Midea MAP08R1CWT Review

Cooling

The 8000 BTU Midea MAP08R1CWT was one of the lowest scorers in this metric, but keep in mind that the gap between the worst and the average performers isn't that many degrees of air temperature.

When the indoor air settled at 82.85 degrees Fahrenheit, we powered on the FHPH142AC1 and let it cool the room on its highest settings for exactly one hour. The Midea managed to decrease the temp of the room by 77.45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Portability/Install

The Midea MAP08R1CWT did very well here, ranking near the top of all units reviewed. We weighed the Midea MAP08R1CWT at 50 pounds 14 ounces and appreciated that it had wide, well-placed, deep handles to lift with and a pretty centered weight balance. All of that contributes to less fatigue and anxiety when carrying the machine to an upstairs room. Rolling the unit around on hard floors was smooth and free of wonky steering that can lead to walking/tipping issues. It goes over carpet well, too, albeit with more resistance as the pile height increases.

Initial installation on the Midea MAP08R1CWT is relatively straightforward and takes only five to ten minutes. The hose assembly is really easy, requiring you to clip on some adapters and slide it into the AC without the need for any screws. Likewise, the window kit comes with a handy guide that shows you what to do with all of the included extensions. The rest of the installation is pretty typical and will require some work with basic hand tools to get a secure and sealed fit in your window.

It's fairly easy to pack the kit up and store it. The hose slides easily out of the unit and unclips from the window kit. The only thing holding the Midea MAP08R1CWT from perfection in this metric is its lack of onboard storage for the window kit and hose. All you get is a strap to stow the power cord, and you'll need to carry and store the window kit and hose separately.

Noise

The Midea MAP08R1CWT was one of the loudest portable ACs reviewed. For this test, we used both an SPL meter and a panel of judges to lend their opinions (and ears) on the sound produced by each unit.

The Midea MAP08R1CWT produced 60.2 decibels running four feet from the SPL meter with the fan on high. Both the compressor and the fan are noticeably louder than average, making this unit one of the noisiest of the bunch.

Energy Consumption

AC units with lower power consumption are better overall for your wallet and the environment. The 8,000 BTU Midea MAP08R1CWT was among the most energy-efficient units tested, performing well above the average.

The Midea MAP08R1CWT consumed .76 KWh for one hour. After three months, with a half-day of use, we calculated that this unit would likely consume 1188 kWh and rack up around $132.48 in utility costs. It is one of the most efficient, least expensive portable ACs to operate during the summer months.

Convenience

The Midea MAP08R1CWT was one of the lowest-scoring units tested in this metric. Our main criticisms were that the display is extremely hard to read and the operation modes are more limited than most units; everything else is fairly average. It has a remote, timer, child locks, and other common features, but one area where it stands out is its above-average airflow adjustability. It has a nice vertical range that allows it to concentrate air lower in the room than many units, and it can direct air left to right, which isn't something we saw on many others.

Should You Buy the Midea MAP08R1CW?

If energy efficiency and portability are high on your wish list, and you don't need top-tier cooling capacity, the Midea MAP08R1CWT might work out for you. It's also a decent option if your windows are too large to secure the window kits from other units on our list. Just keep in mind that the Midea is on the noisier end of the spectrum, and it's missing some basic convenience features that are standard on most other units.

What Other Portable Air Conditioner Should You Consider?