There’s a New Generation of Window AC Units. We Found the Best Ones.
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Until recently, those of us without central air had to choose between sweltering humidity and loud, cold-inducing frigidity every summer. But the latest window air conditioners are capable of cooling and dehumidifying an apartment nearly as quietly and efficiently as abuilt-in mini split system.
When you set the temperature on a regular window AC to, say, 72 degrees Fahrenheit in an 80 degree room, the compressor runs at full tilt until it reaches about 71 degrees. At this point, it shuts off completely and suddenly, only to kick back on with a jarring, lights-flickering shudder when the temperature rises above 73 degrees. The fan may continue to blow in the interim, but there’s no dehumidification happening. By contrast, once an inverter-equipped AC reaches its target temperature, it will modulate its compressor to run at a lower setting, providing quiet and consistent dehumidification and temperature control, accompanied by a smooth and gentle buzz that your brain can easily tune out.
This new generation of window air conditioners is no longer significantly more expensive than its predecessor — and is often a better value. This is especially true when you factor in energy savings over time. According to Energy Star’s Energyguide estimates, a 12,000 BTU inverter AC costs $35 less per year to operate than a comparable conventional AC.
With that in mind, I focused on finding the best inverter-based ACs by sorting through the criteria below and cross-referencingEnergy Star’s recommendationswith the Strategist staff’s years of personal experience testing and living with various air conditioners.I also explored conventional options for those who prefer to spend a bit less up front. If you can’t fit an AC in your window, we have a separate guide to thebest portable ACs. And if you need one for rooms larger than 600 square feet, here’s a guide to thebest ACs for large rooms.
Updated on July 31, 2026
We’ve made sure all of our favorites ACs have been updated with the latest pricing and availability. And we added the LG LW5023 and Windmill Lite as new picks for small rooms.
Our top picks
Whatwe’relookingfor
Combined Energy Efficiency Ratio (CEER)
Every air conditioner sold in America receives a CEER score ranging from 8 (least efficient) to 15 (most efficient). In 2023, the Department of Energy adoptedstricter energy-efficiency standardsrequiring all window air conditioners sold in the U.S. starting in 2026 to achieve a CEER score of at least 12.8 for a 6,000 BTU unit (more powerful units need even higher scores). Wherever possible, I’ve recommended units with a CEER of 15 or close to it. The exceptions are due to budget and power requirements. Despite pausing these standards for centralized climate control units in February 2025, the current administration has yet to roll them back for window air conditioners.
Inverter
Marketed as having “variable speed compressor technology,” “Whispertech,” or similar terms, ACs equipped with inverters are quieter, more efficient, and generally easier to live with. Inverter ACs are softer to start, so they don’t “kick in” and cause your lights to dim every time they turn on. They aren’t yet available in the most budget-friendly models. Still, if you’re considering a new AC in 2025, barring any unforeseeable price fluctuations or availability issues, it should come equipped with an inverter.
Power levels
Most air conditioners are available in several power levels, measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs), and, asEnergy Star explains, matching power level to room size helps the unit run more efficiently. An underpowered AC will struggle to cool a large space and may overheat itself in the process. Meanwhile, an overpowered AC will cycle so frequently that it may prematurely wear out the compressor and other sensitive electronic components — though this is less of an issue with inverter ACs, since they can modulate power downward to suit the space.
As a rule of thumb, assuming normal eight-foot ceiling height, a 5,000-to-6,000 BTU unit will work for most bedrooms smaller than 250 square feet, an 8,000-to-14,000 BTU unit is sufficient for rooms up to about 550 square feet, and larger 18,000-plus BTU units are required for bigger spaces — though these typically require aspecial high-voltage outlet, so make sure to check whether that’s the case with yours.
Noise level
According to theCDC, prolonged exposure to noise levels over 70 decibels (dB) — which is equivalent to a washing machine’s operating noise — can put some people at risk for noise-induced hearing loss. And some of the louder window AC units do indeed exceed 70 dB (roughly equivalent to the sound inside a car cruising down the highway at 60 mph), though improper installation or unfilled gaps around the units are often to blame. Many great window AC units operate at much quieter levels, especially at lower power settings. Some can run at below 50 dB, which is not much louder than the hum of a refrigerator, or even around 40 dB — comparable to the sound of a suburban library.
Remote
A remote is not just convenient for controlling an AC: Some also serve as a portable thermostat, providing accurate temperature data based on where you’re spending your time instead of where the AC happens to be installed.
Window access
Some ACs come with mounting brackets or are otherwise installed in a way that preserves window access. This allows you to let in fresh air from outside if and when the temperature drops and means you can leave it in the window all year long if you want.
Wi-Fi
Units with Wi-Fi support can be set to run on a schedule, or integrated with other smart home devices. This often requires installing an app, but some ACs offerMatter support, which allows you to integrate with any existing smart-home ecosystem you already use (like Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, or Google Home) without needing a standalone app.
Best air conditioner overall
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CEER: 15 |Inverter: Yes |Power levels (BTUs):6K, 10K, 12K, 14K |Noise level: 58 dB |Remote: Yes |Window access: No |Wi-Fi: Yes
LG was the first to bring an inverter-equipped air conditioner to theU.S. back in 2019, and I have friends who have been happily using their ACs from that original run to this day. Owner of AC installation companySuperCoolNYCJonathan Berkson trusts LG because the brand “has invested in research and development” and “the customer service is excellent.” It installs similarly to any other window AC with no support bracket to fuss with — although this does mean losing out on window access for as long as it’s in there.
“It’s my favorite thing in my apartment,” said staff writer Dominique Pariso in praise of the LG, which is now in its fourth summer. Pariso has hers set up by her desk, “so it’s important that it isn’t super-loud,” which it isn’t. During testing, I found that the LG generates about 56 dB when running on high, which is louder than Midea’s and Hisense’s inverter ACs but less than a traditional AC. The noise is more of a steady hum and doesn’t interfere with conversations and music like the rattling whine of a regular AC might. It drops to a barely audible 44 dB in sleep mode.
As I explain in myfull review of the LG Dual Inverter,this slight noise penalty is due to its use of a regular bladed fan to move air over the condenser and into the room, rather than the quieter, hamster-wheel designs found on the latest models. Bladed fans are less prone to mildew and mold, making them more reliable in the long run. Pariso’s 10,000 BTU Dual Inverter AC is on its fourth summer, and energy-efficiency program managerZachary Horvathhas used his 14,000 BTU unit through seven New York City summers without incident.
While the LG lacks Matter support, it does have Wi-Fi for pairing with LG’s ThinQ app, which allows you to set it up to work with Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
Best less-expensive air conditioner overall
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CEER: 11.4 |Inverter: No |Power levels (BTUs):8K, 10k, 12k |Noise level: 52 dB |Remote: Yes |Window access: No |Wi-Fi: No
Long before LG became the first to bring an inverter-based window AC to the U.S., its traditional compressor ACs were among the quietest and most reliable available. This design hasn’t changed much since it first came out nearly two decades ago, and neither has its feature set. In fact, I owned a version of it in a previous apartment for two years and had no complaints about it. There’s no Wi-Fi, but it does have a programmable timer that you can set like an alarm clock. It’s quieter than many other traditional air conditioners, but it will still be louder and less efficient than any inverter-based model. For under $300, however, it’s still a good value that should last for many years.
Quietest air conditioner
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CEER: 15 |Inverter: Yes |Power levels (BTUs):8K, 10K, 12K |Noise level: 42 dB |Remote: Yes |Window access: Yes |Wi-Fi: Yes
If you don’t need to control your AC’s airflow direction, the inverter-equipped Windmill Whispertech is exceptionally quiet, making it a great pick for bedrooms. (Note that the Windmill’s cool-air vents are located at the top of the unit rather than the front. So if you’re someone who likes to sit in front of the AC and get blasted by a jet of cool air, this AC isn’t for you.)
The Windmill was also the easiest to install of the 11 air conditioners I’ve mounted in my testing for this guide so far. You simply apply the included insulating foam to the windowsill, per the instructions, before propping the unit on top, closing the sash over it, and pulling out the preinstalled expandable plastic louvers. You then screw in the sides and cut the foam side inserts to fit for a cleaner-looking façade with better insulation — there’s even an included pair of scissors in the box for this purpose. (The Windmill AC does not include a support bracket, so you cannot open the window once it’s installed.)
The Windmill rattled less during the initial cooling period compared to comparable models from Friedrich. The cylindrical fan design is noticeably quieter than LG’s, and since its fixed vents stay fully open when it’s off, the blades are less prone to mildew because they can fully dry out between uses. While Windmill’s app is well-designed and supports voice control with Alexa and Google Home, it lacks support for Apple Home and Siri.
Windmill offers the most responsive customer service of all the AC makers I considered. You can expect a response from its online-support chat within minutes if anything goes wrong during business hours.
Best traditional-design AC if above LG is sold out
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CEER: 15 |Inverter: Yes |Power levels (BTUs):12K |Noise level: 40 dB |Remote: Yes |Window access: No |Wi-Fi: Yes, Matter
Even if this newer TCL H12W4KW air conditioner lacks the LG’s well-established track record or our other picks’ window-saving designs, it is still very quiet (quieter than the LG and comparable to the Hisense Ultraslim and Midea U) and pretty simple to install. I was satisfied with its performance throughout last summer — even though I had to spritz vinegar on the fan blades a few times during more humid stretches to keep mold from accumulating.
The TCL’s sliding steel window brackets and expanding plastic louvers are pre-installed at the factory, so all you have to do is adjust them to the correct width, plop the whole thing into an open window that is between 24 and 36 inches wide, close the sash on top, and screw in the included security hardware. It’s not quite theeasiest AC to install, but it comes close. (I had to uninstall one of the plastic louvers to get it to fit in my 27-inch office window.) The metal side brackets are stronger than the plastic ones found on many window ACs, but there is still some play in them, and I wouldn’t trust them to hold the full weight of a 58.6-pound machine in place without an external bracket supporting it from below (not included).
The TCL’s touch control panel is responsive, and the remote control works as you’d expect. Thanks to Matter support, I was also able to set it up with my Apple Home app without needing to download and install TCL’s own app — though I did need to consult the manual to figure out that I had to press the “display” button on the remote six times quickly to activate pairing mode.
Much like Hisense, TCL is better known for its TVs than its ACs, but this isn’t TCL’s first inverter AC. TheH8W25WQ(which this unit replaced in 2025) has been out for over a year now and has maintained a decent user-rating average on most sites. That said, given that they’re the same price where available, I would recommend getting the new one over the older one.
Best small air conditioner (that’s also less expensive)
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CEER: 11 |Inverter: No |Power levels (BTUs):5K |Noise level: N/A |Remote: No |Window access: No |Wi-Fi: No
Small (5,000 BTU) ACs tend to be noisier than larger ones like our picks above because of their more compact housing, which puts the buzzy compressor closer to the front, and because their smaller fans must spin faster to move the same amount of air. That said, it’s important to get the right-size unit for the room you’re trying to cool, and if you need an AC for a space that’s 200 square feet or smaller, LG is still one of the better options in this category.
This particular LG unit, which Strategist lead editor Lauren Levy installed in her daughter’s 100-square-foot bedroom, “cools fast and isn’t offensively loud.” It takes less than seven minutes to cool the space, and even without a thermostat, it maintains a comfortable temperature at its lowest setting. “On the high-fan setting, it sounds like a whirring with a bit of a buzz, but not much. On the lower setting, the whooshing goes down by quite a bit, but there is a bit more of a buzz.” Her daughter has no issue sleeping through either. Levy appreciates that the vents point upward, so it’s more difficult to catch a chill while sleeping.
Best small air conditioner with remote control
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CEER: 11 |Inverter: No |Power levels (BTUs):5K |Noise level: N/A |Remote: Yes |Window access: No |Wi-Fi: Yes
The Windmill Lite is, like other 5,000 BTU units, on the noisier side, but while many of those tend to be very basic, this does look more modern and has a nice automatically dimming control panel. I installed it in our guest bedroom and found that it’s less rumbly-sounding than the cheapest 5,000 BTU Frigidaire with the analog knobs. I would not have a hard time sleeping through the noise, but my mother-in-law is a lighter sleeper and prefers to turn it off before she goes to bed. Most notably, this AC has easy-to-use Wi-Fi, which is unusual among smaller units and allows you to monitor the temperature and control it remotely or on a schedule. Overall, it offers a lot of convenient features for under $200.
Best large air conditioner
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CEER: 15 |Inverter: Yes |Power levels (BTUs):14K, 18K, 22K, 24K |Noise level: 58 dB |Remote: Yes |Window access: No |Wi-Fi: Yes
If you need to cool a large area and have the correct plug for a 230V air conditioner (triple-check this!), then the LG is also available in a23,500 BTU versionthat can quietly cool rooms as large as 1,400 square feet. At 112 pounds and measuring 30.25 inches wide, 17.17 inches tall, and 26 inches deep, it is almost twice the size and weight of the 10,000 BTU unit above and will require professional installation. But it’s much quieter than anything else of comparable cooling ability.
The most powerful unit you can get by with that uses a normal outlet is the14,000 BTU version, which is enough for up to 700 square feet. Horvath bought one of these when they first became available in 2019 and found it much better than non-inverter LG air conditioners he’s used in the past. It’s survived six New York summers and counting with no issues. The only downside, unique to these larger models, is that the case needs to be semipermanently installed before the AC unit itself is slid in. At 85 pounds, you’ll need at least two people to lift it into place, so I would again recommend having a professional do this.
Best large air conditioner to buy if above LG is out of stock
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CEER: 9.8 |Inverter: no |Power levels (BTUs):23.7k |Noise level: 60 dB |Remote: yes |Window access: no |Wi-Fi: yes
I bought this 24,000 BTU GE unit to cool aco-working spacethat I opened late last summer, long after the year’s inventory of LG dual inverter ACs was depleted. It rapidly brings the 1,400-square-foot loft with 11-foot ceilings down to a tolerable temperature and keeps it cool without constantly running the compressor, even during heat waves. That said, while I appreciate that the GE has a thermostat-equipped remote and Wi-Fi support, it sounds like an old refrigerator every time it kicks on. While it is totally serviceable, I would pick the LG ten times out of ten if both are available.
Best air conditioner with heater
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Midea Smart Inverter Air Conditioner Window Unit With Heat and Dehumidifier - 8,000 BTU
CEER: 14.5 |Inverter: yes |Power levels (BTUs):8k, 12k |Noise level: 45 dB |Remote: yes |Window access: no |Wi-Fi: yes
The Midea MAW08HV1CWT combines everything we love about inverter ACs and adds the ability to heat your home. As an AC, it’s comparable to the LG in terms of form factor and noise level and has all the same smart features as the U-Shaped Midea. ItsCEER score of 14.5is slightly less efficient than that of other inverter ACs but still better than what you get with all traditional units.
As a heater, it’s suitable for mild climates, but I wouldn’t recommend leaving it installed past autumn in any place that regularly approaches freezing temperatures. While a typical “all-weather” mini-split heat pump can operate in temperaturesas low as minus-17 degrees Fahrenheit, the Midea model only works down to 41 degrees, though some user reviewers report success in the high 30s. Additionally, asthis video review demonstrates, the lack of thorough internal air-sealing allows cold air to enter your home through the AC itself.
If you look closely at thelatest Energy Star–certified ACs, you’ll find that Midea and a startup calledGradientare working on bringing all-weather heat-pump technology to window units in America, but they’re prohibitively expensive and difficult to purchase at this time. We look forward to testing this technology when it’s more widely available.
Best air conditioner to preserve the view
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CEER: 16.3 |Inverter: yes |Power levels (BTUs):12k |Noise level: 37 dB |Remote: yes |Window access: yes |Wi-Fi: yes
This inverter-equipped design won’t work in every location — the window sill it sits on must be between five and 9.4 inches wide (ruling out many apartment and condo buildings), and there must be 12 inches of clearance on both sides of the wall (so no windows sitting directly above sloped roofs) — but if it works for your space, you’ll be treated to an exceptionally quiet and efficient air conditioner that preserves the view out your window. The loudest, hottest part of the unit is fully separated from your home’s interior by an insulated wall and a closed window, so the fan is basically the only noise you hear.
At 64 pounds, it’s probably too heavy to install without a second person helping. But once it’s on the windowsill, it’s easy to adjust the mounting angle by twisting the bracing feet in or out. (Follow the instructions closely here to ensure mildew-causing moisture doesn’t stay trapped inside the unit.)When properly adjusted, the feet brace the unit’s weight directly against the building’s exterior, so you can open and close your window sash as you please, without adding a support bracket.
Other ACs I tried that are pretty good
If you need an AC and all the picks from above are out of stock or have shot up in price, here is an AC I’ve tested thatis worth considering if available at a much lower price. I will update this section with more options as I test new units.
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The retro PC-like design of this elephant-hued unit and its quiet operation once running at full speed make it a nice unit overall, but I noticed that despite having an inverter, it vibrates and rattles quite a lot when it cycles its compressor — which early Amazon reviewers also note intheir critical feedback. It’s also usually about $100 more expensive than other inverter-equipped picks of comparable cooling capacity and doesn’t include a support bracket at that price.
Our experts
• Jonathan Berkson, owner of the AC-installation companySuperCoolNYC
• Zachary Horvath,energy-efficiency-program evaluation specialist
• Dominique Pariso, Strategist writer
• Lauren Ro, Strategist writer
• Winnie Yang, Strategist senior editor
Additional reporting bySteven John.
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