The 5 Best Air Conditioners Our Team Relies on to Beat the Heat

Best Overall

Frigidaire Window Air Conditioner

$549 $459 at Amazon $549 at Home Depot View on Woot.com

Where to begin? I can’t say enough good things about the Gallery Series—my first AC upgrade—which continues to enjoy best-seller status at Frigidaire, a trusted brand that’s been in the business for over a century. New York City may have a reputation for teeny-tiny dwellings, but I’ve been lucky enough to find apartments with large bedrooms. 

Needless to say, having a powerful unit that could pump out plenty of cool air was a must. But a quiet air conditioner was just as important to me, a notoriously light sleeper. I was tired of my old unit jolting me awake after kicking into high gear on particularly balmy nights. Luckily, on both the efficiency and noise fronts, Frigidaire delivers. 

It’s now made the move from Manhattan to Queens without any hiccups and installs like any standard air conditioner, requiring a bracket to hold it up. While another member of our testing team was able to install it on their own, I find the task is easier with a second set of hands since it’s over 50 pounds. There’s a hole at the center of the unit itself to drill directly into the window sash and screw-mounted locks in the corners of the accordion side panels. It feels just as secure now living on the sixth floor in my new apartment as it did on the ninth floor of my former place on the Upper West Side.  

Aside from its ability to cool at a white-noise level (at 42 decibels, it’s more background noise than anything—the other tester installed theirs in the living room and could watch TV and chit-chat without having to raise their voice), there are a handful of other reasons that bring this pick to the top of our list. The most impressive is the sleek front. Instead of staring at an open grid 24/7, the white vent slowly opens up when you power the unit on (and closes when you turn it off to reduce dust) and can continuously adjust on a swing louver for optimal airflow. 

Other noteworthy details: It’s Energy Star-certified, relies on inverter technology, features a variable-speed compressor (translation: It’s great at regulating room temperature without eating up electricity), and has a washable dust filter. The latter was a big benefit for me personally, as I hadn’t realized the filter in the unit I inherited hadn’t been replaced in, well, years.  

You can also automatically set it to turn on and off from the app (helpful if you want your space to feel ice cold before catching some shuteye), but it’s easier to control from the unit’s touchscreen display or its included remote control. The latter I like to keep within arms’ reach at night for any adjustments, a boon considering I never have to leave bed if I’m feeling too warm—or, more often than not, too chilly. The remote is also a nice alternative to squinting at my phone screen’s brightness to operate via the app at night. The LED touchscreen automatically dims after inactivity, too, so you don’t have to worry about glaring lights keeping you up.  

Product Details: Btus: 8,000, 10,000, or 12,000 | Square Footage: 350, 450, or 550 square feet | Weight: 55, 56, or 58 pounds | Dimensions: 13.9x19.45x23 inches | CEER: 15

Key Terms to Know

• Btus: An acronym for British Thermal Units, which measures the amount of energy an AC unit uses to pump out cold air. In other words, the more Btus, the more powerful the unit (but the more electricity it uses to function correctly). 
• Decibels: When shopping for our list of the best window air conditioners, remember to check for the decibels or how loud the sound levels that a unit can produce. Decibels should be under 45 for sleeping, and in testing, I found that most are roughly 42 decibels at the lowest. 
• CEER: You can spot the Combined Energy Efficiency Ratio number on an EnergyGuide label (the yellow slip of paper your new unit should ship with) below the estimated yearly energy cost. The metric defines the overall efficiency of a product by combining the input and output of electricity during cooling or low-power modes. Essentially, the higher the number, the more efficient an air conditioner is. In March 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy increased the baseline of its conservation standards for room air conditioners to qualify for an Energy Star rating (a unit below 8,000 Btus, for instance, now needs a 12.8 CEER; before, an 11 would suffice).
  

Best Budget

GE Window Air Conditioner

$189 $67 at Amazon $282 at Walmart $175 at Home Depot

After our tester installed the GE 5000 window air conditioner in a 140-square-foot bedroom, they were instantly impressed by how quickly this budget pick cools the smaller space, operating at a low hum. If you could care less about all the bells and whistles of a smart and sleek unit, this product serves its function and serves it well. 

During testing, the mechanical controls were easy and straightforward to use, thanks in part to only a few different mode options (a cooling temperature scale ranging from one to 10 and a low or high fan speed). Plus, a built-in louver allows you to manually adjust the airflow direction. Its simplicity is part of the allure—it didn’t take our tester much time at all to determine her preferred settings. But it is worth noting that, because there isn’t a temperature reading, there also isn’t an energy-saving mode that will automatically shut the unit off. It’s the one detail our tester wished it had.  

The only other flaw was the assembly process. While the instructions were clear and relatively easy to follow, our tester did note that she struggled to attach the side panels. She didn’t break a sweat, however, putting it into the window (which we’d argue is the worst part of using any window unit). 

Its ability to cool outweighed any downsides in our tester’s eyes. The GE 5000 was relied on heavily throughout the month of July, when the Midwest was plagued by hot and humid weather and an average temperature hovering around 85 degrees. 

Our tester’s sibling can also vouch for the value of this compact air conditioner, as they were the primary resident of the room, and watched TV nearly every day while it was in use. Even then, they didn’t have to bump up the volume and could hold a conversation without worry, and not once did it rouse him from his slumber at night. 

Product Details: Btus: 5,000 | Square Footage: 150 square feet | Weight: 36 pounds | Dimensions: 12.56x16.44x15 inches | CEER: 11

Best Design

July Window Air Conditioner

$460 at Wayfair View on July.ac

If you’re a minimalist, you’ll swoon over July’s take on the window air conditioner. I know I did. I made the initial mistake of thinking I could keep two adjoining spaces—a traditional living room and a multipurpose space that functions as our dining area, office, and guest bedroom—cool with one hefty air conditioner. It should have been fine on paper, but hours bathed in sunlight and 11-foot-tall ceilings threw an unexpected wrench into the mix. 

I often refer to myself as a flower—someone who needs to soak up as much sun as possible—so I couldn’t bear the thought of blocking my primary light source with yet another boxy unit. But after sweating through most of last year's summer, I knew I could no longer put it off. Enter: July. The swappable front covers (I opted for Cloud, which matches the creamy off-white of my walls) makes the whole thing blend in rather than stick out like a sore thumb. Choices include premium fabrics like linen and bamboo. The unit is quiet enough not to interfere with listening to the nightly news or binging my latest Netflix obsession. 

Plus, you don’t have to ask your super if they have an extra bracket lying around  (your building may require one regardless of the laws in your city—mine does!—in that case, you can purchase one from July’s site, too). The brand’s patented installation frame goes in first, centered, before lowering the window catch and screwing it in. I was surprised by how easily it held within the frame (there’s also a screw hole located at the bottom of the frame for extra peace of mind!), considering the windows in my pre-war apartment have seen better days. Then, all you have to do is slide the air conditioner into place, where it locks with a confirming click. While most insulating sides are built onto the unit, July’s wings (constructed from a vinyl, weatherproof fabric) are installed into the frame and expand up to an impressive 39 inches.  

My favorite part? The fabric is more transparent than the blackout-like look online, so I enjoy the filtered light. Mine sits comfortably in a standard window, but the brand also offers sliders and wall slot models (a rarity in the industry). Bonus points for the cute, sky blue remote that looks leaps and bounds better than the Roku and Samsung soundbar controls it mingles with merrily on my coffee table. However, I often just tell Alexa to turn the unit on or off (an older Echo sits in the neighboring window). 

It’s so nice to look at, I’m contemplating just leaving it installed all year-round. If I do, all I need is to invest in the $50 winter cover, which is constructed with a double-insulated polyester-cotton blend and fits around the whole front of the AC unit with an elastic band. The cover will also be great to have around if I can’t move the unit to storage until late fall. 

While I already have a designated air purifier for my living space, if you don’t, this machine also doubles as one. When checking out, be sure to add the three-month supply of upgraded air filters, which the company claims captures pollen, pet dander, and wildfire smoke. 

Product Details: Btus: 6,000 or 8,000 | Square Footage: 250 or 350 square feet | Weight: 50 or 55 pounds | Dimensions: 17x19x14 inches | CEER: 11

Best Efficient

Windmill Window Air Conditioner

$563 $369 at Walmart $390 at Lowes $389 at Home Depot

I’ll admit, Windmill is a close second to the July air conditioner when it comes to an aesthetically minded exterior. I love that the buttons are hidden in plain sight, allowing the clean-lined front and rounded edges to blend into your walls. But aside from earning top marks in good looks, it’s also impressive at churning out cold air without destroying my energy bill. 

Plus, every guest who has slept beneath it in the office/guest bedroom hasn’t complained. Instead of blowing air directly onto visitors’ faces, the Windmill is more comparable to central air, releasing upward at a 45-degree angle.  

Connecting to the app was also a breeze. Given the Frigidaire app’s quirkiness, my expectations were pretty low, but it worked on the first try and hasn’t been a problem since. That’s a testament, in my opinion, since I rarely find anything that is that easy. The app enables me to set the temperature and toggle between modes and fan speeds, but it’s worth noting that all of that can be controlled with a wireless remote, too. This week, with temperatures holding steady at 90 degrees, I scheduled it to turn off at night when the room is not in use and back on early in the morning before I wake up so working in the living room wouldn’t feel like entering a sauna. 

While all of the ACs on this list are comparably smart, Windmill takes energy efficiency slightly more seriously. The app provides real-time data (updates every 10 seconds) on how much wattage the unit is using and summarizes utilization by day, week, and month. You can also connect your utility account to enroll in the brand’s exclusive Eco Rewards, which will automatically adjust your settings to lessen the stress on the power grid during hours of peak demand. Opting into these events (the brand says there are usually four or five throughout May and September) can equate to up to $60 in savings each year.  

Customer service was also impressive. After installation, I realized I had received the 10,000 Btu model and not the 12,000 Btu one. Within a couple of days, the unit was swiftly swapped without worry. For all those benefits and options, it’s arguably one of the best air conditioners for your buck.

Product Details: Btus: 6,000, 8,000, 10,000, or 12,000 | Square Footage: 250, 350, 450, or 550 square feet | Weight: 58, 63, 70, or 74 pounds | Dimensions: 19.3x19.4x13.2 inches | CEER: 15

Best Smart

Midea Smart Inverter Air Conditioner Window Unit

$800 at Amazon

Installed specifically in a 240-square-foot living room that also doubles as an at-home office, the Midea is so efficient at cooling, that it’s kept an entire 525-square-foot apartment comfortable during Midwestern heat waves. 

Our associate editor, Jessica Comstock, was particularly impressed by how effectively and quickly it’s been able to bring temperatures down in her Chicago rental with east-facing windows in mere minutes. Set at 70 degrees during the day, the air conditioner doesn’t have to be adjusted until later at night when the temp gets dropped down to 67 degrees for better sleeping conditions. Even then, she says it’s relatively quiet, but it should be noted that this window unit is a bit noisier than others on this list, operating at 45 decibels at its lowest. And since it’s placed in close proximity to the television, on the evenings it’s in use, Comstock did have to turn the volume up quite a bit in order to hear her show over all the humming. 

Something else to be aware of: If you decide to change settings directly with the touchscreen, there’s a pretty loud beeping to alert that the change has been made. It’s possible to silence this function entirely, but adjusting the volume isn’t. 

Although there’s also a high-tech digital remote, Comstock appreciates the Wi-Fi-connected app more than anything. Even when she’s sitting close by, she prefers to pull up the settings on her phone where there are far more options, such as switching between the main eco and oscillating modes and setting the fan speeds by a precise percentage. When returning from trips, the app enables her to turn the unit on while en route from the airport. It’ll also alert Comstock with a pop-up notification when the washable filter needs cleaning; more often than not, she washes it about once a month, either rinsing with water or vacuuming up the dust, and has had zero issues. 

The air conditioner ships with everything needed to install it yourself—in addition to a handful of screws and locks, inside the box you’ll also find seal foam, weather stripping, and detailed instructions on how to get the machine up and running. But Comstock bought hers off her apartment’s former resident when it was already a year old (and remained installed throughout the winter), and it’s still working as good as new; a real testament to its durability. 

And although it’s Midea, this isn’t the internet-famous U-shaped design that lets more light in. It’s not as pricey as that version, but still not cheap. Even then, Comstock says she would happily repurchase this if it broke down again because of how streamlined and smart it is. 

Product Details: Btus: 8,000 or 12,000 | Square Footage: 350 or 550 square feet | Weight: 56 or 58 pounds | Dimensions: 21.97x19.17x13.46 inches | CEER: 13.3