The best window air conditioners we tested
Best window air conditioner: Midea U-Shaped Window AC
Best budget window air conditioner: LG LW8016ER
The best window air conditioners can turn a sweltering apartment into an icebox. They come in handy for anyone buying an older home that isn’t outfitted with central air, and they’re a major upgrade from even our favorite cooling fans. If you’ve been without AC during a major heat wave this summer and are thinking of picking one up, fear not — we’ve done the legwork so you’ll know which model is best for your space.
We’ve installed several different window ACs in our homes and tested many of the top models over the years. Let’s get into which stood out and what you need to look for as you shop.
Midea's U-shaped design makes installation a cinch and keeps the compressor outside with the window acting as a noise barrier, so it's quieter compared to other ACs. It cooled the room more quickly and effectively, thanks to a motorized vent that automatically moves to waft cold air throughout the room.
LG's LW8016ER is a bare-bones unit and excels at performing the primary function of any AC. The 8,000 BTU AC is the perfect option for those looking for a classic, easy-to-use AC that effectively cools a room.
Best window air conditioner: Midea U-Shaped Window AC
What might seem a tad ostentatious at first, Midea’s U-shaped design is an effective upgrade to the classic box-shaped ACs we’ve seen in windows for eons. That design delivers more than surface-level aesthetics: it also reduces noise and aggravation.
Installation is much less backbreaking than any other AC we popped in our windows. However, like most standard ACs, you’ll want a partner to help heave this 55-pound unit into place. But you’ll save some effort with the Midea, as it doesn’t require the traditional left and right pull-out sides that need to be drilled into the window. You’ll screw the T-shaped bracket into the bottom of the window frame but then installation of the unit is simply centering the Midea on the bracket, closing the window and popping in the included insulation on either side. (The Midea got bonus points for including more shapes and sizes of insulation than any other AC.)
Since the window opening can close more and the compressor sits outside, the Midea is noticeably quieter inside the room; its high fan mode made about as much noise as the low fan mode on other ACs we tested. Put simply: There’s a smaller window of entry (pun most certainly intended) for sound to enter the room. You’ll hear it, but at most, it’s a slight hum, a notable improvement over the roar of most units when the compressor kicks in. To ensure our ears weren’t deceiving us, we measured all the ACs with a decibel meter, and the Midea registered the lowest reading.
We could cool an 80-degree room to 68 within 45 minutes on Auto mode. Most of the other ACs we tested, including our budget pick, took an hour or more to reach this threshold. There wasn’t much of a wait for the Midea to start cooling the room. That’s a big plus, especially on sweltering nights when you don’t want to wait another minute for cooling relief. The compressor kicks in almost instantaneously, compared with the others which could take a few minutes.
The Midea’s cooling power is aided by its main vent, a motorized flap that automatically moves up and down to cool your entire room. It feels like something out of “Space Odyssey,” but it’s more effective at cooling since the airflow isn’t static.
Holding the unit’s Wi-Fi button 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 enables 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 an Alexa-enabled smart speaker, you can ask Amazon’s assistant to turn on the AC or raise the temperature.
Best budget window air conditioner: LG LW8016ER
The LG LW8016ER may sport the age-old box design — no bells and whistles here — but it still offers everything you need in an air conditioner.
The installation process follows the classic window AC setup steps: You’ll install the left and right sides with four screws (two on each side) and then lift the LG LW8016ER into place. As with any AC, they weigh about 50 to 60 pounds (this LG weighs 58 pounds), so we’d recommend a team lift. And you’ll need to hold the AC as you close the window on top of it.
Once in place, this LG unit performed just as well as the smarter, more expensive ACs we tested. As we tested all the ACs, we let the room hit 80 degrees Fahrenheit before switching the AC on. The LW8016ER took about an hour to reach 68 degrees on Auto mode. While this LG was a bit slower at cooling a room than the Midea, it was pretty much on par with all the other models we tested.
It’s not as loud as some of the other units in our testing pool, but it’s certainly not quiet, as you’ll hear the fan and compressor going. It also rattled the window and its frame in our tests, adding to the noisiness. We recommend the unit’s eco-mode overnight, since it’s a bit more judicious with the fan speeds, though this doesn’t dampen the sound all that much. As with the Midea and other ACs tested, we recorded the noise level with a decibel meter. The LG was on the lower end, but still resulted in more noise being captured compared to the Midea.
Since no smart features are built in, controlling the unit is limited to the set of buttons on the LG LW8016ER or its tiny remote control. Several modes are available, including a timer. The remote is infrared, so you’ll need to point it at the AC, but it’s quite handy and gives you access to the core controls. It’s perfect for when you don’t want to get out of bed to make adjustments.
While the LG doesn’t feature a motorized vent, the main one has two swivel handles that allow you to adjust it top down or side to side. It’s easy and smooth to control, which allows you to make more minute adjustments as to where the air will flow: It’s old-school functionality at its finest.
How we tested
After deciding on our testing pool for window ACs, we focused on designing a testing protocol that would focus on real-world use cases. All the units we tested were 8,000 BTU in order to compare apples to apples, except in cases where models of that power were unavailable. All temperatures measured or set were done so in degrees Fahrenheit.
Setup and installation
- Packaging: We noted how well the AC was packaged with proper padding and tape to ensure no damage occurred during transit. Additionally, we paid close attention to see if the grille was properly locked in and protecting the filter. We found that most units included all aspects needed to properly insulate, including foam blocks, rolls of foam and side vents.
- Instructions: We noted the levels of detail in the instruction booklets provided, along with quick-start guides. Do they make it easy to successfully install the AC both in your window and to properly insulate it? If the AC has Wi-Fi functionality, does it explain the app setup?
Design
- Material design: We looked at the design and the materials used. Did it feel durable with a metal build, or was it a mix of materials? Was it easy to get a grip on the AC to lift for installation? Did the brackets seem strong and not wiggle once installed?
Cooling
- Overall cooling: We paid close attention to how each AC cooled a room, arguably the most important quality of an AC unit. To set a standard, our testing room started at 80 degrees Fahrenheit each time we tested a unit, and we measured how long it would take to cool the room to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. We used multiple thermometers near the vent of the AC, along with sensors throughout the room.
- Modes: Did the AC offer several models to choose from for cooling? Was there a custom setting?
Noise level
- Loudness: We measured the noise of the AC across different modes and fan speeds with a decibel meter and an audio recorder. We also tried running the ACs in cycles during naps or overnight.
- Compressor noise: Once the compressor kicked in for proper cooling, we took measurements again (with a decibel meter and audio recorder) to see how loud it was.
Controls
- Physical buttons: We noted what modes and adjustments could be made directly on the AC itself. Was the usual LED digit display large enough and bright enough? Any latency between button push and change happening?
- Remote: We tested the included remote from a variety of distances, both with and without it facing the proper sensor. We also noted if there was any latency.
- Smart controls: If the AC offered smart functionality, we tested it on multiple devices (running Android and iOS). We also tested any connections the AC could make with larger smart ecosystems like Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple’s HomeKit.
Warranty
- We checked how long the included manufacturer’s warranty was and what it covered.
Other window ACs we tested
We loved how quiet this model was during our latest round of testing. It worked quickly when cooling our space, though installation was no easy task.
The bestselling LG LW1022FVSM air conditioner cools up to 450 square feet and boasts a LoDecibel quiet operation to eliminate unnecessary noise. After installing, using and reusing this LG window AC during our most recent round of testing, we can agree this appliance has remarkably low sound levels. We also liked how sleek this window AC was, especially for smaller spaces.
It also stood out from the other ACs we tested for its energy-saving ability. According to LG, the LW1022FVSM offers up to 35% more energy savings than the DOE’s minimum Combined Energy Efficiency Ratio (CEER) standard. With heat waves on the rise and energy bills following suit, this benefit seemed especially noteworthy.
Installing any window AC unit is bound to be a sweaty task. It would have been nearly impossible to install this window AC without the help of family, between getting it centered in the window and keeping it there while installing it.
I’ll admit, installing this window AC involved blood, sweat and almost a few tears. Getting this 62-pound beast up a flight of stairs was no easy feat and installing it into a smaller, more cramped space proved difficult. However, the worst part of installing the window AC was screwing the curtain panel into our window, which had a metal frame. Without an electrical drill, it was nearly impossible to securely screw in the panels so we did the best we could and covered the gaps with the handy foam that came with the packaging.
Believe it or not, the adhesive-backed foam panels were one of the best parts of this window AC. They were easy to cut and adjust to my window size and covered all the gaps between the AC and the window.
Once installed, the LW1022FVSM went straight to work and cooled my room quickly and quietly. It can be set between 60 and 86 degrees, but I opted for 72 to test the cooling ability in a room that had not felt air conditioning all summer. The air blew out at a 90-degree angle and quickly filled the room with a crisp, cool flow. My family was taken aback by how exceptionally quiet it was, and the nifty remote tool worked from different rooms. It’s a pain to install, but once it’s in, the AC is efficient, quiet and gets the job done.
A new entry in our testing pool, the FHWW084TE1 presented no challenges during installation and app setup. It cooled a room that typically cooks in direct sunlight.
The Frigidaire FHWW084TE1 took only a few minutes to be installed by two people. It required a bracket to be screwed in on top and two side panels to slide in along a series of railings. Because it was only installed temporarily, we forwent the locking screws and didn’t feel that the unit was loose or jostling in any way.
A clearly printed quick-start guide made it easy to get familiar with the FHWW084TE1’s interface. The button layout is fairly straightforward, and we were especially fond of the child lock and a Sleep mode that raised the temperature for seven hours overnight.
The simplicity of the controls translated to our smartphone and the Frigidaire app. Signing up for an account and connecting the unit to Wi-Fi took only a few minutes, and everything you can do on the physical control panel is available in the app. Daily scheduling is an added bonus of the digital companion. The FHWW084TE1 boasts Google Home and Amazon Alexa compatibility.
Having a wireless connection to the unit was especially helpful in monitoring its performance while away from home, though we ran into a few instances where the reading of the room’s temperature was inaccurate. While in Eco mode, the unit found the room colder than it was and stopped cooling. Cycling on the built-in fan fixed the problem, and the FHWW084TE1 powered through to cool a room that typically entraps the heat of steady, direct sunlight.
If having an eyesore in your window has been a problem in your search for an AC, Windmill is arguably the best-looking option on the market. It comes in several colors and styles to fit your aesthetic.
The best thing about the pricey Windmill AC is that it isn’t ugly; it’s a window air conditioner you probably won’t mind having in your room. It’s an excellent design available in several colors — best though, it’s not an eyesore. Like our top pick, the Midea U, Windmill pushes air out to the top, which helps cool a room more efficiently. This window AC unit doesn’t feature a motorized flap which helps to speed up cooling and effectively spread it throughout the entire space.
Still, the Windmill could cool our test space efficiently and only a bit longer than the Midea — an extra five or 10 minutes. We especially liked the smart home integration with Amazon’s Alexa and the Google Assistant here. Ultimately though, the Midea U — with a unique design that makes mounting a champ and reduces noise — is a better value unless you care about looks more.
This LG model adds some smarts to our current budget pick but it's not ultimately worth the added investment, especially compared to other units in its price range.
The smart variant of our budget pick performed admirably, but this next step up didn’t deliver a faster cooling experience or a noise reduction created on par with the Midea.
This Frigidaire AC unit is a decent compact option for those with smaller rooms to cool. However, it's quite loud, making it hard to do anything else while it's on.
The FFRE083wa1 proved to be a compact window AC with a legacy design in our previous round of testing. The fan is in the relative center, there’s an accessible filter under the front grill and a compressor in the back. It’s an unassuming design, but we preferred the more minute vent controls on LG. It was also noticeably noisy, which made it tough to focus on much else while in the room with it on.
