DeLonghi Pinguino AC Review | A Clear Winner?

An air conditioning machine is a necessity for modern households. I mean, how else can you combat the high pollution, heat, and humidity levels nowadays?

Different types of air conditioning systems are available today, such as mini-split, window, portable, and even wearable options. In this regard, portable air conditioners are particularly sought after, thanks to the cooling and convenience they offer. And the DeLonghi portable AC is one of the most popular picks that you can get.

That’s why I have reviewed this product here, and if you want to know what I thought of it, then keep reading!

What Is A Portable Air Conditioner?

Before I get into the main review, I would like to provide a brief discussion on what portable air conditioners are. If you are not as experienced in these things, you might find the information here to be helpful.

Simply put, a portable air conditioning unit is an HVAC system that is portable (hence the name). Unlike conventional mini-split or Window ACs, they are not fixed to a single spot and, therefore, can be moved around freely. 

On that note, some manufacturers include additional windows kits with their portable ACs, which allow you to use them like window air conditioners. This adds a fair bit of versatility to the appliance, which is always a desirable aspect. 

A typical portable AC unit has a compact design, which further adds to the convenience. Moreover, they have a lightweight build quality and often come with features like wheels and carry handles, which allow you to move them from one place to another. 

However, these air conditioners take up floor space in your room since they cannot be mounted on the walls or the windows like conventional ACs. Although, you won’t have to worry about this issue if your AC unit comes with a window kit.

What Are The Benefits Of Using A Portable Air Conditioner?

There are several other advantages of using a portable AC besides its portability. Sure, the ability to move your AC between different rooms is a major selling point of these home appliances. But that’s not the only reason why these air conditioners are popular among consumers.

For starters, these ACs are not as expensive to purchase as traditional mini-split or window units. So, if you are a bit short on funds, you will find the lower price point of a portable AC to be quite attractive.

Apart from that, these air conditioners provide effective climate control for small spaces. For instance, if you have a small apartment room, the cooling, and heating provided by a portable AC can be a lot more effective than a mini-split or window unit. The latter types are generally intended for use in larger spaces, which means that they would be overkill for your small apartment room.

In that context, portable ACs can be used to provide directional cooling and heating. For example, if you are using only one side of a large room, you can conveniently turn your AC unit to face that side. That way, the AC will not have to cool the entire room but rather just a part of it, which is a lot more efficient by comparison.

Speaking of efficiency, you will notice that portable ACs consume a lot less energy than regular window or mini-split ACs. That, in turn, will help to keep your monthly energy bills in check. As a result, you can save a lot of money in the long run.

And lastly, portable ACs are a lot easier to install than other types of ACs. This is all thanks to their simple and lightweight design, which allows you to set them up even with little to no prior experience.

Are There Any Drawbacks To Using Portable Air Conditioners?

The short answer to this question is - yes, there are some drawbacks to using a portable AC. On that note, I have already mentioned that it occupies floor space in your room (unless it comes with a window mounting kit). As such, you can easily bump into it, which can damage the machine. 

Apart from that, these ACs normally have a lower cooling capacity, which makes them unsuitable for use in medium or large-sized rooms. 

DeLonghi - A Brief Overview

Now that you know about portable ACs and their benefits and drawbacks, let’s get into the review, starting with a brief description of the brand. DeLonghi (or De’Longhi) is renowned for its range of high-quality espresso machines, as well as other similar types of appliances, such as coffee makers, coffee grinders, and so on.

Despite being around for quite a while, the brand has made its foray into the market of HVAC systems fairly recently. Likewise, the Pinguino portable air conditioner is one of its most popular offerings. In fact, it is regarded by many to be one of the best portable air conditioners available today.

But is it really as good as everyone says? Well, let’s find out!

DeLonghi Pinguino Portable Air Conditioner Review

What Are Some Of The Key Features Of The DeLonghi Pinguino?

Here, I have listed some of the most notable features of the DeLonghi Pinguino portable AC. It’s because of these features that the product has become so popular among consumers today.

• Good cooling capacity
• Silent operation
• Great energy efficiency
• Balanced temperature and humidity control
• Convenient to use
• High-quality build
• Reliable operation

What Functionalities Do You Get With The DeLonghi Pinguino?

The AC comes with a 3-in-1 functionality, which offers a good degree of versatility to the appliance. It includes a cooling unit, a dehumidifier, and a fan, which should be enough to meet your air conditioning needs. 

This air conditioner utilizes the brand’s Cool Surround technology, which gives you convenient cooling at all times. Thanks to this feature, the unit is able to monitor the ambient temperature and humidity levels continuously. Based on that, it adjusts the dehumidifier and cooling unit to a desired target temperature, thereby giving you a comfortable room environment.

Here we should mention that the Cool Surround sensors are not built into the AC unit, but rather the smart remote control. This makes the AC unit even more convenient to use. However, it does come with a conventional electronic control panel as well. So, you can control the AC unit directly from there if you wish.

That said, this model does not come with heating functionality, which means that it is not suitable for use in colder climates.

How Does The DeLonghi Pinguino Perform?

I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of this particular DeLonghi air conditioner. For a portable unit, it performs exceptionally well, which makes it one of the best options that you can buy. 

The air conditioner has a powerful cooling output, which makes it a great choice for medium or large rooms up to 700 square feet. As per the SACC standards, the cooling output of this unit is 8,600 BTU (British Thermal Unit), while it is 14,000 BTU according to the ASHRAE standards. 

This sets it apart from many other portable AC models available today, which have considerably low cooling outputs and can only cool small or medium-sized rooms. As a matter of fact, its high cooling output makes it comparable to a regular mini-split or central air conditioner. 

Besides, the fan comes with three different speed settings, which help to circulate the cool air uniformly inside the whole room. At the highest speed setting, it pumps out a powerful stream of cold air that provides quick cooling. And despite such a powerful performance, the air conditioner is incredibly quiet, which makes it the perfect choice for your living areas like bedrooms. 

This dehumidifier unit is also pretty powerful, and it can remove high volumes of moisture from the air. In addition, it features the unique Eco Real Feel technology, which provides energy-efficient cooling and dehumidification. That, in turn, makes it an excellent choice for hot and humid climates.

How Has The DeLonghi Pinguino Been Designed?

The design and build quality is an important factor to consider since it determines the durability of the machine. In that context, I was impressed with the design of this AC. The Pinguino is a well-built appliance that exemplifies the quality that DeLonghi is known for.

There is a window kit included with the AC, which allows you to mount it up on your window. Additionally, it comes with a long and flexible exhaust hose through which you can remove the waste water and hot air from the room. Here, you can utilize its auto-evaporate function to eliminate or recycle the condensed water automatically, thereby enhancing convenience.

Furthermore, it features a motorized louver that directs the airflow to give you even cooling throughout the room. Besides, it includes a washable air filter that keeps out dust and pathogens to give you clean and fresh air at all times. You can easily remove and wash the filter under the faucet, which makes it easy to maintain in the long run.

If you have liked this review so far, be sure to check out my review of the Honeywell portable AC, which is yet another worthy cooling option for your home.

Final Verdict

That brings me to the end of this detailed review. So, the question that arises now is - should you get the DeLonghi Pinguino Portable AC? Well, if you ask me, I would say - yes, you definitely should.

You can use this AC for large, medium, and small rooms, which adds a good bit of versatility. Yes, I understand that it doesn’t have heating functionality, but if your city experiences a moderate climate, this should not be an issue.

On top of that, it is easy to operate, and it uses considerably less energy than other similar portable ACs. And last but not least, the AC comes at a relatively affordable price, which gives you excellent value for your money.