Midea 8,000 BTU Smart Inverter Air Conditioner Window Unit with Heat and Dehumidifier – Cools up to 350 Sq. Ft., Energy Star Rated, Quiet Operation, Electronic Controls, Remote Control, White

Why it's worth it

This 8,000 BTU inverter unit cools a room up to about 350 square feet, runs as low as 45 dBA, and carries an Energy Star rating. It also has a heat mode, so a back bedroom or a converted office stays comfortable well into the fall.

The variable-speed compressor is the reason to buy this one. A fixed-speed unit only knows full blast and off, so it slams on, overshoots, and shuts down. This one ramps up and then settles, which keeps the room within a degree or so and keeps the noise even. Midea says the inverter design can cut energy use by up to about 35% compared with a conventional fixed-speed window unit. It's also Energy Star certified, which on its own means roughly 10% better efficiency than the federal minimum.

The spec sheet puts it as low as 45 dBA, and owners back that up — several say they walked over to check whether it was even running. That matters most if you sleep lightly or take calls in the same room. You'll still hear the fan on high. But it's a smooth whoosh rather than the on-off clatter of an older unit, and you won't be reaching for the TV remote every few minutes.

From our review of 8 window air conditioners, by David Sinclair, Managing Editor

What we like

• +The variable-speed compressor is the reason to buy this one
• +The spec sheet puts it as low as 45 dBA, and owners back that up — several say they walked over to check whether it was even…
• +The heat mode is a genuinely useful bonus if you have a back bedroom or a converted garage your furnace never quite reaches
• +It's also one of the easier picks to actually get into a window

What to know

• –The temperature sensor is the recurring complaint
• –At 8,000 BTU it's sized for one room up to about 350 square feet, so it's the wrong tool for an open-plan living and dining space