Best Deals on Air Conditioners

Made by one of the pioneers of U-shaped ACs, the Midea MAW08V1QWT is impressive at cooling a room, and it runs quietly on the high-cool setting and is whisper-quiet on low. The controls are easy to set, and the AC bounces back nicely in brownout conditions. Midea fared well in our survey data as well, earning a very good score in predicted reliability and a top score in owner satisfaction.

The newly reviewed Frigidaire Gallery GHWQ085WD1 is one of the best U-shaped models CR has tested. It’s top-notch at cooling a midsized room, earning an excellent rating for comfort. 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 previous top-rated unit in this category, the Frigidaire Gallery GHWQ083WC1, remains a high-performing option.

The newly tested U-shaped Frigidaire Gallery GHWQ125WD1 performs just as well as its smaller sibling listed above. 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.

This 12,000-Btu unit from LG performed really well in our labs. It doesn’t have a U-shaped chassis like the models above, but it does feature a more efficient inverter compressor. Our testers found that the big LG cools a 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 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 ACs get strong grades in owner satisfaction and top marks in predicted reliability.

The Midea MAP12S1TBL does as well as any portable unit can at cooling a room (none that we tested did as well as window units). But it excels at bouncing back from a brownout and is very quiet when running on low. As you might expect, it’s noisier at high speed. This model has electronic controls, a remote control, and a dirty-filter indicator. It weighs 74 pounds. We don’t have enough member survey data yet to rate Midea portable air conditioners for reliability or owner satisfaction.

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 and 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.

Like the other top-performing portable air conditioners in our tests, the Whynter ARC-1230WN gets a moderate score for cooling. It holds its own in a brownout and is quiet enough on low to use in an office or bedroom, but it’s a little noisier on high. It has electronic controls, comes with a remote control, and is equipped with a dirty-filter indicator. The unit weighs 75 pounds. Whynter’s portable air conditioners earn a very good score for predicted reliability and a passable owner satisfaction score in our latest member surveys.

If you’re looking for a low-cost option, this Danby window AC may be a good choice. It ranks highly when it comes to ease of use and predicted reliability. It also performed very well in our brownout tests, which can provide extra peace of mind, and it’s fairly quiet when running on low (and middling for noise when set to high).