Whynter
Whynter ARC-14S
$499
Best Portable Air Conditioners · head-to-head
Whynter ARC-14S vs Black+Decker BPACT14WT
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Black+Decker BPACT14WT is cheaper at $470. Every spec and price links to its source.
Black+Decker
Black+Decker BPACT14WT
$470Cheaper
Which is better: the Whynter ARC-14S or Black+Decker BPACT14WT?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Black+Decker BPACT14WT is the cheaper at $470.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices verified at capture; live price may differ.
Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Whynter ARC-14S | Black+Decker BPACT14WT |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $499 | $470 |
| Brand | Whynter | Black+Decker |
| Released | — | — |
| Cooling btu ashrae | 14000 | 14000 |
| Cooling btu sacc | 9500 | 7700 |
| Coverage (sq ft) | 500 | 700 |
| Hose config | dual | single |
| Heat mode | No | No |
| Smart Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Noise dba | 56 | — |
| Release | — | — |
Sources — Whynter ARC-14S: amazon.com (verified 2026-06-19). Black+Decker BPACT14WT: blackanddecker.com (verified 2026-06-19).
What's the difference between the Whynter ARC-14S and Black+Decker BPACT14WT?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (3 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Cooling btu sacc: Whynter ARC-14S 9500 vs Black+Decker BPACT14WT 7700
- Coverage (sq ft): Whynter ARC-14S 500 vs Black+Decker BPACT14WT 700
- Hose config: Whynter ARC-14S dual vs Black+Decker BPACT14WT single
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Whynter ARC-14S
Only one whitelisted hands-on tester, Reviewed (USA Today), yielded a verifiable review of the exact ARC-14S. In its 200-sq-ft lab chamber it dropped temperature 22°F in 20 minutes and praised the eco-friendly parts (CFC-free refrigerant, RoHS lead-free components), but flagged weak portability (last place, no handles to grip) and slow whole-room cooling (outer sensors needed roughly another 20 minutes to reach maintenance temperature). All three quotes and the measured cooling value were verified as literal matches in the fetched article. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Decent cooling performance — lab test dropped temp 22°F in 20 minutes; Eco-friendly parts (CFC-free refrigerant, RoHS lead-free components).
Flagged: Poor portability — finished bottom of the pack, no handles to grip; Slow to cool a whole room (outer sensors took ~40 min total to reach maintenance temp).
Black+Decker BPACT14WT
Only one whitelisted tester yielded a live, verbatim review of this exact model: Wirecutter's hands-on test (syndicated via Engadget), which names the BPACT14WT its budget pick — best-in-price-range cooling but the loudest unit they tested. TechGearLab was down and Reviewed tested only the 8,000-BTU BPACT08WT, so both were excluded. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Best cooling performance in its price range; Cheapest unit that still cleared their power and efficiency thresholds (EER 9.86, SACC 7,500).
Flagged: Loud — measured 64 dB on low fan up to 66 dB on high, with the most uneven, headache-inducing frequency spread of the finalists; Clunky touch controls with no tactile feedback and a panel that bows when pressed; Screwdriver required to install the window panel and remove filters; cheap-feeling casters.