Let me start by saying this little blue gadget is NOT an AC replacement—repeat, NOT an AC. But after a summer of experimenting, here's the real tea.

First week: I treated it like a science project. Frozen filter? Meh. Ice cubes in the tank? Game-changer. The 'cooling' is really just a chilled mist fan, but when positioned 2 feet from my face during a heatwave, that peppermint-oil-infused breeze felt like a spa day.

Reality check: The LED 'nightlight' could guide ships at sea (I taped tissue over it). And yes, mine developed a mysterious leak in month 3—until I discovered Simple Green cleaner resurrected the clogged mist jets (weird hack that works).

Final verdict? At $30, it's overpriced for what it does. But as a portable personal cooler for my WFH desk or bedside? When used right (ice water refills every 4 hours, low fan setting), it's my weird little summer sidekick.