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Customer Ratings & Reviews

Your price for this item is $574.99

Customer reviews

Rating 4.1 out of 5 stars with 104 reviews

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Rating by feature

  • Value

    Rating 4.0 out of 5 stars

  • Quality

    Rating 4.2 out of 5 stars

  • Ease of Use

    Rating 4.3 out of 5 stars

Pros mentioned filter

Cons mentioned filter

81%would recommend to a friend

Customers are saying

Customers praise the ARC-122DS Elite air conditioner's powerful cooling capabilities and relatively easy setup. However, some customers find the unit's noise level to be a drawback, and others have experienced challenges with the window attachment system. The window kit may require modification for proper fit in some windows. Overall, the cooling performance is a significant positive aspect for many users.

This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.

The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 1 Showing 1-20 of 104 reviews
  • Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    The only con is there's is no vertical adjustment

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Much quieter than my old one. I don't have to turn up the volume on my TV anymore and I don't have to constantly drain it. Would be 5 stars if the louvers had a vertical adjustment option. It does get a little condensation around the louvers but only when it's been very hot and humid outside

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Very happy with it, extremely happy with Best Buy

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    After researching online, including reviews in Consumer Reports, decided on this unit. After shopping around, Amazon had the best price, but anyone who's ever done business with Best Buy knows that when it comes to the overall promise of making the customer happy, only Costco is in the same ballpark. After getting on the phone to make the order, Best Buy matched Amazon's price. Nuff said. The only "shortcoming" is that the window adapter wouldn't work in any of my windows and especially the window where I chose to install it. I'm DIYer, so fabricating a window adapter using scraps that I had around was not a big deal. The other thing to be aware of is that it is recommended that you put these units on one circuit by itself. I originally had it on a circuit that shared a computer, some lights, and a TV. The plugs got hot to the touch. It was probably still safe, but not wanting to take a chance, I ran an extension cord from an outside plug that had nothing else on it. Problem solved.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Cooling
    Cons mentioned:
    Noise level

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Rated As Best Portable AC

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The vertical installation was easy in a sliding window, but I had to make modifications because the kit wasn't made to specs and directions were unclear. I ended up using plenty of duct tape to seal the cracks and anchor the kit. The product instructions insist that the unit be plugged into a wall socket, but the power cord is only 5'. If you don't have an outlet within 5' of the unit placement, then you have no choice but to use a power strip or extension cord which the instructions explicitly forbid and will probably void the warranty if you do so. The unit seems to cool a room fairly quickly because of the dual hose system, but in operation the display emits enough light that you can make decent shadow puppets on your wall and the operational noise level seems fairly high to me. Is this really the best portable AC on the market as some ratings proclaim? I wouldn't know without trying the others. I'm only using it in my 150 sq ft bedroom and it does a good job. Will it cool 400 sq ft as it claims? I will test this in the future as my apartment is 436 sq ft. Ordering this AC online from Best Buy was easy. Best Buy had the best online price, the best selection of AC's and free 5 day shipping right to my door. Very convenient!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Cooling

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Good Portable Air Conditioner

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Effective at cooling room. It is loud enough that it would be hard to watch TV in the same room but overall it’s quieter than expected for a portable air conditioning unit. It’s nice it has a remote control. The window kit takes a little time to figure out but it works. Though, since the edge of the window kit is staggered/not even, it leaves openings to the outside. However, I think if you add weatherstripping to the edge of the kit, you can get a decent seal.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Cooling

    Rated 3 out of 5 stars

    big and noisy but does the job

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    You will need 2 people to get this monster size box into your home or one person with long, strong arms to haul into your home! It's gigantic!! Although it says to take off exhaust hoses to use as dehumidifier, good luck getting them off; they do not pop or screw off easily so I think my use as dehumidifier will not occur. The green indicator light for the a/c has already burnt out. It says up to 400 sq ft of cooling area and that it does. With a fan, it can move the cool air and cool beyond the 400 sq ft. All in all, it serves it purpose. My purchase was primarily a mobile one: wanted a portable a/c since it's getting harder to install window a/c unit each year with put in and take out......................

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Cooling
    Cons mentioned:
    Noise level

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    A power hog! Loud and condenser failure

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    Posted . Owned for more than 2 years when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The customer service is very good. When it started regularly having issues bekng louder and thump the all power would go out tripping circuit breaker even thiugv it had its own dedixated outlet. Obviously that wasnt enough for this unit adter a year it needed to work hardwr and would never get as cold it once did. But arull i was frateful on those triple digit days last summer where it brought our family room down to at least 89 it just quit usually sometime between 4-7 peak hours thankfully i had the extended geek squad warranty for repair , replacem i took it i yeaterdat expecting to drop it off for repairs and was told they'd give me credit to buy another one since they had none in stock and diacontinued swllin them too maybek NOTHIBG THEY HAVE NOW TO BIT EVEN COMES CLOSE TO THE VALUE of my deal of the dat when I purchase the unit. I dont lime the replacement and will be taki g it back o TODAY

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Cooling

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Works well

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The unit itself is pretty great, cools efficiently and seems well made. My only issue was with installation. The panels didn’t fit as seamlessly or easily as expected even after cutting. I had to do some stellar MacGuyvering with suction tape and clay for gap filling. I also created my own removable filters for each hose out of nylon because we get massive windstorms and insects this time of year. I think you can actually buy those filters separately but I wish they were including (the main filters for the unit are included). Otherwise this is a solid buy.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Portable on wheels

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    Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Portable on wheels around the house is always a plus. Delivery time was very fast. Upon receiving I let the unit stand still overnight from transit travel. Nice and quiet it’s cool off very quickly making it comfortable. I would recommend purchasing a upper drain hose and a drain tray for catching water during those humid days. The dual hose is a plus and well worth the purchase of this 12,000 BTU glad I bought on sale. Great buy

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Excellent AC

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This AC has some minor downsides, but is overall excellent at its main job -- cooling. I purchased it after another AC (single-hose model with 10000 BTU, advertised for a 450 sq ft room) didn't cool my room properly. This one does the job with power to spare. Pros: 1) Powerful. (As far as portable ACs go. All portable ACs are less efficient than normal window ACs) 2) Quiet (as far as portable ACs go). While no portable AC is pleasant to be next to, this one is about as a fan. It's a little quieter than my previous, less powerful portable AC. The noise level doesn't change much when the compressor turns on or off. Cons (compared to that other AC): 1) Takes a little time (30 min) and effort to assemble. Needs a screwdriver for initial assembly and even to adjust the size of the window panel. Painful to detach hoses from the window panel unless you read the manual and know the trick (it's supposed to be twisted). I can see that for certain size of window, you'd need to cut the plastic panel for it to fit perfectly. My window was large enough that I didn't need to do this. 2) The UI and the remote are not great. The only way to see what temperature the room is currently at is to switch it to a fan mode. The display is hard to read, especially once the backlight turns off. The remote is supposed to show what the AC is set to, but its display easily gets out of sync with the actual setting.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Cons mentioned:
    Window attachment

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Overall great unit

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Overall great. Works as promised. But, the drain is too close to the ground and can't get anything underneath to catch the water. Also the window attachments are terrible, wound up making my own.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Cooling

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Needed it to beat the heat

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I bought this AC because the Honeywell I wanted was out of stock. It works well. I wish the fans were adjustable so you point the cold air going up more. But not complaints here. You have to expect that it not going to make your room freezer cold like the ac’s in hotel rooms. It keeps my bedroom very cool and comfortable

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Very Good

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    OK. I hemmed and hawed about this purchase. I'm glad I pulled the trigger. It's an excellent energy efficient unit. It's fairly quiet for an air conditioning unit. My only complaint, is that the fan never shuts off. There isn't a "power saver" mode like window units have. If it had that feature I would have given it 5 stars.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Setup
    Cons mentioned:
    Window attachment

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Very New

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    To new to properly review performance. But, is attractive and was easier to install than previous, similar machine bought elsewhere. However, wish that window fixture opening was oval share rather than circular....therefore less intrusive/offensive to Condo-Commandos!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Cooling

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Overall a good buy

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Cools quickly and well. A bit noisier for sleeping than I expected when using the lowest a/c setting. Maybe the low noise that is advertised is for the fan, which I have not used. However, the fact that it cools so well allows for a restful sleep even with the extra noise. I have checked the lower drainage plug after using the unit for a few weeks and only a drop of two of moisture was present, so it should be able to run every night for a full summer (at least) in SoCal without being emptied. A bit cumbersome to install, so expect apx 1 hour to install, especially if you have to cut the window piece.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Cooling
    Cons mentioned:
    Noise level

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Excellent for the Price

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I bought this product a few weeks back and it works as intended. I use this in my Master Bedroom and works flawlessly. Takes 15-20 mins to bring down the temp from 72-73 to 68 in the summer. Makes little more noise than the other ones (Honeywell) but it's not annoying.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Cooling

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    I am in love with this airconditioner

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    Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    We have an old house with windows we had to replace. So, now we have two large windows that don't open very wide. This year we tried this portable air conditioner. I love it. It works very well. It also removes humidity well. A very good choice for us. The set up was easy too.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great unit, no complaints

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    We needed A/C on the second floor of an 80 year old brick house with steel encasement windows. This unit was researched by a Boing engineer family member which he thought was the best available for our needs. Best Buy had the best price. This unit is quiet and efficient.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Cooling

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Does a wonderful job!

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I got this for my daughter's upstairs room that seems to be hot year round. She is in heaven! The window kit was easy to install and the little assembly I had to do on the unit itself was simple. This cools her room quietly and efficiently.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Cons mentioned:
    Noise level, Window attachment

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Ok for the price

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Not a bad air conditioner for the price. It is al little loud. It has taken some modification to get the window insert to fit.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    A little noisy, but otherwise great

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The unit can be a bit noisy when the compressor is running as it's louder than the fan on any setting. It's not just this specific unit, I have two of these from different sources Other than that, I'm quite happy with the unit. LIKES: * Remote control * Timer (1-8 hours to On, if off, or 1-8 hours to Off, if already on) * Digital temperature setting * No need to empty water (in AC mode) * Casters let you roll it easily DISLIKES: * A bit loud * Large "wall-wart" plug due to embedded breaker (which is a good thing, it just takes up space) * Exhaust hose window kit not long enough for full-height left/right sliding windows - I ended up ordering another kit and using its parts to extend the length. Window kit part # is ARC-WK-12SP I WISH IT HAD: * Vertical adjustment for the vent - it only lets you adjust output a few degrees left/right (which you could do by simply turning the unit)

    I would recommend this to a friend
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