De'Longhi Pinguino EM90 ECO Portable Air Conditioner Review
Independent German lab testing found real cooling performance behind the 'Silent' name, but also nearly 60dB at full power — here's what's actually true, and how it stacks up against a plain fan from the same Irish retailer.
By KeepCoolExpert Team · Updated 26 August 2026
De'Longhi
De'Longhi Pinguino EM90 ECO Portable Air Conditioner, 9800 BTU
From €799.99
4.3★ (75 reviews) on Currys
Currently showing as sold out
- + 4.3★ from 75 reviews on Currys.ie — real, substantial social proof for the Pinguino range
- + Also works as a dehumidifier and a quiet-mode fan, not just cooling — useful across an Irish summer's more mixed weather
- + Class A energy rating and built-in wheels for moving it between rooms
- − Currently out of stock at Currys.ie — a genuine stock gap during peak season rather than a reflection on the product; Currys offers a back-in-stock email alert
- − At €799.99 it's a bigger outlay than budget single-hose units — reflects Ireland's more limited portable AC retail selection right now, not extra cooling power for the price
Our verdict
A genuinely capable portable AC — independent testing rated it 'good' overall, with strong cooling and sensible functionality (dehumidifier and fan modes included). The one place the marketing oversells it is the 'Silent' name: real max-power testing measured close to 60dB, which isn't silent by any reasonable definition, even though Quiet Mode does meaningfully cut that down.
This review is built from De’Longhi’s own published specifications, Currys.ie’s real, current listing data, and an independent German lab test (Etm Testmagazin) that measured the unit directly rather than relying on the manufacturer’s own claims — cross-checked rather than taken from a single source. We haven’t tested this unit ourselves.
Who it’s actually good for
If you want a portable air conditioner that genuinely lowers room temperature rather than just moving air around, independent testing backs this one up — strong cooling performance and sensible functionality earned it a “good” overall rating. The dehumidifier mode and fan-only mode add real flexibility across Ireland’s more mixed summer weather, not just on the handful of genuinely hot days.
Who should look elsewhere
If a bedroom-quiet unit is the priority, don’t take the “Silent” name at face value — see the noise section below. And if what you’re actually dealing with is a warm, still night rather than a real heatwave, a plain fan handles that more cheaply and is worth ruling out first.
What independent testing found
The unit performed well overall in hands-on testing — good cooling output, sensible controls, and functionality that holds up beyond the headline “it’s an air conditioner” pitch, including a genuinely useful dehumidifier mode and a lower-power fan-only setting. The gap between marketing and reality is noise: despite the “Silent” name, testing measured close to 60dB(A) at maximum fan speed — loud enough to notice clearly in a bedroom, not the quiet the name implies. Quiet Mode does meaningfully help, cutting noise by roughly 37%, which is a real, usable difference rather than a marketing footnote — but it’s a mode you have to actively choose, not the unit’s default behaviour.
The real numbers
- Cooling capacity: 9,800 BTU (2.5kW), rated for rooms up to 90m³
- Noise: up to ~60dB(A) at maximum fan speed in independent testing; Quiet Mode cuts this by roughly 37%
- Efficiency: Class A energy rating, R290 refrigerant
- Functions: cooling, dehumidifier, and fan-only modes; 3 fan speeds plus auto; 24-hour timer; remote control
- Portability: built-in wheels and carry handles
If you’re not sure a portable AC is the right category at all for your room, our room-size calculator accounts for your actual constraints rather than a generic BTU figure.
How it compares
Logik
Logik L16PFGM17 16-inch Pedestal Fan
From €49.99
4.4★ (953 reviews) on Currys
Currently showing as sold out
- + 953 reviews at 4.4★ on Currys.ie — one of the most-reviewed fans in the Irish market right now
- + Budget-friendly at €49.99, with pedestal height that suits a bedroom better than a small desk fan
- − Currently out of stock at Currys.ie, with only a back-in-stock email alert offered — no collection or delivery option right now
- − Only 3 speed settings — pricier pedestal fans (Duux, Meaco) offer far more granular control if that matters to you
Frequently asked questions
- Is the De'Longhi Pinguino EM90 actually 'Silent', as the name suggests?
- Not at full power. Independent testing measured close to 60dB(A) at maximum fan speed — genuinely loud, comparable to a busy office, not the quiet the 'Silent' branding implies. Quiet Mode brings that down by around 37%, which is a real and useful reduction, but it isn't the same claim as the name on the box. If you're planning to run it at full power in a room you're sleeping in, go in with that expectation rather than the marketing name.
- Is it worth €799.99, especially since it's currently out of stock?
- For the cooling performance and functionality, independent reviewers rated it favourably overall — it's not an inflated price for underwhelming performance. The bigger issue is that Ireland's portable AC retail selection is genuinely thinner than the UK's, so there's less to compare it against locally. Currys offers a back-in-stock email alert, which is the practical way to catch it when it returns.
- Do I need this, or would a fan actually be enough?
- Depends what you're dealing with. A fan doesn't lower a room's air temperature at all — it just helps you feel cooler — which is genuinely sufficient for most Irish summer nights, since true heatwaves are rare here. The Pinguino is the right call specifically when a fan isn't cutting it: a genuinely hot spell, a room that holds heat badly, or someone who needs reliable cooling regardless of the weather. See the fan below if you're not sure you need this much.