Top choices for small, midsized, and large rooms from Frigidaire, LG, Midea, and more
Window air conditioners from LG, Frigidaire, and Midea (left to right) are among the models that top CR’s ratings in various size categories.
By Allen St. John
When summer approaches, a window air conditioner can be your best friend, an easy and relatively inexpensive way to transform your room from a sauna into an oasis.
While it may seem that window ACs have remained relatively unchanged, a few recent innovations help them cool rooms more efficiently.
U-shaped units from companies like Danby, Frigidaire, Midea, and Soleus allow you to raise and lower your window while the air conditioner is installed, taking advantage of a cool breeze or insulating your room from the heat and noise outside. Many of these models performed very well in our lab tests and can be found in this roundup of top-rated units. But note that U-shaped ACs can be tricky to install and simply don’t fit in some windows.
ACs with an inverter compressor can ease up or down depending on the temperature of the room, instead of just blasting on like a conventional compressor, potentially saving you money on your electric bill. They’re generally quieter, too.
Regardless of the technology, though, most of the window air conditioners in our ratings (available to CR members) do a pretty good job of keeping you cool. What distinguishes one from another is how quickly and quietly the unit cools a room—and how easy it is to operate.
It’s also important to get the right size air conditioner for the space you want to cool. And don’t overlook the stuff that comes in the box. The brackets, weatherstripping, and insulating panels go a long way toward maximizing your unit’s performance. “Most new window ACs come with panels you place over the plastic adjustable side panels to boost efficiency,” says Chris Regan, CR’s senior test engineer for air conditioners.
Read on for the top picks for each room size based on CR’s latest tests. For more information on your options, aside from central air, see our air conditioner buying guide, which covers portable air conditioners, too.
For a Small Room
100 to 250 Square Feet
LG LW6023IVSM
The LG LW6023IVSM excels at cooling a room, hits the set point with ease, and keeps the temperature steady. It’s super-quiet when running on low but almost as quiet on high, so you can keep your conversations at a civil level instead of shouting above your AC. The LG bounces back from brownouts, and the controls are intuitive so you don’t have to consult the manual much. In our member survey, LG window units get top marks for reliability and very good marks for owner satisfaction.
Soleus Air WS3-06E-201
If you’re bothered by a window AC blocking the natural light in your room, consider the Soleus Air WS3-06E-201. Shaped like an upside-down U, it’s designed to fit over your windowsill, so its lower profile lets in a lot more light. In our tests, it’s very good at cooling a room and keeping it that way, and simple to use despite the unique design. It’s very quiet on low and almost as quiet on high. One caution: Measure your window and sill before taking the plunge, because this model isn’t compatible with all window configurations, notably those in older houses where a radiator might sit below the window. We don’t have enough reliability data on Soleus Air to give the brand a mark in that area.
Frigidaire FFRE063WAE
The nicely priced Frigidaire FFRE063WAE earns a very good rating in our comfort test, which measures how quickly and accurately the unit lowers the temperature to a set point. The model easily restarts in periods of low voltage, such as during a brownout, and our testers find the controls to be easy to use and the filter easy to clean. The AC is a bit noisy when running on high but less so on low. According to data from our member survey, Frigidaire window air conditioners earn the highest mark for reliability but only a so-so mark for owner satisfaction.
For a Midsized Room
250 to 350 Square Feet
LG LW8024IVSM
With a score of 91, this inverter model earns the highest score of all the window air conditioners in our ratings. While the LW8024IVSM is a top-performing unit, there are a few things to know before you buy it. It delivers excellent cooling performance and collects top (or near-top) scores in all other categories. While we have the LG grouped with other 8,000-Btu units, it actually pumps out 8,500 Btu, which may help to improve its performance. The ease-of-use score is a bit lower, but that’s not because the controls are particularly confusing. The issue is the unit’s weight. At over 80 pounds, this LG is heavier than most 10- to 12,000-Btu ACs. It’s also quite a bit larger, too. Note also that this LG has a conventional chassis rather than the U-shaped or inverted U-shaped configuration of other midsized units in this roundup. LG window units get top marks for reliability and very good marks for owner satisfaction.
Frigidaire Gallery GHWQ085WD1
The Frigidaire Gallery GHWQ085WD1 is a U-shaped model. Our testers say it’s top-notch at cooling a midsized room, earning an excellent rating for comfort. They report that the GHWQ085WD1 is whisper-quiet on its low setting and just a bit noisier on high, but not enough to be annoying. The controls are simple to figure out, and you can depend on this model during brownout conditions. In our member survey, Frigidaire gets a top mark for predicted reliability and an average one for owner satisfaction. If you have windows that don’t allow the easy installation of a U-shaped unit, the Frigidaire Gallery GHWQ083WC1 remains a high-performing option.
Danby DAC080B6IWDB-6
The U-shaped Danby DAC080B6IWDB-6 delivers top-notch performance. Scores for comfort and recovery from brownout conditions are excellent, and the unit is super-quiet when running on low and not much louder on high. In our member survey, Danby’s window ACs earn the top mark for predicted reliability, but the mark for owner satisfaction is among the lowest.
Midea U-shaped MAW08V1QWT
The U-shaped Midea MAW08V1QWT is impressive at cooling a room, earning a very good rating in our comfort test, and it runs quietly on the high-cool setting and is whisper-quiet on low. The controls are easy to set, and the air conditioner bounces back in brownout conditions. Midea fares well in our survey data as well, earning a high score in predicted reliability and a top score in owner satisfaction.
For a Large Room
350 to 550 Square Feet
LG LW1224IVSM
This 12,000-Btu unit from LG looks pretty conventional but it performed really well in our labs. It doesn’t have a U-shaped chassis but it does feature a more efficient inverter compressor. Our testers find that the big LG cools the room quickly and bounces back from a brownout with no problems. It’s quite quiet and relatively easy to use. Note that the big LG weighs almost 83 pounds. That’s 25 pounds more than the highly rated Frigidaire Gallery GHWQ125WD1 and more than almost all the models we’ve recently tested except for a handful from LG and Friedrich. So make sure you recruit a strong friend to help you install it. LG’s air conditioners get strong grades in owner satisfaction and top marks in predicted reliability.
Frigidaire Gallery GHWQ125WD1
The U-shaped Frigidaire Gallery GHWQ125WD1 performs just as well as its smaller sibling, the Frigidaire Gallery GHWQ085WD1. The 12,000-Btu model receives top scores for comfort and ease of use. You’ll barely hear it running on low and it’s not much louder on high, so it’s easy to carry on a conversation. The controls are intuitive, and if you live in an area with frequent brownouts, you’ll find that the AC will generally continue to run. If you want a slightly smaller U-shaped model, the 10,000-Btu Frigidaire Gallery GHWQ105WD1 performs nearly as well and it’s a bit quieter. If your windows can’t accommodate a U-shaped model, the conventional 10,000-Btu Frigidaire Gallery GHWQ103WC1 is also worth a look. Frigidaire gets a top mark for predicted reliability and an average one for owner satisfaction.
Midea MAW12V1QWT u-shaped
The Midea MAW12V1QWT is bigger and a little better than its brandmate above. Like the midsized model, this one has a U-shaped channel between the indoor and outdoor parts that allows you to open the window when the air conditioner isn’t running and close it when it’s on. The window sash also reduces drafts and noise. Brackets hold the AC in place. The Midea is impressive at cooling a room, earning an excellent rating in our comfort test. The controls are easy to set, and the model bounces back well in brownout conditions. Midea window air conditioners perform very well in our survey data as well, earning a high score in predicted reliability and a top score in owner satisfaction.
How CR Tests Window Air Conditioners
At Consumer Reports, we test room air conditioners in a special climate-controlled chamber in our labs in Yonkers, N.Y. We adjust the size of the chamber based on the space—small, medium, or large—each air conditioner is designed to keep cool. We crank the temperature in the chamber up to 90° F, then measure how long it takes the AC to lower the temperature by 10° F.
We also gauge how well the air conditioner holds the set temperature. And because noisy air conditioners can be annoying, we measure how loud each unit is on its lowest and highest settings. We test for ease of use, which determines how simple a model is to install and operate. We also take energy efficiency into account, giving higher scores to more efficient models.
In addition to our performance tests, we ask CR members about the room air conditioners they already own. Our current ratings for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction, available to members, are based on results for 6,209 room air conditioners purchased new between 2012 and 2022. Read more in "The Most and Least Reliable Room Air Conditioners.” The survey data becomes part of the unit’s Overall Score.
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2024, Consumer Reports, Inc.
