Best Window Air Conditioners of 2026: Midea, Zafro, GE

These are the AC units we’ve trusted to cool our homes for months, if not years. Best Overall Window Air Conditioner Midea U-Shaped Air Conditioner 06AC) rder.

The best window air conditioners offer sweet relief and potential energy savings when you use them for targeted cooling. Extreme heat is exhausting, and it ages you faster than smoking or drinking. Even Europe, long resistant to them, is now cottoning to the idea that air conditioners are a public health need.

WIRED’s top pick, Midea’s 8,000 BTU U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner ($400), is among the most energy-efficient on the market, and uses newfangled coolants that don’t deplete the ozone like the more damaging ones of yore. Heat pumps are even more efficient, and mini-splits like the Della Optima Series 12,000 BTU 23 SEER2 ($970) are becoming increasingly accessible, although they require expensive installation. We’ve also included the best models for those on a tight budget, such a surprisingly quiet small-room 6,000 BTU air conditioner from GE for a mere $209.

But note that budget models generally aren’t as efficient, so saving on the upfront cost can lead to higher energy bills over time. Be sure to check out our other air-quality guides, including Best Air Purifiers, Best Indoor Air Quality Monitors, and Best Fans. Updated July 2026: Matthew Korfhage retested this year’s model of our top-pick, the Midea U-Shaped Air Conditioner, to ensure that updates addressed condensation issues.

We also tested and added the TCL Q-Series Air Conditioner and the Dreo Portable Air Conditioner to our honorable mentions, and updated links and pricing throughout. Korfhage Courtesy of Midea Korfhage Save to wishlist Midea Since the first-generation device arrived in 2020, the U-shaped air conditioners from Midea have become the benchmark that every other manufacturer seems to be chasing. (Midea also white-labels the devices used by many other brands.) This device’s energy-saving inverter compressor and exclusive U-shaped design solves nearly every problem I want to solve when it comes to window air conditioners.

The deep cutout in the middle of the device lets my window slide down deep into the unit, leaving the noisy compressor outside—making this Midea the quietest air conditioner that any WIRED reviewer has tested. It also lets me crack open my window at night during the summer to let in cool air. But just as important, this design leads to better energy efficiency.

Most window units leak heat through a large surface area of poorly insulated plastic accordions. But U-shaped designs allow windows to be nearly shut, save for a two-inch gap sealed by thick foam.