The Best Smart Air Conditioners That Will Keep You Cool All Summer Long
If you live somewhere without central air conditioning, window and wall air conditioners will be the key to keeping your space comfortable during the warmer months. A smart AC unit has some added benefits: It can sync with a smart thermostat and/or other smart air conditioners in your home. You can also make your smart air conditioner part of your automation system so that it turns on or off when certain conditions are met. In my home, smart air conditioners are connected to a voice assistant, so I can simply ask Google to configure the device to my liking.
As smart air conditioner prices become more competitive and smart features become more useful, choosing a traditional air conditioner becomes less and less sensible. Here are a few of my favorite smart AC units that have received the most recognition.
Midea U Shape Smart AC Inverter
I’ve owned three of these conditioners and am very pleased with them. Although U-shaped air conditioners are a little more difficult to install, they are much less noticeable. The device is divided and the window can be completely lowered between two sections. Each unit takes about an hour to install, but once they are installed, you won’t be able to remove them for the winter. This AC unit responds to most voice assistants and is available in a variety of sizes. My bills are down a bit compared to my older AC models, and the filters are easy to clean, meaning I have a better chance of keeping up with maintenance. I appreciate the simple, modern design and responsive customer service. Midea regularly ranks high on AC unit recommendation lists.
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Midea U-Shape AC 8000 BTU , $357
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Midea U-Shape AC 10,000 BTU , $419
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Midea U-Shape AC 12,000 BTU , $459
Windmill Smart Air Conditioner
The Windmill is a more traditional window air conditioner, but it is wonderfully modern and simple. Windmill has also received positive reviews and has a high rating on Amazon. Notably, it is praised for its ease of installation, which is often the most frustrating part of owning an air conditioner. This device comes with voice assistant for Google and Alexa and works over Wi-Fi. Windmill Smart AC offers the right combination of the company’s HVAC expertise and thoughtful integration of new technologies. I really liked that the Windmill comes in sizes as small as 6,000 BTU for small spaces. You can upgrade to WhisperTech on larger units that feature dual air intakes for more efficient cooling.
LG Dual Inverter Smart AC
A relatively new addition to the bunch, the LG Dual Inverter AC has been regularly mentioned in product reviews this year. Many reviewers note that it is quiet, which is great for a window air conditioner. The dual inverter makes it particularly efficient and works with both Alexa and Google. Like the other air conditioners I’ve highlighted, the LG has a modern, clean look but has a more traditional air conditioner shape. The filter is also washable, which is a nice feature (a vacuum cleaner does a lot). Although availability is limited, this line comes in a variety of sizes.
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LG Dual AC Inverter, 8000 BTU , $399
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LG Dual AC Inverter, 12,000 BTU , $529
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LG Dual AC Inverter, 14,000 BTU , $599