Portacool APEX 500
For a small shop, garage bay or patio where floor space and noise matter and you want app control and a long warranty.
Amazon $1,096.37$1,096.37
3.2/5
A mid price cooler with strong airflow for a living room in a dry climate, filled by hand.
- 1,177 CFMAirflow
- 4.5 galTank
- 1 yearWarranty
Check price at Amazon$169.90
Price checked October 31, 2026. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Pros
- Strong 1177 CFM airflow for its 90 W draw
- Remote and automatic swing make it easy to point at a sofa or bed
- Honeycomb pad holds more water than thin fiber pads, so the air comes out cooler
Cons
- No published coverage area, so sizing it to a room is guesswork
- Filled by hand only; no garden hose hookup
- Amazon advertises 1800 CFM, well above the maker’s own rating
How it scores
The rating comes from 5 measured or published factors, each scored 0-100 against fixed reference points for its airflow. How we rank explains each one.
Specifications
| Model number | SLACLW17 |
|---|---|
| Cooling | |
| Airflow | 1,177 CFM |
| Cooling pads | Rigid cellulose |
| Tank | 4.5 gal |
| Hose hookup | No |
| Controls and build | |
| Fan speeds | 3 |
| Oscillation | Yes |
| Remote | Yes |
| Power draw | 90 W |
| Weight | 16.5 lb |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Released | 2026-05-26 |
Alternatives in this airflow
Newair NEC1K6WH00
A strong, efficient cooler from an established brand for a large dry climate room, at a premium price.
Newair $369.99$369.99
SereneLife SLACSW538
A large room cooler with a big tank, app control and a remote for dry climates. Judge it by the maker’s 1059 CFM, not the Amazon headline.
Amazon $199.90$199.90
Compare
Compare the SereneLife SLACLW17 with any other evaporative cooler →
More from SereneLife: every SereneLife product ranked.