Create a Cool Refuge From the Heat With Our Favorite Window Air Conditioners
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I’m writing this as the first heat wave of 2024 is moving into New York City. The mid-June heat dome is expected to cause temperatures in the hundreds. It won’t just be uncomfortably hot, but also a serious health issue for many. It’s a paradox that while the use of air conditioners is a contributor to global warming, they are a necessity in our overheated world.
Like my fellow reviewers here at WIRED, I feel guilty turning on my air conditioners. Still, until I can afford to build a self-cooling underground home or Earthship, I’m grateful for window and portable cooling units, especially as those units are energy efficient and use new coolants that do not damage the ozone. All of the air conditioners tested use coolants R32 or R410A, which do not deplete the ozone like the older, more damaging coolants of the past. Several of the models tested offset their carbon footprint in partnership with environmental organizations, and one has an innovative approach to reducing stress on the power grid.
We’ll keep testing more and update this guide as we go. Be sure to read our How to Stay Cool Without Air Conditioning guide for tips on keeping your home chilly without mounting an AC.
Updated June 2024: We've added units from July, Windmill, Dreo, and Friedrich and updated links and pricing throughout.
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- Photograph: Midea
Best Overall
Midea U-Shaped Air Conditioner (MAW08V1QWT)Window air conditioners usually mean you lose the ability to open the window, but that's no issue with Midea’s U-shaped AC (8/10, WIRED Recommends). It comes with a bracket that balances the unit’s weight by leaning against the exterior wall of your home. That lets you open the window without worrying that the AC will fall out. Per the name, this Midea unit also has a big notch between the front and back, allowing you to pull down your window deep into the unit. This helps in a few ways: There's less of a gap around the sides, so your precious cold air won't seep out, and you get better soundproofing. Midea provides lots of foam padding to seal off the few remaining gaps.
The AC is among the quietest we've tested, since most of its components are housed in the part of the machine that sits outside the window. It cools a room pretty quickly and can connect to Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, meaning you can turn it on remotely before you get home. It’s the window AC we’ve tested for the longest time (three years), and it has performed exceptionally well with minimal maintenance (Midea’s app will tell you when to clean the filter). The only main kink is the installation process, which isn't as easy to follow as I’d like. I recommend you ditch the vague steps in the manual and instead watch this video from the company.
Comes in 8,000, 10,000, and 12,000 BTU.
- Photograph: Lisa Shapiro
Best Looking With Easiest Installation
July Air ConditionerThe July team makes the most effortless, easy-to-install window model. It took minutes to install, with a helper, in the window of my 180-square-foot bedroom, and I was able to click the unit into the window panel opening like a Lego piece. Its panels are better looking than the usual accordion wings, consisting of either a white, flat, fabric-like material or clear Plexiglas to let in more light. This was the best-looking unit of all the models tested, in part because you have the option to accessorize the magnetic front panels in wood or several pastel colors. I tested the small model in white and noticed that it did have some yellow staining on the sides right out of the box.
The app setup was easy, and it connected to my Wi-Fi on the first attempt. It’s compatible with Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home. I love that I can turn on my unit during a hot and humid walk home. Set on full blast, the July is quiet; gone are those old-timey window unit vibrations. And you can upgrade with July’s air filter. Though it’s not a HEPA filter, it will capture some of your indoor air pollutants. —Lisa Wood Shapiro
- Photograph: GE
A Budget Window AC
GE Window Air Conditioner (AHEE06AC)The cheaper you go, the fewer features you’ll get and the less efficient the unit will be. For example, the Midea, Frigidaire, and LG AC units in this guide each have a combined energy-efficiency ratio of 15. CEER measures the unit's cooling capacity as compared to the power input, in both cooling and in standby mode. The higher the rating, the better; 15 is one of the highest ratings you'll find. Essentially, you pay less in electrical bills over time with one of those over this GE model, which has an 11.1 CEER rating.
Still, your budget might be tight. If that's the case, I've had a pretty great experience with this model over the span of a year. GE doesn't include a bracket, but I found it easy to install. It's a smaller 6,000-BTU model and can cool rooms up to 250 square feet—it cooled my 150-square-foot bedroom so well (with the door closed) that I had to throw on blankets in the middle of the night. You'll notice its effects quickly, but it does take some time to cool the whole space. It's one of the louder window units on this list (around 65 decibels). Annoyingly, every time I turn it on, it forgets my preferred settings. I got around this by connecting it to a smart plug, which made it remember my modes and also let me control the AC with Google Assistant.
- Photograph: LG
Powerful and Quiet
LG Smart Air Conditioner (LW1022IVSM)I used the 2022 model of LG’s Dual Inverter Air Conditioner for more than a full year. The biggest difference over the previous version (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is that it has a higher CEER rating (15), meaning it is slightly more energy-efficient. LG's dual-inverter tech means there are two compressors and two chambers inside; where a single inverter AC would have a compressor that turns on and off, the dual system lets the compressors adjust speed based on the temperature of the room. That makes it quieter, faster, and more energy efficient. It cools my room quickly, and it's pretty quiet (it's a smidge louder than the Midea at 55 decibels). I don't recommend using the Energy Saver mode though, as it will start and stop during the night, and it has woken me up. Just lower the fan speed.
You can use LG’s ThinQ app to turn the AC off or on remotely, change the fan speed and temperature, or set a schedule. It can connect to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant too, which is nice. If you have a mesh router that doesn't let you change your Wi-Fi band, you might have a hard time connecting this LG AC to Wi-Fi, as it only works on the 2.4 GHz band. I set up a guest network on my Nest Wi-Fi, which only uses the 2.4-GHz band, and was able to make it work. Installation instructions are clear, though you may need to head to the hardware store to grab some plywood to make your window sill flush.
Comes in 8,000, 10,000, 12,000, 14,000, 18,000, and 23,500 BTU.
- Photograph: Frigidaire
An AC With an Air-Quality Sensor
Frigidaire Gallery U-Shape Window Air Conditioner (GHWQ085WD1)This Frigidaire takes everything about the Midea unit and improves on it while also commanding a higher price. It has a U shape and comes with a bracket, so you can open your window completely without the AC falling onto some poor sod on the street, and I found it easier to install. At 47 decibels, it's almost as quiet as the Midea, too. There's Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa support, and you can use the app to remotely control the AC or schedule when you want it on or off. Just make sure you download the right app. I first downloaded and paired the AC using the Frigidaire app, only for the app to tell me I'm using the wrong one and prompting me to install the Frigidaire 2.0 app (Android, iOS). Weird. This AC can also show you the current temperature of your room via the app, and it did a great job of quickly bringing my bedroom to the target temperature I wanted before bed.
What I like most about the Frigidaire is that it comes with an air-quality sensor that shows what the air is like via the LED strip on the front of the unit. Green means your air quality is good, but red or orange means it detects pollutants. It works! It was red when we had a lot of smog from Canada’s wildfires here in New York City, and orange when my wife was cooking up some bacon. Better yet, you can purchase and install Frigidaire's PureAir RAC-8 filter to clean the air of allergens, dust, smoke, and pet dander. You'll need to replace it every three months. I didn't try the filter, but it's worth noting it's MERV 14-rated, not HEPA-rated, so you probably should still get a HEPA air purifier for the room.
- Photograph: Lisa Shapiro
Quietest With Clean Design and Easy Installation
Windmill 8,000 BTU with WhisperTechThe Windmill is no longer our easiest-to-install air conditioner unit, but it holds a solid second place. This was the first time we tested the Windmill with WhisperTech and it is, in fact, quiet. At its highest setting you may need to raise the volume on your television, but not by much, and at its lowest setting it has the hum of a therapist’s office white-noise machine. The unit’s magnetic face comes off for easy access to the filter, and there’s a holder for the additional small patch of activated carbon filter.
The Windmill is compatible with Google Home and has an app to use remotely if you want to cool your home before you get home. You also have automation options such as scheduling it to turn on or off at a certain time or temperature. The unit’s buttons are easy to see, and it has an auto-dimming LED display. I run the 8,000 BTU unit on the auto setting, and it effectively cools my 120-square-foot living room. While Windmill partners with EcoCart for carbon offsets, what makes Windmill unusual is its first-of-its-kind Eco Rewards program, designed to relieve the energy load during heat waves. Signing up gives Windmill agency to adjust the settings on your unit, taking stress off the power grid. This can include turning the unit to fan mode as well. Most times, program participants will get an alert to inform them of the upcoming changes. In exchange, participants in New York can choose between an annual pack of activated carbon filters, a $20 Windmill gift card, or $10 in cash. This might be the real future of environmental initiatives. Windmill also uses the more environmentally friendly refrigerant R32. —Lisa Wood Shapiro
Comes in 6,000 and 8,000 BTU and 8,000 BTU with WhisperTech.
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- Photograph: Lisa Shapiro
Best for Cooling and Cleaning the Air
Friedrich Kuhl Q Chassis 6,000 BTUThe Friedrich, which I tested in my 160-square-foot dining room, is on the more expensive end of the window air units and the heaviest I tested. It’s also the only installation where I wore gloves. The chassis, the metal sleeve that is installed with the accordion side panels, acts like the unit's outer shell. It is designed to provide easy maintenance access and prevent “kick-in” break-ins if you live on the ground floor. You can pull the actual unit out of the chassis while leaving the metal box in the window during setup. And it has an easy-to-read screen and real buttons, along with a remote. But even though I downloaded the Friedrich Connect app, I haven’t been able to “find the device.” Of all the air conditioners I tested, pairing my iPhone with the Friedrich was the most laborious and time-consuming. I couldn’t get the device to pair at first, and realized I had to use my older 2.4 Ghz WiFi network—yes, you can only pair the Friedrich on 2.4Ghz, not 5G. Still, I love being able to turn on the air conditioner before I get home. And the Friedrich lets you schedule when you use your unit a week in advance,
I asked to test the Friedrich’s Kuhl Q Chassis because it had the option of adding the custom Friedrich FreshAire MERV 13 filter. The air cooling/air cleaning unit is an attractive combo and one I wish more units employed, though there are a few caveats—to install the MERV, I had to take out the washable filter; this was where the activated carbon filter is supposed to go, so the user has to choose one or the other. The MERV filter removes particles from the air like dust and pollen. The carbon filter is there to remove VOCs—volatile organic compounds, like benzene. I will always go for the MERV. That said, I still run my air purifier along with my air conditioner. And I would use an air purifier that captures both VOCs along with a HEPA to trap those invisible particles. I also wish the Kuhl came with its own air quality sensor. The MERV filter is to be replaced every month, and it feels like it was an afterthought, conjured up post-design. —Lisa Wood Shapiro
Comes in 9,500 BTU.
Photograph: Lisa ShapiroThree Portable ACs
Mobile CoolingPortable air conditioners aren't as energy efficient or effective at adequately cooling a room. You'll need to spend a lot of money to get adequate cooling, and the three models below are the ones we like. They're often louder, and uh, not very portable.
Dreo Smart Air Conditioner for $460: The Dreo Smart Air Conditioner not only cools a large bedroom effectively and quickly, it also can be controlled by the app in my iPhone. And, as my son pointed out, the Dreo is a dead ringer for Eve from the movie WALL-E. It even rolls, making for easy moving; something I can’t say about window units. Along with the Dreo’s easy-to-use app, it can be paired with Amazon Alexa or Google Home. It has an easy-to-read LED display and control panel, along with a magnetized place for the remote, and louvers that open and close, adding to its robotlike aesthetic. The setup was easy, and I didn’t drill in a single screw, as I was able to close the window on the expanders. It’s not entirely clear how I was supposed to snap the hose into the window hole, but I shoved it in and it seems to fit in there. It’s not super airtight, which is fine. One of the issues with portable air conditioners is the single hose. It can create a vacuum in an airtight space; think pressure in your ears like an airplane. And it can create enough negative pressure that the room can potentially suck in hot air from the outside. So, leave the window open a crack. —Lisa Wood Shapiro
EcoFlow Wave 2 for $1,299: The EcoFlow Wave 1 has cooled down my wife's office for more than a year just fine—we can't use a window AC there because it would block the fire escape. Lo and behold, there's a new version that's slightly cheaper (8/10, WIRED Recommends). It's a little lighter than its predecessor at 32 pounds, yet has a higher 5,100 BTU rating (up from 4,000). New here is a heating mode rated at 6,100 BTU, so you can keep using it in the winter to warm up a room. The company says it's best for rooms up to 107 square feet. You do need to place it near a window to have one of the included ducts connected to the vent to take hot exhaust from the back of the unit out of the room. What makes this unit versatile is how you can power it. You can use a standard AC outlet, but you can buy the version with a battery to keep it working when you don't have access to power, or you can hook it up to solar panels.
Zero Breeze Mark II for $1,698: With its 2,300 BTU, you won't be able to get the same cooling power as with the EcoFlow Wave, but the Zero Breeze (7/10, WIRED Review) is much lighter at 17 pounds. This bundle includes a battery that will make the whole thing weigh about 30 pounds, but you'll get four hours of use without needing to be near a wall outlet. Like the EcoFlow, you get a few vent pipes to direct exhaust away and direct cool air to a specific area, but unlike the EcoFlow, you can't charge the battery and use the AC at the same time.
Photograph: Bruce Yuanyue Bi/Getty ImagesWhat Is BTU? (Plus Other AC Tips)
Cool AdviceHere are a few terms you'll come across when shopping for a window air conditioner, plus some other tips after our years of testing them.
BTU stands for British thermal units. In the case of air conditioners, BTU is a way to measure how much heat the compressor can remove from a room. It's a quick and easy way to figure out whether an AC unit is powerful enough to cool your space. First, you'll want to find the square footage of your room by multiplying the length and width. Then, use the US Department of Energy's guidance on the BTU capacity you need. For example, a 150- to 250-square-foot room needs a 6,000 BTU AC unit or higher for adequate cooling.
Check the combined energy-efficiency ratio (CEER) rating. The specs on any air conditioner you buy should list a CEER rating, which is one of the best ways of checking the energy efficiency of a unit. You'll usually see a number between 9 and 15. The higher the number, the less you'll pay when the electricity bill comes around. A cheap window AC unit might save you money at first, but you may end up shelling out more in the long run. The US Energy Star program has a website that lets you browse AC units based on their CEER ratings.
Check local laws. Some cities, like New York, require installing brackets to support your window AC. A simple one like this model should do the trick, though we haven't tried it out. You may also need to head to a hardware store for some plywood to make sure your window sill sits flat, but this depends on the type of windows you have and the AC model you buy. When installing, you should get a friend to help you out. These units can be heavy and difficult to hold, and the last thing you want is to drop one out the window.
Measure your window. Before you buy, read up on the supported window types and sizes for the AC unit you're looking at, and measure your window to be safe. Make sure to seal any gaps as best you can with the included foam. (You can always buy more if you need it.)
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