Wirecutter

This U-shaped Midea air conditioner is the quietest model we’ve ever tested, and it’s designed in a way that still lets you open your window. But the installation process isn’t fun.

Consumer Reports

CR’s take: With its innovative design, the top-rated U-shaped Midea MAW08V1QWT solves one of the consumer concerns with window ACs—that you can’t open the window when one is installed. The Midea has a U-shaped channel between the indoor and outdoor sections of the unit that allows you to open the window when the AC isn’t running and close it when it’s on. Specially designed brackets hold it in place. The Midea is also impressive at cooling a room, earning a Very Good rating in our comfort test and running quietly on the high cool setting and whisper-quiet on low. The controls are easy to set, and it bounces back in brownout conditions.

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pcmag.com

The inverter-style Frigidaire Gallery GHWQ083WC1 is one of the most energy-efficient ACs we’ve ever tested, with lights and sounds that basically blend into the background.

CR’s take: The Frigidaire Gallery GHWQ083WC1 is top-notch at cooling a midsized room and earns an Excellent rating for comfort. It’s whisper-quiet on the low setting and just a bit noisier on high, but not enough to annoy you. The controls are simple to figure out and you can depend on it during brownout conditions. In our member survey, Frigidaire gets top marks for predicted reliability and average for owner satisfaction.

bazaarvoice

powerreviews

This popular model matches our other picks in cooling performance but feels cheaper—it has chintzy buttons and lacks conveniences such as cord storage.

The Midea Duo’s self-contained dual-hose setup and powerful inverter compressor make it better at dialing in a precise comfort level while being quieter and more effective than other machines overall.

CR’s take: Like its midsized brandmate above, the Frigidaire Gallery GHWQ103WC1 is a champ at keeping you comfortable in a large room, earning an Excellent rating on that test. You’ll barely hear it running on low and it’s not much louder on high, so you can easily carry on a conversation while it’s running. The easy-to-use controls won’t perplex you, and if you live in an area with frequent brownouts, there’s no need to worry that you’ll lose your AC.

CR’s take: Apparently, Frigidaire cracked the code on how to make a room AC that keeps you comfortable. Like its brandmates, the Frigidaire Gallery GHWQ123WC1 is aces at cooling, earning an Excellent rating on our comfort test. It’s not quite as quiet as the Frigidaire Gallery GHWQ103WC1, and we judged it to be noisier on both the low and high settings. It bounces back in brownout conditions and the controls are intuitive in case you don’t want to thumb through the manual.

Air Conditioner Comparison