AEG Chillflex Pro review: A premium air conditioner for larger rooms

As temperatures dramatically rise in the summer months, you might find that a tower fan simply doesn’t keep you cool. If you’re stuck at home during the lockdown and sorely missing the office air-con, then a portable air conditioner such as the AEG Chillflex Pro is the next best thing.

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It impressed in our tests, is simple to use, offers a wide variety of features – including a heat mode for when the mercury inevitably plummets – and it’s remarkably energy-efficient. The AEG Chillflex Pro is an ideal solution for those that wish to keep temperatures down to manageable levels without the hassle.

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AEG Chillflex Pro: Key specifications and price

What do you get for the money?

Whichever model you choose, the AEG Chillflex Pro comes with a short 1.5m exhaust hose, as well as a 63cm drainage hose and remote control. The bundled remote – which takes two AAA batteries – allows you to turn the unit on or off, adjust the temperature, switch between the various modes and fan speeds, set a timer and enable sleep mode.

The large control panel at the top of the unit has the same list of features, along with a small LCD screen in the centre which displays the output temperature. The back of the unit contains various drain outlets – for the Dry and Heat modes – as well as the two replaceable filters. AEG recommends you clean these filters with warm water and a mild detergent every two weeks.

Weighing between 31kg and 34kg, the AEG Chillflex Pro is among the heaviest air conditioners we’ve tested – somewhat stretching the definition of portable – as well as one of the largest, but can be moved on its caster wheels without too much effort. AEG doesn’t supply a window kit, which is a bit of a disappointment given the price of the unit, although third-party “flexible” kits can be found on Amazon for around £20.

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What features/settings does it have?

All Chillflex Pro models come with AC, dehumidifier and fan modes – although the three most expensive models also come with a Heat setting. The output temperature, as well as the three various fan speeds, can manually be adjusted between 16 and 32 degrees or you can rely on the unit’s Auto mode, which adjusts the output depending on the starting temperature.

You can also set a timer to automatically switch the unit off after a period of between 30mins and 24 hours in 30min increments. Finally, there’s a sleep mode which, when activated, lowers the Chillflex Pro’s fan speed, decreases noise output and adjusts the temperature within 1-degree increments every 30mins.

How well does it cool?

We received the AXP26U338CW model for testing, which has a rated BTU (British Thermal Unit) of 12,000. Simply speaking, a higher BTU rating means an air conditioner can cool a larger space. The Chillflex Pro starts at 9,000 BTU, which means it will handle an area of approximately 45m3. A 12,000 BTU unit can cool a room twice the size.

No matter which model you choose to buy, this is definitely at the top-end when it comes to the effective cooling range of a portable air conditioner. I didn’t have a 90m³ space available, but I tested the 12,000 BTU Chillflex Pro in two rooms; one measuring roughly 14m³ and another at 56m³.

Neither room posed much of a threat on a particularly warm day, with the Chillflex Pro dropping the temperature to a more manageable 21 degrees Celcius from a sweltering 25-degrees in just over an hour when placed in the larger space. Keep it on for longer and the temps will drop even further; my flat felt positively arctic after a while. I wouldn’t recommend going lower than 18 degrees, as this was uncomfortably chilly.

Depending on the starting room temperature, the output from the heat hose can reach high levels, so you may need to make sure the hose is positioned correctly, not resting on or touching anything aside from your window and pointing far enough away from your room.

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Is it noisy?

With a maximum quoted noise level of 64dB, the AEG Chillflex Pro is about as loud as any other portable air conditioner on the market. In testing, however, I found that the Chillflex Pro rarely reached above 60dB, which is as loud as a conversation in a busy restaurant.

The Chillflex Pro is remarkably quiet when you consider how effective it is at cooling moderately-sized spaces. The sleep mode, for instance, never reached above 52dB in my tests, which isn’t much louder than the ambient noise outside my east London flat. If you switch the fans to the ‘High’ setting, expect around 58dB, which is still manageable.

Is it energy-efficient?

Depending on which model you choose, the AEG Chillflex Pro has an energy rating of either A or A+. It goes without saying that the energy consumption will vary depending on the starting room temperature, selected fan speed settings and modes.

In testing, I found that power consumption is generally rather good, with just 0.34kWh recorded with my energy meter following a 30min period on the ‘Auto’ setting with a starting room temperature of 24˚C.

The Chillflex Pro also uses the more environmentally friendly R290 refrigerant. According to AEG, this refrigerant gas is significantly more sustainable than the R41A – which is gradually being phased out – reducing its global warming potential (GWP) by 99.8% in comparison.

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Should I buy it?

The AEG Chillflex Pro is the ideal product for anyone wanting to cool large rooms during the summer months. It has its limitations – it’s not as portable as other AC units, for example – but it’s simple to use, performs remarkably well and doesn’t produce much noise.

The only sticking point is the price. Starting at £469 – with the high-end model reaching £599 – the Chillflex Pro is hardly an entry-level machine. Depending on your budget, you might find better-value PACs if you look elsewhere, especially if you only need to cool a small or medium-sized bedroom or living room.