Overview
During a midsummer heatwave, people who don't have central air conditioning can only beat the heat with the best window air conditioner. Technology improvements have made window air conditioners more efficient and valuable. Many window air conditioners have Energy Star ratings and are wifi ready, so you can change the temperature from almost anywhere. Some are quieter than the standard refrigerator, thanks to the latest technological advancements.
Top Picks
1. Best Overall: LG LW6019ER Window Air Conditioner
2. Best Value: Midea U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner
3. Best Compact: Frigidaire Window-Mounted Room Air Conditioner
4. Best Smart: GE AHY08LZ Window Air Conditioner
5. Best Quiet: hOmeLabs Window Air Conditioner
Reviews
1. LG LW6019ER Window Air Conditioner
Why we love it
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Digital controls
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Quiet operation
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Energy Star certified
Take note
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Need 230-volt outlets
Finding a better window air conditioner than this one from LG will be challenging. With a BTU rating ranging from 6,000 to 24,500, it can chill up to 1,300 square feet in seven different sizes. It is also Energy Star certified, indicating that it uses higher-quality sealing and insulating components to keep running expenses low.
This air conditioner includes a complete installation kit with windows 22 to 36 inches wide. Once it's set up, the device has three cooling and fan speeds. There is also a digital LED control panel with a 24-hour timer and an energy saver feature to help save power.
Based on the fan setting, the LG Air Conditioner makes between 48 and 52 decibels of noise, which is quiet for a window unit. It has a full-function controller, a filter that slides out and can be cleaned, and a light turning on when the filter needs to be cleaned.
2. Midea U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner
Why we love it
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Unique U-shaped design
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Energy Star certified
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Quiet
Take note
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Hard to install
The Midea Window Air Conditioner is the best choice if you want a very quiet window AC. Because of its U-shape, the middle section of this unit is more stable and may be opened when you prefer a natural breeze. It also restricts a lot of the noise from outside the unit and runs at a quiet 42 dB on low settings, making it perfect for a bedroom or nursery.
The Midea consists of 3 sizes, ranging from 8,000 to 12,000 BTU, and is certified by Energy Star. Its inverter tech can save up to 35% more energy than other heaters. It's even wifi enabled, so you can control the temperature and settings on your phone through the smart hub in your home. The biggest struggle with this unit is that it's not as easy to install as other window air conditioners. However, the company provides videos and guidelines to help explain how to do it.
3. Frigidaire Window-Mounted Room Air Conditioner
Why we love it
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Easy installation
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Affordable
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Adjustable design
Take note
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Not suitable for large spaces
This Frigidaire window-mounted air conditioner is very popular. More than 10,000 reviews on Amazon have given it an average of 4.5 stars. Even our engineers like it because it's so simple to set up. You need a screwdriver and the mounting kit that comes with it. The 5,000-BTU model isn't made for big rooms, but it should be enough to cool down a bedroom or a small family room. Comparable units cost twice as much as this one, so it's a steal. When it came to how well it worked, our testers loved how easy it was to use.
4. GE AHY08LZ Window Air Conditioner
Why we love it
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Easy installation
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Built-in wifi
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Cool well
Take note
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A bit pricey
Our product experts have seen GE make significant moves into the smart home market, like making ranges, washers, and dryers that can connect to wifi. In addition to the ease with which you can select between the three fan settings and three modes on this 8,000-BTU window air conditioner using your smartphone or voice control, we're also delighted by the unit's connectivity.
You can also use the device itself or the remote control to control it. The window air conditioner works with Alexa, Apple Home Kit, and Google Assistant, which can be added to almost any intelligent home system. Aside from being smart, GE is also very good at its primary job, which is to cool large rooms.
5. hOmeLabs Window Air Conditioner
Why we love it
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Energy Star rated
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Easy to install
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Wifi capable
Take note
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Older digital control panel
Even though the digital controls make it look older than some competitors, this hOmeLabs window air conditioner is the best market because of its features and how well it works. It has an output of 8,000 BTU, which is enough to cool an area of up to 350 square feet. It also has a wifi radio built-in, so you can control it with a smart device or a digital assistant. There are also valuable features like dry, eco, sleep, and on/off timers. Even though it's not the quietest AC unit, it only makes between 53 and 58 decibels of noise, which isn't too bad.
FAQs
1. Is it better to use a window air conditioner or a portable AC?
Generally, a window air conditioner works better, costs less, and uses less energy than a portable air conditioner. Someone might think about getting a portable air conditioner because they don't have windows that can fit a window air conditioner.
2. Does a window air conditioner need water?
Modern air conditioners for windows don't use water. Instead, they squeeze the air, which makes condensation drains out of the air conditioner and onto the outside house.
3. How cold can an AC unit in a window get?
Air conditioners in windows aren't made to make temperatures lower than 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Almost all window air conditioners run best when the thermostat is set to no less than 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
Most of the time, opening a window or turning on a fan on a hot summer day is not enough to make you cool, dry, and comfortable. And the best window air conditioner is here, helping you stay cool at night and during the day, even when summer throws its worst weather at you. It's the best way to get rid of these summer blues.
