Portable air conditioners are pretty much sold out everywhere. But, I have found an exception – the Bush 9K Air Conditioner (£375) is still in stock at Argos – and it’s already reaping five-star reviews.
This week, the Ideal Home team is tracking stock levels for the best portable air conditioners, revealing where you can still buy them in real time in our Portable AC live stock watch. Given the week’s forecast, it is unsurprising that these brilliant appliances are practically flying off the shelves.
Hence, it is unusual to see a relatively affordable and well-rated model such as the Bush 9K Portable Air Conditioner still in stock. Likewise, Argos also has a number of the best fans still in stock, including the five-star Duux Whisper 3 Grey Pedestal Fan (£140), and the bestselling Bush White Desk Fan (£22).
Alternatives:
The Bush 9K Portable Air Conditioner has sold out (as of 24 June 2026). So, here are a few alternatives to shop instead.
Duux
Duux Whisper Flex 2 Smart Fan
A rare Amazon deal on this fan, don’t miss the opportunity to snap up this Duux Whisper Fan. If you want a quiet cooling appliance, this fan is an excellent choice with a dedicated sleep mode. It also has WiFi connectivity and is compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa, 30 speed settings, multiple oscillation presets and can be adjusted into a desk fan.
DREO
Dreo 7500 Btu Portable Air Conditioner, 3-In-1 Cool/fan/dry
This portable air conditioner and fan is also still in stock at Amazon and compatible with Siri, Amazon Alexa and Google Home. It can cool and dehumidify, creating a comfortable environment. You can even set the temperature of your room between 16 and 30 degrees if you want a specific room temperature.
BLACK+DECKER
Black+decker 5,000 Btu Smart Air Conditioner
This three-in-one air conditioner is great for cooling small rooms. It can be noisy, however due to it’s affordable price point, this is to be expected.
First things first, portable air conditioners are worth it. Period. Offering the same benefits as a fitted AC, without the installation or start-up fee, these handy appliances are brilliant at keeping a room cool during a heatwave. And with the UK expected to reach record temperatures this week, I don’t know about you, but I need all the cooling help I can get.
The Bush 9K Air Conditioner offers to take the edge off the heat with auto, cooling, fan and dry modes to keep you comfortable. It has an easy-to-read LED display, and you can control it via the panel or a remote control – so you don’t have to move from your bed or sofa!
It has a sleep mode and a 24-hour timer, while its auto-restart feature will remember your preferences. The machine operates at a sound level of 64dB, which may be a little loud, so bear that in mind if you were hoping for a whisper-quiet appliance (like the new Meaco Circo).
It also has an energy efficiency rating of Class A and uses 1,000W of power. If you’re worried about the cost of running a portable air conditioner, most models are between 1,000 and 1,300 watts (W), with 1,000W costing 26.11p per hour to run, according to the recent July Price Cap.
We haven’t tested this portable AC, but so far, this portable air conditioner has received six five-star reviews on the Argos website, vouching for the appliance’s credibility.
‘I bought this the day before this heat wave in June started, and it’s brilliant! Now that I have found a way to install it in the window without leaving a gap, it works perfectly at cooling the room down in a matter of minutes. It’s the difference between a comfortable night’s sleep and no sleep at all. It’s light and easily mobile, so I can move it from room to room,’ said one.
‘I live in a mobile home that gets very warm when it’s 30 °C plus, so eventually bought this air con unit, it does make a noise, but I suspect most would, but it’s not a deafening noise and i did get used to it but the best thing is that it works it’s made my home cool so would definitely recommend,’ said another.
If you’re yet to snap up a portable air conditioner, now is the time to do so – they are selling really fast.
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