The Whynter NEX ARC-1230WN is a high-end portable A/C designed for large rooms, with an advertised capacity of 12,000 BTU and 600 ft² (56 m²) of coverage. It has an inverter compressor and an unconventional iteration of a dual-hose design, with intake and exhaust hoses being integrated within a single assembly, which reduces the overall size of this kind of setup. You can operate the unit using its physical interface, with the included remote control, or via its NetHome Plus companion app, which also offers Google Home and Amazon Alexa integration.
Our Verdict
The Whynter NEX ARC-1230WN is great for large rooms. Its substantial cooling capacity allows it to quickly lower the temperature within a relatively short span of time. Meanwhile, its dual-hose design and inverter compressor make it far more efficient than other portable units.
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Impressive energy efficiency while cooling and in temperature maintenance.
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Cooling capacity is well-suited to larger rooms.
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Very low operating noise.
The Whynter NEX ARC-1230WN is a good option for use in small rooms, if somewhat bulky. While its substantial cooling capacity does make it somewhat overkill for smaller bedrooms, it does have an inverter compressor, which makes it so that it won't cool these spaces too quickly and make them damp and clammy. Operating noise is also pretty low at its lowest settings, so you can run it overnight without it keeping you up, doubly so if you only plan on using its fan setting.
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Impressive energy efficiency while cooling and in temperature maintenance.
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Minimal swings in temperature or humidity while operating.
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Very low operating noise.
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Bulky size.
The Whynter NEX ARC-1230WN's overall efficiency is good. Its inverter compressor can run at a lower intensity when necessary to maintain the desired temperature. This drastically lowers power consumption compared to a non-inverter unit with similar capacity that needs to cycle on and off.
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Impressive energy efficiency while cooling and in temperature maintenance.
The Whynter NEX ARC-1230WN is impressively flexible for use in a variety of room sizes. It does a great job of maintaining ambient humidity and the desired temperature level. Its inverter compressor can run at a lower intensity instead of cycling on and off, ensuring air spends more time in the evaporator and effectively increasing dehumidification capacity. As a result, even smaller rooms won't feel clammy, and you won't experience the same swings in temperature and ambient humidity that you'd feel with a non-inverter model with similar capacity in an under-sized space.
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Minimal swings in temperature or humidity while operating.
The Whynter NEX ARC-1230WN is an impressively quiet A/C unit. With its compressor left on at its lowest setting, its operating noise falls well below any reasonable threshold of disturbance. Things get noisier at higher compressor settings and fan speeds, but these will still be mostly masked by nearby conversation or a TV playing at an average volume.
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Very low operating noise.
- 8.0 Large Room
- 7.6 Bedroom/Small Room
Performance Usages
- 7.7 Combined Efficiency
- 8.1 Oversizing Tolerance
- 8.4 Noise
Changelog
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Whynter NEX ARC-1230WN is only available in a single color scheme: 'White.' For those interested, here's a photo of our product label.
If you come across another variant of this A/C unit, please let us know in the comments so that we can update our review.
Compared To Other Air Conditioners
The Whynter NEX ARC-1230WN is a high-end dual-hose portable A/C. It's got a lot in common with the Midea Duo MAP12S1TBL, with the same control interface and a rebranded variation of the same app, as some Whynter A/C units are rebranded Midea models. It is worth noting that this Whynter does use a higher capacity compressor: it'll cool a similarly-sized room faster and without a noticeable increase in energy expenditure, though it's also fractionally noisier. It's a clear standout as far as portable A/Cs go, with the highest cooling capacity and efficiency of any portable unit we've tested. That said, if you've got the room for a window-mounted A/C and can deal with the hassle of mounting and dismounting it a few times per year, something like the Midea MAW12HV1CWT will cool a room even faster and more efficiently than the Whynter.
The Whynter NEX ARC-1230WN and Midea Duo MAP12S1TBL are mechanically similar units, sharing the same physical and in-app control interface. That said, the Whynter does pack in a more powerful inverter compressor, allowing it to cool an equivalently-sized space a little faster. That said, the Midea is still a very good option, especially if you don't need the extra capacity for a smaller room and can find it for a lower price.
The Whynter NEX ARC-1230WN outclasses the Whynter ARC-14S in almost every respect. The NEX ARC-1230WN's inverter compressor gives it a major advantage in terms of operating efficiency when it comes to maintaining a setpoint, even in under-sized spaces: it can simply drop down to a lower speed to match the required load instead of constantly cycling on and off. It's also much quieter at lower cooling settings.
The Whynter NEX ARC-1230WN outclasses the LG DUAL Inverter LP1419IVSM in every respect. The Whynter's dual-hose design gives it a massive advantage in terms of cooling efficiency, allowing it to cool a room much faster and with much lower energy consumption. The LG is a little more compact, but it's still a fairly bulky appliance.
Test Results
This air conditioner has very good cooling capacity. It can quickly reduce ambient temperature in bigger spaces like basements, open-concept living spaces, and playrooms. While such a high capacity is overkill for small rooms, its inverter compressor allows it to modulate its output to match the room's demands in a way that non-inverter models can't. See the Humidity Stability test for more details.
This A/C unit has decent cooling efficiency. Like most high-capacity units, it has high upfront energy demands, but it won't need to run all that long to reach your desired temperature, resulting in comparatively low overall consumption versus a less powerful machine like the Hisense HAP0824TWD, which would need to operate for much longer to get to the same point.
That said, a window A/C with similar capacity, such as the Midea MAW12HV1CWT, will use less energy to cool a similarly sized space because of its inherently more efficient design.
The Whynter NEX ARC-1230WN's energy efficiency while maintaining a desired temperature is great. As an A/C unit with an inverter compressor, it doesn't have to cycle its compressor on and off to maintain a set temperature, though it may briefly cycle up to a higher speed; these increases are brief enough and low enough to not have a noticeable impact on power consumption in the maintenance phase.
Like most inverter A/C units, the Whynter NEX ARC-1230WN is impressively effective in keeping humidity levels stable. Its inverter compressor can run continuously at a lower setting to effectively dehumidify a room, while minimizing any spikes in humidity that would occur due to compressor cycling.
High-pitched operating noise from the compressor is a common complaint for inverter A/C units, though the user manual states that it's completely normal for this unit. This chattering noise can be heard most prominently in the Inside Noise @ Low test video.
The Whynter NEX ARC-1230WN is packed with features. It's Wi-Fi enabled, allowing you to operate the device while you're away from home using the NetHome Plus companion app. The app also has Amazon Alexa and Google Home integration for making voice commands.