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 a 12,000 BTU cooling capacity and an advertised coverage of 550 ft² (51 m²). It offers Wi-Fi connectivity for full remote operation through its Midea Air 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 as a result, installation is more involved than other window units.
Note: Midea issued a voluntary recall for this model and all other U and U+ shape units in June 2025 due to mold issues, giving users the option for a refund or repair of their units. See Midea's website for a full list of impacted models.
Our Verdict
The Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT is a great 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.
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Low overall operating noise.
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Impressive overall efficiency.
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U-shaped design allows you to open windows while unit is installed.
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Substantial cooling capacity.
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Inverter compressor minimizes swings in temperature.
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Installation is more complicated than other window A/Cs.
Despite its large size, the Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT is very well-suited for use in small rooms. Its generous capacity allows it to cool most rooms quickly, and its inverter compressor technology also makes it suitable for use in smaller spaces since its compressor won't have to cycle between an off state and max power. This helps reduce noise, so it won't keep you up at night, and power consumption, all while also helping to minimize swings in temperature and humidity levels. However, it's somewhat bulky and heavy, and its unconventional U-shaped design requires the installation of additional support brackets. This design allows you to open or close your window without moving the unit.
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Low overall operating noise.
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Impressive overall efficiency.
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U-shaped design allows you to open windows while unit is installed.
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Inverter compressor minimizes swings in temperature.
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Installation is more complicated than other window A/Cs.
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Bulky and heavy for a window unit.
The Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT's overall efficiency is very good. While it isn't drastically more efficient than similar non-inverter units in cooling a room to a desired level, its inverter compressor really shows its worth when it's time to maintain that desired temperature. The compressor can run at an intensity that more closely matches the required load, rather than having to cycle between an on and off state.
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Excellent efficiency while cooling.
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Good efficiency while maintaining desired temperature.
The Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT is effective at maintaining a set of ambient conditions in a variety of room sizes. Its inverter compressor allows it to run at a lower setting instead of cycling on and off to maintain a constant temperature, at least in theory. The compressor can modulate slightly in real-world conditions, causing minor swings in perceived humidity.
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Inverter compressor minimizes swings in temperature.
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Compressor modulations can cause minor fluctuations in humidity.
The Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT is a very quiet unit. It's hardly any louder than a whisper in its lowest fan speed setting. Even at its highest fan speed with its 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 TV playing nearby, or if you have headphones on. That said, neighbors in an adjoining apartment might be annoyed by the infrequent high-pitched chatter from the outside portion of the unit.
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Low overall operating noise.
- 8.4 Large Room
- 7.9 Bedroom/Small Room
Performance Usages
- 7.8 Combined Efficiency
- 7.4 Oversizing Tolerance
- 9.0 Noise
Changelog
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: outside of 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.
Compared To Other Air Conditioners
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 when it comes to installation compared to 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 when 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 operating noise, and more stable performance than a non-inverter model with similar capacity, like the Hisense AW1422CW1W.
It's worth noting that Midea has issued a voluntary recall of this model and all other U and U+ shape models due to mold growth issues. Users can choose to have their units repaired or refunded. 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.
Unsurprisingly, the Midea MAW12HV1CWT and Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT deliver all but identical performance, with both being 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 is equipped with a heating mode, which 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 is a better overall window-mount A/C than the Hisense AW1422CW1W. The Hisense's slightly higher capacity does allow it to cool rooms fractionally 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 swings in temperature and humidity as it runs. This inverter compressor also runs noticeably more quietly, even at max load. Finally, it's worth noting that the Midea is affected by a product 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 works to its benefit in smaller rooms, where, unlike the Midea, its compressor won't have to constantly work in its lowest band, improving efficiency. The Friedrich is even quieter to boot, though it's not as though the Midea is exceptionally loud either. Lastly, it's important to note the Midea unit is the subject of a product recall due to mold growth issues.
Test Results
Due to its unconventional shape, this A/C comes with many additional supports and brackets, which 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 put up against a window sill.
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.
It's also worth noting that Midea has voluntary recall for this model and all other U and U+ shape units in June 2025 due to mold buildup issues, giving users the option for a refund or repair of their units. See Midea's website for a full list of impacted models.
This unit's cooling capacity is great. It's capable of cooling even large spaces, like living rooms or dining rooms, within a short span of 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 does almost nothing to affect cooling performance (Case 1, Case 2).
While we didn't test the Boost function on this specific model, based on experience with other A/C units, we don't expect it to have much of an 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, within our own testing conditions, this does little to nothing to affect performance, as compressors seldom modulate down to a lower speed during a cooling phase anyway.
This A/C unit is impressively power-efficient when it comes to 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 having to run its compressor for extended periods.
The Midea MAW12V1QWT is quite efficient in maintaining a desired temperature, with minor caveats.
The main advantage of an inverter compressor is that it can run consistently at a lower intensity rather than cycling on and off. However, in testing, we observed small and unusual swings in energy consumption. This behavior was observed across repeated testing runs, though not necessarily in an identical fashion:
The minor power modulations that occurred in the Efficiency When Maintaining Temperature test were echoed here as well, leading to minor swings in maintained temperature. That said, these swings aren't significant enough to be felt casually.
The Midea U-Shaped MAW12V1QWT does a reasonable job of maintaining a consistent humidity level. Its inverter compressor can operate at a lower speed rather than switching between an on and off state, allowing it to maintain a steadier humidity level compared to a non-inverter model with similar capacity, which would be oversized for a small or medium-sized room (for example, our own testing environment).
In testing, we observed minor swings in perceived humidity due to the small power modulations of its compressor noted in the Efficiency When Maintaining Temperature test. We also observed these spikes in subsequent re-runs.
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 while in 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 that you can operate the unit from your couch or while you're in bed, and it has Wi-Fi connectivity so that you can control the unit using your smartphone with the Midea Air app or monitor ambient conditions at home.