SereneLife SLPAC10 Review
Pros: Great value, highly portable, performed well in our energy-efficiency test
Cons: Runs on the louder side, not the most impressive cooling performance
Manufacturer: SereneLife
Our Verdict
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SereneLife SLPAC10 | |||||
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| Awards |  |  | |  | |
| Price | $400 List $359.99 at Amazon | $515 List | $460 List $446.99 at Amazon | $680 List | $800 List |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Great value, highly portable, performed well in our energy-efficiency test | Exceptionally portable, fairly quiet, relatively energy-efficient | Very quiet, decently portable, solid cooling power | Very quiet, decent cooling power | Quiet |
| Cons | Runs on the louder side, not the most impressive cooling performance | So-so cooling performance in our test | Expensive, bulky window insert | High energy consumption, expensive | Expensive, costly to run |
| Bottom Line | If you are hoping to save some cash when shopping for a new A/C and don’t live in the hottest of locations, then we think this very portable option could be the one for you | A fantastic option if you plan on moving your A/C from room to room | If you have to deal with triple-digit temperatures on a regular basis, then this might be the perfect A/C unit for you | This is the best 14,000 BTU air conditioner we have tested but there are better option out there for most people | This is a decent A/C but much less expensive models did quite a bit better |
| Rating Categories | SereneLife SLPAC10 | Honeywell HL10CESWK | Whynter ARC-122DS... | Whynter ARC-14SH | Frigidaire... |
| Cooling Power (40%) | |||||
| Portability (25%) | |||||
| Noise (20%) | |||||
| Energy Cost (15%) | |||||
| Specs | SereneLife SLPAC10 | Honeywell HL10CESWK | Whynter ARC-122DS... | Whynter ARC-14SH | Frigidaire... |
| Remote | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, there is also an App |
| Timer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | App Only |
| Interface location | Top | Top | Front | Front | Front |
| Modes | Cool Dry Fan |
Cool Dry Fan |
Cool Dry Fan |
Cool Dry Fan Heat |
Cool Dry Fan Eco |
| Number of Fan Speeds | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Cord Wrap | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Measured Weight | 54.7 lbs | 65.4 lbs | 60.4 lbs | 77.2 lbs | 77.9 lbs |
| Window Kit Length (without modification) | Min: 37" Max: 50 1/8" |
Min: 33.1" Max: 49.6" |
Min: 20" Max: 46" |
Min: 20" Max: 46" |
Min: 22.1" Max: 44.1" |
| Measured kWh on High (Average) | 0.91 kWh | 0.82 kWh | 1.06 kWh | 1.12 kWh | 1.06 kWh |
| Measured dBa on High at 4' | 62 dBa | 57.2 dBa | 57 dBa | 56.5 dBa | 56.9 dBa |
| Room Rating | 350 sq ft | 450 sq ft | 400 sq ft | 500 sq ft | 550 sq ft |
| BTUs | 10,000 | 10,000 | 12,000 | 14,000 | 12,000 |
| Single or Dual hose | Single | Single | Dual | Dual | Single |
| Projected Summer Cost | 116.2197 | $111.72 | $131.61 | $159.06 | $155.28 |
| Measured Temperature Drop After 60 Minutes | 11ºF | 9.74ºF | 10°F | 11.99°F | 9.93°F |
Our Analysis and Test Results
This multi-use machine not only acts as an air conditioner but also can operate in a fan-only or dehumidifier mode, giving you even more bang for the buck.
Performance Comparison
Cooling Power
Our most important set of assessments focused on the relative cooling power of each product. For this test, we used a 161- square foot room for our side-by-side tests and based scores on the temperature drop each unit could achieve after an hour. We heated up the room to approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit before the test using a space heater and only tested when the outside temperature was between 80 and 85 degrees as well. The SereneLife SLPAC10 couldn't quite compete with the top models but did decently well, earning it an average score.
This A/C is rated for rooms up to 350+ square feet and is a 10,000 BTU model. It managed to achieve a temperature drop of 11°F over the course of an hour, with 8.8 of that drop achieved in the first 20 minutes.
However, this unit's performance plateaued at 71°F and it wasn't able to cool the room any further in our test.
Portability
Our next round of evaluations focused on how easy it is to move around each of these air conditioning units, as they are all allegedly portable. We based scores on how easy it is to roll around, how hard it is to carry, and how difficult it is to move the window insert between rooms. The SereneLife SLPAC10 did quite well, earning a 9 out of 10 — one of the best showings of the whole group.
This air conditioning unit rolls around fairly effortlessly, smoothly traversing our test room without issues. However, we did notice a slight vibration while rolling it — not enough to cause a problem but definitely enough to notice.
We also liked that it isn't overly difficult to carry around the SereneLife SLPAC10 — at least, not compared to the heaviest units we have tested. This machine still tips the scales at over 50 lbs so it isn't going to be fun to carry up a flight of stairs by any means.
The handles feel fairly ergonomic but they are a little on the shallow side and lack any grippy material, so your fingertips will start to get tired after a bit or slip if your hands are sweaty at all.
The SereneLife SLPAC10's window insert is one of our favorites, making it a breeze to transfer between windows. It has a lever opposite where you insert the hose that locks it into position, allowing for a tool-free installation and removal.
It can adjust in size from 37" to just over 50" but we did wish that it came with some foam tape to help seal any gaps.
Noise
Our last series of tests looked at how loud each of these air conditioners are. Unfortunately, the SereneLife SLPAC10 did a little bit worse in this aspect, earning a 5 out of 10.
We moved around our sound level meter to find the loudest spot in the machine when at its different operating modes, as well as measuring at a distance of 4' away.
Our judges did notice that this A/C seems to be on the louder side - enough that it could be difficult to carry on a conversation with someone in a normal voice if you were standing right next to it.
Energy Cost
Our final series of tests looked at the amount of energy each air conditioner consumed. We used a power meter to measure the average consumption for 30 minutes for each unit on both low and high power operating modes, then came up with a projected cost after operating them for 90 days. We assumed that you ran each unit on high power for 2 hours to start the room cooling off, then kept it on low for another 10 hours to maintain the temperature. Costs were calculated using an average price per kilowatt-hour of $0.1315. The Serenelife SLPAC10 did quite well, earning a 7 out of 10 overall.
Based on our assumed usage profile and average electricity cost, our projected cost would be a little more than $116 at the end of the 90-day period.
Value
If you are shopping for a new portable air conditioner on a budget, then we would strongly recommend checking out the Serenelife SLPAC10. It holds its own with models that cost quite a bit more and isn't too bad when it comes to energy consumption.
Conclusion
The Serenelife SLPAC10 is a good choice if you are shopping on a budget and looking for a model that is one of the easier options to move between different rooms. It performed quite well in our energy consumption test as well, making it an even better value, but doesn't quite have the same top-tier cooling power as the best models. This makes it a great option if you are only using it on the hottest days of the year and you don't routinely hit triple-degree temps but we might suggest a model with a little more cooling power if you reside in the hottest climates.
— David Wise and Austin Palmer