WIRED senior innovation editor Jeremy White has named four cooling devices for people trying to keep rooms, and in one case necks, tolerable during dangerous heat. The list lands against a grim backdrop: the World Health Organization linked a late-June European heat wave, with temperatures reaching 42 degrees Celsius, or 107.6 degrees Fahrenheit, to 1,300 deaths. In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that extreme heat kills more than 700 people each year.
The CDC’s first recommendation during extreme heat is to stay somewhere air-conditioned. The World Health Organization also warns that electric fans can backfire when temperatures reach 40 degrees Celsius, or 104 degrees Fahrenheit, because they can raise body temperature rather than reduce it. Physics remains rude like that.
WIRED says its product selections are made independently by its editors, though the publication says it may receive compensation from retailers or purchases made through its links.
Midea U-shaped air conditioner
WIRED’s top pick for 2026 is Midea’s U-shaped window unit. The design splits the machine around the window opening: a support bracket holds the outside weight, while the window slides down into the gap between the indoor and outdoor sections. According to WIRED, that setup leaves fewer gaps to seal, reduces noise and wastes less cooled air than a typical window unit that blocks the sash.
WIRED measured the Midea at 42 decibels on its high setting, helped by the fact that much of the noisy hardware sits outside. The unit works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, and can be controlled by app or remote. The app also alerts users when the filter needs attention.
The Midea comes in 8,000, 10,000 and 12,000 BTU versions. A British Thermal Unit rating describes how much heat an air conditioner can remove from a room in an hour; WIRED says 8,000 BTU should cover a large bedroom or living room. Listed prices were £375 in the UK and $347 in the US.
Zafro Lullaby Duo portable AC
For people who cannot or do not want to mount a unit permanently in one window, WIRED’s portable pick is the Zafro Lullaby Duo. It is a freestanding dual-hose unit on wheels, with an adjustable window panel rather than a custom frame. Controls include onboard buttons, a remote and a Wi-Fi app with eco, dehumidifying, fan and high-power modes. The high-power setting targets 61 degrees Fahrenheit, or 16 degrees Celsius, as fast as it can.
The dual-hose layout matters. WIRED notes that cheaper single-hose portable units can create negative pressure, which pulls warm air in through leaks elsewhere in the room. The Zafro avoids that problem, though WIRED found getting a tight seal with the included foam harder than expected. Noise reaches 60 decibels on high. Prices were £512 in the UK and $440 in the US.
Windmill with WhisperTech
Windmill’s window unit is WIRED’s design-conscious choice, for buyers who care that their AC does not look like a beige appliance fossil. WIRED says it ships preassembled and can be installed in about 15 minutes.
The WhisperTech model runs from a low hum up to 50 decibels on high, which WIRED says is still louder than the Midea. It includes a magnetic front panel for access to the main filter and a small activated carbon filter. It also supports Google Home, app control, scheduling and an auto-dimming LED display. Prices were £423 in the UK and $429 in the US.
Sony Reon Pocket Pro Plus
WIRED’s out-of-home option is Sony’s Reon Pocket Pro Plus, a wearable cooler that sits against the back of the neck on a rubberized band. A stainless-steel plate heats or cools, while a small fan vents air through the collar.
WIRED says Sony’s fourth-generation model addresses earlier problems with the neckband slipping and heat venting poorly under higher collars. Sony claims the updated design improves staying power by about 40 percent. A companion Reon Pocket Tag 2 sensor sends outdoor temperature and humidity data to the app so the device can adjust automatically. Sony claims up to 15 hours in Smart Cool mode, while WIRED says users should expect closer to 10 hours. Charging to 90 percent takes just over two hours. Prices were £199 in the UK and $260 in the US.
This story draws on original reporting from WIRED.
