Midea U-Shaped MAW08V1QWT Review

Cooling a room is simple, quiet, and convenient with the Midea U-Shaped MAW08V1QWT. It performed well in nearly all of our test metrics, highlighted below.

Performance Comparison

Cooling

Our cooling test metric measured the ability of each model to cool a space from a specific temperature over a period of an hour. For its obvious importance, this metric accounts for 30 percent of each window unit's overall score.

The Midea U-Shaped MAW08V1QWT did a respectable job for an 8,000 BTU unit, although as you might expect, it didn't perform as well as 12,000 BTU models. It also didn't perform as well as many models with a similar BTU rating. However, as the most energy-efficient model out there, it does what most would consider a good job of cooling while making other models look like energy hogs.

In our test trials, the Midea U-Shaped MAW08V1QWT dropped the temperature of our 82-degree test control room by an average of 8.6 degrees in one hour. Again, while this isn't the best performance we've seen, it's more than adequate for small spaces and has other great qualities that we'll touch on later.

Energy Consumption

Our energy consumption test metric is responsible for 25 percent of each window air conditioner's overall score, and precisely measured energy consumption of each model. Using a watt meter, our testers measured the kilowatts of energy consumed by each model, while running on the highest power and fan speed settings for one hour.

The Midea U-Shaped MAW08V1QWT is one of the more exceptional models we tested when it comes to energy consumption and isn't a model you'll be afraid to run all summer. Midea uses inverter technology to increase energy efficiency, which essentially means it controls the compressor motor speeds with pulse width modulation (PWM). In layman's terms, it can change the speed of the compressor motor, whereas non-inverter AC units more crudely turn on and off the motor, and can't manipulate the speed at all. Energizing a motor from a stop requires much more energy than varying speeds like an inverter can. The inverter technology of the Midea very clearly increases energy efficiency.

Noise

Our noise metric measured the loudness of models and is weighted up to 20 percent of each AC's overall score. A loud window AC unit located in a room where you are trying to watch TV, focus your attention on work, or put a baby down to sleep can be disruptive and have obvious negative consequences.

A few air conditioners we tested could double as white noise generators if you are into mechanical sounds and the whirring of fans and compressor motors, but for the rest of us, a quiet air conditioner unit fits into our homes, lives, and sleep cycles a lot more seamlessly.

The Midea U-Shaped MAW08V1QWT is the quietest model we tested in our entire lineup. The 'U-Shaped' design places much of the mechanical parts of the unit outside of the window on a mount, versus having it resting entirely on the window sill, and mostly eliminates mechanical parts generating sounds inside of the space being cooled.

The window mount may be cumbersome or an extra annoying step from an installation perspective, but its design combined with inverter technology certainly has a positive impact inside of the home and makes it a unit we'd happily recommend for quiet spaces.

Convenience

Our convenience metric accounts for 15 percent of each unit's overall score. Here, we evaluate and rate air direction adjustments, temperature and display settings, modes, as well as other factors relating to convenience, like the remote, WiFi connectivity, apps, timers, and child locks. Our test team weighted WiFi connectivity and apps most heavily, followed by air direction adjustments, remotes, and timers, with all other sub-metrics contributing a lesser weighting.

The Midea U-Shaped MAW08V1QWT performed exceptionally well in this metric, earning one of the highest scores we've awarded window air conditioner units and tying with a 12,000 BTU sister model. The Midea stands out not only for great air direction adjustments, temperature and settings display, available modes, a useful remote, and flexible timer, but also has one of the best apps we've tested on an air conditioner unit.

The WiFi app includes a large number of easy to operate settings, and is further enhanced by its compatibility with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. We did find the child safety locking feature to be finicky and generally non-functional, which is unfortunate, as it excelled in almost every other convenience evaluation.

Installation

Our final test metric evaluated the ease and straightforwardness of installation, and because it is only a task that needs to be done once, or once a year, it accounts for only 10 percent of each model's overall score.

The Midea U-Shaped MAW08V1QWT required a little more work than most window units to install, but again the gained benefit seems to be the overall 'quietness' of the system as perceived by those inside the space being cooled.

The U-shaped design requires a mounting bracket, which adds additional steps that many other models don't require. At 52.5 pounds, it may be a little much for some folks to lift and install without help, and after our lead tester installed the unit in under an hour, we recommend carving out about 45 minutes to an hour to get this unit installed. We also recommend recruiting a friend to help lift the unit.

Should You Buy the Midea U-Shaped MAW08V1QWT?

If you have an average-sized space, up to 350 square feet, or a larger space that is exceptionally well insulated, then you cannot go wrong with the Midea U-Shaped MAW08V1QWT. In the realm of window air conditioner units, 8000 BTUs may be the sweet spot, and this Midea nails it with an optimal balance of cooling power, energy consumption, and quietness, as well as great convenience.

What Other Office Chairs Should You Consider?

This Midea U-Shaped MAW08V1QWT is an exceptional model well suited for most applications. However, where noise and energy consumption are not a concern, you may consider the Frigidaire FHWC124WB1 over this model, as its cooling power is exceptional, but you are guaranteed to hear it, and you'll definitely notice its impact later in your energy bill. If budget or operating costs are a concern, but you have a serious need to cool a space, then take a look at the capable LG LW6017R. While it also isn't the quietest model, it has a low upfront cost and energy efficiency will keep operating costs down. It also offers some great convenience features that aren't typical at the price point. Lastly, if you are on a tight budget and looking for immediate relief from the brutal summer heat, then you'll want to look at the GE AHEC05AC. It won't have all the bells and whistles of the most premium models, and it is more than a bit noisy, but it will get the job done and costs very little to operate long term.