Whynter Elite ARC-122DS Portable Air Conditioner Review

The Whynter Elite ARC-122DS is a portable air conditioner that has received an overwhelming number of positive comments from customers. At first glance, it looks like any portable AC you’d find online, and for the most part that’s true, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not worth considering. If your home doesn’t have a centralized cooling system and you need something to take with you from room to room, perhaps the Elite ARC-122DS could be the ideal choice.

Whynter Elite ARC-122DS Portable Air Conditioner Review

Temperature Range

The temperature range of the ARC-122DS is the standard 61° to 89°F (roughly 16° to 31°C) to create a comfortable indoor living environment during the middle of the sweltering summer months.

Temperature input and the timer function can be changed either by pressing buttons on the portable AC’s control panel or by playing with the included remote control (batteries not included).


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Maximum Cooling Range

The 12,000-BTU ARC-122DS is designed to decrease the temperature in rooms of up to 400 square feet. This is not the largest portable AC you’ll find by far, but for the average bedroom, kitchen, media room, and home office unit, this is more than enough power than you may need.

Whynter Elite ARC-122DS Review
Whynter Elite ARC-122DS

Dual-Stage Filtration

The ARC-122DS uses a dual-stage filtration system that consists of a washable pre-filter and an activated carbon filter. The pre-filter serves to trap large particles from outside and stop them from entering into your home.

The activated carbon filter snatches odor molecules from kitchen experiment fails and pets (to an extent). These filters aren’t the most advanced, but by portable air conditioner standards, they work just fine.

Dual-Hose Design

A feature that makes the ARC-122DS stand out from the vast pool of portable ACs is its dual hose design.

Whynter Elite ARC-122DS
Whynter Elite ARC-122DS

This eliminates the presence of negative air pressure commonly found in single-hose setups, thereby preventing warm air from the outdoors or other rooms to leak into the space where the ARC-122DS is installed.

Programmable Timer

I touched on the timer function earlier, but let me explain it in greater detail. The ARC-122DS has a 24-hour programmable timer that can be set up to turn on at a certain time or turn off after several hours of use.

Your home can be as cool as a cucumber before you walk in, and it also saves energy by automatically shutting off when you don’t need it.

Dehumidifying Mode

Moisture is the sworn enemy of all cold-lovers across the world. To properly reduce indoor relative humidity, you’ll need to rely on a dehumidifier to condense moisture particles – or you could get the ARC-122DS that has a built-in dehumidifier that gets rid of 76 pints of moisture per day.

Whynter ARC-122DS
Whynter Elite ARC-122DS

Removing accumulated moisture can be done automatically by connecting a drain hose to get rid of most of the moisture (evaporation should do the rest) or manually emptying out the reservoir.

Noise Output

On high speed, the ARC-122DS generates a moderately low 52 decibels of noise – about the same volume as common household background noises.

This may seem a bit excessive, but remember: portable ACs are notorious for their high noise output. In fact, at only 52 decibels, the ARC-122DS can be categorized as a “quieter” model than most.

Quick Installation

Don’t be fooled by the unassembled air conditioner when you open the box. The instructions manual is actually quite easy to follow – a surprise compared to a number of different brands – and the device can be set up in, based on customers’ experience, less than 30 minutes on average.

Whynter Elite ARC-122DS
Whynter Elite ARC-122DS

The biggest obstacle you may run into is setting up the window vent properly so outdoor air doesn’t seep in. The included window vent kit is 6-1/2 inches wide and 20 inches long (extendable to 40 inches). Depending on the size of your window, you may need to purchase an additional window kit (sold separately).

Portability

Despite being a “portable” air conditioner, portability is actually one of its weakest points. Weighing in at a sliver over 60 pounds, the ARC-122DS can be quite tricky to lift up and down stairs.

Plus, there aren’t any side carry handles; all you have for grip is a smooth, shallow groove that can be quite slippery. I’d recommend getting a second pair of hands to help transport the unit across different stories. As for horizontal movement, the rolling casters work as intended.

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Verdict

Overall, the Elite ARC-122DS from Whynter is an excellent portable AC. The only downside I could find is, ironically, its portability due to its weight and lack of carry handles. Everything else, from its unique dual-hose design to its quiet operation, makes this a worthy investment for the upcoming summer months.

Whynter ARC-122DS Portable Air Conditioner

Our Recommended Portable Air Conditioners

Best of the Best
With Dehumidifier
Budget Option
BLACK+DECKER 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner up to 450 Sq. ft. with Remote...
Midea 10,000 BTU ASHRAE (5,800 BTU SACC) Portable Air Conditioner, Cools up to 200...
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Black+Decker BPACT10WT
Midea MAP10S1CWT
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Up To 250 sq. ft. Rooms
67.9 lbs.
17.1 x 13 x 28.3 in
Up To 225 sq. ft. Rooms
46.3 lbs.
14.6 x 13.8 x 27.2 in
Enjoy a comfortable home climate with this versatile Black+Decker BPACT10WT. It cools, dehumidifies, and circulates air to stand up to summer heat.
This Midea MAP10S1CWT Portable Air Conditioner cools or dehumidifies home or office spaces quietly, quickly, and efficiently
The SereneLife SLPAC8 Portable Air Conditioner system features a lightweight, handy, sleek body design intended to be used in the bedroom, living room or garage at home or office.
Best of the Best
BLACK+DECKER 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner up to 450 Sq. ft. with Remote...
Black+Decker BPACT10WT
Up To 250 sq. ft. Rooms
52.9 lbs.
16.5 x 11.5 x 26 in
Enjoy a comfortable home climate with this versatile Black+Decker BPACT10WT. It cools, dehumidifies, and circulates air to stand up to summer heat.
With Dehumidifier
Midea 10,000 BTU ASHRAE (5,800 BTU SACC) Portable Air Conditioner, Cools up to 200...
Midea MAP10S1CWT
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67.9 lbs.
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This Midea MAP10S1CWT Portable Air Conditioner cools or dehumidifies home or office spaces quietly, quickly, and efficiently
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Honeywell Contempo Series Portable Air Conditioner, Dehumidifier & Fan with Dual...
SereneLife SLPAC8
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The SereneLife SLPAC8 Portable Air Conditioner system features a lightweight, handy, sleek body design intended to be used in the bedroom, living room or garage at home or office.

Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API


Overall Recommended Portable Air Conditioners
Best of the Best!For Large SpacesBudget Pick
Whynter ARC-14S 14,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air ConditionerhOmeLabs 14,000 BTU Portable Air ConditionerBLACK+DECKER BPACT08WT Portable Air Conditioner
Whynter ARC-14ShOmeLabsBLACK+DECKER BPACT08WT
 • 14,000 BTU
 • up to 500 sq ft
 • 16 x 19 x 35.5 in
 • 80 Lbs
 • 12-14,000 BTU
 • up to 600 sq ft
 • 17.9 x 15 x 30.7 in
 • 72.3 Lbs
 • 8,000 BTU
 • up to 150 sq ft
 • 16.5 x 11.5 x 26 in
 • 52.9 Lbs


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