We’ve been recommending the LG LW series of window ACs as our top picks since 2016, and the newest version, the LG LW8017ERSM, continues to hold up. Compared with other ACs at this price, it’s quieter and hums along at a lower pitch, so it’s easier on the ears. And though AC controls aren’t rocket science, this one offers a greater level of flexibility overall than most of its competitors, covering little details like the fan’s directional controls and outdoor-air vent to the dehumidifier mode. It also offers built-in smart-home capabilities, including the ability to schedule cooling or control it remotely through LG’s ThinQ app. It also tends to remain available throughout the summer, whereas many other units we’ve tested and recommended over the years have come and gone, often by midseason.

Most air conditioners are loud, but in this regard the LW8017ERSM is the least worst of the $250 to $300-ish, 8,000 Btu window ACs we tested. The sound is lower-pitched and quieter overall—about 58 dB from 6 feet away at its absolute loudest, with the compressor on and the fan at full speed. At the slowest fan setting and with the compressor on, we measured about 54 dB. The lowest fan-only (no-cool) setting is about 49 dBC. These volumes all fall within the range of casual human conversation, so they shouldn’t be too disturbing. Relative to our runner-up pick, it’s about 3 dBC quieter in cooling modes, and 8 dBC quieter on the lowest fan-only setting.

This AC is easier on the ears than its closest-priced competitors.

Although its overall volume is not much quieter than that of competing models, the LW8017ERSM will probably sound quieter to most people. That’s because it’s loudest at low frequencies (below 900 hertz), and quieter at mid and high frequencies. That means the most prominent sound it makes is a deep hum. It’s almost (almost) relaxing. Compared with other models around 1,500 and 2,000 hertz, this model is relatively quiet, and it doesn’t make that kind of midrange, “whooshy” frequency that can wear your ears down after a few hours. We also didn’t notice any high-frequency spikes—the kinds of irritating, whiny noises that most people can’t stand for even a few minutes—except for a very occasional spike at 4,000 hertz.

The LW8017ERSM also offers extra controls that seem really minor but can make a huge difference. For example, the fan blades are as effective as any at directing air where you’d like it to go and stopping it from going where you wouldn’t. That can come in handy if you sleep near the AC, so you can direct the cold air away from your head at night. We also preferred LG’s ThinQ app to the smart-home functionality on the other ACs we tested. It has a clear, simple interface that’s easy to use; you can remotely turn the AC on or off for a designated period of time, or set up a recurring calendar schedule for regular cooling. By comparison, the Frigidaire app has only a calendar function, which makes it frustrating if you just want to set up the AC to run for a few hours on a particularly hot afternoon.

Older models of the LW8017ERSM had a removable drain plug, either on the bottom or the backside of the unit, made it easier to get rid of the natural condensation that tends to collect in the pan of most air conditioners. Recent updates to the LW8017ERSM have unfortunately removed this thoughtful feature (although you might still find some models with plugs on them). Having some condensed water in the base of the AC can be good, because it helps improve efficiency. The LW8017ERSM takes advantage of this with special “slinger” tips on the air-circulating fan that skim the top of that puddle and splash a little water onto the condenser coils to help cool them off faster. But when the air is very humid, the puddle gets deeper and the fan starts to make the flickering or bubbling sound, and the unit needs to be drained—and if your model doesn’t come with a drainage plug, this means manually tilting it to pour the water out (or lifting it out of the window at the end of the summer and accidentally dumping the water all over your pants).

Unlike most window ACs, the LW8017ERSM also has a vent that can mix in about 10 percent fresh, outdoor air, if you choose to open it. It has a dedicated dehumidifier mode as well, which might find some use on those afternoons in early fall when it’s too chilly to run the AC but muggy enough that you want some relief.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Plenty of people will have some trouble sleeping in the same room as this thing. If you’re putting an AC in your bedroom and are worried about noise, take a look at the U-shaped Midea MAW08V1QWT.

Some buyers have complained that the LW8017ERSM failed them after less than a year—that something had broken in the fan or compressor, which produced an unpleasant sound or otherwise rendered it useless—and that if or when this happens, LG’s customer service is not always deemed reliable. After using one of our test models for a summer, then placing it in storage, and then transporting it about 500 miles in a move, we noticed some similar issues. In this case, the LW8017ERSM still worked fine, but the right combination of the fan and compressor caused the unit to vibrate and rattle in such a way that it rubbed against the window and the bracket underneath it, resulting in an obnoxious grinding sound. Once we tightened it into place using a combination of screws and insulation, we were able to stop the horrible sound; other users have employed similar solutions.

Although we liked LG’s ThinQ smartphone app, the interface for voice commands can be a little frustrating. In order to control the AC through Alexa, for example, you have to say, “Alexa, tell LG to turn the air conditioner on.” And if you want to do anything more than that, Alexa will talk you through every possible option, step by slowly agonizing step. At least this makes the menu options perfectly clear, even if you do have to stand there for two minutes to get through it all.

The LW8017ERSM was also the most cumbersome to install of all the window units we tested, but only modestly so. The worst part is that the weight is lopsided toward the back of the unit, so it feels slightly more treacherous to install on a windowsill. It’s 58 pounds, which is heavy, but it’s only 10 pounds heavier than the lightest model we installed. Another nitpicky, moderately annoying detail: The side curtains screw in, whereas those of most other units slide in. That said, you’ll have to deal with installation only once each spring and once each fall, so it’s not a huge deal. Enlist a buddy and use a support bracket, and installation will be fine.

The thermostat on the LG LW8017ERSM had the least consistent readings of our picks, with a range of about 3 degrees of difference between the reading on the AC, the reading on the LG app, and the temperature we saw on a Nest thermostat in the same home, and on the Lascar EL-USB-2-LCD data loggers that we used to measure performance in the same room.