Is the Midea U-Shaped Worth It?
Yes, if you buy the current model. The Midea U is worth it for a bedroom or living room when you want to keep using the window and want a quiet unit, which is what reviewers praise most. Buy a model number ending in UWT: the 10,000 BTU MAW10V1UWT was $399.99 at Amazon.com on October 17, 2026, less than the LG and TCL inverter units it competes with. Skip any model ending in QWT. About 1.7 million of those were recalled in 2025 for mold, and one seller still listed them on Amazon. [1]
-
Our pick: 10,000 BTU, up to 450 sq ft
Midea U MAW10V1UWT
$399.99 on Amazon, October 17, 2026
The current U model at the most common size, sold by Amazon.com. Not on the recall list.
Check price on Amazon10,000 BTU · CEER 15 · about $94/yr to run · inverter
-
Small room, up to 250 sq ft
Midea U MAW06V1UWT
$314.99 on Amazon, October 17, 2026
The 6,000 BTU U. The 6,000 BTU size was never part of the recall.
Check price on Amazon6,000 BTU · CEER 15.1 · about $56/yr to run · inverter
-
Most efficient at 10,000 BTU
TCL T10WV9S
$439.99 on Amazon, October 17, 2026
Certifies higher (CEER 16) and costs a little less to run, but installs the usual way: the window stays shut.
Check price on Amazon10,000 BTU · CEER 16 · about $88/yr to run · inverter
Prices are Amazon's on October 17, 2026 and change often. Each listing names this exact model number; we checked it was in stock that day. Affiliate links; we earn a commission at no cost to you.
01 / The verdict
Why it's worth it, and when to skip it
Buy it because:
- You keep your window: the unit straddles the sill in a U, so the sash closes down into the gap and you can still open the window. Reviewers also rate it among the quietest window units on low.
- Fairly priced now: $399.99 for 10,000 BTU at Amazon.com, versus $439.99 for the TCL and $499.00 for the LG (same day).
- Efficient, not the most efficient: CEER 15, about $94 a year to run. The TCL certifies at 16 (about $88).
Skip it if:
- The model number ends in QWT. Those are the recalled units (check the label on the front right side).
- Your window is a slider or casement, or narrower than 22 inches. The U needs a standard up-and-down window 22 to 36 inches wide.
- You can't lift about 54 lb into a window. Reviewers say it is a two-person install.
- You want heat too. The Midea U only cools.
02 / Compared
The Midea U vs the two inverter window units it competes with (10,000 BTU)
| Unit | CEER | Cost / yr | Window | Noise | Weight | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midea U MAW10V1UWTOur pick | 15 | $94 | 22 to 36 in wide; window can still open[5] | Not published for this model[4] | 54 lb | $399.99Amazon.com | Check price |
| TCL T10WV9SMost efficient | 16 | $88 | 26 to 36 in wide[7] | Not published[7] | 49.6 lb | $439.99Amazon.com | Check price |
| LG LW1022FVSMDual Inverter | 15 | $94 | Standard window install[6] | 44 dB (LG)[6] | 63 lb | $499.00Amazon.com | Check price |
CEER and yearly cost are from each unit's ENERGY STAR / DOE certification; yearly cost is our estimate at the U.S. average electricity price for a typical cooling season. Weight is from the certification record. Noise is the maker's own figure where it publishes one. Prices are Amazon's on October 17, 2026; each listing names this exact model number.
03 / The recall
The recall: which Midea U models, and what to do
On June 5, 2025, CPSC announced recall 25-320: about 1.7 million Midea U and U+ window air conditioners, because water can pool inside and fail to drain fast enough, which can lead to mold. CPSC lists 152 reports of mold, including 17 reports of symptoms such as coughing, sneezing or sore throat. They were sold March 2020 through May 2025, for $280 to $500.[1]
- The recalled Midea models end in QWT: MAW08V1QWT, MAW10V1QWT and MAW12V1QWT and their -S, -T and -M versions, plus the U+ (MAW08AV1QWT, MAW12AV1QWT) and the U-series MAW08U1QWT, MAW10U1QWT and MAW12U1QWT.
- The same unit was sold under other names, and those are recalled too: Frigidaire GHWQ085WD1, GHWQ105WD1 and GHWQ125WD1; Perfect Aire 1PACU8000, 1PACU10000 and 1PACU12000; Century RXTS; Keystone KSTAW08UA to 12UA; Mr. Cool MWUC; Insignia NS-AC8WU3; Danby DAC080B6/B7 and DAC100B6; and a few more on CPSC's list.
- The 6,000 BTU MAW06V1QWT is not on the list, and neither are the current UWT models.
- On October 17, 2026 a third-party seller still listed the recalled MAW08V1QWT, MAW10V1QWT and MAW12V1QWT on Amazon. Amazon's own listings were the UWT models. Check the model number in the listing before you buy.
- If you own one: Midea offers a free repair (a new drain plug) or a full or prorated refund. Check your serial number at www.MideaUrecall.expertinquiry.com.
04 / Sizes
Which size to buy, and what to buy when a size is out of stock
Room sizes are the makers' ratings.
| Size | What to buy | Note | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6,000 BTU (up to 250 sq ft) | Midea MAW06V1UWT, $314.99 | In stock at Amazon.com. | Check price |
| 8,000 BTU (up to 350 sq ft) | — | The current 8,000 BTU U (MAW08V1UWT) was out of stock on Amazon on October 17, 2026. Size up to the 10,000 BTU U, which costs $399.99. | |
| 10,000 BTU (up to 450 sq ft) | Midea MAW10V1UWT, $399.99 | In stock at Amazon.com. | Check price |
| 12,000 BTU (up to 550 sq ft) | TCL T12WV9S, $489.99 | No current 12,000 BTU U had an Amazon offer on October 17, 2026. The TCL is the most efficient 12,000 BTU unit we could match to its exact listing (CEER 16); it installs the usual way. | Check price |
05 / Owners
What owners and reviewers complain about
From reviews we read on the build date. These are reports, not our tests.
- Water and mold in the base. The recall's cause. Aftermath's writer cleaned sludge out of the base more than once before the recall.[10]
- Heavy, two-person install. Bob Vila and The Gadgeteer both describe a heavy unit and a bracket that takes care to level.[8]
- Louder on high than the ads say. Midea advertised "as low as 32 dBA" for the earlier QWT. Bob Vila measured about 63 dB on high.[8]
- A knock after a year. One reader of The Gadgeteer reported a compressor knock on startup after about a year.[9]
- Apps. The Gadgeteer notes two Midea apps, one of them discontinued.[9]
06 / Questions
Frequently asked
- Is the Midea U-shaped air conditioner worth it?
- Yes, if you buy a current UWT model and have a standard up-and-down window 22 to 36 inches wide. It lets you open the window, reviewers find it quiet on low, and the 10,000 BTU MAW10V1UWT was $399.99 at Amazon.com on October 17, 2026, less than comparable LG and TCL inverter units. Skip any QWT model: those were recalled in 2025.
- Was the Midea U recalled?
- Yes. CPSC recall 25-320 (June 5, 2025) covers about 1.7 million Midea U and U+ units sold March 2020 through May 2025, for $280 to $500, for mold from slow drainage. The recalled Midea models end in QWT. The current UWT models and the 6,000 BTU MAW06V1QWT are not on the list.
- How do I know if my Midea U is recalled?
- Read the model number on the label on the front right side of the unit. If it is on CPSC's list (Midea models ending in QWT, or the Frigidaire, Perfect Aire, Century, Keystone, Mr. Cool, Insignia or Danby versions), enter the serial number at www.MideaUrecall.expertinquiry.com. Midea repairs it free or refunds it.
- Midea U vs LG Dual Inverter: which is better?
- At 10,000 BTU both certify at CEER 15 and cost about the same to run. The Midea was $399.99 and the LG $499.00 on October 17, 2026. The Midea lets you open the window and weighs less (54 vs 63 lb). The LG installs like a normal window unit; LG lists it at 44 dB.
- Midea U vs TCL: which is better?
- The TCL T10WV9S certifies higher (CEER 16 vs 15), about $6 a year less to run. It cost $439.99 vs $399.99 for the Midea on October 17, 2026. Pick the Midea if you want the window to stay usable.
- Does the Midea U heat?
- No. The U models here are cooling only (cool, dry and fan). If you want heat, look at a window heat pump or a mini split.
- What size window does the Midea U fit?
- Midea's manual gives 22 to 36 inches wide for a standard double-hung (up-and-down) window. It does not fit sliders or casements.
References
Sources
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
Amazon listings (price, seller, stock)