Why Didn't Anyone Think of This? - Midea PortaSplit

[00:00:00]So, traditionally, as I'm sure you'll agree, portable air conditioners, for many reasons, have left us feeling frustrated and, quite frankly, disappointed. Not because they don't work, they do, but the problem is how they work. They're noisy, they're inefficient, they dump heat into the room that they're trying to cool. They need ugly hoses hanging out of the windows, and even when you've spent hundreds of pounds on one, you often end up sitting directly in front of it hoping to feel anything. So, when Midea, the world's number one air conditioning brand in terms of sales volumes, asked if I'd like to try their new PortaSplit, I was interested for one main reason. It claims to solve the biggest weakness almost every portable AC suffers from by completely rethinking the design. And after living with it, installing it, cooling rooms with it, and comparing it to previous portable ACs, spoiler alert, the PortaSplit is genuinely a fantastic product. But, there are a couple of things that you will need to know if you are indeed thinking about buying one to make sure it's right for you. So, what is the one main problem that most portable AC units have? Well, essentially, it's the fact they're trying to do everything from inside the room. The compressor, the heat exchange, the cooling, everything. Hence the reason why they need that giant hose hanging out >> [music] >> of the window. They're trying to get rid of that heat while sitting inside the room they're trying to cool, which isn't exactly ideal. The result is usually lots of noise, lots of wasted energy, and cooling that's strongest directly in front of the machine. And when I first saw the PortaSplit, I realized that this isn't really competing with other types of AC units, both stand-alone and portable. It kind of sits directly in the middle, combining the convenience of a portable AC unit with the performance of a proper built-in split system. At first glance, it looks fairly normal, and then you notice this isn't one box unit, it's two. You have an indoor unit and an outdoor unit connected together using this super thick and well-built flexible cable piece, essentially creating a portable [music] split air conditioning system, hence the name. The clever bit, however, is that it doesn't require professional installation, but there is one caveat. You can mount the outdoor unit using the included no drill mounting bracket, but only in some regions like Germany for example. Here in the UK, I don't have that. And also, I'm still deciding on the best place to put this. For reference, I only received it a couple of days ago. I've decided to place the outdoor unit for now outside these studio French doors here. But if you're using a balcony for example, you could do a similar sort of thing. Now yes, you still do have to have that cable going out of a window or going through the doors for example, but the benefit here to that cable is it's far more premium and feels far less likely to break than other devices. But you also do have that portability of that main unit that is on wheels. So if you're desperate not to have a permanent installation, then you kind of get the best of both worlds. Portable enough to move, but split enough to keep the noisiest and hottest parts outside. And it's surprisingly straightforward. The unboxing experience is really premium, and you do have those joint units, a remote, accessories like the protective plate that can allow for both parts to actually be stacked when moving, which is a godsend, and all the paperwork. One of the biggest selling points here isn't what happens once it's running, it's how quickly you can get to that point.

[00:03:26]Traditional split systems can mean surveys, installers, [music] drilling, pipework, and permanent changes to your home. The Midea Portasplit is designed to remove that entire process. From opening the box to having it in operation, the setup is dramatically simpler than a traditional split system, which is really the whole idea behind the product. But does it actually cool better? Because every manufacturer It amazing cooling. The real question is whether you actually feel it and how quickly it gets there. In terms of raw output, this is a 12,000 BTU or 3.5 kW system. According to Midea's testing, PortaSplit delivers up to six times the cooling capacity and four times the cooling efficiency compared to a traditional 9,000 BTU portable monoblock AC [music] under their specified test conditions. That's a a lot of gobbledygook tacky jargon and feel free to research for yourself, but if you want to [snorts] take it from me, that's a pretty big deal. But what really stood out to me wasn't that massive headline number, it was actually using it and feeling how that air is delivered. Most portable ACs blast cold air straight forwards. You get a cold patch, not necessarily, especially in a large area, a cold room. The PortaSplit, however, uses an adjustable swing air outlet and a dynamic air flow deflector that pushes air upwards and across a much greater distance. The idea is that the cold air doesn't simply fall straight down in front of the machine, instead it can travel much further into the room before circulating back around. In practice, that means the cooling isn't concentrated in one small area. The air flow is designed to travel much further and distribute cool air more evenly around the room. Now again, you could technically say that sounds like tech marketing jargon, and it does, but you can definitely feel the difference. The cool air reaches higher, it travels further and circulates more naturally.

[00:05:25]And honestly, this is one of the biggest differences I noticed during use. Now one of the things that surprised me most was, considering how powerful this system is, it's remarkably quiet, too.

[00:05:35]Previous portable AC systems I've tested, um they've rarely been subtle in terms of volume. And yes, the Midea PortaSplit is not silent, but it uses a three-layer soundproofing structure around the compressor and in silent mode is rated at just 39 dB. That's quieter than many on the market. And because the compressor is located outside, you don't get that same constant mechanical presence that you're used to with conventional portable systems. If you're trying to sleep, watch TV, work, record videos [music] like this, or simply exist without feeling like you're next to a jet engine, it matters more than you realize. But again, don't just take my word for it. Let's hear, pun intended, what it actually sounds like if you were in this room now. And this is what it sounds like.

[00:06:31]But even if it cools better, even if it's quieter, what's it going to cost me to run? A lot of people are struggling right now. We don't want to have a wonderful room temperature only to find out we now no longer have a bank balance. This system uses what's known as inverter technology combined with AI-assisted temperature control. The AI side is designed to make small adjustments to maintain temperature more precisely instead of constantly overshooting and then correcting and then flip-flopping is [music] the non-tech phrase.

[00:07:05]According to Midea's figures, this helps deliver A++ cooling efficiency and A+ heating efficiency. Because yes, this is not just an air conditioner. Most people hear AC system and think, "Okay, it's going to cool me in the summer, but then it's going to be wasted the rest of the year." But Midea's portable split is actually a four-in-one system. You've got cooling, you've got heating, you've got ventilation, and you've got dehumidification. The heating side is powered by heat pump technology, meaning this isn't just something you drag out for a few hot weeks in a year. Because number one, for UK homes in particular, the dehumidification mode may end up actually being one of the most useful features because it can help reduce excess moisture during damp and cold periods. And ventilation can also help improve airflow without necessarily needing active cooling. This makes it feel much more like an environmental control system than a single-purpose summer gadget, which to cut a long story short, means you can use the Midea [music] Porta Split pretty much all year round. Midea estimate cooling season running costs of roughly £13 based on around 136 operating hours using historical UK weather data and electrical prices of 25 p per kilowatt hour. Obviously, your actual costs will vary from this.

[00:08:27]Everyone has different tariffs and everyone will vary with the product usage, but it does illustrate how efficient this thing is. And that's really the theme that keeps [music] coming up with the Porta Split. It's trying to be powerful enough to cool properly, quiet enough to live with, and easy enough and efficient enough, crucially, that you're not afraid to actually use it. But there's also one other feature that I don't think anyone of you will have even thought of, Air Magic Plus. No, that's not a new smartphone. This feature uses negative ions to help reduce bacteria and viruses in the air. You certainly don't see this included on many portable cooling systems. And while cooling will understandably get the most attention, this is a great additional layer that helps separate the Porta Split again from more basic alternatives, particularly if you're spending long periods in any one room.

[00:09:23]One thing I forgot to mention during the setup was the app. The Porta Split supports app control through the Midea Smart Home app and can integrate with Alexa and Google Home.

[00:09:35]Mhm, I'm not talking to you at this moment in time, so shush.

[00:09:39]Thank you. Pairing through the Midea Smart Home app is straightforward and once connected, you can control temperature, modes, and monitor power consumption directly from your phone.

[00:09:49]So, I can set the temperature before getting out of bed in the morning, ready to enter the studio at a nice temperature. And also, when I'm away from the office space, I can do the same. So, when I get here, it's all ready to rock and roll. There's something really satisfying about coming in here and it's 19°, which is my safe space. And if you don't want to use the app, there's also the aforementioned remote control and there's on-board controls, too. So, who is the Midea PortaSplit actually for? Well, if you already have a permanent installed split system, then this probably isn't for you. And likewise, if you only have a tiny amount of space for where you need this to be and or you don't have any outdoor space or balcony or anything like that where [music] half of the system can go, then again, this might not be best suited for you. But if you've looked at portable ACs and been frustrated by the compromises, or you've wanted a split system performance without needing a full installation, then this is where the PortaSplit starts making so much sense. It's made a massive difference here at ASBYT uh kingdom.

[00:11:06]That's a terrible name for a business.

[00:11:08]It's made a massive difference to me personally, but I'm super interested to hear from you guys. Let me know your thoughts in the comments and also check out the video description for all of the information regarding the Midea PortaSplit, including links to purchase, product information, etc. If you have enjoyed this video and found it helpful, drop a like and subscribe for more tech content like this. My name's Adam.

[00:11:26]You've been the best as always. I love you, leave you. I'll see you in the next one. Stay as ASBYT. Peace out.