I got my hands on the sell-out Meaco Cirro portable air conditioner, and it’s super quiet mode is an utter gamechanger for hot summer nights

As we're experiencing the third heatwave of the year (so far), it's no wonder that appliances to help keep us cool and comfortable are selling like hot cakes.

While the best portable air conditioners are selling out left, right and centre, I have heard from industry insiders that more stock of Meaco's Cirro range of portable air conditioners will be available at the likes of Currys, AO and John Lewis over the next couple of days.

And with the range starting from £500+ it's helpful to know whether it's going to suit your home before you buy. Fortunately, I've managed to get my hands on one and have been testing it in my home over the last few days. This is how it fared.

In a nutshell

Launched back in June 2026, the Cirro range of portable air conditioners from Meaco includes six smart models across 12,000, 14,000 and 16,000 BTU sizes, in either cooling only or cooling and heating models. A huge draw of this particular range is that it operates at just 45dB, which is twice as quiet as Meaco's previous range of portable air conditioners.

The recent heatwaves have meant that suppliers have seen unprecedented demand for these products, so if you see them in stock, it's best to act quickly because they are definitely worth the money.

Portable air conditioners have, historically, built up a bit of a reputation for being obnoxiously loud, but in the case of the Cirro range, it's noticeably quieter than its predecessors. It even has a super-quiet mode that is ideal if you want to use it to cool your bedroom at night. It's not whisper quiet though, so if you are a light sleeper, you might want to get some ear plugs.

But from a cooling perspective, it's hard to fault the Cirro's capability. It cools quickly and effectively, taking rooms from stifling to comfortable in minutes. But the cooling mode is definitely the star of the show. While it also offers a dehumidifier and fan only mode, you might find that it's a bit of a compromise compared to dedicated fans or dehumidifiers.

Specification

• Cooling capacity (BTU): 12,000BTU
• Recommended room size: 20-30m2
• Noise levels in cooling mode: 58-62dB
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 43 x 72.2 x 35.8cm
• Weight: 28.45kg
• Wattage: 1350W in cooling mode
• Functions: Air conditioner, fan, dehumidifier
• Other features: App control, sleep mode
• Window kit included: Yes

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

When it comes to any portable air conditioner, it's best to have two people on hand to get it set up thanks to their heavy weight and bulky dimensions and the Meaco Cirro is no exception.

Initially, I was concerned that the wrong model had been sent through as the packaging states that it's the MeacoCool Pro, but fortunately there are notes on the website that confirm that regardless of what the packaging says, it's the Cirro model inside.

It arrived well packaged with industrial strength plastic straps wrapped around it that made it easier for me to manoeuvre it into my living room to unpack it. While I could do most the unpacking single handedly (the accessories sit at the top of the box, and then once the plastic straps are cut, you can slide the sides of the box over the top of the appliance, so it's just left sitting in the polystyrene and cardboard base).

I found I definitely needed some help to remove it from the final bit of packaging around the base. Once it was out though, I could move it around on its castors (this is really easy on hard floors, but a little more difficult on carpet or rugs). There was also no way I'd get it up the stairs by myself, so if you want to use it in your bedroom, definitely make sure you have some able-bodied reinforcements ready to help with the heavy lifting.

In terms of looks, as far as portable air conditioners go, the Cirro is attractive. It's got a contemporary matte exterior, which feels like it would be unobtrusive in any room scheme. It's also packed with thoughtful design details, from the easy-to-read front display for when you're not close enough to see the control panel, to the pop out cable tidy and the arrows on the duct machine adapter than ensure you fix the exhaust hose to the back of the appliance in the right way. It's also a sizeable bit of kit, so if you are using it in a smaller room, you may need to clear a bit of space. It fit well in my home office, but given the layout in my bedroom, it does feel a little more in the way. But if it cools the space down to a comfortable temperature in the height of summer, then I can deal with that.

When it comes to set up, it's relatively straightforward, although the window kit was a little fiddly to install. I don't have sash windows, so I needed to use the universal fabric one (and the Velcro) that's included.

Once the window kit is set up, the rest of the portable air con is simple. All I needed to do was attach the exhaust hose (which at 1.8m in length was plenty long enough) to the back of the unit, vent it out the window, and it was cooling ready.

What’s it like to use?

There are three ways to control the Meaco Cirro — by using the on-board control panel, the remote, or via the Meaco app. While I've had no previous trouble connecting to the app with my Sefte Pro desktop fan, I couldn't seem to get the Cirro to connect to the app. But really, it was no bother, as I was happy to use the remote control or the control panel on the unit itself instead. If I were hugely concerned about the App, I am certain that Meaco's customer service would have been able to resolve the issue.

The Cirro is pretty straightforward to use, and the display screen clearly shows which mode you are in (be it cooling, fan or dehumidifier). As the screen sits on the top of the appliance, it can be difficult to see if you're not up close, but it does show the ambient temperature (and the target temperature when in cooling mode) on the front of the unit, which I found helpful.

I found it intuitive to use the controls (and the instructions are very clear and jargon-free, which I always appreciate), but if you've never used a portable air conditioner before, make sure you read the instructions as the correct set-up will depend on the mode you are using.

But as the temperature in my home office had reached almost 28°C, despite having the window and curtains closed all morning, I knew I was all about the cooling mode.

The Cirro portable air conditioner is definitely significantly quieter in cooling mode than the very first portable air conditioner I tried that sounded like a dustbin lorry. I clocked the Cirro at a maximum of 62dB when it was in active cooling mode, dropping to 59dB in super quiet mode. It gets even quieter (around 53dB) when the room reaches the target temperature, and the compressor turns off.

Those decibels might not mean much to you on the face of it, but it's the equivalent of gentle background noise. For me, it's comparable with a fan on one of it's higher speed settings. I could hear that it was on, but it wasn't so loud that I couldn't work, watch TV or sleep with it on. For those who need silence when trying to get to sleep or when they are concentrating, some ear buds may be needed.

In terms of it's cooling power (I tested the 12,000 BTU model, which is suitable for rooms between 20-30m2), it made quick work of cooling my home office from 27.8°C to 25.6°C in just ten minutes, getting to the target temperature of around 22°C in about 25-30 minutes. Within the first minute of turning it on in cooling mode, I could leave a lovely cool breeze coming out, and I put the louvres on swing to maximise the reach. When I left the room, with the door closed, and came back 10 minutes later, it felt like walking into a supermarket during a heatwave — it was blissful, instant cooling relief. Once it reached the target temperature, the compressor turned off, which made it even quieter, and when the temperature rose again, the compressor kicked back in to keep things cool.

The Meaco Cirro also has a fan only mode, but I'd definitely say this should be considered a bonus mode rather than the primary function. The fan is fine, but after testing other fans from Meaco, including the Meaco Sefte pedestal air circulator, the fan mode on the Cirro isn't a patch on it's range of dedicated fans.

The same can be said for the dehumidifier mode. While it's a nice to have, it doesn't feel as effective as a dedicated dehumidifier. But as I'd want a portable air conditioner for it's cooling properties above all else, and live in a house that fortunately doesn't suffer with excess moisture, this wasn't too problematic for me.

Running costs

Using 1350W of power in cooling mode, the Meaco Cirro will cost roughly 35p per hour to run based on the July 2026 energy price cap.

While it's not as cheap to run as a fan, there are ways that you can ensure you are using it in the most energy efficient way. Firstly, make sure you buy a suitably powered model for the size of room you are looking to cool, and keep doors and windows shut when it's in use. Trying to keep the sun out of the room will also mean your appliance doesn't need to work as hard to cool the space down, which can mean it uses less energy.

Cleaning and maintenance

There is a little bit of maintenance required when using the Cirro portable air conditioner, which may depend on the mode you use.

In cooling mode, there's not much needed. It's a good idea to keep it as dust-free as possible, check and clean the filters regularly, and look out for a full tank symbol on the display screen after long periods of use, which means the tank needs to be emptied.

If you use it in dehumidifier mode, it will need to drain continuously, so you will need to attach the drainage tube to the corresponding port on the back and have a container ready to capture the water.

Who should buy this product?

The Meaco Cirro portable air conditioner will be ideal for those looking for a quiet and effective cooling solution. With models ranging from 12,000 to 16,000 BTU, there's something in the range to suit any size room. I tested a cooling only model, but there are models in the range that offer both heating and cooling, which is well worth trying if you want maximum value for money.

If the Cirro is out of your budget, and you are prepared to wait for stock to be replenished, then the Dreo 318S portable air conditioner is a good alternative, with similar noise levels.