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Julian Chokkattu
Gear
These WIRED-tested AC units have been lodged into our windows and cooling our homes for months, if not years.
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Best Overall
Midea U-Shaped Air Conditioner (MAW08V1QWT)
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A Budget Window AC
GE Window Air Conditioner (AHEE06AC)
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Powerful and Quiet
LG Smart Air Conditioner (LW1022IVSM)
Read more-Gear.jpg "Quell the Heat With Our Favorite Window Air Conditioners (6)")
An AC With an Air Quality Sensor
Frigidaire Gallery U-Shape Window Air Conditioner (GHWQ085WD1)
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It’s hot. Unlike in the winter, when you can just bundle up to stay warm, there are only so many clothes you can strip off to cool down. If you don’t have central air in your home, a window air conditioner is the next best thing. They’re heavy machines but are relatively easy to install, and they immediately provide relief to your swelteringly hot space.
I feel a pang of guilt when I turn mine on. The planet is warming up because of climate change, and even the best window air conditioners contribute to this. But it’s important to stay cool during these hot months, or it can seriously affect your sleep. The window AC units in this guide are ones we’ve tested for months, if not years. However, there’s a ginormous number of these machines out there on the market from a dizzying number of brands—we’ll keep testing more and update this guide as we go. Be sure to read our How to Stay Cool Without Air Conditioning guide for tips on keeping your home chilly without mounting an AC.
Updated July 2023: We've added the Frigidaire Gallery U-Shape AC and EcoFlow Wave 2.
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Julian Chokkattu is the reviews editor at WIRED, covering personal technology and reviewing consumer products. Previously he was the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, steering coverage and reviews of smartphones and smartwatches, and an intern at TechCrunch. He graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor's degree in English... Read more
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