5 smart air conditioners for efficient cooling, per expert reviews

As the summer heat intensifies and energy bills climb, more homeowners and renters are turning to a new generation of climate control: the smart air conditioner. Cooling power aside, these innovative appliances offer automation, remote control activation, energy efficiency, and compatibility with modern smart home ecosystems.

Whether you’re lounging on the couch, commuting home from work or on vacation halfway around the world, you can monitor and adjust your home’s temperature with a few taps on your smartphone. How great is that?

A smart air conditioner connects to Wi-Fi and pairs with apps or voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri. This connectivity allows for scheduling, geofencing and real-time feedback on energy usage, all of which can lead to more efficient cooling and lower electricity costs. As the technology continues to evolve, these devices are becoming increasingly accessible. Comfort, convenience, cost-effectiveness.

For those living in apartments or homes without central HVAC systems, the smart window air conditioner is a standout solution. Compact yet powerful, these units fit into most standard windows and bring smart features directly to rooms that need it most. Many models offer smart scheduling, temperature sensing, and energy-saving modes, all of which can be controlled remotely through your phone or voice assistant.

If you’re looking for flexibility and mobility, a smart portable air conditioner may be the right fit. Unlike window units, these can be moved from room to room, offering smart cooling wherever it’s needed. Perfect for renters, home offices or spaces without windows that can accommodate a traditional unit, these devices make it easier than ever to stay comfortable while staying connected.

In this guide, we’ll dive into the best options available in today’s market across all categories. Whether you’re seeking a sleek smart window air conditioner for a studio apartment, a powerful smart portable air conditioner for a multi-use space or a fully integrated smart air conditioner solution for your entire home, here’s your go-to cheat sheet chock-full of top features, pricing, energy efficiency ratings and more.

The Friedrich Chill Premier Inverter Series 12,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner is basically your home’s personal cool-but-chill best friend. It’s smart, calm and doesn’t make a fuss; it just quietly works its magic.

Thanks to the variable-speed inverter, it doesn’t do that annoying on/off cycling that turns your room into a sauna-then-icebox. It cools like a pro, whispers while it works (like, library-level quiet), and honestly? It’s the kind of appliance you forget is even there — until you step inside and realize your place feels amazing.

This model is borderline genius. It saves energy like it’s on a mission (Energy Star certified, baby), runs on cleaner refrigerant and it actually thinks before it blasts cool air. Want to pre-chill your place before you get home? Boom. Pull out your phone, tap the FriedrichGo app and your AC is already on it. Hate waking up sweaty or freezing at 3 a.m.? Sleep Mode’s got your back.

If you want to cool down in a flash, its Turbo mode comes in swinging. It’s thoughtful, responsive and doesn’t waste a single watt of energy or second of your patience.

Set-up doesn’t require an engineering degree or a meltdown. The SimpleSill design is smooth, fits like a dream and you can still open your window when you want a breeze. This model also covers medium-to-large rooms with ease, looks clean and modern and is backed by a legit 5-year warranty. This is the air conditioner you brag about to your friends mid-heatwave.

It’s the best smart AC out there because it gets it. It’s efficient without being boring, tech-savvy without being complicated, powerful without being loud. It plays nice with your space, your schedule, your sleep cycle and your power bill. If an air conditioner could read the room, this one would already be adjusting the temp and asking if you wanted an ice-cold drink.

Size: 20.6 (W) x 19.3 (D) x 13.4″ (H) inches | Cooling BTU: 12,000 | Power Requirements: 115 Volt 15 or 20 Amp Circuit (Parallel Plug)

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The Toshiba Smart WiFi Touch Control Window Air Conditioner is the kind of quiet hero every summer apartment needs. With 8,000 BTUs of cooling power, it’s designed to handle spaces up to 350 square feet, which is perfect for bedrooms, home offices or cozy living rooms. But what sets it apart is how effortlessly it blends modern features with everyday practicality.

It connects to WiFi, plays nicely with Alexa and Google Assistant and even comes with a remote, because — let’s be honest — no one wants to get up just to change the settings. The sleek touch control panel gives it a polished, almost futuristic feel, while the Toshiba app lets you manage temperature and fan speed from anywhere. And, with thoughtful modes like Eco and Sleep, it cools intelligently to keep both your energy bill and your comfort in check.

Is it completely silent? Not quite. But the soft hum is more of a low-key background soundtrack than a distraction, and it’s a small tradeoff for the convenience and power you get at this price point. Setup is refreshingly straightforward; many users say they had it installed and running in less than 30 minutes, and the washable filter makes maintenance easy. No complicated instructions, no trips to the hardware store; just pop it out, rinse it off, and you’re good to go.

For less than $300, you’re snagging features you’d usually only see in higher-end units: Energy Star certification, a 24-hour timer and that helpful little reminder light when it’s time to clean the filter. Plus, it’s easy on the wallet.

Size: 18.5 (W) x 17.5 (D) x 13.4″ (H) inches | Cooling BTU: 8,000 | Power Requirements: 115 Volt Circuit (NEMA 5-15P Parallel Plug)

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If you’re looking for a portable air conditioner that truly understands your comfort needs, the Midea 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Remote is a standout choice. Designed to efficiently cool spaces up to 350 square feet, it’s perfect for bedrooms, home offices or living rooms.

But, it doesn’t stop at cooling. This versatile unit also functions as a dehumidifier and ventilator, providing comprehensive climate control that keeps your space fresh and comfortable no matter the season.

Its top-of-the-line intelligent features set this model apart. With seamless integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, you can control the temperature with just your voice — no need to leave your seat. The ComfortSense technology takes it a step further by detecting your proximity and adjusting the cooling accordingly, ensuring you’re always in the perfect climate zone. So, if you’re relaxing or working, this AC adapts to your presence, delivering personalized comfort without any extra effort.

Beyond its smart capabilities, the Midea Portable Air Conditioner impresses with its quiet operation and sleek design, making it a subtle yet powerful addition to any room. Installation is straightforward, so you’ll be enjoying cool, refreshing air in no time. If you want a reliable, user-friendly and truly smart cooling solution, this Midea unit stands out as the best portable air conditioner on the market.

Size: 17.4 (W) x 13.7 (D) x 28.7″ (H) inches | Cooling BTU: 8,000 | Power Requirements: 115 Volt Circuit (NEMA 5-15P Parallel Plug)

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Here’s a little secret for anyone who’s ever broken a sweat just thinking about installing a window A/C: the GE Smart Heat/Cool Electronic Window Air Conditioner is the easiest, smartest, most no‑drama option out there.

GE didn’t try to reinvent the wheel here, and that’s exactly why this thing rules. With its slide-out chassis and the foolproof EZ Mount kit, you’re not wrestling with sharp metal edges or asking a friend to “hold this really heavy box for just one more second.” You get the sense GE actually thought about regular people doing this without a full toolkit and a degree in HVAC. Just line it up, slide it in, screw it down — done. Cold (or warm) air awaits.

But of course, this isn’t just any basic box fan shoved into your window. Once it’s in place, the GE goes full-on smart home. It connects quickly to Wi-Fi via the SmartHQ app, plays nice with Alexa and Google Assistant, and even reminds you to clean the filter (because no one ever actually remembers that on their own, after all). There are all the modern bells and whistles too: energy saver mode, adjustable fan speeds and a heat-pump function that means this guy works year-round. The LED display even dims automatically, so you’re not trying to sleep next to a glowing blue billboard at night. It’s the kind of appliance that feels like a real upgrade, not just a seasonal utility.

Performance-wise, it punches above its weight. With 8,000 BTUs of cooling and about 8,400 BTUs of heating, it comfortably handles medium-sized rooms, even on the muggiest summer days or those shoulder-season nights where you suddenly realize your space heater isn’t cutting it. And sure, there are sleeker or whisper-quiet options out there, but most of them come with annoying bracket installs or require weird window compatibility. The GE? It shows up, slides in and just works.

Size: 18.5 (W) x 18.6 (D) x 12.6″ (H) inches | Cooling BTU: 8,000 | Power Requirements: 115 Volt Circuit (NEMA 5-15P Parallel Plug)

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The LG Smart Window Air Conditioner isn’t just another box in your window. With 10,000 BTU of power on tap and built-in Wi‑Fi via LG’s ThinQ app, this beauty cools rooms up to 450 sq ft (think: living rooms, home offices, dens of productivity or binge‑watching) while letting you adjust the temperature from your couch — or from across town with Alexa or Google Assistant voice control.

It even tosses in three modes (cool, fan, dry), energy‑saving thermostat automation, a sleep timer, auto‑restart after power blips and a washable filter that lights up to say when it needs cleaning. That’s comfort, convenience and cleanliness all in one sleek package

Why is it the most versatile among smart air conditioners? First, the dual‑inverter compressor means LG delivers energy savings — up to 35 percent better than standard units — while staying whisper‑quiet with noise as low as 44 dB on low fan speeds (that’s quieter than a conversation in a library). Second, its four‑way airflow ensures evenly dispersed coldness so you don’t feel like you got shoved into a single icy draft zone. And the magic 3‑in‑1 design toggles effortlessly from dehumidifying to circulating air or cooling proper, without needing three separate machines.

But really, the coolest part is how it seamlessly fits into your life. Almost too well. Installation is straightforward, it plays well with voice assistants and the app even lets you schedule or monitor energy use (turn it on before you get home, and avoid awkward sweaty first steps inside). Meanwhile, built‑in maintenance prompts and an auto‑clean routine help prevent mold buildup, meaning this thing is built to last.

So yes, calling it “the most versatile smart air conditioner” isn’t hyperbole. It’s like having a tiny but mighty climate control command center: smart, clean, quiet, customizable — and still cooler than the other options in your window.

Size: 19.5 (W) x 19.6 (D) x 12.4″ (H) inches | Cooling BTU: 10,000 | Power Requirements: 115 Volt Circuit (NEMA 5-15P Parallel Plug)

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