NewAir CC-300H Humidor Review [No Bias]
If you’re considering the NewAir CC-300H humidor, this long-term test shows how its Opti-Temp heating/cooling and airtight seal perform in real homes.
So, I gotta be real: this review is a little different. This NewAir CC-300H humidor isn’t some fresh-out-of-the-box unit. It actually belonged to my buddy, Reid, who used it every single day for over a year. I’ve smoked countless sticks that he stored in this thing, so I already knew it was a total champ long before I formally tested it. The only reason he’s not using it now is that his collection absolutely exploded, and he had to upgrade to the massive Newair 840 count model.
The NewAir CC-300H Humidor is a full-on climate-control system, with both heating and cooling to keep your cigars in that perfect 68-70°F sweet spot. The NewAir CC-300H Humidor is definitely robust enough for a small lounge or a serious collector like my friend. But what I’ve always loved is the NewAir CC-300H Humidor’s door seal – it’s airtight. It makes seasoning and day-to-day humidity control a breeze, whether you’re using the included reservoir or just tossing in your favorite Boveda packs.
One critical thing to remember, though: this is not a garage humidor. The NewAir CC-300H Humidor is designed to live inside your home, in a room that already has basic temperature control. If you stick it in a freezing basement or a sweltering attic, it’s just not going to be able to compensate for those extreme swings.
⭐NewAir CC-300H Humidor Review
Specification Of NewAir CC-300H Humidor
Type: Electric Cabinet Humidor;
Capacity: 400 cigars, depending on the vitola.
Key Features: Built-in humidification system with Opti-Temp™ control. Two Spanish cedar drawers and four shelves. Door with a lock and keys. LED lighting.
Manufacturer: NewAir;
Country of Origin: China;
Dimensions, W/D/H: 18/20.8/29;
Interior and Materials: Plastic, Spanish cedar, steel, and stainless steel;
Lock: Yes;
Drawers: Yes, two cedar drawers;
Trays: Yes, our cedar trays;
Lighting: Yes.
Humidification: Yes;
Hygrometer: No;
Water tank capacity: About 14 fl.oz.;
Thermometer: Yes, a digital thermometer;
Temperature control: Yes;
Ventilation: Yes;
Noise level: 43 dB;
Power supply: 110-120 Volt electricity.
The brain of this operation is what NewAir calls the Opti-Temp™ system. The NewAir CC-300H Humidor isn’t just a cooler; it has an internal heater, too. That’s a huge deal for me, as my apartment gets chilly in the winter. It means the NewAir CC-300H Humidor holds its set temperature all year round. You can dial it in one degree at a time, anywhere from 60°F to 74°F, making it a true, precision-controlled environment.
And then there’s the inside. The second you open the door, you get hit with that fantastic, spicy aroma of real Spanish cedar. The four shelves and two drawers are all made of it, and they’re all removable. We all know cedar is the gold standard—it magically enhances your cigars’ flavor over time and keeps those dreaded tobacco beetles away. You can arrange the layout however you want, and all the shelves are slotted, which lets the air and humidity circulate properly from top to bottom.
Here’s a small feature that’s actually a big deal: you can reverse the door hinge. My buddy Desmond had to do this because of where he placed it in his office. It’s a super thoughtful touch that makes placement so much more flexible, and it’s great for any lefties out there.
Naturally, it has a lock and key. If you’ve got a prized collection (or just curious kids), this is a must-have for peace of mind.
There is a single LED light at the top. I’ll be honest, it’s pretty underwhelming. It gives a faint blue glow to the top shelf, but the rest of the humidor is left in the dark. The NewAir CC-300H Humidor would have been a home run if they had run LED strips down the sides, but as-is, it’s pretty minimal.
- Fully adjustable temperature system.
- Secure, tight seal.
- Large capacity.
- Lock and key.
- Accurate hygrometer and temperature sensors.
- No hygrometer.
- There is not enough light to illuminate the interior.
- The lock is on the bottom, so you have to kneel down every time you unlock it.
Video of NewAir CC-300H Humidor
Packaging and Shipping of NewAir CC-300H Humidor
For this section, I’m relying on what Reid told me from his delivery. He was floored when it landed on his doorstep just two days after he ordered it. Now, he does live in the same state they ship from, so your mileage may vary, but that’s still impressively fast for a heavy item.
The NewAir CC-300H humidor arrived in a massive, thick-walled cardboard box. Inside, it was braced with heavy-duty foam corner protectors. I’m a big fan of this method—it’s way less messy than those giant styrofoam coffins and protects it just as well. The door was also taped shut with transport tape to make sure it didn’t swing open.
You also get the standard 30-day return window and a one-year manufacturer’s warranty, which is good to see.
Exterior of NewAir CC-300H Humidor
First thing, let’s talk about the footprint. The unit’s official measurements are 18 inches wide, 20.8 inches deep, and 29 inches high. It’s basically the perfect height to sit next to an armchair, almost like an end table.
The main body is a clean, black-painted metal, but the door is the real centerpiece. It’s trimmed in beautiful stainless steel and features a large, double-paned glass panel so you can stare at your collection.
My one major complaint about the exterior is that lock placement. They put it at the absolute bottom of the door. With the humidor on the floor, you’re literally on your hands and knees trying to get the key in. It’s just a strange, un-ergonomic choice.
Inside the box, you’ll find the usual packet of documents: a detailed instruction manual, a “quick start” guide (for people like me), and a flyer to register your product for the warranty.
Interior of NewAir CC-300H Humidor
The total internal storage space comes out to 2.3 cubic feet.
The inside liner is made of plastic, which is the standard for any wineador-style humidor. When Reid first got it, he said there was a faint “new car” plastic smell, but it wasn’t strong at all.
For organization, you get a fantastic layout of four cedar shelves and two cedar drawers. The drawers are perfect for loose sticks, and the shelves easily hold boxes. Everything slides out, and you can move them around to create whatever custom layout works for your collection.
For humidification, the unit comes with a simple plastic reservoir that you can fill.
I’m going to complain about the light again because it’s just as disappointing from the inside. It’s a single, dim blue LED. It’s not bright enough to let you browse your collection; it’s more of a “yep, the power’s on” indicator. You’ll still be using your phone’s flashlight to find that specific cigar in the back.
Setup and Seasoning
Reid walked me through his original setup process. He noted that his NewAir CC-300H Humidor had almost no plastic smell, but he’s a by-the-book guy. First, he pulled all the cedar shelves and drawers out and set them aside (key step: don’t get the wood wet). He then wiped down the entire plastic interior with a cloth, warm water, and a drop of mild soap. After a quick rinse wipe-down, he left the door open all night to air-dry completely, then let it run empty for a day.
While the unit was airing out, he just took a clean, dry microfiber cloth to all the cedar parts to wipe off any possible factory dust.
| Day | RH % |
|---|---|
| 0 | 47 |
| 1 | 55 |
| 2 | 63 |
| 3 | 70 |
| 4 | 74 |
| 5 | 71 |
| 6 | 69 |
| 7 | 69 |
| 8 | 69 |
| 9 | 68 |
He filled the included reservoir with distilled water, popped it in, and let the unit run. It took about four days for his own hygrometers (which he bought separately) to climb up and stabilize. One thing to know: there’s no electrical outlet inside the humidor. If you want to use something like a Cigar Oasis, it must be the battery-powered model. Trying to snake a ribbon cable through the door will compromise that perfect seal. The chart below shows his humidity seasoning data.
The temperature, on the other hand, was lightning fast. Reid said it hit his 70° set point in less than a day. A cool feature is that when you set the desired temp, the device first shows you the current ambient temperature inside. We actually collected our own data on this when we moved it from his house to ours. After hauling his collection out, driving it over, and getting it set up at my place, the internal temp had climbed to 76°F. That’s pure danger zone. Tobacco beetle eggs can start developing at 72°F, and your mold risk skyrockets anywhere over 70°F.
Capacity of NewAir CC-300H Humidor
The marketing material claims this humidor holds 400 cigars. As a guy who’s seen this thing fully stocked, I can tell you that’s… optimistic. Like with all humidors, that 400-cigar number must be based on small, un-banded Coronas. Reid, who smokes mostly Robustos and Toros, said he realistically maxed out around 250 sticks. If you’re a “keep ’em in the box” guy, your total count will be even lower.
Seal
The door seal is, in a word, perfect. It’s a total tank. You will not be fighting humidity leaks with this unit. It feels just like opening a high-end mini-fridge—the door has a reassuring heft, and you get that satisfying thwump from the gasket suction every time you open it.
Humidification System
The humidity system itself is straightforward. It’s a combination of the included reservoir (which holds about 14 fl. oz.) and a built-in fan that kicks on to circulate the air. This combo ensures you don’t have wet spots and dry spots. You can use distilled water, humidity beads, or just do what Reid did and throw a few 69% Boveda packs on the shelves and call it a day.
Hygrometer of NewAir CC-300H Humidor
This is, without a doubt, the weirdest thing about this humidor: No, there is no hygrometer built in. I had to read the specs twice. We have a machine that can heat and cool to a precise temperature, but it doesn’t have a sensor to display the humidity. It’s a baffling omission. You 100% must buy your own separate digital hygrometers. It’s a non-negotiable accessory, and frankly, a strange place for NewAir to cut a corner. This is also why our graphs only show our test sensor’s data.
Thermometer
Yes, there is a thermal sensor to run the thermostat, and I can confirm it is, hands down, perfectly accurate. We placed our calibrated SMARTRO sensor right on the shelf, and it consistently matched the humidor’s digital display. The temperature it says it is, is the temperature it is. No guesswork needed.
Thermostat
The “H” in the NewAir CC-300H humidor model name is for “Heating,” and that’s the key. It doesn’t just get cold; it will actively warm the interior if your room drops below your set point. You can adjust the thermostat in 1-degree increments, giving you a full range from 60° to 74°F.
Performance of NewAir CC-300H Humidor
For a unit with a compressor, the NewAir CC-300H Humidor is impressively quiet. The NewAir CC-300H Humidor is rated at 43 dB. You’ll hear a very low, soft hum when the cooling cycle kicks on, but it’s genuinely quieter than my kitchen fridge. It just fades into the background noise of the room.
For our test, we took three La Flor Dominicana El Jocko cigars. We measured them before they went in, and they were at 66% RH—which, honestly, is right where I like to smoke ’em. But for the sake of a consistent, 30-day test, our goal was to bring them up to a stable 70%.
Looking at our 30-day chart, the humidity line is beautifully stable. You can see two small spikes on day 10 and day 25. That’s simply when we opened the door to refill the distilled water reservoir. The RH popped up for a moment and then settled right back down. We even moved our sensor from the top shelf to the bottom drawer, and the readings stayed consistent. That tells me two things: the seal is airtight, and the internal fan is doing a great job.
The temperature graph is beautifully boring. It’s a dead-flat line, which is exactly what you want. Like any good thermo-electric unit, it just holds the temp and doesn’t quit. Yes, the temp would blip for a minute when we opened the door, but it recovered so quickly it’s not even worth mentioning. It never wavered from our 70°F set point.
And I’ll say it one last time: we got this rock-solid performance because we kept the humidor inside my climate-controlled apartment, just as it was designed.
At the end of the 30 days, we pulled out the LFD cigars, and our probe read 70% RH on the dot. We smoked them right away, and they were flawless. A perfect, even burn that lasted nearly an hour, with that rich, complex smoke you only get from a perfectly humidified cigar. Like I said at the beginning, I already knew this humidor was a winner from smoking at Reid’s place. This test just confirmed the NewAir CC-300H Humidor’s stability and seal.
