Real models and CHF price references
Individual observations from the Swiss market, not a market average or Freath selling prices. These are not offers. Availability, accessories and delivery need checking again at purchase.
| Model | Listed specifications | Indicative market price | Status when reviewed | Freath assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trotec PAC 3810 S | Monoblock · 3.8 kW · up to 50 m² | CHF 599.– | 2026-09-14 · On order, delivery date to verify | 50 m² is the listed boundary, not a promise under all conditions. Read the Trotec PAC 3810 S model page |
| Midea PortaSplit | Portable split · 3.5 kW · up to 40–42 m² | CHF 1’957.90 | 2026-09-15 · Third-party stock listed when reviewed | Explicit boundary example: listed at 40–42 m², not a guaranteed solution for 50 m². Read the Midea PortaSplit model page |
Selected by configuration and advertised maximum area. No in-house measurements or guarantee for your room. The PortaSplit’s differing 40/42 m² figures and the PAC 3810 S’s older delivery message remain points to check. Freath does not currently sell these models.
Understand the space
A 50 m² space can have a substantial load when heat enters through the roof or large windows. An online estimate is only a starting point. Consider shading, air distribution and solutions appropriate to the building.
| W/m³ | kW | BTU/h |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 3.75 | 12,795 |
| 40 | 5.00 | 17,060 |
| 50 | 6.25 | 21,325 |
Match the setup to your use
For FREATH ONE as for other models, coverage must be read with its conditions. A maximum floor area does not guarantee results for a sunny 50 m² space or several separate rooms. Check the product page, assess each room separately and seek a professional assessment if your home falls outside the simple assumptions.
A transparent starting estimate
At 50 m² with a 2.5 m ceiling, our central assumption of 40 W/m³ gives 5.0 kW of cooling, about 17,060 BTU/h before the sunlight adjustment. This is an educational scenario, not a product recommendation. Adjust the assumptions in the calculator.
Check before buying
Window type and compatible kit; hose route; footprint and clearances; capacity and test method; noise at the setting you will use; electrical input. Even a well-sized unit depends on an appropriate installation.
Compare assumptions, not just floor area
The table keeps ceiling height at 2.5 m and sunlight factor at 1, varying only the thermal assumption between 30, 40 and 50 W/m³. These are not certified building categories. They show why one floor-area number cannot reliably select a capacity or a particular model.
Observe how the room changes during the day
Record when sunlight reaches the room, what shading is available and which equipment is running. An open door to a kitchen or corridor changes the space actually being treated. Compare your most demanding use with an ordinary day. If they differ substantially, an average may conceal discomfort at the time that matters most.
Turn an estimate into a product decision
Next, check the manufacturer’s capacity and test conditions, then consider noise, window setup and electrical input. Do not pick a unit simply because the BTU number in its name exceeds the estimate. A nominal rating and a calculation scenario do not together guarantee an achieved room temperature.
Translate floor area into the volume you will cool
A 50 m² room with a 2.5 m ceiling contains 125 m³. Raise the ceiling to 3 m and the volume becomes 150 m³, even though the floor area stays the same. Measure the actual height and note any open staircase or gallery connected to the room. For a sloping ceiling, use a reasonable average height rather than only its highest point. Volume does not capture the entire heat load, but it exposes a useful assumption. It prevents you from comparing your space with an advertised coverage figure based on an unknown ceiling height or a completely different room layout.
Use three scenarios rather than one precise-looking answer
For 125 m³, our educational assumptions of 30, 40 and 50 W per cubic metre give 3.75, 5.00 and 6.25 kW of cooling before the sunlight adjustment. These figures are not a sizing standard or certified minimum capacities. They show how sensitive the estimate is to the assumptions. Use the middle scenario as a starting point and write down what makes your room different: roof exposure, external blinds, large windows or equipment producing heat. Selecting the lowest figure simply to fit a cheap unit into the result is not a sound decision. Unusual conditions require a closer assessment of the building.
Separate purchase cost from the cost of running the unit
A price for an air conditioner serving 50 m² may exclude suitable window accessories. Make separate budget lines for the appliance, compatible installation parts and electricity. As an example, an average electrical draw of 1 kW over six hours uses 6 kWh. At an assumed CHF 0.30/kWh, that costs CHF 1.80 per day, or CHF 36 across twenty identical days. This is not measured consumption for any model in the table, and the tariff is not a Swiss universal rate. Use your own electricity price. Equal cooling capacities do not necessarily mean equal operating costs in your particular installation.
Rehearse the installation before placing an order
Mark the appliance footprint on the floor and add the clearances specified in its manual. Check whether the door can still open and whether you can reach the bed, desk and storage without stepping over a hose. Then plan the heat outlet. Wheels make a monoblock movable but do not remove the need for a sensible exhaust route. The sealing kit must fit the actual window dimensions and opening mechanism; a universal label alone does not establish compatibility. For a portable split, check the route of the connecting line and a secure outdoor-unit position instead. Resolve these points before purchasing.
Make a home trial answer a specific question
If the return terms allow a trial, decide beforehand what you want to observe. Record temperature at the same point away from the cold air jet, along with time, weather, shading and target temperature. Listen from your normal seat or sleeping position and check how easily you can reach the filter. Fast cooling immediately beside the outlet does not describe comfort across the room. Your observations will not be equivalent to a standardised laboratory test, but they can expose awkward placement, intrusive noise or controls that do not suit your routine. Judge the appliance against the use you actually planned.
Keep unknown specifications visibly unknown
A missing specification is not an advantage. A page with no electrical-input figure does not establish low consumption, and an omitted noise figure does not establish quiet operation. Ask for the exact variant, the operating mode behind a measurement and a complete accessories list. Freath model pages separate documented information from questions that still need checking before purchase. Market price references are dated observations. They are neither Freath selling prices nor promises that a unit will be available at that amount when you order. A familiar brand name also cannot replace checking the documentation for the exact model you are considering.
Distinguish a 50 m² dwelling from one open room
The total area of a 50 m² flat may include several rooms and a corridor. One air outlet will not automatically distribute cooling evenly through the doors. Identify the priority rooms and their actual dimensions. If only the bedroom needs to be comfortable at night, considering that smaller volume can lead to a different solution. If all rooms must be cooled together, make that requirement explicit at the outset. Do not simply add their areas and assume that a portable unit advertised for the total will handle the whole home. Distribution and different room schedules are part of the task too.
Why a model below 50 m² appears here
The Trotec PAC 3810 S is documented up to 50 m², placing it at the commercial limit of this search. The Midea PortaSplit is retained as an explicit boundary example: coverage up to 42 m² is not a promise for 50 m². It illustrates the difference between an interesting configuration and a supported coverage claim. We do not recommend it for the entire 50 m² based on this information. If you reduce the target zone, size that new area separately. Ignoring the smaller figure because the unit is a split would imply suitability that the available evidence does not establish.
Know when to seek a more detailed assessment
A hot roof or extensive glazing can push the situation beyond a simple volume-based estimate. Gather the layout, ceiling height, orientation and shading details before seeking advice. For a fixed system, a quotation must distinguish equipment, installation and any necessary approvals; its total is not directly comparable with an appliance-only portable price. In rented accommodation, clarify consent before planning alterations. If a different installation is not feasible, consider defining a smaller comfort zone. That is a clearer decision than expecting complete cooling that cannot be supported by the available specifications. Make the intended result part of the discussion, not an assumption.
Compare complete quotations on the same basis
If you seek advice on alternatives, specify the same target area and operating hours in each request. Ask what installation work and accessories are included, and separate those costs from the appliance itself. A cheaper incomplete quotation cannot be compared fairly with a complete proposal. Keep unanswered questions visible until the scope and expected result are clear.
Sources and methodology
These sources explain the technical context. They do not validate FREATH ONE or our calculator assumptions.
U.S. Department of Energy — Portable Air ConditionersOFEN / BFE — Étiquette-énergie / EnergieetiketteMieterverband — tenant rights and air conditioning (in German)