They're more affordable and practical than a central air conditioning system, and a huge leap from an oscillating fan that just blows hot air. In summer, a window air conditioner can be a miracle. And although on the outside they can all look the same, each one brings different nuances. Even those with the same cooling capacity (measured in BTUs) differ in terms of how long it takes to cool a room, the features they offer, or the ease of installation.
Over the course of a month and several heat waves, we tested six of the best models currently on the market - all with a cooling capacity of 8,000 BTU, the ideal choice for a medium-sized room. Two stood out from the rest:
Best air conditioner: Midea U-Shaped Window AC
Finalist with a classic design: LG LW8016ER
A quick look at the winners
The Midea's U-shaped design is more than just an aesthetic choice. Not only does it make installing this appliance easier, just screw in place, close the window tightly and you're good to go, but it keeps the compressor out, with the window acting as a noise barrier, making it so much more. quiet compared to the other air conditioners we tested. It cooled the room not only faster than any other air conditioner we tested, but also more effectively thanks to a motorized vent that automatically moves to stir cool air throughout the room. While not the cheapest option, at $ 339, the Midea was by far the best air conditioner we tested.
LG's LW8016ER is a more basic unit. There is no sleek design or smart functionality. It simply performs the primary function of any air conditioner - it cools a moderately sized room quickly, rivaling much more expensive units. This 8,000 BTU costs $ 299.99, and it's the perfect choice for those looking for a classic, easy-to-use air conditioner that effectively cools a room.
A deeper dive into the winners
Best Air Conditioner: Midea U-Shaped Window AC ($ 339.99; amazon.com)
What might seem a bit ostentatious at first, Midea's U-shaped design, actually serves as an effective innovation versus the classic box-shaped air conditioners we've seen in windows for eons. This design offers more than aesthetics: it also reduces noise.
The installation is much less complicated than with any other air conditioner that we have put in our windows. Though like most standard air conditioners, you'll want to have someone help you put this 55-pound unit in place. You'll save yourself some effort with the Midea, as it doesn't require installing anything on the sides or drilling through the window frame. Screw the T-shaped bracket to the bottom of the window frame, then center the Midea on the bracket, close the window, and put the included insulation on each side. Ready. (The Midea scored bonus points for including more insulation shapes and sizes than any other air conditioner.)
Since the window can be closed more and the compressor stays outside, the Midea is noticeably quieter inside the room; Its high fan mode made just as much noise as the low fan mode in other airs we tested. You'll hear it, but at best, it's a slight hum, a noticeable improvement over the loud roar of most units when the compressor kicks in. And to make sure our ears weren't fooled, we measured all ACs with a decibel meter, and the Midea recorded the lowest reading.
We were able to cool a room from 80 degrees to 68 degrees in 45 minutes in 'Automatic' mode. Most of the other air conditioners we tested, including our budget pick, took an hour or more to reach this threshold. This is a huge plus, especially on sweltering nights when you don't want to wait a minute to relieve the heat. The compressor kicks in almost instantly, compared to the others that could take a few minutes.
The Midea's cooling prowess relies on its main vent, a motorized flap that will automatically move up and down to cool your entire room. It is more effective in cooling since the air flow is not static.
The Wi-Fi button on the unit pairs the Midea with its companion app, which is the best of the models we tested and works on both Android and iOS. The app allows you to control the temperature, set the mode, and adjust the top flap for airflow. You can even sync the Midea with Amazon Alexa, so if you have an Echo or Alexa-enabled smart speaker, you can ask Amazon's assistant to turn on the air or lower the temperature.
This well-designed unit doesn't sacrifice form or function, and at $ 339, it offers great value. You get easy setup (with everything you need in the box), a modern design, and a quick cooling experience that won't wake you up every time the compressor kicks in.
Classic Design Finalist: LG LW8016ER ($ 299.99; amazon.com)
The LG LW8016ER may have a less exciting design but it offers everything you need in an air conditioner.
The installation is the classic one: You will install the left and right side with four screws (two on each side) and then you will put the LG LW8016ER in its place. As with any air conditioner, they weigh between 20 and 30 pounds (this LG weighs 26 pounds), so we would again recommend someone to help. You will have to hold the air conditioner while closing the window to hook the top.
Once installed, this LG unit performed just as well as the smartest and most expensive air conditioners we tested. While we were testing all the air conditioners, we let the room get to 80 degrees before turning on the air conditioner. The LW8016ER took about an hour to reach 68 degrees in 'Auto' mode. While this LG was a bit slower to cool a room than the Midea, it was more or less on par with all the other models we tested.
It's not as powerful as some of the other units in our test group, but it's certainly not quiet, as you'll hear the fan and compressor. It also shook the window and its frame in our tests, increasing the noise. We recommend eco mode of the unit at night, as it is a bit more judicious with fan speeds, although this does not muffle the sound much. As with the Midea and other AC tested, we recorded the noise level with a decibel meter. The LG was on the lower end, but it was still louder than the Midea.
Since no smart features are incorporated, control of the unit is limited to the LG LW8016ER's button set or its small remote control. There are several modes available, including a timer. The remote is infrared so you'll have to point it at AC, but it's actually quite handy, giving you access to the main controls. It's perfect for when you don't want to get out of bed to make adjustments.
While the LG does not feature a motorized vent, the main one has two rotating handles that allow you to adjust it from top to bottom or side to side. It's easier and smoother to control compared to others, allowing you to make more minute adjustments as to where the air will flow - old-school functionality at its finest.
So no, the LG LW8016ER doesn't have a flashy design or smart features, but it's easy to use in a no-frills setup. It's there to cool down quickly and keep that steady temperature for hours. At $ 299.99, it should be the go-to choice for anyone looking for a highly effective, classic air conditioner. Plus, it's backed by a one-year warranty.
Other units we tested
LG LW8017ERSM ($ 379.99; amazon.com)
The smart variant of our budget pick worked admirably. While it did provide control via the LG ThinQ for Android and iOS, including all major functions and even a time scheduler, it didn't integrate with smart home ecosystems, as the Midea did. It also didn't deliver a faster cooling experience or a reduction in noise created.
Frigidaire FFRE083wa1 ($ 329.99; amazon.com)
Along with the other Frigidaires we tested, the FFRE083wa1 proved to be compact. The fan is in the relative center, there is an accessible filter under the front grill and a compressor at the rear. It's a modest design, but we prefer the more detailed ventilation controls at LG. The Frigidaire FFRE083wa1 was noticeably loud too, which made it difficult to focus on much more while in the room with it on.
Frigidaire FHWW083wb1 ($ 299.95, originally $ 359.99; amazon.com)
The FHWW083wb1 is compatible with the Frigidaire Android and iOS app for smart controls. Setup took longer, but ultimately provides an easy way to control the unit, albeit with a few drawbacks. The FHWW083wb1 was on par with the more affordable Frigidaire and cooled our test room from 80 degrees to 68 in about an hour and 15 minutes. For the price, it's much better to lose the smart controls for a quieter setup with the LG, or spend a bit more for a better unit with the Midea.
Frigidaire GHWW083wb1 ($ 399.95; amazon.com)
This Frigidaire model was able to quickly cool the room with a time close to the Midea. It works on the same smart ecosystem as the other Frigidaire and features a slightly more luxurious design with softer plastics. Similar to the LG and Midea, there was a multi-directional main vent, which was useful for pushing air in one direction. And while Frigidaire claims this is the quietest, the LG and Midea have shown to lower the volume even further. It seems to be a case of paying the price for a brand with some novel features, but in our tests, the U-shaped Midea outshined this model on almost every front.
Note: The above prices reflect the price at the time of publication of the article.