-free automatic evaporation
Stylish design
Con:
Noisy
BLACK+DECKER BPP05WTB Air Conditioner With Purifier – Best Value
Specifications:
Brand: BLACK+DECKER
Color: White
Item Dimensions: 13.2 x 17.3 x 27.2 inches
Weight: 51.1 Pounds
Area of effect: 150 square feet
Airflow: 182 cubic feet/minute
Energy star: No
The BLACK+DECKER BPP05WTB Air Conditioner With Purifier is simply a godsend for those on a budget. After all, no other option can be as affordable as it.
The BLACK+DECKER BPP05WTB Air Conditioner With Purifier
Do not underestimate this personal air con based on its price range, though. It combines 3 features, all energy efficient, to satisfy all of your ventilation and cooling needs. This personal air conditioning system also has all the most modern techs like dehumidifier and self-evaporation.
This seemingly compact air conditioner packs a surprisingly powerful motor. With its power, the AC can cool the whole area to be as low as 62 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you are not a fan of humidity, you will love the dehumidifier accompanying this option. When it runs at full power, you can expect at least 50 pints to be taken care of every 24 hours. Your room’s humid level will never be too much.
The only complaint that we have against this personal space air conditioner is its small area of effect. Unless your room is incredibly small, 150 square feet of area of effect means the AC will need to work overtime to make up.
Pros:
Incredibly affordable
Easy to use and clean
Simple to install
Quiet operation
Con:
Small area of effect
FAQs
Do Air Conditioners Have Air Purifier?
Most types of air conditioners do not have a purifier attachment, as it is simply not required. The main job of an AC is, after all, to regulate a room’s temperature. The capability to remove pollutants is more of an added benefit, so only some models have capable purifiers attached.
Is Air Cooler Better Than AC?
If you happen to live in a place with less humidity, then an air cooler is much better than an air conditioner. The air cooler’s working principle is to pull fresh air outside into the room while the air-conditioner circulates the room’s internal air.
That is why the quality of air will be better with an air cooler. Nevertheless, it will also draw in the outside world’s humidity.
Why Air Cooler Is Not Good For Health?
As we mentioned above, air coolers draw in the humidity of the outside world. This increased humidity makes your room a perfect place for viruses, mold, and bacteria to thrive. People with asthma should be especially careful while using air coolers.
Does Air Cooler Work Like AC?
The short answer is no. While the air conditioner only circulates a room’s internal air over and over again, the air cooler pulls in the fresh air and cools it down.
Conclusion
With this air conditioner with air purifier buying guide, we have introduced you to the 5 best options. The safest bet is to go for the all-around Dyson HP01 HEPA Air Purifier Pure Hot + Cool Air Conditioner.
We also provided you with a concise and thorough buying guide. Hopefully, you can make use of this guide and select the option most suitable for your situation.
