Still the window AC everything else gets measured against.

Midea U+ Smart Inverter Window AC (8,000 BTU, MAW08U1QWT)

Midea

Inverter quiet, class-leading efficiency, and a window that still opens make it the default for bedrooms up to 350 sq ft. The catches: a fussier bracket install than a drop-in unit, and buy it new — only post-recall units carry the redesigned drainage.

The U-shape is the whole trick: the compressor hangs outside and your closed window sash becomes a sound barrier between you and it. That's how the U+ runs down near white-noise levels while a conventional unit rattles the frame — TechGearLab measured the U-shaped Midea as the quietest window unit in its entire test lineup — and it's why you can leave it installed and still open the window on a cool night, which no drop-in unit allows. The inverter compressor is the second half of the case. Instead of slamming on and off, it ramps continuously, holding temperature within a degree while sipping power — Midea claims over 35% savings versus the federal standard, and the U series has worn Energy Star's Most Efficient badge for years. Wirecutter has kept this design as its long-running top window AC pick, and NBC Select's reviewers literally bought multiples for their own apartments. The honest history: in June 2025, Midea recalled 1.7 million U and U+ units after water pooling led to mold reports. The current U+ ships with the redesigned drain system that fixes it — but that's an argument for buying new at retail, not a used original off Facebook Marketplace. And budget a real hour for the install: the support bracket and window fitting are more particular than a standard unit's lift-and-drop.

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Last reviewed Jul 5, 2026

What we like

• ✓Compressor sits outside the closed sash, so it runs quieter than any conventional window unit in its class
• ✓Inverter efficiency that shows up on the summer power bill, not just the spec sheet
• ✓You can still open and close the window with the unit installed
• ✓Post-recall U+ design ships with the redesigned drain plug and leveling guide

Trade-offs

• −Bracket-and-saddle install is fussier and slower than a drop-in unit — plan on two people and an hour
• −2025 mold recall history means used or old-stock units are a genuine risk
• −Anti-tip arms barely clear some narrow window frames — measure before buying
• −1-year warranty is short for a unit this central to summer