Libiyi Cooling Ace Review: Is It Worth It?

If you’re reading this, your social media feed has probably been flooded with ads for the Libiyi Cooling Ace. You’ve seen the videos of people looking blissfully cool, and you’re wondering if this sleek, “bladeless” tower is the cheap, energy-saving miracle you’ve been waiting for.

My main intent here is to save you the trouble, the money, and the disappointment. I’ve been in your shoes. I bought it. I was desperate for a solution. As a real user, I am telling you to stop, close that tab, and do not buy this product. It is not what it claims to be.

My Experience With Libiyi Cooling Ace

My home office is my personal sauna. It’s a small 10×10 room, it gets all the brutal afternoon sun, and my central AC (an old, inefficient beast) just can’t keep up without turning the rest of my house into an arctic tundra. Running a window unit is too loud for my Zoom calls, and my electric bill is already giving me anxiety. So, I was the perfect target for the Libiyi Cooling Ace.

The ads were brilliant. They showed this futuristic, Dyson-looking bladeless fan.

They called it a “3-in-1” device: a “portable air conditioner,” a fan, and a humidifier. The marketing words were a siren song: “instant cooling,” “whisper-quiet,” “rechargeable battery,” “energy-saving.”

It wasn’t just a fan; it was a “personal climate” device. It was everything I wanted. I was skeptical, but the heat wave was relentless, and my desperation won.

I clicked “Buy Now” on a website with a “50% Off Today Only!” timer.

A week later, a box arrived. It was… tiny. And incredibly light. My heart sank a little.

When I unboxed it, the “premium” device from the videos felt like cheap, brittle, lightweight plastic. It was a glorified toy.

But, I thought, “Maybe the magic is on the inside.” I found the tiny water tank in the base and a long, green “cooling cartridge” that looked like a sponge.

The instructions were simple: fill the tank with water, soak the cartridge, and turn it on. For an “extra cooling boost,” they said to use ice. I was all-in. I filled the tank with ice-cold water, crammed in as many ice cubes as would fit, and soaked the cartridge. I placed it on my desk, about three feet from my face, and hit the power button.

For the first thirty minutes, I was a genius. It was magical. A focused, steady stream of genuinely cold air was hitting me right in the face. It was ice-cold. It was whisper-quiet. I was working, I was comfortable, and I was convinced I had found the ultimate life-hack.

Then, the magic died. After about an hour, I noticed the air wasn’t “ice-cold” anymore. It was just… “cool.” After another 30 minutes, it was just a regular fan. A weak one. I checked the tank. The ice was gone, and the water was now lukewarm. I realized the entire cooling effect I had paid for was just the melting ice I had provided myself.

But then, the real problem started. I live in an area with moderate humidity (about 60% in the summer). After three days of running this thing, my office didn’t just feel warm; it felt damp. My papers on the desk felt sticky. The air felt heavy and oppressive. I had, in effect, created a tiny, personal swamp in my 10×10 room.

This is when I did the research I should have done first. The Libiyi Cooling Ace is not an air conditioner. It is an evaporative cooler, or a “swamp cooler.” It works by blowing air over a wet sponge. It’s a 10,000-year-old technology. And it has one, massive, fatal flaw: it only works in dry, arid climates. In a humid environment, it just adds more humidity.

I felt like a fool. I had been completely duped by slick marketing. This wasn’t a “Cooling Ace”; it was a “Personal Humidifier.” It now lives in my closet, and I’m back to using a $20 box fan, which, honestly, works better.

Pros Of Libiyi Cooling Ace

I’m going to be honest, finding genuine “pros” is difficult, as the entire product is built on a foundation of deceptive marketing. But, if I’m being generous, I can point to a few features that are as-advertised, even if the main function is a failure. These are the claims that are technically true.

Claim: It’s a “Personal Spot Cooler”: I have to give it this. For the first 30-45 minutes if you use ice-cold water and ice cubes, it does work. The stream of air that comes out is noticeably colder than a regular fan. It’s a “spot cooler.” It cools you, not the room. If you aim it directly at your face from two feet away, you will feel a blast of icy-cold, moist air that a regular fan cannot replicate. If your singular goal is to cool your person for a very short period of time, it does that. It’s a “me” machine, not a “room” machine.
Claim: It is Genuinely “Whisper-Quiet”: This is 100% true and, frankly, its best feature. On its lowest setting, it’s virtually silent. On its highest, it’s just a gentle “whoosh” of air. This makes it a fantastic idea for a bedside or office companion, where the loud drone of a real air conditioner compressor would be disruptive. I had no problem taking Zoom calls with it running right next to my microphone. It’s just a shame the air it was blowing was making my office more uncomfortable.
Claim: It is Extremely Energy Efficient: This is also true. It is not an air conditioner, and it does not have an AC’s power bill. It’s a tiny, low-wattage fan and a tiny, almost-non-existent water pump. It sips electricity. It often runs on a 5V USB cord. You could run this 24/7 and barely see a blip on your power bill. If you’re trying to get through a heatwave without tripling your bill, using this for personal cooling is a very “green” and cost-effective choice… if you live in a desert.
Claim: The Design is “Portable” and “Rechargeable”: This is another genuine win. Many models, including the one I bought, come with a built-in rechargeable battery. This is a brilliant feature. I could take it out onto my covered (and very hot) patio, into the garage, or use it during a power outage. It’s not tied to a wall outlet. It’s lightweight and truly portable. The bladeless, tower-fan design is also sleek, modern, and genuinely safer for a home with kids or pets. The design is great; the technology inside it is the problem.
Claim: It’s a “Humidifier”: This was the “con” that I realized was a “pro” in the wrong season. In the summer, it was my worst enemy. But in the dead of winter, when my furnace is running 24/7 and the air is bone-dry? This thing is a fantastic personal humidifier. It adds that much-needed moisture back into my personal space, which is great for my sinuses and skin. It’s a two-season device, just not in the way it’s advertised.

Cons Of Libiyi Cooling Ace

This is the most important part of this review. This is where I tell you why I am so adamant that you should not buy this product. The list of “cons” isn’t just a list; it’s a pile-up of deal-breakers, deceptive marketing, and fundamental scientific flaws.

It is NOT an Air Conditioner: This is the original sin of this product. The entire marketing campaign is a lie. They use the words “Air Conditioner” and “Mini AC” to intentionally deceive you. An Air Conditioner (AC) is a complex machine that uses a compressor and a refrigerant (like Freon) to remove heat and humidity from an enclosed space.¹ It’s a closed-loop system that produces cold, dry air. The Libiyi is an Evaporative Cooler.² It is a fan and a wet sponge. It adds humidity to the air. These are the literal, scientific opposites. It will never lower the ambient temperature of a room.
It Fails Miserably in Humidity (The “Swamp Cooler” Problem): This is the fatal flaw. Evaporative cooling only works when the air is dry enough to accept the water vapor. It works on the same principle as sweating—the evaporation has a cooling effect. If the air is already saturated with moisture (i.e., it’s a humid day), evaporation can’t happen. All the Libiyi does is add more water to the air, making it feel sticky, “swampy,” heavy, and even hotter than before. If your humidity is above 50%, this device will actively make you less comfortable.
The “White-Label” Drop-Shipping Problem: As soon as I realized I’d been had, I did some digging. “Libiyi” is not a real, established electronics company. It’s a “white-label” name. The exact same plastic shell, with the exact same cartridge, is sold under dozens of different names: “Arctos,” “ChillWell,” “Serum Cooling Ace,” “Shirem,” and so on. They are all drop-shipped from the same overseas factories. This is a massive con. It means there is no real customer support. There is no real warranty. The “30-Day Money-Back Guarantee” is a joke; the return shipping address is often in China and costs more than the product itself. You are buying a disposable, unsupported, anonymous product.
It’s a “Mold-Magnet” That Stinks: That “cooling cartridge” I mentioned? It’s a porous, cellulose sponge. And it is constantly wet. This is a perfect, five-star, all-inclusive resort for mold and mildew. After about a week of use, I started to notice a “funky,” “musty,” “swampy” smell. That was the smell of mold spores growing in the filter, which the fan was then blowing directly into my face. It’s disgusting and a potential health hazard.
Constant, High-Maintenance Upkeep: The “magic” of the cold air is 100% dependent on you feeding it ice. That tiny water tank, combined with the ice, gives you 45-60 minutes of “cold” at best. Then you’re back to just a fan. You become a slave to the device, constantly running back and forth to the freezer and the sink. It’s not a “set it and forget it” device; it’s a “babysit it constantly” device.
Cheap, Brittle, Toy-Like Construction: This thing feels cheap. The plastic is thin. The buttons are clicky and unsatisfying. The water tank door feels like it’s going to snap off. I live in fear of dropping it, because I am certain it would shatter into a dozen pieces. It is not a “durable” product, despite the marketing. It is a disposable one.

Maintenance Tips For Libiyi Cooling Ace

I cannot, in good conscience, recommend you buy this. But I know some of you already have, or you will anyway. If you are stuck with one, or if you live in a genuine desert like Arizona (the only place this should be sold), here is how you must maintain it to prevent it from becoming a smelly, moldy paperweight.

Rule #1: You MUST Dry the Filter Daily: This is the most important rule. You cannot let it sit wet overnight. Mold and mildew can start growing in that cartridge in as little as 24 hours. At the end of every day, empty the water tank and run the unit on “Fan Only” mode (with the “cool” or “mist” function off) for at least 30-60 minutes. This will blow air through the cartridge and completely dry it out. A dry filter is a mold-free filter.
Rule #2: Empty and Dry the Tank After Every Use: Never, ever let water sit stagnant in the tank. This is a science experiment for bacteria and slime. When you’re done for the day, empty the tank, wipe it dry with a paper towel, and let it air out. This prevents that gross, pinkish bio-slime from forming.
Rule #3: The Weekly Vinegar “Soak and Rinse”: This is your deep-clean. Once a week (or more, if you smell any musty odor), you have to kill the gunk. Fill a small bowl or tray with a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water. Submerge the removable “cooling cartridge” (not the whole machine!) in this solution and let it soak for 30-60 minutes. The vinegar is a natural disinfectant and will kill any budding mold. It will also help descale the hard-water mineral deposits that will clog the filter.
Rule #4: Use Distilled Water If Possible: This is a pro-tip. The tap water in my area is very hard. After two weeks, I could already see white, crusty, calcium deposits building up on the green filter. This is called “scaling” or “calcification,” and it will clog the filter’s pores, making it unable to absorb water. Using distilled water (which has no minerals) will prevent this almost entirely and dramatically extend the life of your filter.
Rule #5: Know When to Replace the Cartridge: That filter is a consumable. It is not a “forever” filter. The marketing won’t tell you this, but you will have to replace it. Depending on your water quality and how often you use it, that cartridge will last 3-6 months, at best. After that, it will either be too caked with minerals or too “funky” to clean.
Rule #6: The Catch-22 of Replacement Parts: Good luck. Since “Libiyi” isn’t a real company, finding an “official” replacement filter is a total nightmare. You’ll be searching for a generic equivalent, hoping it fits, from a random website. This is part of the business model. They want you to buy a whole new unit next summer.

Comparison With Other Brands

Libiyi Cooling Ace vs. Other “White-Label” Clones (Arctos, ChillWell, etc.): I want to be crystal clear. These are the same product. They come from the same factories and are sold by different drop-shipping marketers. “Arctos,” “ChillWell,” “Libiyi,” and the dozens of other names you see are identical. They all have the same cheap plastic shell, the same green “mold-magnet” cartridge, and the same deceptive marketing. There is no “better” one. They are all equally bad.
Libiyi Cooling Ace vs. “Pro” Evaporative Coolers (Hessaire, Honeywell): This is a comparison between a toy and a tool. Brands like Hessaire and Honeywell make real evaporative coolers.³ These are 2-3 foot tall, 40-pound beasts with huge fans, 10-gallon water tanks, and powerful pumps. A Hessaire can actually cool a 900 sq. ft. patio, garage, or workshop… if you live in a dry climate. The Libiyi is a tiny, 10-watt, desktop toy that tries (and fails) to use the same science.
Libiyi Cooling Ace vs. a True Portable Air Conditioner (Midea, Whynter, LG): This is the comparison the marketers want you to make, and it’s the one they lose the hardest. A real portable AC (like a Midea Duo or a Whynter) is a 70-pound machine. It has a compressor. It uses refrigerant. It has a giant exhaust hose you must vent out a window. It is loud. It is expensive. It uses a lot of electricity. But… it works. It will take your 85°F, 90% humidity room and make it 70°F and dry. It removes humidity. The Libiyi is a quiet, cheap, low-energy fan that adds humidity. They are not in the same category, and it’s a scam that they are marketed as such.

Also Read: My Thoughts On Dreo Cruiser Pro T1 Tower Fan

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do those portable air conditioners really work?

This is the key. True portable air conditioners (the big, heavy ones with an exhaust hose) absolutely work. They will cool a room. The small, desktop “mini-ACs” that just use water (like the Libiyi) do not work as air conditioners. They are evaporative coolers and will fail in humidity.

Does the Arctic Air Chill Zone actually work?

“Arctic Air” is another one of these white-label brands, just like Libiyi. It “works” in the same, limited way: it’s a personal evaporative cooler that will blow a small stream of cool, moist air at you. It will not cool a room and will make a humid room feel worse.

How does a cooling ace work?

It works using “evaporative cooling.” It has a small fan that blows air through a wet filter or cartridge. As the water in the filter evaporates, it pulls heat from the air, making the air that comes out feel cooler. This only works in very dry, arid air. In humid air, no evaporation can happen, so it just becomes a fan that blows mist.

What is the number one rated portable air conditioner?

The “number one” spot changes, but top-rated brands that real review sites consistently recommend are Midea (especially their “Duo” hose-in-hose models, which are more efficient), Whynter, and LG. These are all true air conditioners with compressors and exhaust hoses.

Conclusion

My final verdict is simple. Do not buy the Libiyi Cooling Ace. It’s a “scam” in the sense that its marketing is deeply deceptive. It is not an air conditioner. It’s a weak, personal-sized swamp cooler that only works in deserts. If you live in a humid area, it will make your life worse. You are paying a premium price for a cheap, plastic, unsupported, white-label toy that will likely be a smelly, moldy paperweight in a month. Save your money. Buy a high-quality $30 Vornado fan, or invest in a real portable air conditioner with an exhaust hose.