I was recently online when I noticed something strange: an ad for a product called the ChillWell that used a screenshot from one of my older videos. The kicker? I never reviewed the ChillWell. The image was from my 2018 review of the Arctic Air. So if my hand is going to be in your ad, I figure I should at least see if your product actually works. I ordered the ChillWell 2.0 myself, and with shipping and an insurance fee (that I don’t remember selecting), I paid $113.93 total. Let’s unbox it and see what it’s all about.
Cost
I bought the ChillWell 2.0 from the official website. There is also an Amazon listing here. Humorously, it shows the “list” price as $199.98 for one unit, crossed out and “marked down” to $89.99 – a 50% savings! My total bill was $113.93, broken down as follows:
ChillWell 2.0 – $89.99
Shipping – $10.99
Tax – $7.54
Total 1 – $108.52
InsureShip – $4.99
Tax – $0.42
Total 2 – $5.41
I don’t recall selecting or even having an option for this elusive InsureShip, but it was displayed as a separate charge on my order.
First Impressions: Ontel Mystery
Right away, the packaging didn’t inspire confidence. The box simply reads “Deluxe Portable Air Cooler” with no mention of “ChillWell” anywhere. The unit itself also has no branding, and the tag on the bottom repeats the same generic label, listing Ontel as the company. Ontel is a big name in the As Seen on TV world, but this product, along with its website and marketing, doesn’t quite align with my past experience with their offerings. It’s unclear whether this is officially licensed, repackaged, or just overstock being resold under a different name.
Ironically, Ontel is the company that makes Arctic Air family of products – so the mystery deepens even further regarding the branding, name, spammy website, and price.
When I opened the box, it got worse: flimsy plastic and a build that reminded me of countless Arctic Air-style units I’ve tested over the years, only at triple the price.
The product claims to offer:
- “Rapid powerful cooling”
- A dual-action humidifier and cooler
- Three power modes
- Lower electricity bills
It includes a 550ml water tank, rechargeable battery, USB-C cable, and promises up to 10 hours of runtime. Online, it has a whopping 2.7-star rating on Amazon. Reddit users weren’t much kinder, and Consumer Reports did review it, but behind a paywall. (I passed on that.)
Controls and Features
The ChillWell has a basic control panel with fan speed (low/medium/high), a cooling setting (on/off), a turbo button for max output, and a color-changing LED light feature. The light colors are supposed to include yellow, but let’s be real, that’s white pretending to be yellow. Brightness adjustment exists, but only when the unit is on.
While running, you can plug it in or use it on battery. The “cooling” setting really just activates a misting function. It puts out visible mist, which the Arctic Air Ultra (my comparison unit) does not. Speaking of the Arctic Air Ultra, let’s do some comparisons next.
ChillWell 2.0 vs. Arctic Air Ultra
Both units were prepped the same: frozen filters, 10 ice cubes, and cold water. Right off the bat, the Arctic Air Ultra felt colder. Using a thermal camera, I measured:
- Arctic Air Ultra: as low as 50–57°F
- ChillWell 2.0: struggled to dip below 70°F, eventually reaching the 60s
The ChillWell blew harder (9.2 vs. 7.8 on my anemometer), but not colder. The mist gave it a slight edge in short-range feel, but beyond a couple feet? Useless. The mist just vanishes into thin air.
Design Flaws
Inside, it’s literally a cheap computer fan. And when you fill it, you’re pouring water directly past that fan! There’s no true reservoir protecting it like the Arctic Air has. That doesn’t feel very safe. You can literally touch the spinning fan with your finger (not that you’d want to).
The ChillWell filter is noticeably thinner than the Arctic Air Ultra’s, yet ChillWell costs nearly three times more. The ChillWell also promotes ice-cube use, but that’s only printed under the lid, and not mentioned in the instructions, which I found odd.
Battery Life
ChillWell’s battery life was another letdown. It promises “up to 10 hours,” but on turbo mode it gave me a little over 1 hour. Charging it back up took nearly 4 hours. Unless you’re willing to run it plugged in, that’s a poor return.
Outdoor Performance
Outside in the Las Vegas heat (84°F and sunny in early May), the mist felt decent at point-blank range, but the slightest breeze made it vanish. It does not hold up well outdoors unless you’re sitting directly in front of it. Don’t expect this to be a game-changer on your patio.
Final Verdict
Pros:
- Rechargeable battery
- Misting function is refreshing — briefly
- Turbo mode adds extra power
Cons:
- Expensive for what it is
- Cheap build quality
- Misleading advertising (including using my image!)
- Weak cooling performance compared to cheaper units
- Short battery life in real-world use
This is just another evaporative cooler in a sea of nearly identical products, but at a premium price. If you find something similar on Amazon for around $30, it’ll likely perform just as well (or better). The ChillWell 2.0 adds misting and a rechargeable battery, but they aren’t worth the 3x markup.
A Note to ChillWell
Fair use does not apply to advertising, so please don’t steal my pictures again. You used a screenshot from my 2018 review of the Arctic Air, and even photoshopped out the Arctic Air logo. That’s dishonest, and I wouldn’t trust a company that uses those kinds of tactics.
Have you tried the ChillWell 2.0 or something similar? Tell me what you think in the comments below.
Video Review
You can watch my full review in the video below.