Brand against brand

Friedrich vs Midea window air conditioners

Both lineups side by side at every size both brands sell, from the 31 new window air conditioners we can find in stock right now: live prices, CEER ratings, noise and the warranty each listing states.

The short answer

We track 24 Friedrich and 7 Midea window air conditioners in stock, and both brands sell 5 sizes in common (8,000, 10,000, 12,000, 14,000 and 18,000 BTU).

  • Midea's cheapest model costs less at all 5 sizes.
  • Where both publish a CEER rating at the same size (3 sizes), their best models are within 0.5 of each other.
  • 3 Friedrich models we track are named in CPSC recall 26-776 (risk of serious injury or death from fire and burn hazards); 3 Midea models we track are named in CPSC recall 25-320 (risk of mold exposure); they are left out of this comparison and not sold here.

The better buy depends on your size, so compare the models at yours below.

Prices last refreshed Oct 30, 2026Independent, nobody pays for placement.

Friedrich and Midea at a glance

Friedrich and Midea window air conditioners: the in-stock lineups compared
FriedrichMidea
In stock of models we track24 of 337 of 9
Sizes in stock5,000 to 28,000 BTU8,000 to 24,000 BTU
Live prices$199.99 to $2,629$309.99 to $649.99
Best CEERCEER 15 (several models)CEER 15 (several models)
ENERGY STAR8 of 243 of 7
Inverter models8 of 244 of 7
Wi-Fi, as listed2 of 240 of 7
Heat too5 of 240 of 7
Compressor warranty, as listed5 yr (18 of 24 state it)Not stated
Recall check3 named in 26-776; 3 with no model number to check3 named in 25-320

Size by size

Every new window air conditioner of each brand we can find in stock, cheapest first, at each size both sell. A model within 5% of a size is grouped with it and shows its own rating. marks a noise rating we have checked against the retailer's specification for that exact model.

8,000 BTU

The two cheapest, head to head
  • Midea's cheapest is $119 less

Friedrich · 5 in stock

Show 2 more Friedrich models at this size

Midea · 1 in stock

10,000 BTU

The two cheapest, head to head
  • Midea's cheapest is $199 less
  • Best CEER within 0.5 of each other

Friedrich · 3 in stock

Midea · 1 in stock

12,000 BTU

The two cheapest, head to head
  • Midea's cheapest is $219 less
  • Best CEER within 0.5 of each other

Friedrich · 4 in stock

Show 1 more Friedrich model at this size

Midea · 1 in stock

14,000 BTU

The two cheapest, head to head
  • Midea's cheapest is $189 less
  • Best CEER within 0.5 of each other

Friedrich · 2 in stock

Midea · 1 in stock

18,000 BTU

The two cheapest, head to head
  • Midea's cheapest is $359 less

Friedrich · 3 in stock

Midea · 2 in stock

Only Friedrich sells 5,000, 6,000, 15,000 and 28,000 BTU in stock; only Midea sells 24,000 BTU.

Prices are live retailer offers and change often. compare.ac may earn a commission on purchases, at no cost to you; it never changes the price you pay or how we compare.

Recall check

Models a CPSC notice names are left out of the comparison above, and their purchase links stay paused.

  • Friedrich: CPSC recall 26-776, September 17, 2026

    Friedrich Air Conditioning Recalls KÜHL Window Air Conditioners Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Fire and Burn Hazards.

    Named in the notice: KCVS08B10A, KCVS12B10A, KCVS16B30A

    3 listings give no model number to check against it.

    Read the CPSC notice

  • Midea: CPSC recall 25-320, June 5, 2025

    Midea Recalls About 1.7 Million U and U+ Window Air Conditioners Due to Risk of Mold Exposure.

    Named in the notice: MAW08V1QWT, MAW10V1QWT, MAW12V1QWT

    Read the CPSC notice

How we compare two brands

  • Only new units we can find in stock with a live price, at the same size. A brand's average says more about its size mix than about the brand.
  • A price difference counts when it is at least 5% and at least $20, and only between models that install the same way (a do-it-yourself kit is never priced against an installer-fitted system).
  • Efficiency is compared on one scale (CEER) and counts at a gap of 0.5 or more; noise counts at 3 dB(A) or more, using only ratings checked against the retailer's specification for the exact model.
  • Warranty terms are as each listing states them. Models named in a CPSC recall are never compared or sold here.
Read our full methodology

Friedrich vs Midea: common questions

Is Friedrich or Midea cheaper?
It depends on the size. Comparing each brand's cheapest new, in-stock model at the same size, Midea's cheapest model costs less at 8,000 BTU ($309.99 against $429), 10,000 BTU ($329.99 against $529), 12,000 BTU ($369.99 against $589), 14,000 BTU ($449.99 against $639) and 18,000 BTU ($519.99 against $879). These are live retailer prices and change often.
Which is more energy efficient, Friedrich or Midea window air conditioners?
Comparing the best CEER rating each brand publishes for its in-stock models at the same size, their best ratings are within 0.5 at 3 sizes. A higher CEER means less electricity for the same cooling. Not every listing publishes a rating, so a size with a rating on one side only is not compared.
What sizes do Friedrich and Midea window air conditioners come in?
In stock right now, Friedrich sells 5,000, 6,000, 8,000, 10,000, 12,000, 14,000, 15,000, 18,000 and 28,000 BTU and Midea sells 8,000, 10,000, 12,000, 14,000, 18,000 and 24,000 BTU. So only Friedrich sells 5,000, 6,000, 15,000 and 28,000 BTU and only Midea sells 24,000 BTU. Size the unit to the room first: an oversized unit short-cycles and leaves the air cool but damp.
Do Friedrich and Midea make inverter window air conditioners?
Friedrich has 8 inverter models in stock, and Midea has 4, going by each listing and the maker's model numbers. An inverter compressor slows down instead of switching on and off, which is usually quieter and more efficient at part load.
Have any Friedrich or Midea window air conditioners been recalled?
CPSC recall 26-776 (September 2026) was issued for the risk of serious injury or death from fire and burn hazards; it names 3 Friedrich models we track (KCVS08B10A, KCVS12B10A and KCVS16B30A) and 3 Friedrich listings give no model number to check against it. CPSC recall 25-320 (June 2025) was issued for the risk of mold exposure; it names 3 Midea models we track (MAW08V1QWT, MAW10V1QWT and MAW12V1QWT). Those are left out of this comparison and not sold here. Check the model number on your own unit's label against the notice.

Go deeper

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