Midea 8 vs LG 8
Both made our Best Window Air Conditioners for Small Bedrooms shortlist, at #1 and #2. Here's how they differ and who each one suits.
- BuyOnceRight Research Desk
- Updated
- 4 min read
Quick verdict
Choose the Midea 8,000 BTU U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner if you want inverter compressor settles into a low steady hum instead of cycling on and off through the night. Choose the LG 8,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner LW8017ERSM1 if you'd rather have owner reports describe a 340 sq ft room cooling noticeably within about 15 minutes on high. Overall we rank the Midea 8,000 BTU U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner higher: #1 versus #2 in our Best Window Air Conditioners for Small Bedrooms list.
Winner overall: Midea 8,000 BTU U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner
Midea 8,000 BTU U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner vs LG 8,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner LW8017ERSM1 compared
Every difference that matters, in one table.
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Our ranking | #1 of 4 in Best Window Air Conditioners for Small Bedrooms | #2 of 4 in Best Window Air Conditioners for Small Bedrooms |
| Pick label | ||
| Brand | Midea | LG |
| Key features | 8,000 BTU inverter compressor; Cools rooms up to 350 sq ft; As low as 32 dBA on low fan | 8,000 BTU cooling capacity; Cools rooms up to 340 sq ft; LG ThinQ Wi-Fi app control |
| Biggest strength | Inverter compressor settles into a low steady hum instead of cycling on and off through the night | Owner reports describe a 340 sq ft room cooling noticeably within about 15 minutes on high |
| Main trade-off | Installation is more involved than a standard slide-in unit since the frame splits around the sash | Fixed-speed compressor runs louder at full cooling than the Midea's inverter |
| Best for | small bedrooms | small bedrooms |
Which should you buy?
#1 pick
Choose the Midea 8,000 BTU U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner if…
- Inverter compressor settles into a low steady hum instead of cycling on and off through the night
- U-shaped design lets you lock the window sash down over the unit for bedroom security
- Won the Energy Star Most Efficient 2020 award as the first window AC to do so
Best for: small bedrooms
Prefer the alternative? See the LG 8,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner LW8017ERSM1 section.
#2 pick
Choose the LG 8,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner LW8017ERSM1 if…
- Owner reports describe a 340 sq ft room cooling noticeably within about 15 minutes on high
- LG ThinQ app adds remote start and scheduling that budget units typically skip
- Filter pulls out from the front without removing the whole unit from the window
Best for: small bedrooms
Prefer the alternative? See the Midea 8,000 BTU U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner section.
Pros and cons of each
Midea 8,000 BTU U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner
Pros
- Inverter compressor settles into a low steady hum instead of cycling on and off through the night
- U-shaped design lets you lock the window sash down over the unit for bedroom security
- Won the Energy Star Most Efficient 2020 award as the first window AC to do so
- 32 dBA low-fan rating is the quietest published figure of any unit in this list
Cons
- Installation is more involved than a standard slide-in unit since the frame splits around the sash
- Midea issued a 2025 recall and repair program for early U-shaped units over a drain-related mold risk, so confirm your unit's status on Midea's recall page before buying secondhand
- Costs more than a comparable fixed-speed 8,000 BTU unit
LG 8,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner LW8017ERSM1
Pros
- Owner reports describe a 340 sq ft room cooling noticeably within about 15 minutes on high
- LG ThinQ app adds remote start and scheduling that budget units typically skip
- Filter pulls out from the front without removing the whole unit from the window
- Usually the least expensive 8,000 BTU option of the four here
Cons
- Fixed-speed compressor runs louder at full cooling than the Midea's inverter
- ThinQ app requires an LG account and a stable 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection to set up
- No U-shaped frame, so the lower sash still rests against the case rather than locking down
Midea 8,000 BTU U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner vs LG 8,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner LW8017ERSM1: common questions
Which is better, the Midea 8,000 BTU U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner or the LG 8,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner LW8017ERSM1?
Choose the Midea 8,000 BTU U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner if you want inverter compressor settles into a low steady hum instead of cycling on and off through the night. Choose the LG 8,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner LW8017ERSM1 if you'd rather have owner reports describe a 340 sq ft room cooling noticeably within about 15 minutes on high. Overall we rank the Midea 8,000 BTU U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner higher: #1 versus #2 in our Best Window Air Conditioners for Small Bedrooms list.
What is the difference between the Midea 8,000 BTU U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner and the LG 8,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner LW8017ERSM1?
The Midea 8,000 BTU U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner stands out because inverter compressor settles into a low steady hum instead of cycling on and off through the night, while the LG 8,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner LW8017ERSM1 stands out because owner reports describe a 340 sq ft room cooling noticeably within about 15 minutes on high. The trade-offs differ too: the Midea 8,000 BTU U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner's main caveat is that installation is more involved than a standard slide-in unit since the frame splits around the sash, and the LG 8,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner LW8017ERSM1's is that fixed-speed compressor runs louder at full cooling than the Midea's inverter.
Is the Midea 8,000 BTU U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner worth it over the LG 8,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner LW8017ERSM1?
For most buyers, yes: it's our #1 pick. Consider the LG 8,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner LW8017ERSM1 instead if installation is more involved than a standard slide-in unit since the frame splits around the sash is a deal-breaker for you.
Who should buy the LG 8,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner LW8017ERSM1 instead of the Midea 8,000 BTU U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner?
The LG 8,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner LW8017ERSM1 suits small bedrooms, while the Midea 8,000 BTU U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner is best for small bedrooms.