My home office heats up throughout the day, the living room has floor-to-ceiling picture windows, and my bedroom feels like a greenhouse after hot summer days. For years, I got by with a portable AC unit that was loud, inefficient, and barely kept up. Upgrading to the LG LP1022FVSM, the “Best Overall” pick from our latest round of portable air conditioner testing, made a huge difference.

Yes, this is a more powerful unit than what I had before—at 10,000 BTU (SACC) / 14,000 BTU (ASHRAE), it's rated to cool up to 450 square feet—but the difference extends beyond sheer power. It's smarter and operates more quietly. Perhaps most importantly, though, is that it features a dual inverter, which allows the compressor to run at variable speeds rather than cycling on and off like a traditional unit, so it consistently maintains the target temperature, and is more energy-efficient for doing so.

It’s also very easy to set up and adjust. The LG ThinQ app allows me to turn on the AC and adjust the temperature so it’s cool before I even walk through the door. I’ve used it in three very different rooms throughout my home: It kept all three cool, and my electricity bills haven't taken the hit I expected.

How I Tested

I've been running the LG LP1022FVSM in different rooms throughout my home to test how it adapts to different conditions. My living and dining area is a large open space with large picture windows that turn it into a heat trap on sunny afternoons even with the curtains closed. My office, a mid-sized room, is where I spend most of my working hours. I’ve also set it up in my bedroom for overnight duty. I also tested the ThinQ app controls, the remote, sleep mode, fan-only mode, and dry mode.

Setup Is Easy

"Easy installation" on a product box often means "not a nightmare, but still annoying," but the LP1022FVSM is genuinely simple to set up. The unit was effectively plug-and-play right out of the box. LG includes foam weather stripping, and setting it up for the first time took me maybe 10 minutes. The exhaust hose connects securely, the window slider adapters fit snugly into the back of the unit for storage, and the unit was blowing cold air almost immediately.

Moving it from room to room is straightforward, too. It's not a lightweight machine—at 69 pounds, it takes a little shove to get it going—but the multi-directional casters roll smoothly (similar to a rolling suitcase), and the handles are deep and well-placed for maneuvering down the hall and through doorways.

One Unit, Three Very Different Rooms

The easy ability to move this unit from room to room has changed how I think about cooling the house. I don’t have to wish we had central air or buy multiple portable units. When we’re together in the living room, the AC goes there. When I'm working, it comes to the office. At night, I roll it into the bedroom.

Each room is a different size and has different cooling demands, and this LG air conditioner handles all of them easily. The four fan speeds lend flexibility—a lower setting is plenty for my office, sleep mode is just right for the bedroom, and the larger living room needs a higher output. I also love how the auto-swing vent distributes air evenly across the room, which cuts down on the cold-zone/hot-spot problem that plagues a lot of portable units.

The dual inverter makes the LP1022FVSM especially good at adapting to different spaces. Instead of running at full blast, shutting off, and then kicking back on to run at full blast again—all the while making distracting clunking noises—the compressor modulates its speed to match the cooling demand. And even if you leave it in a single space, that efficiency translates to to a smaller electric bill, without compromising on consistent cooling.

It’s Quieter Than Other Portable ACs

This was the biggest game changer for me. On its highest setting, the LP1022FVSM is noticeably quieter than my old portable unit on its best day. In sleep mode, it drops to around 44 decibels—imagine the sound level of a quiet library. The inverter compressor doesn't cycle on and off with that jarring startup noise you get from conventional portable ACs. It simply runs, steadily and smoothly, in the background.

In my office, especially, that near-silence makes a world of difference. I can make calls, concentrate on the task at hand, and work—no sweat—without even thinking about the air conditioner.

Having an AC App Is More Useful Than You Think

Smart home features on appliances can feel gimmicky, but the ThinQ app is surprisingly useful. Because I live in a mountain climate where mornings are cool and afternoons heat up fast, I don't want to leave the AC running all day—especially while I’m out. With the app, I can turn it on from my phone on the way home so the living room is cool when I walk in. That alone makes the app worth using.

Beyond acting as a simple remote control, the app allows me to monitor energy use, check the filter status, run diagnostics, and even access the product manual. The remote is also nice for quick in-room adjustments, and its big buttons make it simple to operate even for people who aren’t as tech-savvy.

It also goes a long way to mitigating my biggest issue with the AC, its onboard display. Tucked behind the vent, you can’t check it at a glance, and it can be hard to read depending on how you position the unit. Luckily, with the app, it’s a non-issue. You rarely need to check or change any settings on the AC because the app is always in your pocket.

A Few Things to Know Before You Buy

This is a larger air conditioner unit, and while the clean white design is sleek enough to fit into most rooms without standing out awkwardly, it does take up floor space—especially with the exhaust hose running to the window.

The electrical cord is about four feet long and the exhaust hose is 67 inches at max extension, so there are limits to how far you can position it from the outlet and window. For most setups that’s plenty, but measure your layout if you have an unconventional window placement.

For anyone in a humid region, the dry-mode dehumidification function removes moisture from the air independently of cooling mode to make warm, muggy days far more tolerable. Or, use it in fan mode to circulate room-temperature air. The oscillating auto-swing feature moves air around the room, or sets it to blow in the direction you prefer.

Should You Buy The LG LP1022FVSM Portable Air Conditioner?

The LG LP1022FVSM is the best portable AC I've tried, and it's earned a permanent, but movable place in my home during summer months. The dual inverter technology delivers on its promises—quieter operation, better energy efficiency, and more consistent cooling than conventional portable units.

The ThinQ app is useful and convenient. And the freedom to roll it from room to room instead of investing in a second portable unit to cover the same square footage is a real plus. All in all, this air conditioner really stands out from the competition. For homeowners or renters who want great performance, smart controls, and the flexibility to take cool air wherever they need it most, this is the one to buy.

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