When the Kiwi summer finally kicks in, it does not tap you politely on the shoulder. It rolls in hard, with sticky afternoons, restless nights, and that uncomfortable moment where you realise opening every window in the house and getting your kit off has done absolutely nothing. Whether you are working from home, binge-watching, or trying to sleep through a humid night, cooling your space should not be a mission.
Portable air conditioners are the quiet MVPs of summer. No installation, no fuss, no awkward landlord conversations. And right now, two models at PB Tech stand out for anyone wanting a balance of compact design, genuinely effective cooling, and Italian-designed polish that does not ruin your room aesthetic.
Meet Olimpia Splendid’s Dolceclima Compact 8 P and Dolceclima Compact 10 SW WiFi. Compact, capable, and surprisingly stylish options for beating the heat without breaking the bank.
Olimpia Splendid Dolceclima Compact 8 P
If you are working with a smaller space but do not want to compromise on performance, the Compact 8 P hits that sweet spot beautifully.
This unit packs 2.1kW of cooling power into a footprint that is honestly impressive. Just 70cm tall and 35cm wide, which is seriously compact for something that can cool, dehumidify, and run as a standalone fan. It nails that slot it anywhere convenience. Combined with its 360-degree rotation, you can wheel it from the living room to the bedroom without doing that awkward tilt, drag, swear quietly routine other portables demand.
Even at this size, it delivers proper functionality.
It offers 3-in-1 performance with cooling, dehumidifying, and fan modes. There is a 24-hour timer for set and forget comfort, plus a remote control so you do not have to get up once you have found that perfect couch groove. It is also a Good Design Award winner, so it looks the part.
The build feels solid, and the 3-year warranty gives real confidence that it will last multiple summers. It is perfect for small bedrooms, home offices, or apartments where floor space is precious and every centimetre counts. You can run it while working, sleeping, or gaming. It is designed to blend in quietly while doing the heavy lifting.
If you have ever wished your fan could actually lower the temperature instead of just blowing hot air around, this is the upgrade.
Olimpia Splendid Dolceclima Compact 10 SW WiFi
If the Compact 8 P is the practical option, the Compact 10 SW WiFi is the smart, modern, why did I not buy this sooner pick.
This model bumps cooling performance up to 2.6kW or 9000 BTU and covers areas up to 20 square metres, making it ideal for medium sized rooms or open living spaces where lesser portables struggle. The real draw, though, is its built in Wi-Fi control.
With app control, you can cool your space before you even walk in the door. Heading home from work, sorted. Rolling back from the gym, perfect timing. Stuck under the covers at 3am, overheated and annoyed, just grab your phone.
Other genuinely useful features include Follow Me mode where the remote becomes a thermostat so the unit cools the actual spot you are sitting or sleeping, two fan speeds to fine tune airflow, and a 24 hour timer. It also keeps things compact at 29.5 x 70.5 x 29.3 cm, with a lightweight 23.5kg build.
Noise sits at 64dB, which is fairly standard for a portable of this class, but the overall efficiency and compact design make it feel more refined. As with the 8 P, the 3-year warranty adds extra peace of mind.
This is the ideal choice for anyone who loves convenience and smart home control or just wants a portable air conditioner that works quietly in the background without constant fiddling.
So which one is right for you?
Choose the Compact 8 P if you want a highly compact unit for bedrooms, small lounges, offices, or apartments, great cooling performance with a smaller footprint, and a more budget friendly option that still punches above its size.
Choose the Compact 10 SW WiFi if you want bigger cooling output for medium sized rooms, app based smart control, set and forget comfort with Follow Me temperature accuracy, and a future ready, modern portable air conditioner experience.
Time to cool off…
Portable air conditioners are low commitment, high impact summer lifesavers, and Olimpia Splendid has absolutely nailed the formula. Whether you prefer the compact practicality of the 8 P or the smart enabled convenience of the 10 SW WiFi, both models deliver instant, installation free comfort when the heat hits hard.
