There are products you test calmly and others that win you over (or disappoint you) in the heat of the moment. This Dolceclima Air Pro 13 A+ NW arrived home right during a heatwave in Catalonia, one of those weeks when the floor begins to warm up by mid-afternoon and at night it’s hard to bring the temperature down even if you open windows, lower blinds and run fans.
And that’s where a portable air conditioner stops being a “summer purchase” and becomes a small household survival tool. Not because it’s perfect, nor because it would replace a fixed split, but because it lets you cool a specific room without any construction, without permanent installation, and with the option to move it if needed.
In this review I focus on what matters after testing it: how well it cools, how loud it is, whether the WiFi actually adds value, what living with the exhaust hose entails, and when it makes sense to pay around €450 for the product.
The exact model I tested is the DOLCECLIMA Air Pro 13 [A+ NW], a monoblock portable air conditioner from Olimpia Splendid with a nominal cooling capacity of 2.93 kW, advertised at 13,000 BTU/h, energy class A+, R290 refrigerant, integrated WiFi, OS Comfort app, 3 l/h dehumidification and an exhaust hose of 150 mm in diameter and 1.5 m in length.
The Dolceclima Air Pro 13 A+ NW is worth considering if you’re after a powerful portable air conditioner with WiFi and enough capacity to cool a specific room on very hot days. I find it especially advisable for apartments where a fixed split cannot be installed. I wouldn’t choose it if you need absolute silence for sleeping.
See price of the Dolceclima Air Pro 13 A+ NW
Quick verdict
✔️ What’s best
- Cooling more effectively than many small portable units thanks to its 2.93 kW and 13,000 BTU/h rating.
- The A+ energy class and the EER of 3.1 place it well within its category.
- The integrated WiFi does make sense: being able to switch it on before arriving home changes the experience.
- The 3 l/h dehumidification helps when the problem isn’t only heat but muggy conditions too.
- The design, LCD panel, remote control and wheels make it more comfortable to use than other basic “penguin” portables.
❌ What’s not ideal
- It isn’t quiet: it lists 50-52 dB(A) sound pressure and 62 dB(A) acoustic power.
- Weighs around 32 kg, so “portable” doesn’t mean lightweight.
- The exhaust hose dictates where you can place it.
- Requires a well-sealed window to really perform well.
- Above €500, it’s worth comparing carefully with other options.
In short, if you want portable power, WiFi, and a genuine solution for a specific room, it’s a very complete option. If you’re looking for the absolute silence of a fixed split or you plan to move it around the house daily, this isn’t the ideal product.
Who it’s good for and who it isn’t
Who it’s good for
I see it as especially suitable for renters, for those who can’t do permanent installations, or who need to cool a particular area of the home during the hottest months. In an apartment, it makes sense for a medium living room, a spacious bedroom, or a home office where heat builds up in the afternoon.
I’d also recommend it to someone who wants something more complete than a basic portable unit. You don’t pay only for cooling here: you pay for more power, an A+ class, WiFi, an app, remote control, dehumidification, and a somewhat more refined design. If you’ll use it many afternoons of summer, those extras start to matter.
Besides, the WiFi doesn’t feel decorative. In my case, being able to switch it on about 30 minutes before arriving home was one of the most useful functions. You switch it on from your phone, arrive, open the door and the living room is already far more comfortable. It doesn’t magically cool the entire house, but it can make the room where it’s installed significantly more pleasant.
Who it isn’t for
I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re after a sleeping-quiet experience like a split. In a monoblock portable unit, the compressor sits inside the room. That means noise is part of the deal. You can soften it with gentler modes, but you can’t make it disappear.
I also don’t see it as the best device to move around between rooms constantly. It has wheels and side handles, but we’re talking about roughly 32 kg and a tube that must be placed in a window. It works much better if you leave it fixed for weeks in the room where you need it most.
Yes for flats without construction and serious heat; no for those who prioritize absolute silence or daily mobility.
Editorial note: 8,3/10
I give it an 8.3 out of 10. The score is high for power, features and ease of use, but lowered by three clear drawbacks of the form factor: noise, weight, and dependence on the exhaust tube.
- Performance: excellent for a home portable, with 2.93 kW and 13,000 BTU/h advertised.
- Comfort: good if you keep it fixed in one room; less convincing if you plan to move it often.
- Noise: acceptable for living room or work; more delicate for sleeping if you’re sensitive.
- Connectivity: WiFi adds real value because it lets you turn it on before you get home.
- Price: it pays off if you’ll use it a lot in summer and need power.
In short, it’s a powerful and well-equipped portable air conditioner, but it isn’t wise to buy it expecting it to be as quiet, efficient, or discreet as a fixed split.
Check availability before the next heat wave
If the Dolceclima Air Pro 13 A+ NW isn’t available or has spiked in price, it’s worth checking PcComponentes’ climate control offers. In peak season, stock of portable air conditioners moves quickly and sometimes interesting alternatives appear among fans, air coolers, dehumidifiers or portable models from other brands.
View air conditioning deals at PcComponentes
Daily use
Installation, startup and first 24 hours
The first thing you notice is not the power but the window. This Dolceclima needs to vent hot air to the outside through a flexible hose of 150 mm diameter and 1.5 m length. If you have a sliding window, installation is usually easier. If you have a tilt-and-turn window, you’ll likely need to spend more time sealing the exit properly.
Here I found one of the product’s most improvable points: the instructions aren’t particularly clear. The guide relies heavily on small drawings, but some steps aren’t understood at first glance. And the part that needs the most explanation—the installation of the exhaust tube with the window adapter and its sealing—is where a more explanatory, visual, larger, or more detailed indication would be welcome.
My recommendation is not to treat this step as secondary. The unit may have plenty of power, but if hot air leaks back in through a gap, part of the job is lost. This is where this portable unit largely defines your experience: not in the power button, but in how you place the tube and window adapter.
On first startup you realize you’re not dealing with an evaporative cooler or a fan dressed up as an air conditioner. There is real compressor, real cold air, and real noise. The LCD panel and the remote help, but I would configure the WiFi as early as possible, because it is one of the functions that makes the most sense in this model.
Important clarification: the hose is not optional. If you don’t vent the hot air outside, the unit won’t be able to cool the room well. The result depends on the machine as well as how well you seal the window.
Installing it isn’t difficult, but it does require care.
Main use: cooling a specific room
The most sensible use is clear: pick a room, close doors, lower blinds if sun is direct, and let it work. That’s how you get the best from the Dolceclima Air Pro 13 A+ NW. If you place it in a space that’s too open, with hallways, kitchen, or entryways connected, you’re asking more of a portable unit than it can reasonably deliver.
During the recent heat wave, I mostly used it to regain control of the temperature in the main living area. It doesn’t work miracles instantly, but it does noticeably change the feeling of stepping into a room that was previously stifling. The air comes out cold, the flow is perceptible, and the automatic oscillation of the flap helps distribute the air more evenly without always aiming at the same spot.
The Auto/Blue Air function seems practical to avoid constantly fiddling with speeds. Eco mode makes sense once the room is already stabilised. Turbo mode would be reserved for the initial heat spike because it provides a sense of power, but it also makes the noise more noticeable.
It works best as the main air source in a room rather than as a portable device you chase heat room by room.
WiFi: the feature I ended up using the most
Of all the features, the one that convinced me most is the ability to activate it remotely. It may seem minor until you test it on a hot day. You switch it on about 30 minutes before you get home and, when you open the door, the room is already much more comfortable.
That change matters because it avoids the worst moment of a portable unit: arriving to a hot house, turning it on, and waiting for it to take effect. With WiFi, that waiting time is shortened. For me, it’s the clearest argument to choose this model over other simpler portables.
It’s also convenient if you’re on the couch, in bed, or working and don’t want to get up to change mode or temperature. But I insist: the differentiator is controlling it from outside the room with the app.
That said, there’s a limitation to keep in mind: I didn’t manage to integrate it with voice assistants like Alexa or Google Home. There might be a way through external automations, but from normal use with the OS Comfort app I didn’t find a hands-free control method. In my case, the phone ended up being the main remote.
Important clarification: WiFi doesn’t compensate for a poor hose installation or a too-large room. It’s a convenience feature, not a magical performance boost.
WiFi is one of the clearest reasons to choose this model if you plan to use it daily in summer, although I wouldn’t buy it expecting complete smart-home integration with Alexa or Google Home.
demanding use: when heat really bites
When heat is at its peak, the real limits of any portable unit become apparent. The Dolceclima Air Pro 13 A+ NW has muscle, but still depends on insulation, room size, floor orientation, and how well the hot air exit is placed.
Its advertised 13,000 BTU/h and 2.93 kW give it leeway over smaller portables. In a medium-sized room or a contained living area, you can feel it’s not working at the limit. But if you try to cool a larger open area or a space with many connected doors and direct sun, the effort increases and the results take longer to arrive.
My sense is that you should use it thoughtfully: close doors, prevent direct sun, position it near a well-sealed window, and don’t wait until the room is already at the limit to switch it on. If you start it early, it operates more efficiently and doesn’t always need to run at maximum.
Important clarification: I wouldn’t consider it a direct substitute for a fixed split for the whole house. It’s a powerful portable solution for a single room, not a whole-home climate system.
It has power, but it needs a controlled room to truly shine.
Design, size and ergonomics
The design stands out among many affordable portable units. It presents a clean look, an LCD panel, a remote, wheels, side handles, and a top outlet with a motorised blade. It isn’t a small device, but visually it looks more refined than other basic “penguin” portables.
The wheels help a lot for moving it within the same room or shifting it a few metres. The handles are handy as well. But don’t be deceived: with about 32 kg, it isn’t a device to lug up and down stairs or to move between rooms several times a day.
The hose is the element that most constrains aesthetics and placement. It is 1.5 m long, so you can’t put it wherever you want. It must live reasonably close to a window. Additionally, the hose heats up because it’s expelling hot air, something normal but important if space is tight.
Important clarification: “portable” means no fixed installation is required, not that it’s light. If you have limited space or want to store it daily, its dimensions and weight can end up bothering you.
It’s well-suited for its category, but you do need to know where it will stay installed.
Performance and key features
The main function is cooling, and here the official data are solid for a portable air conditioner: 2.93 kW nominal capacity, 13,000 BTU/h advertised, energy class A+ and EER 3.1. In real use: it has more margin than a small portable to lower the temperature of a room when the heat is intense.
The dehumidification of 3 L/h also makes sense. In summer, often what overwhelms isn’t just the thermometer but the humidity. When the environment is heavy, removing moisture helps the room feel more breathable.
The main modes have fairly clear purposes. Turbo to kick off strong when the room is very hot. Eco to keep a more reasonable temperature once you’ve reduced the heat. Silent/Sleep to soften operation when you don’t need maximum power. Auto/Blue Air to let the unit regulate airflow without constant manual adjustment.
The Pure system combines an electrostatic dust filter with a activated carbon odor filter. I see it as an interesting extra, but not as a substitute for a dedicated air purifier. Its main job remains climate control.
Its features aren’t decorative: WiFi, Turbo, Eco, Auto, dehumidification and filtration add real value if you’ll actually use it all summer.
Consumption, noise and heat
In terms of consumption, the A+ class and the EER of 3.1 are reassuring for a portable unit. The EER indicates the ratio of cooling delivered to energy consumed: the higher, the better. Still, a powerful portable air conditioner does not consume like a fan. If you use it for long hours during a heat wave, you’ll notice on your bill.
The smarter way to use it isn’t to keep it at maximum all the time, but to anticipate. Lower blinds, close doors, and switch it on before you get home or before the room overheats; it will work under better conditions. In my case, starting it about half an hour earlier from the app helped avoid always pushing it to the limit.
On noise, let’s be honest. The spec lists 50-52 dB(A) of sound pressure and 62 dB(A) of acoustic power. In a quiet room, you notice it. In a living room with some background noise, it’s more like ambient sound. For sleeping, it depends a lot on your sensitivity.
And then there’s the less technical, but very real detail: when outside heat is unbearable, you end up caring less about the noise of the air conditioner. It doesn’t disappear; your brain just negotiates that staying cool is worth it.
Important clarification: Silent does not mean absolute silence. In a portable unit, the compressor is in the room. If any buzzing keeps you awake, you might prefer cooling the bedroom before sleep and then turning it down or off. For all-night operation with minimal noise, a split remains the better option.
You also have to consider the heat from the hose. It’s expelling hot air, so it must be connected well and sealed as best as possible. If there are leaks around the window, some heat re-enters and the unit works less efficiently.
It consumes and sounds like what it is: a powerful portable air conditioner. The key is to anticipate and not use it constantly against a fully overheated room.
Check current price at PcComponentes
If this model isn’t available, you can check PcComponentes’ air-conditioning offers: in peak heat, portable units are stocked quickly and sometimes interesting alternatives appear among portable air conditioners, fans, air coolers, or other branded portable models.
View climate-control deals at PcComponentes
Frequently asked questions about the Dolceclima Air Pro 13 A+ NW
Will the Dolceclima Air Pro 13 A+ NW cool a living room?
Yes, it can cool a medium living room if it’s well insulated, doors closed, and the hose properly installed. I wouldn’t use it for large open spaces. Its 2.93 kW and 13,000 BTU/h help, but the result depends heavily on sun exposure, window quality, and actual room volume.
Is the Dolceclima Air Pro 13 A+ NW quiet?
It isn’t as quiet as a split. It lists 50-52 dB(A) sound pressure and 62 dB(A) acoustic power. In a living room it can be tolerable as background noise; for sleeping, it depends on your sensitivity. The Silent mode softens operation, but the compressor cannot be eliminated.
Does it require installation?
It doesn’t require renovation or a technician, but it does require routing the exhaust tube to a window. This point is key. If the outlet isn’t sealed properly, external heat will seep in and performance will drop. In tilt-and-turn windows you may need an additional accessory.
How much energy does this portable air conditioner consume?
It has A+ energy class and an EER of 3.1, good figures for a portable unit. Yet, a 2.93 kW cooling capacity doesn’t consume like a fan. The expense depends on usage hours, outside temperature, insulation and selected mode.
Is the WiFi app worth it?
Yes, especially if you want to switch it on before arriving home. In my use, activating it about 30 minutes earlier made a noticeable difference on the hottest days. It doesn’t increase cooling power, but it lets you start from a cooler room.
Is it suitable for sleeping?
It can be used for sleeping if you tolerate white noise and don’t require absolute silence. If you’re sensitive to sound, I’d cool the bedroom before bed and then reduce intensity or switch it off. For all-night sleeping with minimal noise, a split remains the better option.
What maintenance does it require?
Basic maintenance boils down to cleaning filters, checking the air outlet, keeping the hose properly positioned, and managing condensation according to use. It isn’t complicated, but don’t overlook it: a dirty filter or a poor air outlet can worsen performance.
