REASONS TO BUY
Built-in lock tab for easy installation of window kit
Auto-swing airflow direction option
Good value
REASONS TO AVOID
Single hose design
Doesn't come with foam to seal window
SereneLife SLPAC10 Review
This budget-friendly and highly portable air conditioner has a great window kit design that sets up in minutes
Credit: Brian Walker
By David Wise ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ November 10, 2023
Contributions From: Austin Palmer & Adam Stout
Our Verdict
Thanks to its clever window kit design and superior ergonomics, the SereneLife SLPAC10 scored higher than any other AC tested for portability and ease of installation. Combine that with its budget-friendly price, and an enticing value emerges from the bunch. This unit delivers a lot of bang for the buck if you have an average-sized window to set it up with and weigh ease of use more heavily than top-tier cooling power, fancy features, and ultra-quiet operation.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The SereneLife SLPAC10 is a solid 10,000 BTU portable air conditioner with a much better window interface kit for its hose than other units. Setting this thing up and taking it down is a breeze compared to nearly every other portable AC we tested, and thanks to its relatively low weight, excellent handle placement, and smooth-rolling wheels, it's easy to move anywhere needed.
The SereneLife SLPAC10 has one of the most straightforward window kit installs of them all.
Credit: Brian Walker
Cooling
This metric evaluates the real-world cooling capability of portable ACs. The SereneLife SLPAC10 came in slightly below average as a medium-powered 10,000 BTU unit.
We installed the single hose window interface kit that came with the SLPAC10. After leaving it in an 82°F room on its highest settings for 60 minutes, the air temperature dropped to 75.8°F. That's a decrease of 6.3 degrees in one hour.
The SLPAC10, like most other AC units, comes with a convenient remote.
Credit: Brian Walker
Portability/Install
There were hardly any other units that outshone the SereneLife SLPAC10 in this metric for its quick installation and excellent portability. For this metric, we tested each unit's ease of use in both portability and installation.
This unit weighed just over 52 pounds, and we liked the handle placement and depth. Although the weight of the unit is concentrated on the right side, it felt fine to carry, and we didn't have much trouble getting it upstairs compared to some of the more cumbersome units. Rolling on hard floors is smooth and free of any steering or tipping issues. The same goes for short to long pile carpet, but rolling resistance increases, as you'd expect.
Similar to its sister unit, the SLPAC8, installing the SLPAC10 is quite simple and can be completed in almost five minutes with just a few basic tools. The included instructions are a bit vague, but it's easy to look at the parts and pieces and figure out what they are talking about. We appreciated that we didn't need to trim any foam gaskets for this installation, but depending on your window length, you might need to trim the panel before sliding and locking it into place. The hose attaches to the window kit with one screw, although the manual failed to mention it.
We much prefer this hand-twisted lock design on the hose to screws and screwdrivers.
Credit: Austin Palmer
We loved how easy and convenient it is to pack up the SereneLife SLPAC10 when ready to move it to another room or put it away for the season. Simply unlock the tabs on the window kit to remove it, unscrew the hose from the window panel, and then twist the hose to remove it from the back of the AC. There is no onboard storage for the window kit or the hose, just a bracket to wrap the power cord around.
Noise
The SereneLife SLPAC10 didn't wow us in the noise metric. On its highest setting, it was pretty loud.
Our SPL meter clocked it at 61 dBa when running the fan on high. The fan sounds average compared to other units, but the compressor sounded a bit annoying and contributed to the unit's lackluster score here.
The SereneLife SLPAC10 is nice, compact, and easy enough to move from room to room.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Energy Consumption
The 10,000 BTU SereneLife SLPAC10 performed slightly above the average for all portable ACs tested in this metric.
Our watt meter tests showed that within an hour, the SereneLife SLPAC10 consumed .96 kWh of power. Over three months, with the assumption that a user would have their AC on for about half a day, that is a projected 1036 kWh of power used and approximately $167.34 in electricity costs. This places the SereneLife as a middle-of-the-road power consumer compared to the rest of the group, but slightly above average.
Portable ACs with deep, well-placed handles are much easier to carry.
Credit: Brian Walker
Convenience
This metric grades each portable AC unit on its features and interface that have a positive bearing on its ease of operation. The SereneLife SLPAC10 was fairly average in this regard.
It has all of the functions necessary to run it, like vertically adjustable air vents, including an automatic swing feature to move air around the room more evenly. It comes with common modes, a remote control, and a highly legible screen, but the SereneLife SLPAC10 is missing standout innovative features and conveniences that set apart the higher-scoring units in this metric.
The compact SereneLife SLPAC10 is a tremendous value as a medium-powered portable AC.
Credit: Brian Walker
Should You Buy the SereneLife SLPAC10?
As long as you don't need to cool down a very large or scorching hot space, the SereneLife SLPAC10 should meet your needs and then some. It's super easy to set up and take down and one of the easiest units to move around a home, but keep in mind that it works best with average-sized windows. Too large or too small, and the SereneLife SLPAC10's hallmark sliding window interface may be incompatible.
What Other Portable Air Conditioner Should You Consider?
If you've got a larger space to cool down or reside in a toasty climate, check out the powerful Whynter ARC-1230WN for its exceptional cooling power. If you want to keep a room crisp, cool, and conversational without needing to shout over gale-force air conditioning, then the whisper-quiet LG LP1022FVSM is the one for the job. Check out our full review of air conditioners, which also features the best window air conditioner units.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare SereneLife SLPAC10 versus top competing products:
—David Wise, Austin Palmer, and Adam Stout
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