While it’s a little pricier than some of the other recommended brands, three of our experts agreed that Friedrich makes the highest quality window ACs. Sylwia Dudek-Gorski, operations manager at the air conditioner service Figlia & Sons, calls Friedrich “the king of air conditioners,” and says “they make the best equipment.” According to Berkson, they’re extremely efficient at processing the refrigerant gasses responsible for creating cold air, so that “you get a little bit colder air and a little bit more air flow.”

This one is part of the company’s Chill Premier series (available in sizes ranging from 5,000 to 12,000 BTU), which Joe Lakin, general manager of Brooklyn’s Best Air Conditioning, describes as a budget-friendly line that still lives up to Friedrich’s high-quality reputation. With the timer, you can program the air conditioner to turn off up to 24 hours in advance to save energy, and there’s also built-in Wi-Fi, so you can turn it on and off from your phone. And once you purchase and install your air conditioner, Howard Lupowitz of Mike’s Air Conditioning says to make sure you regularly clean the filter, so the air conditioner can work effectively.

Berkson says Frigidaire’s standard 5,000 BTU model is “probably the most popular air conditioner” for people looking to cool a single room. Suitable for a 150-square-foot bedroom, he calls it “super reliable,” and reasonably priced. While you can find an off-brand model for less, he cautions that those are often “hit or miss” in terms of quality and how long they last. “The nice thing about Frigidaire is that they have a great warranty and they’re very helpful if something goes wrong,” he says. Lakin is also a fan and likes that Frigidaire’s basic models are well priced. “You don’t need to spend and go crazy on pricing and fancy stuff,” he says. Berkson agrees it’s a good option if you don’t need “the bells and whistles” of a Friedrich. For a little bit more, you can get a very similar model that comes with a remote control, so you can turn on the air without getting off the couch.

Lakin calls the Midea air conditioner the “most user-friendly, easy-to-install air conditioner,” available right now. The unit comes with a simple safety bracket, and there are easy-to-follow video instructions for free online to guide you through the installation process. Unlike traditional air conditioners, Midea’s U-shaped design allows you to open your window whenever you want to get fresh air. The unit is available in three different sizes, depending on the amount of space you’d like to cool, including 8,000, 10,000, and 12,000 BTU. Plus, “they’re quiet and Wi-Fi enabled,” he adds.

For slightly larger rooms — or small rooms that get a lot of sunlight — this Frigidaire offers a little more cooling power. Lakin says the line’s Gallery models, like this one (which is available in 6,000 to 12,000 BTU versions), “install very easily” and run quietly. Although it doesn’t have Wi-Fi, Berkson points out that “you can actually make pretty much any air conditioner Wi-Fi compatible with a plug from Amazon, like a WeMo.” Once the AC is hooked up to a smart plug, you can control it from Siri or an app.

For a more affordable yet equally powerful model, try LG, a brand whose air conditioners tend to be lower priced, according to Lakin, because they have a “fixed chassis, meaning they don’t slide out from the inside, they’re just one piece built in,” which makes repairs more difficult, he admits. However, if you’re only using the unit for a year or two, or are willing to replace it after a couple of summers, there’s nothing wrong with opting for a cheaper one.

Things get a little more complicated when you’re looking for an AC for a studio. The space might be small, but you’ll want to get a more powerful model than the square footage dictates. “You would probably want to put a minimum of 10,000 BTUs in that 300 square foot studio,” says Lakin, “because you have a variety of things that give off more heat than just a standard bedroom,” like kitchen appliances and electronics. Friedrich’s high-end Kuhl air conditioner (available in 6,000 to 35,000 BTU sizes) is Lakin’s pick for a unit that’ll basically feel like central air in your small space. Dudek-Gorski says that compared to Friedrich’s Chill Premier line, its Kuhl air conditioners are quieter and longer lasting.

If you don’t need all the features of the Kuhl (like Wi-Fi compatibility and the ability to program a daily schedule for up to seven days), this LG air conditioner would also work in a studio, says Lakin. If you’re cooling an even larger space, LG makes affordable models up to 24,500 BTU, like this one.