Just as most folks were dusting off their air conditioners for the start of summer, Midea voluntarily recalled the Midea U Inverter Air Conditioner. At the time, we had named it the best air conditioner we'd ever tested — so suffice to say, we were shocked.
The recall is due to mold issues attributed to the AC's unique U-shaped design. This design allows you to open the window while the unit is installed, but it reportedly causes water to pool without a way to drain. Similarly designed ACs by Comfort Aire, Danby, Frigidaire, Insignia, Keystone, LBG Products, Mr. Cool, Perfect Aire, and Sea Breeze were also recalled.
The Midea U went off the market for a while but is now available again. It includes a repair kit that allows water to drain better from the AC. I tested it to see if it still earns a spot in our best air conditioner guide. My verdict: It's still a fantastic air conditioner, but it's not for everyone. Below, you'll find my thoughts, along with insights from my former colleague, James Brains, who tested and wrote the original version of this review.
The Midea U Inverter Window Air Conditioner features a unique design that lets you leave the window open while it's installed. While it was recalled last year due to mold concerns, the new 2026 version (MAW08V1UWT) addresses those issues with new drain plugs and external levelers.
What we like
What we don't like
Design
While most air conditioners are a basic rectangular prism, the Midea U has a portion missing where the window would typically rest on top of the AC. Instead, your window can almost close in the U section between the two main bulky sections of the unit. This means you need less insulation to fill gaps left by the open window. It easily installs in single-hung or double-hung windows with a width of 22 to 36 inches, with a minimal height of 13.75 inches.
Additionally, rather than relying on the window to keep it in place like most ACs, the Midea U comes with a support bracket, so you can open your window with the AC installed. The support bracket is a nice feature if you have a nagging fear of your AC falling out and squashing people down below. It's rated Energy Star Most Efficient and has a unique U-shaped design that allows you to open the window with the unit installed.
These two design features make the Midea U a game changer. When the AC is installed, you can open your window all the way. This feature is great if you live where the temperature fluctuates drastically during AC season. For instance, if you have 90-degree days and 60-degree nights, you can run the AC during the hottest part of the day. When the temp drops, turn off the AC, open the window, and enjoy the cool breeze.
Setup
The updated Midea U came with two sets of instructions: one for making the repair needed to prevent mold growth and another for general installation. The repair consists of popping an old drain plug out and putting a new one in — it took me all of 30 seconds. Installing the AC in my window was a different story.
The process is quite different than installing your standard AC. You need to first install a support bracket that the unit eventually sits on. This was made trickier for me because my apartment building requires ACs to be installed in specific windows that already have pre-installed platforms to protect the unit from falling to the ground. This is pretty common in NYC, where I live. I had to install the support bracket around this platform, which was doable, but not ideal.
The instructions and parts needed vary depending on the type and size of the window you have. Both James and I found the process unclear. I needed to reference two different YouTube videos to figure out where to place the bracket on my window sill.
Once the bracket is in place, you slide on the AC and then cut foam to fill the side gaps. This is different than classic ACs, which usually have accordion panels.
Leveling the unit is perhaps the most important step to prevent mold growth and the one that I felt like I had to do the most jerry-rigging to accomplish. The instructions tell you to ensure the unit is level or tilted to the outside, but give no practical tips on how to accomplish this. I ended up placing a piece of scrap metal under the unit to get the proper tilt.
All told, removing my old AC and installing the Midea took me about an hour and was more involved than any other AC I've tested. Your mileage may vary, though — when James tested the AC, installation only took him 25 minutes.
Energy use
The Midea U has an inverter compressor with a variable-speed motor that makes slight adjustments to stay at the target temperature. Most ACs just cycle on and off. The constant low-level operation of the inverter compressor is much more efficient. That's why it earned Energy Star's "Most Efficient" certification; one of the first ACs to do so.
James used a smart plug to measure the unit's energy consumption over 24 hours. Running on high, it consumed 9.6 kWh, which works out to 0.4 kWh per hour. This was better than most of the ACs we've tested. If you run the Midea on high for eight hours daily all summer, you can expect to pay about $47 for electricity based on the current US average.
Cooling performance
Subjectively, the Midea U cools better than the previous AC I had installed — a different U-shaped unit from Frigidaire. It's powerful enough to cool my entire 500-square-foot apartment with just 8,000 Btu. In James' objective temperature tests, conducted in a 650-square-foot room, the Midea U lowered the room's temperature by 1.7 degrees Fahrenheit in an hour, which was about average among the 20 window air conditioners he tested. He noted, however, that the cooling was impressive considering its minimal energy use.
Keep in mind that in cooling mode, the Midea U also removes moisture and circulates the air, making the room feel even cooler. As you run it longer than an hour, the room's temperature will continue to decrease, though at a slower pace.
While most ACs feature louvers that let you send the cool air right where you want it, the Midea U only offers horizontal adjustment, directing the air to the right or left side of the room. This isn't a big deal if you want to cool a full room, but it's not optimal if you want all the cooling air to go right where you're located in a room.
Noise
The Midea U is the air conditioner to buy if you want silence while sleeping. A sound meter positioned 6 feet from the unit registered 48 decibels while it ran on high, a little lower than a refrigerator running, and one of the quietest we've tested.
As most compressors shift between off and on, they will make a startling sound. The Midea U doesn't have this issue. The inverter compressor shifts seamlessly between speeds and isn't noticeable.
Smart features
The Midea U's control panel and remote have all the functions you need to run the AC and more. For instance, you can tap the LED button on the remote to turn off the control panel's lights at night — a feature I very much appreciate as a light sleeper.
There's also an app if you'd like to perform these functions remotely. As someone who works from home, I haven't found much use for the app, but I can see how the scheduling feature is useful for anyone who commutes each day. When James tested the AC, he used scheduling to power down the unit during the hours his utility company imposes surge pricing, which is a smart way to save some money. You can even pair the unit with Alexa or Google Home to enable voice control — a great accessibility feature.
Care and maintenance
Like with most ACs, you'll want to clean the air filter every couple of weeks. An indicator light on the unit or a notification in the app tells you when it's time.
As a result of the recall, Midea now suggests another maintenance task I haven't seen with any other AC: draining it once a month. This is a pain because the drain plug is at the back underside of the unit. Reaching it requires leaning out the window and over the AC to feel around for it blindly, and it takes a good amount of force and wiggling to get it in and out of place properly. I'm not jazzed about doing this, but the company recommends it to prevent mold growth due to water buildup.
Other maintenance tasks — like cleaning the cabinet, fins, and coils — are less frequent and more involved. For details on how to do that, check out our article on how to clean window air conditioners.
Why a U-shaped air conditioner isn't for everyone
While I think the Midea U is a very clever design with a lot of perks for many people, there are a few groups for whom I think a U-shaped AC is not the best option:
- People who move homes a lot: Every window is different, and installation of the Midea U requires different parts for different window types and sizes. The AC comes with all these parts, but you'll have to hold on and keep track of them if you plan on moving. You also have to cut foam blocks to size to fill the side gaps of the AC. I doubt I'll be able to reuse the same exact ones for every window, so I'll likely have to buy new ones or jerry-rig a solution when I inevitably move.
- City or condo dwellers with very specific window AC installation requirements: Many buildings in my neighborhood would not be able to accommodate the window bracket required to mount the Midea U. I had to maneuver the Midea's required installation bracket around my building's pre-installed one. I made it work, but not everyone will be able to.
- Anyone with severe allergies or asthma: I wouldn't recommend this unit to anyone with respiratory issues until we know more about how the repaired units resist mold growth.
What are your alternatives?
The top pick in our guide to the best air conditioners is the Frigidaire Gallery GHWW085TE1. In our tests, it did a better job of cooling, was even quieter than the Midea U, easier to install, and equally as energy efficient. However, you can't open the window while it's installed, and the controls aren't as user-friendly.
When it comes to portable air conditioners vs window air conditioners, window units are superior. However, if your room can't accommodate a window air conditioner, one of the best portable air conditioners will be your best bet. Our top pick is also made by Midea; read our Midea Duo Smart Inverter Portable Air Conditioner review for the details.
The bottom line
I think the Midea U-Shaped Inverter Window Air Conditioner is a really cleverly designed unit that is great for people who want to leave their ACs installed year-round and still have access to the window. It exceeds most traditional units in cooling power, quiet operation, and energy efficiency. While there are a few groups I would caution should avoid (see above), it's still a worthwhile AC, even after the recall.
James Brains contributed testing and writing to this article.
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