Midea PortaSplit 12000 BTU
(13 reviews)
The portable air conditioner that mimics a real split system: an outdoor unit on the window, no hot air hose in the room, installable without a professional in under 30 minutes.
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Key features
- Power: 3.5 kW (12,000 BTU/h), cooling and heating
- Type: Split-style portable, with outdoor unit, no hot air hose in the room
- Noise level: 39 to 50 dB(A) indoors depending on mode
- A real outdoor unit: no hot air released into the room, unlike a monobloc
In detail: Midea PortaSplit, reversible split-style portable air conditioner 12000 BTU
Since its launch, the Midea PortaSplit has reshaped what a portable air conditioner can be, borrowing the principle of a genuine fixed split system without any building work or installer. Unlike a classic monobloc unit, which draws in hot outdoor air to expel it through a simple flexible hose (a well known source of lost performance and extra noise), the PortaSplit truly separates the two functions: an indoor unit on castors handles the cool airflow in the room, while an outdoor unit, mounted on a supplied window bracket, houses the compressor and pushes the heat outside. The two units communicate via a rigid 2 metre refrigerant line, carrying only refrigerant gas, never hot air through the room.
Rated at 3.5 kW (12,000 BTU/h), A++ for cooling (SEER 6.1) and A+ for heating (SCOP 4.0), the unit covers rooms up to 42 m² or 105 m³. Its reversible heat pump function lets it double as supplementary heating during shoulder seasons, a genuine advantage over most portable air conditioners limited to cooling only. Measured indoor noise ranges from 39 dB(A) in silent mode to around 50 dB(A) in auto mode, well below the usual 60 to 65 dB(A) of a monobloc unit, precisely because the compressor stays outdoors.
Installation, one of the PortaSplit's headline selling points, requires no drilling and no professional: the window sealing kit and outdoor unit bracket allow setup in under 30 minutes. The WiFi-enabled MSmart Home app adds remote control and scheduling. On running costs, the unit lists a reference annual consumption of 201 kWh for cooling and 770 kWh for heating, with real-world power draw observed between 300 and 500 W in typical use, rising to 1,200-1,300 W in Turbo mode.
The trade-off concerns weight and footprint: at 45.5 kg total, split between the indoor unit (about 32 kg) and the outdoor unit (about 10 kg), the set stays movable between rooms but loses the lightness of a classic monobloc on wheels. The rigid, non-extendable 2 metre refrigerant line also means the placement of both units needs some forethought before installation. The price, higher than an entry-level monobloc, reflects this approach that sits closer to a fixed split than a simple cooling fan.
Technical data
Detailed characteristics
Performance
| Type?General technical category the unit belongs to (portable, split, evaporative...). | Split-style portable (indoor unit + outdoor unit mounted on a window bracket) |
|---|---|
| Cooling capacity?The unit's cooling power, expressed in kW or BTU/h (British Thermal Unit per hour). | 3.5 kW (12,000 BTU/h) |
| Heating capacity?The unit's heating power, for reversible models working as a heat pump. | 3.5 kW nominal (reversible heat pump) |
| Cooling energy class?European energy efficiency class (from A+++ to G), showing how the unit's consumption compares with similar models. | A++ (SEER 6.1) |
| Heating energy class?European energy efficiency class (from A+++ to G), showing how the unit's consumption compares with similar models. | A+ (SCOP 4.0) |
| Annual cooling consumption (EU reference)?Electrical power drawn by the unit while running, expressed in watts (W). | 201 kWh/year |
| Annual heating consumption (EU reference)?Electrical power drawn by the unit while running, expressed in watts (W). | 770 kWh/year |
| Running power draw?Electrical power drawn by the unit while running, expressed in watts (W). | 300 to 500 W typical, up to 1,200-1,300 W in Turbo mode |
| Refrigerant?Gas used in the cooling circuit. R290 and R32 are now favoured for their lower environmental impact. | R32 (0.62 kg) |
| Airflow?Volume of air moved by the unit each hour, in m³/h: the higher it is, the faster the room's air is refreshed. | 420 / 390 / 350 m³/h depending on speed |
| Noise level (EU standard, sound power)?Noise emitted by the unit, in decibels (dB(A)). As a reference, a normal conversation is around 60 dB(A). | 59 dB indoors / 62 dB outdoors |
| Real measured noise level?Noise emitted by the unit, in decibels (dB(A)). As a reference, a normal conversation is around 60 dB(A). | 39 dB(A) in silent mode to 50 dB(A) in auto mode (indoors), up to 51-59 dB(A) at 1 m from the outdoor unit |
| Refrigerant line length?Gas used in the cooling circuit. R290 and R32 are now favoured for their lower environmental impact. | 2 m, rigid (not extendable) |
| Recommended room size?Room size or volume the unit is designed for, according to the manufacturer. | Up to 42 m² / 105 m³ |
Features and connectivity
| Condensate tank?Internal tank collecting the condensation water produced while running. | None: automatic evacuation via the outdoor unit |
|---|---|
| Connectivity?Ways to control the unit remotely (mobile app, WiFi, voice assistants...). | WiFi, MSmart Home app |
Dimensions and power supply
| Total weight?The unit's weight, an important factor for a portable air conditioner regularly moved between rooms. | About 45.5 kg (indoor unit about 32 kg, outdoor unit about 10 kg, connection about 3 kg) |
|---|---|
| Indoor unit dimensions?Width, depth and height of the unit (W x D x H). | 64.6 x 51.8 x 31 cm |
| Outdoor unit dimensions?Width, depth and height of the unit (W x D x H). | 43.8 x 50 x 26 cm |
| Power supply?Electrical voltage and frequency required to run the unit. | 220-240V~, 50Hz |
Additional information
| Manufacturer warranty?Period during which the manufacturer commits to repairing or replacing the unit in case of failure, excluding damage or misuse. | 2 years |
|---|
User manual / instructions (PDF)
Comparison
In the £700 to £1,800 range, the Midea PortaSplit regularly comes up against the Trotec PAC-S 3510 SH, the other big name in split-style portable air conditioning, in searches like "PortaSplit vs Trotec". Here is how the two compare, based on the public specifications of both manufacturers.
| Criterion | Midea PortaSplit | Trotec PAC-S 3510 SH |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 3.5 kW (12,000 BTU/h) | 3.5 kW (12,000 BTU/h) |
| Type | Split-style portable, outdoor unit on window bracket | Split-style portable, outdoor unit factory-connected |
| Reversible (heating) | Yes, A+ heat pump | Yes, down to -10°C outdoors |
| Indoor noise level | 39 to 50 dB(A) | About 51 dB(A) |
| Price observed | ≈£1,799 (heat pump variant) | ≈£620 |
In short, the Trotec PAC-S 3510 SH shares the same split-style architecture at a notably lower price, but the Midea PortaSplit stands out for a build quality and app control widely seen as more polished, plus a slightly lower indoor noise level based on reported measurements. The choice mostly comes down to budget and how much finish and polish matter to you.
Related video
Video: I Tested the Midea PortaSplit: Can A Portable AC Replace a Split AC?!
Our tester's verdict: Christophe Delpuech
We have followed buyer feedback on this PortaSplit closely, and one point keeps coming up: it is the first portable air conditioner that genuinely feels like a fixed split system. The difference is most noticeable at night, the outdoor unit takes the compressor noise with it, leaving only the fan hum indoors. Installation, window sealing kit included, really does take under 30 minutes with no drilling. On running costs, users who tracked their usage report reasonable figures (roughly £0.50 to £2 a day in summer), far below the usual worries around portable AC bills. Two things are worth knowing before buying: at 45.5 kg total, the unit moves between rooms but doesn't handle like a simple monobloc on wheels, and the rigid 2 metre refrigerant line means the placement of both units needs planning ahead. One isolated review also mentions the cooling mode eventually dropping to fan-only after weeks of heavy use, worth watching during the warranty period. The price sits above a basic monobloc, but the day-to-day comfort gap, quiet operation and a genuine heating boost in shoulder seasons, feels well worth it to us.
Frequently asked questions: Midea PortaSplit, reversible split-style portable air conditioner 12000 BTU
Yes, that is the whole point of the design: unlike a monobloc portable air conditioner, the outdoor unit mounts on a supplied window bracket and houses the compressor, which avoids releasing hot air into the room and greatly reduces indoor noise.
Yes, that is its main selling point: the window sealing kit and outdoor unit bracket allow installation in under 30 minutes, with no drilling and no refrigeration engineer, unlike a classic fixed split system.
Yes, thanks to its reversible A+ rated heat pump function, it can serve as effective supplementary heating during shoulder seasons, on top of its A++ rated cooling function.
Less so than a classic monobloc: at around 45.5 kg total split between the two units, and with a rigid, non-extendable 2 metre refrigerant line, it is designed to stay in place rather than move room to room every day.
User measurements report around 39 dB(A) in silent mode and up to 50 dB(A) in auto mode indoors, well below the usual 60-65 dB(A) of a monobloc unit, since the compressor stays outdoors.
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Page published on 31 July 2026