PortaSplit 2027: what the R290 successor changes

The EU F-gas Regulation requires a gradual phase-out of climate-damaging refrigerants. R32 has a global warming potential (GWP) of 675, propane (R290) only 3. Since 2025, a GWP limit of 150 has applied to portable monoblock units – which is why almost all new monoblocks run on R290. Stricter limits for split systems below 12 kW follow from 2027, which is why Midea is switching the PortaSplit successor entirely to R290.

R290 is flammable, but has been proven in household appliances for years (fridges, monoblocks). For a mobile split, this means smaller refrigerant charges and changes to the line and connector – one reason why the switch takes time.

According to the announcement, the indoor unit gets a newly designed, removable and self-cleaning water filter – the answer to the P1 errors of the current generation. The outdoor unit is being fundamentally redesigned: a new base plate is meant to drain condensate at much higher pressure, allowing longer drain hoses without backflow. A revised Cool version without heating is to follow later.

The 2026 model, by contrast, is a facelift: it adds Matter support for integration with Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa and SmartThings, but technically remains the R32 unit.

If you want cooling in summer 2026 or spring 2027, buy the current model – it is mature, often discounted and will still be supplied with spare parts after the model change. If you are not buying until 2027 anyway, wait for the successor: R290 is future-proof, and condensate drainage was the biggest point of criticism. With the model change, remaining stock of the current generation is likely to get cheap in spring 2027 – the price history on our product page will show it.

Confirmed so far: R290 refrigerant, redesigned condensate drainage with a self-cleaning water filter, a new outdoor unit with a stronger condensate pump, a European launch in the second or third quarter of 2027 and a later Cool version without heating. At IFA 2026, Midea did not show a finished unit but announced the switch.

Still open: whether cooling capacity and dimensions stay the same, whether the refrigerant line remains plug-in and pre-filled, how R290 affects weight and price, and whether current accessories – window seals, outdoor-unit brackets – remain compatible. We will update this article as soon as Midea releases details.

The current PortaSplit relies on its flat refrigerant line, which fits through a tilted window sash. With R290, safety standards require smaller charges and in some cases different connection technology. If the line becomes thicker or the connection changes, today's window seals and pass-throughs will no longer automatically fit. If you buy accessories now, buy them for the current unit rather than stocking up for 2027.

Model changes in the air-conditioning market follow a recurring pattern: retailers clear the old generation in spring before the new one arrives – often with big discounts, because nobody wants to store last year's stock over the summer. At the same time, the new generation is scarce and expensive in its first season. For buyers, that means the current model will probably be cheaper than ever in spring 2027, while the successor will tend to be expensive in its first summer. Our price history shows when it starts.

If you don't want to wait and the new refrigerant matters to you, R290 units have long been available among monoblocks: De'Longhi has switched its entire Pinguino range, and Comfee, Trotec and Klarstein also ship current models with propane. Among mobile splits the choice is thin – the Remko RKL 495 DC still uses R32. We are currently extracting the “refrigerant” attribute from product titles; where it is missing, check the spec sheet.

Behind the refrigerant switch is Regulation (EU) 2024/573, in force since March 2024. It reduces the quantity of fluorinated greenhouse gases available in the EU year by year and bans their use in certain product groups from fixed deadlines. Since 2025, plug-in monoblock air conditioners may only use refrigerants with a GWP below 150 – hence R290 (GWP 3). For split systems below 12 kW, limits on high-GWP refrigerants apply from 2027, with further tightening from 2029; by 2035, F-gases are set to largely disappear from new air conditioners.

For you as a buyer, this does not mean that a unit with R32 will be banned – existing units may continue to be operated and serviced. But R32 prices are rising as the quota shrinks, and refrigeration technicians are reluctant to top it up. A new unit with R290 is the simpler choice.

A side effect of the switch: because R290 is flammable, units may only contain a limited amount of refrigerant depending on the room size. For portable units with a charge of a few hundred grams this makes no difference in normal living spaces – the standard merely requires that the unit is not operated in very small, windowless rooms and that there are no ignition sources right next to it. The user manual states the exact minimum room size.

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