1. Midea U MAW12V1QWT

They say you can’t have your cake and eat it, too. Well, Midea U MAW12V1QWT lets you eat the cake — and keeps you cool while you enjoy the treat.

Unlike any other AC on my list, this 12000 BTU air conditioner comes equipped with advanced DC inverter technology. The inverter compressor makes this unit powerful, energy-efficient, and quiet.

The Midea U inverter AC can quickly and efficiently cool rooms up to its rated 550 square feet. It does a decent job in even larger spaces, too. You won’t see icicles dangling from the ceiling, but you’ll be comfortable.

As Midea advertises, you can feel the unit's strong airflow 20 feet away. Although your hair won't blow back, there's still a lot of cool air coming from the unit.

Enjoying that cool breeze for a long time doesn't cost you a fortune, either. With an excellent 15 EER rating, this Energy Star certified AC won't inflate your energy costs.

This is also the quietest 12000 BTU window air conditioner on my list, producing only around 50 dB of noise at full power.

It's partially thanks to the inverter converter and the U-shaped design, which places the compressor behind your window pane. It's a natural sound barrier!

As a cherry on top of the high-tech AC cake, Midea U is fully Wi-Fi-capable.

You can control it anywhere with your smartphone or voice control units like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Just make sure your home Wi-Fi supports a 2.4 Ghz frequency.

Just be prepared for an involved installation process due to the unique U-design. It's easy once you figure out how everything slots into place, but you'll have to do some problem-solving.

Fortunately, the AC unit is very light, and you get plenty of insulation foam.

Midea says you can open the window after mounting the AC, but I found that wasn’t really realistic — unless you want to rip off all of that foam you just put in. At least you can still enjoy the view through the window.

In my books, Midea U sets a new standard for window AC units. It's strong, quiet, and prepared for smart home integration — a true modern AC.

2. SereneLife SLPAC12.5

A portable AC unit brings you more flexible positioning than window devices, and they won't draw the ire of nitpicky HOA officials. SereneLife SLPAC12.5 lets you enjoy that convenience and excellent cooling chops for a portable unit.

Portable units are often less powerful than similarly rated window ACs, but that’s not the case here. The SereneLife has plentiful cooling power, with ice-cold air blowing through the louvers.

This AC has no problems whatsoever cooling large spaces up to the rated 550 square feet, and it can perform adequately in an even bigger room.

You could also do what I did during my tests and set up a fan in a doorway to distribute the cooled air across multiple smaller rooms.

Either way, the SereneLife does its job well.

Drainage is always a concern with portable air conditioners, but SereneLife minimizes the issue. It has low condensation production, and I rarely had to drain it.

You may need to empty the water reservoir more often if you live in a high-humidity region, though.

The SereneLife offers basic 3-in-1 functionality with AC, fan, and dehumidifier modes alongside multi-speed fan settings. There's no sleep or eco mode, which is a bit of a bummer, but it keeps the usability simple.

The included remote control continues the theme of simplicity. It has no backlight or display, but it functions well enough to be a welcome addition to the unit.

SereneLife has constructed this AC with care. The build quality is good, and the unit feels sturdy. It's a bit heavy and tall, but that just shows how robust the machine is. Despite the heft, I had no problems rolling this thing around.

With regular basic maintenance, you can expect your AC to last a long while.

If something happens to go wrong, though, Pyle Crop (the actual manufacturer) offers first-grade customer service — even if your one-year warranty has expired.

The only thing I can grumble about is the low energy efficiency. With a 2.6 EER rating, you might notice a bump in your electricity bill.

I’d say the strong cooling capacity is worth it, though. The SereneLife works exactly as advertised, which you can’t say for all portable units.

3. LG LW1216ER

Admittedly, 12,000 BTU air conditioners can be pricey. However, machines like the LG LW1216ER show that you can get powerful cooling at a good value.

You might think that a lower price point would compromise an AC’s cooling power, but that’s not the case here.

This LG unit pumps out a lot of cool air, providing quick and efficient cooling within the rated 550-square-foot coverage area.

The AC also has the punch to tackle an even larger challenge. Even in a space almost 700 square feet in size, I noticed the temperature dropping within 30 minutes after turning the LG on.

The LG boasts the usual AC, fan, and dehumidifier modes, in addition to a programmable timer and an energy saver mode. There’s no sleep mode, which might not make this an ideal unit for bedrooms.

Then again, the noise level is reasonable. This unit isn’t as quiet as the Midea U, but it does run quieter than the conventional Midea unit.

Controlling this air conditioner is straightforward, and the remote control is responsive with good use angles. It is basic in terms of functionality, but it works — which is the most important factor.

This Energy Star rated unit has a 12 EER rating, so you can rely on the energy consumption staying in check.

The energy savings add to the overall value, as does the very robust construction. Give your LG AC basic care, and it can serve you for years.

The robustness makes this a very heavy air conditioner that needs an outdoor support bracket. Fortunately, it has an easy installation process, thanks to the slide-out chassis.

Pull the AC unit out, mount the featherweight chassis to the window, and slip the AC back in.

Due to the slide-out design, you could conceivably install this window unit into a wall, like the Koldfront wall unit.

This AC is also fairly big and will not fit in very small windows. Measure your window opening carefully before you commit to a purchase.

At least you get a lot of air conditioner for your money — literally. In terms of price, power, and energy consumption, this LG machine makes an offer that’s hard to refuse.

4. Rintuf A012C

Buying an air conditioner from an unfamiliar can feel like a gamble, and sometimes it is. That gamble can result in a big jackpot, though — as is the case with Rintuf A012C.

Rintuf is less well-known than LG, Black+Decker, or Midea, but you shouldn't sleep on this portable AC just because you don't immediately recognize the brand.

The Rintuf's cooling capacity took me by surprise. It rivals and maybe even beats the powerful SereneLife unit.

Case in point, I demoed this machine in an open-plan kitchen/living with high vaulted ceilings — way bigger than the 550 square feet it’s rated for.

Within an hour, the space was comfortably cool. The Rintuf beats some window units in terms of efficient cooling.

You can get the Rintuff working quickly, too, thanks to the easy installation. I had the thing out of the box and running in about 15 minutes.

The controls are simple and self-explanatory. In addition to the usual AC/fan/dehumidifier modes, the Rintuf is one of the two portable air conditioners on my list to offer a sleep mode, in addition to the Black+Decker.

I liked the remote control on this unit. It was one of the more responsive ones I tested. It has a display and can show the ambient temperature. No other remote control I tried had that functionality.

Apart from its power, the Rintuf surprised me with its low noise output. In terms of quiet operation, it matches the Whynter.

This AC produced only about 55 dB of noise at full blast — better than some window-mounted units I reviewed.

I have to admit, I’m not quite sure of how energy-efficient this air conditioner is. The energy guide that shipped with it showed a 7.6 EER rating, but the stated model was actually Rintuf’s 8,000 BTU unit.

I estimate the energy efficiency is somewhere between SereneLife and Whynter. Your electricity bill will probably rise a bit, but not too much.

Like with SereneLife, the power cord and exhaust hose are fairly short. With this being the heaviest portable I tested, moving it around is challenging.

Once you get it in place, though, the Rintuf proves itself as a solid, well-functioning air conditioner.

5. Koldfront WTC12001W

A through-the-wall air conditioner can provide central air-like functionality at a fraction of the cost. Koldfront WTC12001W does a good job at keeping you cool — or warm, for that matter.

That’s right, this wall AC unit pulls double duty as a heater!

The 12,000 BTU AC provides quick and efficient cooling in spaces up to the rated 550 square feet.

It’s not quite powerful enough to work adequately in a larger room, but hey — the Koldfront does what it promises. I can’t fault a machine for doing the job it’s supposed to.

The heater portion is rated at 10,600 BTU. As with the AC, it's sufficient for large rooms up to that 550-square-foot cut-off point.

It might need some help from another heat source in a poorly insulated garage, but it’ll still take the bite out of the winter chill.

To illustrate the effectiveness of these units, let me tell you of a friend who owns a small apartment building.

His tenants kept complaining about the old wall AC units, so I suggested giving these Koldfronts a try. The complaints have stopped — enough said.

The air conditioning unit can function in cooling, fan, and dehumidifier modes, and the Koldfront has both a sleep and eco mode on top of a programmable timer. The three fan speeds work with both the AC and heater.

In terms of noise, the Koldfront is about average. The noise level depends largely on how well you install the AC. Don't skimp on the support and insulation foam, and you can enjoy relatively quiet operation.

This unit provides relatively easy installation as long as you have the wall hole ready.

If not, prepare for high installation costs — particularly because the essential wall sleeve is sold separately. I really wish it was included, particularly because the unit itself is already pricey.

The 9.5 EER score could be better, but it won't result in a huge hit on your power bills. Speaking of power, make sure you can plug this unit into a 230V outlet.

In the end, the Koldfront is worth its cost. It’s a capable machine that can keep you both cool and warm, and is a good alternative to an even more expensive mini-split.

6. Midea ‎MAW12R1BWT

Fitting big 12,000 BTU window air conditioners into your large rooms can be a real challenge if your windows are on the narrow side. Midea MAW12R1BWT can solve the problem with its smaller-than-average size.

At only 19” wide, this Midea device is the narrowest conventionally shaped window AC unit on my list. With the mounting bracket attached, it can fit into 23" wide window openings — a full 3" narrower than the LG.

You don’t have to sacrifice cooling power for the narrow form factor. After all, I wouldn’t recommend this machine if it wasn’t powerful enough!

This Midea air conditioner produces a strong and freezing cold airflow, providing quick and efficient cooling in rooms up to the 550-square-foot 12,000 BTU standard — and quite possibly in a bit larger spaces as well.

I could swear I saw some penguins settling in while testing this unit.

In terms of functionality, this Midea is on par with its U-shaped sibling. It can run as an AC, fan, or dehumidifier, offers three cooling speeds, and has sleep and eco mode options.

Although it doesn't have Wi-Fi capabilities like the Midea U, this Midea comes with the best remote control out of all the window AC units. The remote has an LED display and it's easy to use, thanks to the long range and wide use angles.

This AC is Energy Star-certified and has a 12 EER rating, rivaling the LG unit. Running this energy-efficient air conditioning unit shouldn’t cost you more than $100 per year — quite an affordable device.

Unlike the rather complex Midea U, this unit provides easy installation with its nicely complete installation kit. You get all the needed parts to set it up quickly.

There's really very little grumble about this AC. It's on the louder side, but the noise is a steady rumble that is manageable. The design looks somewhat dated, but perhaps you like the vintage appearance.

This unit shows Midea knows how to build a regularly shaped window air conditioner as well. It’s a small but mighty unit that can save your narrow-windowed rooms from the summer heat.

7. Whynter ARC-122DS

Having two hoses on a portable AC might seem pointless, but that’s not the case. Thanks to its dual-hose design, Whynter ARC-122DS provides strong and quick cooling in large rooms.

Although single-hose portable units can work well, the fact is that they suck in air from every gap in your home to replace the air they pump outside. That can compromise their efficiency in high heat.

This Whynter unit avoids that issue by drawing in outside air through a separate intake hose. As a result, it can effectively cool big rooms.

Although this unit is actually designed for 400-square-foot rooms (despite it being a 12000 BTU unit), I had no issue bringing a 550-square-foot room down to my target temperature.

There’s one caveat — if the outside temperature rises above 90°F, the Whynter will start struggling.

That’s not a problem, though, since you can remove the intake hose to convert this unit into a single-hose setup, and it'll continue keeping you cool.

Whynter offers basic 3-in-1 functionality with a 24-hour timer and multiple fan speeds, comparable to the SereneLife unit. Learning to use the unit is simple, even without the user manual.

Unlike the SereneLife or Rintuf, this AC is auto-evaporative, recycling condensation water to cool its coils. In 50% outdoor humidity, I had no need to drain this unit.

I did rig up a drain hose out of curiosity, though, and the AC let out two gallons of water in a day. That’s some powerful evaporation!

According to the documentation that comes with the machine, the EER rating is 6.9, not 12, as you may find online.

That's about average for portable ACs, and this unit saves some extra energy by having a 5-degree grace range built into the thermostat. It’s up to you whether the energy savings are worth the temperature fluctuations, though.

This unit is well-built and relatively lightweight, and should last for a long time with good care. Whynter thinks so, too, and offers a nice three-year warranty on the compressor.

Finally, this machine has very quiet operation for a portable AC. Overall, it’s a good and surprisingly affordable option for portable cooling.

8. Black+Decker BPP08HWTB

The convenience of portable air conditioners isn’t restricted to the summer months. You can move Black+Decker BPP08HWTB to the room that needs it most, whether it’s too hot or cold.

The 12,000 BTU air conditioner function delivers what I can only call brute force cooling in rooms up to 550 square feet in size. Simply set the machine up, and your room will feel noticeably cooler in a few minutes.

For larger rooms, you may want to opt for a more powerful unit. Still, this Black+Decker provides very fast cooling action in spaces that fall within its rating.

Like the Koldfront wall unit, this air conditioner has a 10,500 BTU heating element. The story here is the same as with the Koldfront.

The heater keeps you toasty in smaller rooms, but in large spaces, I'd recommend using it as an effective supplemental heater.

This unit is nicely portable, thanks to its relatively compact size. Its weight is about on par with the SereneLife, meaning it’s a bit heavy but not so much that you can’t move it.

The window kit is good and provides easy installation, so setting this unit up in different rooms is simple.

As with Whynter, this Black+Decker unit has an auto-evaporation function. Combined with the generally low condensation production, there’s rarely a need to drain the AC.

If it happens to fill up, the included drain hose makes emptying the condensation pan easier.

In addition to the heater and regular 3-in-1 AC operation modes, the Black+Decker boasts a timer and sleep mode. You can only activate the latter through the remote control, though, for some reason.

This unit is quite energy-efficient as far as portable ACs go. It can’t compete with window air conditioners, but with an 8 EER rating, it’s the most energy-efficient portable machine on my list.

The Black+Decker runs a bit louder than the advertised 54 dB on the highest setting, but it’s not overwhelming. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this machine to friends or family who want both portable heating and cooling.