REASONS TO BUY
Great app
Quiet
Inverter tech increases efficiency
REASONS TO AVOID
Bit heavy to install
Gaps near side curtains
Only remote can be locked
Midea Smart MAW08HV1CWT Review
With its convenient app, this 8K inverter-based AC is powerful and versatile enough to cool well for most people
The Midea Smart MAW08HV1CWT is one of the most versatile and adjustable window air conditioners we tested, making it a great option for most households.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
By Austin Palmer ⋅ Senior Review Analyst ⋅ December 2, 2025
Contributions From: Chris Maxcer
RELATED: Best Window Air Conditioners of 2025
Our Verdict
The Midea Smart MAW08HV1CWT is our favorite window air conditioner for most people, primarily because it's powerful enough to handle many room sizes. Its 8K BTU output lets it effectively cool spaces up to 350 square feet. It also has versatile control systems, including an effective smartphone app. Better yet, it's so quiet that you can talk while it's running, work from a home office, or watch a movie without a frustrating fan noise. Settings and timers are easy to implement, and if you just want to turn it on, its auto mode self-adjusts to maintain temperature and reduce energy usage via its inverter technology. If you need a different size or don't need any premium features, check out our comparison review of window air conditioners.
Our Analysis and Test Results
One of the more uncommon features we appreciate about the Midea Smart MAW08HV1CWT is its built-in heater, which can help extend its versatility well into Fall for those who face cold mornings that transition to hot afternoons. It's not meant to be a full heater replacement for winter, but this multi-season feature can take the edge out of a cold room without turning up a home's thermostat to heat an entire house.
In addition to the cooling power and versatile functionality, we appreciate the modern design elements that make this appliance look and feel like something that belongs in our decade.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Cooling
The Smart MAW08HV1CWT cools rooms more effectively than most 8,000 BTU air conditioners we've tested, even out-cooling a larger 10,000 BTU unit. Sometimes smart air conditioners skimp on raw cooling power, but rest assured, this model is a strong competitor in its class. Our chart includes averages from both larger and smaller air conditioners.
In our controlled hot-room test, the Midea Smart MAW08HV1CWT reduced the temperature by 10.9°F, changing the ambient temperature from 84.425°F to 74.525°F in just one hour. For reference, most 8K BTU window units we've tested average 8-9 degrees in this test, so this Midea option is a high performer. If you need to cool medium+ sized spaces pushing 350 square feet, you're likely to have a good experience with this model.
One indicator of an effective cooler is its ability to crank out air that is much colder than the desired ambient room temperature. Our favorite models tend to quickly dip well below 50°F.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Energy Consumption
The Midea Smart MAW08HV1CWT is Energy Star rated and uses an inverter to help automatically manage its compressor and energy use. If you run your air conditioner manually on high at a full power setting, this feature won't give you much energy savings. However, if you allow the machine to adjust throughout the day — or more commonly for many households, at night — the inverter tech can help save you some operating costs throughout its lifetime. If you're in a region with high electricity rates, this could be an important buying factor.
Our chart includes energy ratings from smaller 5K BTU models, which naturally use less energy. If you don't need to heat medium-sized spaces, you could potentially save energy by going with a smaller model. When running the Midea for one hour on the highest setting, we recorded energy consumption at 0.67 kWh. If your kWh costs 16.88 cents, that equates to a three-month summer cost of $122.14 — assuming you run this machine on high for 12 hours per day for 90 days. With its smart settings and auto modes, some households could experience much improved energy savings. This data is about average for 8K BTU models we've tested over multiple years.
We check and record each model's energy usage with a device that measures kWh to objectively reveal which options are most energy efficient on their highest settings.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Noise
If you're affected by loud fan noise, want to enjoy media, music, or need to work around an air conditioner, the Midea Smart MAW08HV1CWT is the one we'd recommend. It is one of the quietest models we have ever tested in our entire lineup, including both smaller and larger models.
We recorded noise of just 50.5 dBA from a distance of four feet away with the machine running on high, a level that makes conversation easy. When we consider this model's slightly above-average cooling output on high, the quietness is even more impressive. You don't have to worry about a performance trade-off to enjoy a quiet experience. If you need a quiet option for a home office or bedroom, this is a good one.
To put this low 50.5 dBA reading in perspective, we could easily hold a conversation at low volumes as well as listen to music from a laptop without difficulty: The Media Smart MAW08HV1CWT is very quiet, even when running at full power.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Note: With the fan speed on low, we could hear some occasional gurgle or flapping noises as the machine worked, likely because it's so quiet. If you're sensitive to changes in white noise, this could be annoying — but we didn't notice these noises at medium or high fan speeds.
The Midea smart app lets you fine-tune settings with your phone, even when you're away from home.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Convenience
The Smart MAW08HV1CWT is one of the most convenient models available today for three reasons. First, its on-board control panel is easy to understand and use. Second, its remote control offers full functionality. Third, its easy-to-use WiFi smartphone app lets you set complicated timers, as well as start/stop, and manage usage, even when you're not home.
If you want to set timers for adjustments while you're away from home or at night — or even make granular changes on the fly without leaving your chair or bed — the WiFi app is powerful and easy to use. Admittedly, we appreciated it most when we were in a lazy state of mind, but if you need an air conditioner for someone with mobility challenges, a smart model with an app could be a game-changer.
The touch-sensitive controls on the panel are easy to use.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Of course, if you expect to simply turn on your AC full blast and let it run, these convenience features aren't critical. However, they can transform your AC from a dumb cooler in your window to a far more effective appliance. Frankly, we didn't realize how much we appreciated apps until we started using them in person.
Installing the Midea Smart is better with two people
Installation
At 56.1 pounds, the Smart MAW08HV1CWT is a bit heavy for one person to install alone. Midea recommends two people for the install, and we agree. One person in our lab was able to install it himself in 20 minutes without issue, but he's installed dozens of models, so homeowners new to the process might take a bit longer.
Overall, installation was about average, though we did appreciate the easy slide-in side panels. If you plan to install weather stripping for a tight seal, the instructions don't mention this until after you've installed the unit, so read the instructions first, or you might find yourself backtracking to get a full seal.
If you set up and install things by stepping through the instructions as you assemble each component, you should read the instructions in full before you start so you don't miss the best moment to install weather stripping.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Should You Buy the Midea Smart MAW08HV1CWT?
For any common spaces you may hope to cool — up to 350 square feet — the Smart MAW08HV1CWT is an effective cooler that's also very quiet, making it great for active home environments. If you don't want the smart WiFi app and don't mind the noise, the convenience and energy savings opportunities might not be worth the increase in cost, and you may choose to go with a more basic model.
What Other Window Air Conditioners Should You Consider?
The Hisense WC05R25A strikes a nice balance between a small, affordable option with a useful digital interface and functional remote. At just 5K BTU, it's better for bedrooms and small spaces, but the LG LW6017R bumps you into the 6K BTU range while remaining a great buy. This Midea outperformed other “smart” models with WiFi apps, but it couldn't come close to the raw cooling power of the 12K BTU Frigidaire FHWC124WB1. The Frigidaire isn't smart and it's a bit loud, but if you need to cool a larger space, it's a winner.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Midea Smart MAW08HV1CWT versus top competing products:
—Austin Palmer and Chris Maxcer
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