The Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT is a window-mount A/C unit with an inverter compressor. It's designed for medium-sized to large spaces, with an advertised coverage of 550 ft² (51 m²). It offers Wi-Fi connectivity for full remote operation through its smartphone companion app or voice commands made with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant devices. However, it also comes with a remote control. Its unique U-shaped design allows you to open your window while it's in place, though installation is more involved than with other window units.
Note: In June 2025, Midea issued a voluntary recall for this model and all other U and U+ shape units due to mold issues, offering users the option of a refund or repair of their units. See Midea's website for a full list of impacted models. The unit has since been updated with a bundled repair kit and is back in stock and for sale.
Our Verdict
The Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT is an amazing option for large rooms. Its high capacity enables it to cool large, open spaces quickly. Meanwhile, its inverter compressor can be run at a lower setting to maintain desired conditions, reducing power consumption compared to a non-inverter model with a similar capacity. This also has the added consequence of lower operating noise and more consistent humidity and temperature levels.
Impressive overall energy efficiency while cooling and maintaining temperature.
Low overall operating noise.
U-shaped design allows you to open windows while unit is installed.
Cooling capacity is enough for large spaces.
Does an excellent job of maintaining desired temperature and ambient humidity levels.
Installation is more complicated than other window A/Cs of a similar size.
The Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT is a great option for small rooms. Its generous capacity allows it to cool most rooms quickly, and its inverter compressor technology also makes it suitable for smaller spaces, since the compressor won't have to cycle between off and max power. This helps reduce noise and power consumption, so it won't keep you up at night, while also minimizing swings in temperature and humidity levels. However, it's somewhat bulky and heavy. Its unconventional U-shaped design allows you to open or close your window even when it's set up, but it also requires installing additional support brackets, which won't fit all window types.
Impressive overall energy efficiency while cooling and maintaining temperature.
Low overall operating noise.
U-shaped design allows you to open windows while unit is installed.
Cooling capacity is enough for large spaces.
Does an excellent job of maintaining desired temperature and ambient humidity levels.
Installation is more complicated than other window A/Cs of a similar size.
Bulky and heavy for a window unit, which makes installation and storage difficult.
The Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT's cooling capacity is excellent. It's high enough to cool larger living spaces and open-concept areas within a relatively short time.
Cooling capacity is enough for large spaces.
The Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT's overall efficiency is excellent. Not only is it quite efficient when bringing the temperature down to your desired level, its inverter compressor really shows its worth when it's time to maintain it. The compressor can run at an intensity that more closely matches the required load, rather than cycling between on and off states, as an A/C with a fixed-speed compressor would.
Impressive overall energy efficiency while cooling and maintaining temperature.
The Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT is amazingly effective at maintaining a set of ambient conditions in a variety of room sizes. Its inverter compressor constantly runs at a lower setting instead of cycling on and off, so it maintains room temperature and humidity more consistently than non-inverter models.
Does an excellent job of maintaining desired temperature and ambient humidity levels.
The Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT is an exceptionally quiet unit. It's hardly any louder than a whisper at its lowest fan speed. Even at its highest fan speed, with the compressor kicked on, operating noise is far below that of most other non-inverter units with similar overall capacity, and it'll be mostly masked by a nearby TV or by headphones. That said, neighbors in an adjoining apartment might be annoyed by the infrequent high-pitched chatter from the outside portion of the unit.
Low overall operating noise.
Occasionally emits a distracting chatter, audible from outdoors.
The Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT is a moderately bulky appliance. It's simply a big, heavy unit, which makes it difficult to install if you live alone and can't call a friend for help. Its unconventional U-shaped design also requires specialized support brackets, which won't fit all window types.
Installation is more complicated than other window A/Cs of a similar size.
Bulky and heavy for a window unit, which makes installation and storage difficult.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated Sep 15, 2026: We've updated this review to Test Bench 1.1. which changes how we measure and score performance as a whole. The Capacity, Efficiency When Cooling, Efficiency When Maintaining Temperature, Temperature Stability, and Humidity Stability boxes have been updated. If you're looking for further details, see the Changelog.
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Updated Oct 15, 2025:
We've updated the text in this review to account for the fact that the unit has been updated and is now back on sale following its June 2025 recall.
- Updated Jun 06, 2025: Review published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT is only available in one color variant: 'White.' For those interested, here's the product label. It's also sold as the MW12MSWBA5RCM in the Canadian market; aside from the different model names, these two models share the same overall specifications.
Let us know in the comments if you come across another variant of this air conditioner.
Popular Air Conditioner Comparisons
The Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT is a high-end window A/C with an inverter compressor. Its unconventional U-shaped body requires a bit more effort during installation than other window-mount units, like the otherwise similarly designed Midea MAW12HV1CWT, but the flip side of this design is that you can open your window while it's in place. In terms of actual performance, it's a very well-rounded performer in its niche as a high-capacity window-mounted unit, offering lower power consumption, quieter operation, and more stable performance than a non-inverter model with a similar capacity, like the Hisense AW1422CW1W.
It's worth noting that in June 2025, Midea issued a voluntary recall for this model and all other U and U+ shape models due to mold growth issues. Users can choose to have their units repaired or receive a refund. You can visit Midea's website for a full list of recalled models, and consult the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's website or the Canadian Government's website for more information. Since that issue was recalled, Midea has brought the unit back on sale, bundled with a repair kit to mitigate mold growth.
If you're still looking for alternatives, see our recommendations for the best air conditioners and the best window air conditioners.
The Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT is a better overall window-mount A/C than the Hisense AW1422CW1W. The Hisense's slightly higher capacity allows it to cool rooms slightly faster, but in almost every other respect, the Midea pulls ahead. This is largely due to its inverter compressor, which can be modulated in increments rather than cycling on and off to maintain your desired temperature. This lowers energy consumption and minimizes temperature and humidity fluctuations as it runs. This inverter compressor also runs noticeably more quietly, even at max load.
Unsurprisingly, the Midea MAW12HV1CWT and Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT deliver nearly identical performance, both inverter ACs with an advertised output of 12,000 BTU. The main difference lies in their designs. The MAW12V1QWT unconventional u-shaped design makes for a more demanding installation process since you'll need to install additional anti-tip brackets, but also allows you to open the window when it's in place. Beyond that, the MAW12HV1CWT has a heating mode that the MAW12V1QWT lacks. It's worth noting that only the U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT is affected by a recall due to mold buildup.
The Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT and Friedrich Chill Premier Inverter CCV08A10A are both high-end window-mounted ACs with inverter compressors, but they're best suited for different room sizes. The Midea is the one you want for rapidly cooling truly large spaces, like whole apartments or huge open-concept living spaces; the Friedrich can cool these places too, just not nearly as quickly. That said, the Friedrich unit's lower cooling output isn't a detriment in smaller rooms. The latter does a better job of maintaining your desired temperature and ambient perceived humidity levels.
Test Results
Due to its unconventional shape, this A/C comes with additional supports and brackets that are necessary for proper installation. First is the main support bracket, which has angled legs and extendable front arms to fit different window sizes.
Additional anti-tip brackets are fitted higher up in the window. They come with extra foam pads to cover the gap they create when placed against a windowsill.
Lastly, there's a window lock, which is meant to keep your window from being opened from the outside when the A/C unit is set up. Unfortunately, since it's made entirely of plastic, it doesn't feel particularly sturdy.
This unit's cooling capacity is excellent. It's capable of cooling even large spaces, like living rooms or dining rooms, in a short time, and won't have any trouble reducing the temperature in bedrooms and offices.
That said, several users online have reported that this A/C's 'Boost' mode has almost no effect on cooling performance (Case 1, Case 2).
While we didn't test the Boost function on this specific model, based on our experience with other A/C units, we don't expect it to have much impact on real-world performance. The main consistent behavior we've observed for 'Boost' modes, as a whole, is that they prevent the compressor from modulating down to a lower speed until the desired setpoint is reached. Generally speaking, under our testing conditions, this has little to no effect on performance, as compressors seldom modulate down to a lower speed during a cooling phase anyway.
This A/C unit is impressively power-efficient at cooling a room. Its inverter compressor doesn't really come into play here, as it's roughly as efficient as the Hisense AW1422CW1W, a non-inverter unit with similar capacity. Its high cooling output allows it to reach your desired temperature in comparatively little time, without running its compressor for extended periods.
The Midea MAW12V1QWT is quite efficient in maintaining a desired temperature. Its inverter compressor doesn't cycle on and off to maintain your desired setpoint, which reduces any big spikes in consumption. That said, like the closely related Midea MAW12HV1CWT, its compressor modulates speed during this maintenance phase rather than remaining at a constant speed; this can slightly affect its ability to maintain the set temperature and perceived humidity levels.
The Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT is very effective in maintaining a stable temperature once the setpoint is reached. Modulations from its inverter compressor are minor, which helps keep temperature rises or dips in check, even in areas with a high degree of ambient humidity.
The Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT does a remarkably good job of maintaining a consistent humidity level. Its inverter compressor modulates only slightly in speed when maintaining the desired temperature, and the resulting shifts in perceived humidity aren't really noticeable.
Some users on Reddit have reported a high-pitched noise from the compressor. According to the user manual, this noise is completely normal once the unit enters a cooling cycle and isn't a cause for concern.
We observed the same chatter during testing, but this didn't factor into the score for this section of the review, as the score is based only on dBA readings taken from the primary recorded video for this test. Also, this sound would only likely be heard by those standing outside the window.
This is a smart air conditioner. It has a remote control so you can operate the unit from your couch or while you're in bed, and Wi-Fi connectivity so you can control it with your smartphone via the Midea Air app or monitor ambient conditions at home.