The catch
Midea 12,000 BTU Smart Inverter Window AC with Heat
It can't stand in for dependable winter heating, since heating shuts down when it's below 41 F outdoors.
Side by side
Midea 12K Heat vs Frigidaire 12K: Midea offers mild-weather heat, and Frigidaire is the lighter pick for cooling only
Quick verdict
Midea brings useful mild-weather heating and a wider range of window sizes. Frigidaire weighs less and is the cooling-only option for a room that already has enough heat.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Midea gives 3.5 inches of extra width tolerance
The window range it permits is about 32 percent wider.
Where this comes from
38.5 minus 24 equals 14.5 inches. 36 minus 25 equals 11 inches. The difference of 3.5 inches divided by 11 equals 31.8 percent.
The catch
Frigidaire 12,000 BTU Inverter Window Room Air Conditioner with Wi-Fi
Weighing 51 pounds, it makes for a two-person install for many buyers.
Midea 12,000 BTU Smart Inverter Window AC with Heat
- Why pick it
- Supplemental heat appeals to you, as long as outdoor temperatures stay within the manual range.
- Your sash measures 24 inches wide, or more than 36 inches.
- The catch
- It can't stand in for dependable winter heating, since heating shuts down when it's below 41 F outdoors.
Frigidaire 12,000 BTU Inverter Window Room Air Conditioner with Wi-Fi
- Why pick it
- Heat is already covered in the room, and the only job is summer cooling.
- Installation and seasonal removal go easier with seven pounds less to lift.
- The catch
- Weighing 51 pounds, it makes for a two-person install for many buyers.
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What this page compares
In the 12,000 BTU cooling class, Midea MAW12HV1CWT and Frigidaire FHWW125WE1 differ on supplemental heating, sash dimensions and lifting weight.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Need heat in shoulder seasons
A heat pump comes only with Midea.
- Midea 12,000 BTU Smart Inverter Window AC with Heat
- Better fit
- Frigidaire 12,000 BTU Inverter Window Room Air Conditioner with Wi-Fi
- Caution
15 inches of clear opening height
Frigidaire asks for 15.5 inches.
- Midea 12,000 BTU Smart Inverter Window AC with Heat
- Better fit
- Frigidaire 12,000 BTU Inverter Window Room Air Conditioner with Wi-Fi
- Caution
37-inch-wide sash
Midea's range reaches 38.5 inches.
- Midea 12,000 BTU Smart Inverter Window AC with Heat
- Better fit
- Frigidaire 12,000 BTU Inverter Window Room Air Conditioner with Wi-Fi
- Caution
Pulling it out every season
Frigidaire is lighter by almost seven pounds.
- Midea 12,000 BTU Smart Inverter Window AC with Heat
- Good
- Frigidaire 12,000 BTU Inverter Window Room Air Conditioner with Wi-Fi
- Better fit
In practice
Differences you will notice
Midea gives 3.5 inches of extra width tolerance
The window range it permits is about 32 percent wider.
How we worked this out
38.5 minus 24 equals 14.5 inches. 36 minus 25 equals 11 inches. The difference of 3.5 inches divided by 11 equals 31.8 percent.
Frigidaire cuts the weight you lift by about 12 percent
The model that only cools weighs 6.98 pounds less.
How we worked this out
57.98 minus 51 equals 6.98 pounds. Dividing by 57.98 gives 12.0 percent.
A 15-inch opening tells two similar cabinets apart
Frigidaire misses the published height minimum and Midea meets it.
How we worked this out
15 is at least 14.5 and less than 15.5. Cooling is listed at 12000 BTU for both, so capacity does not resolve the difference in fit.
Plug in your numbers
Does either unit have the cooling and window fit you need?
This checks hard limits only. Personal preferences are left out of the math.
Midea 12,000 BTU Smart Inverter Window AC with Heat
Check this one yourself12,000 BTU on 115V. Fits window openings 24 to 38.5 inches wide and at least 14.5 inches tall. Your room works out to 8,000 BTU. It beats the target, but check yourself that it is not oversized.
Frigidaire 12,000 BTU Inverter Window Room Air Conditioner with Wi-Fi
Check this one yourself12,000 BTU on 115V. Fits window openings 25 to 36 inches wide and at least 15.5 inches tall. Your room works out to 8,000 BTU. It beats the target, but check yourself that it is not oversized.
The cooling target uses the standard room-size method, adjusted for sun, extra people and kitchen heat. The window check uses the maker’s published limits.
Option A
Midea, MAW12HV1CWT
12,000 BTU Smart Inverter Window AC with Heat
This 12,000 BTU inverter window unit comes with app control and supplemental heat that works in milder outdoor temperatures.
- Best for
- A bigger room that needs cooling in summer and heat in spring or fall
Facts we checked
- On the exact EnergyGuide, the listing is 12,000 BTU with a combined energy efficiency ratio of 13.3.
- The manufacturer gives a width of 19.41 inch, a depth of 22.17 inch, a height of 13.9 inch and a 57.98-pound weight.
- Per the manual, heating works outdoors from 41 to 75 F.
- Support covers local controls, a remote, the SmartHome app, Alexa and Google Assistant.
Option B
Frigidaire, FHWW125WE1
12,000 BTU Inverter Window Room Air Conditioner with Wi-Fi
A 12,000 BTU per hour cooler whose published combined energy efficiency ratio is 15.
- Best for
- keep a bedroom free of loud cycling and handle a room around 550 square feet
Facts we checked
- It cools at 12,000 BTU per hour.
- Published combined energy efficiency ratio: 15.
- It fits sashes documented at 25 to 36 inches wide.
- At 115 volts, the opening needs to be at least 15.5 inches high.
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Midea 12,000 BTU Smart Inverter Window AC with Heat | Frigidaire 12,000 BTU Inverter Window Room Air Conditioner with Wi-Fi | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating | Supplemental heat pump | Cooling only | Within its operating limits, Midea covers an extra season. |
| Width range | 24 to 38.5 inches | 25 to 36 inches | Midea fits narrower openings as well as wider ones. |
| Required opening height | 14.5 inches | 15.5 inches | Vertical clearance for Midea is one inch less. |
| Unit weight | 57.98 pounds | 51 pounds | By published weight, Frigidaire is easier to handle. |
| Cabinet dimensions | 19.41 wide, 22.17 deep, 13.9 high | 19 wide, 22 deep, 14.5 high | Cabinets that look alike can still have different sash requirements. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Midea 12,000 BTU Smart Inverter Window AC with Heat
- Install it only in a double-hung window that is 24 to 38.5 inch wide and opens at least 14.5 inches high, and expect to handle a 58-pound unit.
With Frigidaire 12,000 BTU Inverter Window Room Air Conditioner with Wi-Fi
- Your window must measure at least 25 inches wide by 15.5 inches high.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Your measured cooling load sits nearer the 10,000 BTU class
Neither model fits. With app control and a smaller capacity, LG LW1022IVSM is an inverter option.
Decision guide
How to decide
Pick Midea for useful mild-weather heating and the wider window range. Pick Frigidaire when you want a lighter, cooling-only unit for a room whose heat is already adequate.
When spring or fall turns cool
Midea can take the chill off without another appliance, as long as outdoor temperatures stay in the specified heat-pump range. Its manual says heating shuts off below 41 F, so keep a dependable heating plan in place for colder weather.
For the seasonal carry
Frigidaire is almost seven pounds lighter, which helps when you carry the unit to storage. Even so, either one needs careful handling and a proper support arrangement. A lower weight doesn't make one-person installation a good idea.
If your window is borderline
Cabinet widths alone are not a fair comparison. As a box, Frigidaire is slightly narrower, yet it needs a wider minimum sash. Side panels, fastening and installation geometry are why the manufacturer's opening requirements come first.
What this page can’t tell you
- The comparisons here come from published specifications. We did not run matched-room cooling or noise tests.
- A heat pump's output moves with the outdoor temperature. Supplemental heating claims do not show that it can serve as a full winter heating solution.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the window air conditioners we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
How many fit
None of the 23 models checked meets all of “Cool a room of around 550 square feet”, “Provide a little warmth in spring and fall”, “Put it in the window without as much strain”, and “Use a window with a low opening”, so the pick goes to the closest practical compromise.
0 models fit, out of 23 checkedShow the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “Cool a room of around 550 square feet”, “Provide a little warmth in spring and fall”, “Put it in the window without as much strain”, and “Use a window with a low opening”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midea 12,000 BTU Smart Inverter Window AC with Heat |
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| Frigidaire 12,000 BTU Inverter Window Room Air Conditioner with Wi-Fi |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Midea 12,000 BTU Smart Inverter Window AC with Heat
Supplemental heat appeals to you, as long as outdoor temperatures stay within the manual range.
See price & reviews on AmazonFrigidaire 12,000 BTU Inverter Window Room Air Conditioner with Wi-Fi
Heat is already covered in the room, and the only job is summer cooling.
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