Midea 8000 BTU U-shaped air conditioner review – Why hasn’t someone done this sooner?

REVIEW – Living in Northwest Florida, it gets a bit warm in the summer. My boys share a bedroom which just happens to be the hottest room in the house. So you’ve got the hottest room and the body heat from two teenage boys. Needless to say, it gets a bit uncomfortable, especially on days with a heat advisory like today and pretty much every other day from June to September. So, I guess I can understand why they always want the thermostat turned down, but I’m not running the rest of the house at 65 degrees. We decided to get a window unit last year, a used one, which worked fine but was a pain to install in their window and still left large gaping holes on either side of it. Then you have to get that stupid-looking accordion-style cover which never fits right and still leaves gaps. Then Midea offered up their Midea 8000 BTU U-shaped air conditioner to review and I couldn’t jump fast enough. Let’s see if this thing is better than the traditional window unit.

What is it?

The Midea 8000 BTU U-shaped air conditioner is the world’s first U-shaped, WiFi-ready window air conditioner, leaving less space to insulate and shutting out more outside noise.

What’s included?

• Midea 8000 BTU U-shaped air conditioner
• Installation/User manual
• Window mounting bracket
• Tons of foam for insulation
• Remote control

Tech specs

Click to expand

Cooling Capacity- 8,000 BTU
CEER- 15 BTU/H/Watt
Airflow (CFM) Roomside (hi/low)- 215/150
Refrigerant- R32
Certifications and Listings- CSA, AHAM
Cooling Modes- Auto, Cool, Dry, Fan
Fan Speeds- Auto, High, Med, Low
Delay Timer
Filter Type- Washable, Removable
Clean Filter Indicator Light
Remote Control
Control Type Electronic
Wi-Fi Ready
Smartphone App MideaAir, iOS or Android
Amazon Alexa Compatible
Google Assistant Compatible
Energy Saver Function
Sound Performance (sound pressure hi/low) 47/42
Color White
Power Supply 1Ph, 115V-, 60Hz
Plug Type NEMA 5-15P
Cooling Watts 710W
Rated Cooling Amps (AHAM) 8.78
Physical Design U-Shape
Product Dimensions (W*D*H) inches 21.9″ x 19.17″ x 13.26″
Net Weight (lbs) 55.55 lbs
Packaging Dimensions (W*D*H) inches 23.66″ x 20.75″ x 16.69″
Min./Max. Window Opening Width (inches) 22″/36″
Minimum Window Opening Height (inches) 13.75″
Shipping Weight (lbs) 68.12 lbs
Warranty Parts and Labor 1-Year Limited

 

Design and features

The most unique feature of the Midea air conditioner is the U shape. This is a fantastic design choice, idea, eureka moment, or whatever you want to call it, in my opinion. With other box-shaped window units, you have to keep the window closed at all times. There are huge gaps to insulate and the noise from the compressor and outside in general is typically louder. With the U shape, you can close the window most of the way leaving a lot less space to fill to keep the cool air in and the hot air out. It also prevents less noise from entering your space as well.

The Midea air conditioner has several ways to control once you’ve got it installed too. There are touch controls on the front, an included remote control, Matter smart home capabilities, and a smartphone app.

Another feature Midea touts on its website is the full DC inverter technology. They say that it achieves more than 35% energy savings over traditional window units. I can’t speak to that just yet. I’m waiting to see that first power bill hit to see how it compares to last summer, when the boys ran the old one nonstop.

Assembly, Installation, Setup

Midea says that installation can be done in a 3 simple step process; install the bracket, set the unit on the bracket, and secure the side arms. Yeah, right. I’m not saying installing the unit was difficult compared to traditional units, but it wasn’t as easy as three simple steps. Luckily, they have a very good illustrated manual showing the process. Even better, they included a QR code to their installation video which I found much more usable. Essentially, you start by constructing the bracket choosing either a short or long arm depending on the width of your window.

Then you set the angle portions with the feet so they brace against the outside wall.

To lock it all down, you slide the upper portion of the angled piece into a numbered slot, securing it with a bolt and cotter pin, one for each side. Before completely securing them though, you need to check to make sure all is level.

I had a bit of a problem with that due to the lip of the brick outside the window overhanging the side of the house, preventing me from getting everything perfectly level. After that, you set the AC into place and follow the instructions for installing the foam pieces to fill the holes. Now maybe I wouldn’t have had as much trouble if I hadn’t been doing it by myself. I would certainly recommend a second set of hands to make it all much easier.

The touch controls and remote are pretty self-explanatory. Power it on, set the temp, and get to chilling. Pairing it with the app was pretty easy too, although there are two apps on the Play Store and one has been discontinued. So if you get one of these and want to use the app, make sure to download the SmartHome app. The pictures show you how the app will walk you through connecting to the Midea 8000 BTU U-shaped air conditioner.

Performance

I’ve been happy with the Midea 8000 BTU U-shaped air conditioner while my boys have been ecstatic. The unit is quiet, quieter than any other window unit I’ve had experience with. The controls are easy to use by my boys just set it and forget it. Lucky for me, the thermostat on it works and shuts off when it’s reached the target temp of the room. The app is fun to have for no other reason than to be able to turn it off remotely and then have my boys start hunting for the remote rather than just pressing the button on the front. They usually figure it out pretty quickly and I hear “DAD!” shouted across the house.

What I like about the Midea 8000 BTU U-shaped air conditioner

• Inclusion of the bracket and all foam needed
• Good instructions
• Quiet
• Does what it should which is to cool the room

What needs to be improved?

• Nothing

Final thoughts

If you’re looking for a window AC unit, I think you’d be remiss if you didn’t consider the Midea 8000 BTU U-shaped air conditioner. I think it’s a step above most of the other offerings out there. It’s easier to install, comes with everything needed to install it, is easy to control, and is Matter smart home compliant if that’s your thing.

Price: $379.99
Where to buy: Midea and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by Midea. Midea did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.