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Fri, 10 Jul 2026

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 'Cool in 90 seconds' - the fake portable air conditioners sweeping the internet

The ASA says adverts claiming small devices can rapidly cool rooms were too good to be true.

* Online adverts have been appearing for portable air conditioners claiming to be designed by former NASA engineers and can cool a room in 90 seconds.
* The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) has warned that these products often make exaggerated claims and are "too good to be true".
* YouTuber Stuart Matthews, who bought several devices to test them, found that one machine was just a small fan worth only a few pounds.
* The ASA says customers should be skeptical of adverts with promises that sound too good to be true, dramatic backstories, poor grammar and spelling mistakes, and fake customer reviews.
* Consumers are advised to research the retailer, check for genuine contact details and business address, and look for independent reviews rather than relying solely on testimonials on the seller's website.
* The ASA is monitoring online platforms to spot such adverts and issuing enforcement notices to advertisers who breach its rules.