Air conditioning is essential in the summer, but cooling your home can jack up your energy bill. Smart air conditioners can potentially save you money in the long run due to their efficiency and support for features like scheduling. This is a fairly new category of smart home devices, but we've tested and reviewed several excellent models over the last decade. The GE ClearView PHNT10 is our current top pick for its quiet cooling performance and unique design that doesn't block the view from your window. If you're looking for a more traditional window unit design or even a portable model, our list has options for all needs and budgets to help you find the best smart air conditioner for your home.

What Is a Smart Air Conditioner?

To be considered smart, an air conditioner needs to have a Wi-Fi radio so it can connect to an app that allows remote control and monitoring. No matter where you are, smart air conditioners let you do things like adjust the target temperature, change the fan speed, and turn them on and off. Many also let you set a cooling schedule, so they will kick on at a designated time. And some support Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri voice commands. 

(Credit: Hisense)

Advanced models even offer energy usage reports and can use your phone's location services to cool down rooms before you arrive. That way, you’re not wasting energy—and money—cooling an empty room when you aren't there.

What Size Air Conditioner Do You Need?

Before purchasing any air conditioner, it’s important to figure out what size unit you need. If it's too small, it has to work harder to reach the target temperature, wasting energy. If it’s too big, it will cool the room before sucking out moisture, leaving you feeling clammy.

Figuring out the correct size AC for your room involves some math, but it’s pretty easy. First, measure the length and width of the room you want to cool, then multiply those numbers to calculate the square footage. 

In general, you want 20 to 25 British Thermal Units (BTUs) of cooling power for every square foot. So, multiply the square footage of your room by 20 to get the minimum size air conditioner that will work in your space. If your room is 500 square feet, for instance, you need an air conditioner with 10,000 BTUs. If you have high ceilings and large windows, you might need more cooling power. 

Energy Star recommends increasing capacity by 10% if the room is very sunny, reducing it by 10% if it’s heavily shaded, adding 600 BTUs if more than two people regularly occupy the room, and increasing capacity by 4,000 BTUs if the unit is in a kitchen.

(Credit: Windmill)

Which Is Better: Portable or Window Air Conditioner?

Before you buy a smart air conditioner, you need to decide whether you want a portable or window unit. Portable units are convenient in that you can move them from room to room, but they take up floor space and require a bulky exhaust hose. Window units partially block your view and can be a pain to install, but they are far more discreet overall.

Another option is to purchase a retrofit device to make your basic air conditioner smart. If you already have a working AC, consider a device like the Sensibo Sky, which brings remote phone control and other connected features to your traditional unit. It works with various types of ACs and was easy to install in our testing. Meanwhile, if you need something to clean your air while it cools you, consider devices like the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07.

You might also want to consider a smart fan, such as the Dreo CF714S Air Circulator or Pilot Max Tower.

Finally, if you're in the market for other smart home devices, we can help you select the one that best fits your needs. Whether you're looking for a connected light bulb, security camera, or thermostat, check out the best smart home devices we've tested for every room in the house.