Side-by-side comparison based on expert reviews and community consensus.
GE ClearView PHNT10
Best Smart Window ACMidea U-Shaped Window AC (MAW08V1QWT)
Best Overall Window ACPrice
$350–$450
$300–$500
Summary
The quietest smart window AC PCMag has tested, with Wi-Fi control and a low-profile design that doesn't block your view. Great for tech-forward users who want app control.
The quietest, most energy-efficient window AC you can buy — and Reddit's unanimous favorite. The U-shape design lets you keep your window open while it runs.
Pros
- Impressively quiet operation for a window unit
- Wi-Fi enabled with app and voice control
- Low-profile design preserves window view
- Strong cooling performance in testing
- Quietest window AC in its class — U-shape isolates compressor vibration
- Window can still open around the unit for ventilation
- Energy efficient with inverter compressor that doesn't cycle on/off
- Multiple size options (8,000–15,000 BTU) for different room sizes
Cons
- Smart features add cost over comparable non-smart units
- Less community validation than Midea U
- App reliability can vary over time with firmware updates
- Some users report a slight squeal noise during operation
- U-shape design requires specific window types — may not fit all frames
- Higher upfront cost than basic window units
Our take
If smart home integration matters to you and you want something that doesn't look like a gray box shoved in your window, the GE ClearView is genuinely impressive.
This is the rare product where expert reviewers and real owners completely agree. Wirecutter has picked it since 2020, and Reddit recommends it constantly. Just buy it.
Buy
