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With the UK in the middle of yet another heatwave, many Brits will be wondering whether it’s finally time to bite the bullet with air conditioning (AC).
As parts of the country hit 32°C, I decided to take the AC plunge with the De’Longhi Pinguino GentleJet Inverter.
At £999.99, this portable air conditioning unit isn’t cheap – but with studies showing that UK hot spells are becoming more frequent and more intense, it’s set to become the most used gadget in my home.
De’Longhi Pinguino GentleJet Inverter
As parts of the country hit 32°C, I decided to take the AC plunge with the De’Longhi Pinguino GentleJet Inverter
Pinguino GentleJet Inverter
The De’Longhi Pinguino GentleJet Inverter is a portable air conditioner described as the ‘next generation in home air conditioning’
Product Specs
- Volume43 decibels in Silent mode
- Dimensions457x363x814mm
- Weight30.8kg
- ModesCooling, fan, dehumidifying, and energy-saving modes
Review
The Pinguino GentleJet Inverter is a fantatsic portable AC unit that cools rooms up to 54m².
The 180° Arctic Gentle Surround technology ensures every inch of the room is cooled, while a dedicated Quiet Mode slashes the noise by 50 per cent.
The design is simple and inoffensive, with two subtle shades available – White or Grey.
At £999.99, it certainly isn’t cheap. However, with heatwaves becoming more and more frequent in the UK, it could be a great investment piece for the future.
Our verdict
The Pinguino GentleJet Inverter is a fantastic portable AC unit that cools rooms up to 54m².
The 180° Arctic Gentle Surround technology ensures every inch of the room is cooled, while a dedicated Quiet Mode slashes the noise by 50 per cent.
The design is simple and inoffensive, with two subtle shades available – White or Grey.
At £999.99, it certainly isn’t cheap. However, with heatwaves becoming more and more frequent in the UK, it could be a great investment piece for the future.
How we test
When testing home appliances, we try them out for at least a week, giving them the sort of challenges they are likely to face in a typical household.
As well as evaluating performance, we also look for ease of use, build quality, reliability and value for money to get a true measure of their abilities.
Together with a group of expert reviewers at Daily Mail, we collate and compare how well each product performs, so you can choose the best appliance for you.
At £999.99, this portable air conditioning unit isn’t cheap – but with studies showing that UK hot spells are becoming more frequent and more intense, it’s set to become the most used gadget in my home
De’Longhi Pinguino GentleJet Inverter review
Performance
Having just about survived the last UK heatwave with a basic fan, my husband and I decided to up our game with the Pinguino GentleJet.
And after a week of use, I can safely say this is going to be a staple feature in our bedroom.
While basic fans simply move warm air around the room, the aircon unit actively cools the air before distributing it.
The Pinguino GentleJet Inverter uses what De’Longhi calls ‘180° Arctic Gentle Surround’ technology.
At a basic level, this means the unit not only cools the air, but also blasts it out at every angle, ensuring there are no hot spots in rooms up to 54m².
The way our bedroom is set up, the window is on my husband’s side of the bed, which means the aircon unit directly faces him.
Initially, I was worried that this would leave my side of the bed toasty, but my fears were soon put to rest.
Turning the unit on one hour before bed, I was delighted to discover that the entire room was lovely and cool when it came time to go to sleep – including my side of the bed.
Turning the unit on one hour before bed, I was delighted to discover that the entire room was lovely and cool when it came time to go to sleep – including my side of the bed
Beyond cooling power, one of my main concerns was noise.
We’ve all stayed in hotel rooms where the aircon rivals a jet engine, but luckily, that isn’t always the case with the Pinguino.
On full blast, the unit is quite loud, but thankfully, a dedicated Quiet Mode slashes the noise by 50 per cent.
This is a game–changer at night, with De’Longhi claiming sound levels in Quiet Mode are just 43 decibels – the equivalent of a quiet library.
Finally, you might think that running an aircon unit overnight would take its toll on your energy bills, but De’Longhi is one step ahead.
The device features ‘Inverter Technology’ which automatically selects the optimal operating mode to maximise comfort while delivering greater efficiency.
According to De’Longhi, this can save you up to 45 per cent on energy consumption compared to non–inverter options.
Measuring 457×363×814 mm and available in two finishes (White and Grey), it will happily fit in with most decors, without attracting much attention
Design
The Pinguino GentleJet Inverter’s design isn’t anything to write home about.
However, it’s pretty inoffensive.
Measuring 457×363×814 mm and available in two finishes (White and Grey), it will happily fit in with most decors, without attracting much attention.
Value for money
At £999.99, the aircon unit isn’t cheap.
However, with heatwaves becoming the norm in the UK, it’s an investment piece that’s definitely worth considering.
It’s also worth noting that the device weighs 30kg and has a discreet, 4ft pipe, which means it’s pretty portable.
So, if you currently rely on fans in every room of your home, you could replace these with one Pinguino GentleJet Inverter.
The AC unit comes with a range of different fittings, depending on the types of windows in your home
How does it compare to similar products?
The Pinguino GentleJet Inverter is at the pricier end of the spectrum for portable air conditioners in the UK.
The Meaco Cool MC Series 12000 comes in at £509.99, while the Pro Breeze PB–AC01 Smart PAC is £599.99.
De’Longhi itself also has several cheaper versions available, including the DeLonghi Pinguino Compact PAC ES72 Classic (£459) and the DeLonghi Pinguino PAC EL112CST Smart Air Conditioner (£949).
How does it rate online?
On De’Longhi’s website, the Pinguino GentleJet Inverter has eight reviews, with an average score of 3.9/5.
One user called it ‘absolutely fab’ and enjoyed how quiet the unit was.
However, another said it was ‘okay but certainly not worth the cost’, adding that it ‘takes a very long time to cool down a hot room’.
Why trust us
Shivali Best is the Science & Technology Editor at the Daily Mail and has been testing products and writing reviews for nine years. She completed a Master’s degree in Science Journalism at City University London in 2014 and previously worked at The Mirror as Deputy Science & Technology Editor.
FAQs
1. Does the hose extend?
The hose on the Pinguino GentleJet Inverter is around 4ft long. De’Longhi does not recommend users lengthen the hose as this can damage the product.
2. Does the unit also dehumidify?
Yes. Lowering the temperature automatically means lower humidity in the environment.
3. Does it release water?
No. The unit is designed to collect the humidity and moisture from the air in the room where it is collected in an internal tray. The water is then used to cool the system, maximizing performance.
