The 3 Best Window Air Conditioners - Spring 2025

The Midea MAW12HV1CWT is the best window air conditioner that we've tested. This high-end model provides excellent overall cooling capacity, being able to effectively chill the air even within large spaces like open-concept apartments or big living rooms. Its inverter compressor also runs very quietly, outside of occasional high-pitched chatter audible mainly from the outside portion of the unit. Like most other Midea models we've tested, you can operate it remotely using the Midea Air smartphone companion app, and it also offers integration with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant devices. There is a separate heating mode, but according to several user reports, it isn't very effective. We don't currently test an A/C unit's heating performance and can't verify these reports ourselves.

The Friedrich Chill Premier Inverter CCV08A10A is another very good option within this price bracket. It doesn't offer the same capacity as the Midea and will be slightly slower to cool larger rooms. That said, it can be a better choice for smaller spaces: like the Midea, it has an inverter compressor, but due to its lower capacity, it actually won't necessarily need to operate in its lowest band in smaller spaces. Counterintuitively, this actually does allow for slightly more efficient operation. It's also just a smidge quieter, though neither unit is going to be a nuisance unless it's set up in your bedroom and you rest with your ear butted up right against the A/C.

The Frigidaire FHWC054TE1 is the best window A/C we've tested at a mid-range price point. It can't compare with the Midea MAW12HV1CWT as far as capacity is concerned: of all the models on this list, the Midea is the only one for large spaces we recommend. That said, the Frigidaire is your huckleberry if you only need an A/C for a smaller dining room, an office, or a bedroom. It doesn't have an inverter compressor, but its power draw is comparatively low in real-world use, so it won't have too big a hit on your energy bill in the summer months. Its compressor also cycles rapidly enough in appropriately sized spaces, so you won't experience any unpleasant swings in ambient humidity or your desired temperature.

While its white-on-white digital display can be hard to read under direct sunlight, it's pretty easy to set otherwise. It has a remote control that allows you to operate it without walking up to the machine. It also has a dehumidification-only setting. Unlike the Midea, however, there's no Wi-Fi connectivity.

If you need cooling on the cheap, the Toshiba RAC-WK0512CMRU is a good option. Regarding capacity, it's similar to the Frigidaire FHWC054TE1, which is to say, it's only suitable for spaces like bedrooms, offices, or college dorms. What you lose out on versus the Frigidaire is the general quality of life features: the Toshiba has a comparatively basic knob-based control scheme and lacks any separate functions beyond cooling and fan speed adjustment. There's no included remote control either. If neither of those things bothers you, then there's little else to complain about. It's compact and easy to stow away in cooler months, and its low power consumption means you won't have to deal with outrageous cooling costs in warmer months. It is worth noting that availability from many storefronts is limited currently, though it's worth looking for stock of the RAC-WK0512CMRU at Home Depot.

In an appropriately sized room, its non-inverter compressor cycles rapidly enough that you won't notice any major differences in temperature or humidity. That said, as with any low-capacity unit, be careful not to use it in too large a space: this would force its compressor to run almost constantly instead of cycling as it should, resulting in higher energy costs and accelerated wear and tear on the machine.