Is There Any Point In Buying A Wi-Fi Enabled Air Conditioner?

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Being able to control tech remotely is one of the most convenient elements of the ongoing smart-home craze. Everything from lighting to security cameras can be connected to Wi-Fi these days, allowing home and business owners to monitor and control devices on the go. When it comes to automated temperature controls, there's a wide variety of smart thermostats that can actually save you money on the market, many of which can even be interfaced with ecosystems like Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit.

But what if your residence isn't cooled by the same HVAC system that heats it? As luck would have it, there are several Wi-Fi-enabled, stand-alone air conditioners available. Brands like LG and TCL are behind some of these window units, which bodes well for those who won't buy from companies that aren't well-vetted. Still, you may be wondering if there are any legitimate benefits to investing in a Wi-Fi-ready window AC. Our opinion: If you can afford the added expense (which is usually a couple hundred bucks more than comparable, non-Wi-Fi models), splurging on a Wi-Fi air conditioner is totally worth it.

One of the biggest pros is having the ability to use your AC's companion app to create a custom cooling schedule. This is especially great if you're trying to save money on your utility bill, because just turning up the AC won't save you any money. You can program your AC to run at a higher temperature while you're at work, and then at a lower, more cozy temperature about a half hour before you return home. Scheduling is also helpful for pet owners looking to keep their four-legged friends comfortable.

When a window AC is left off for even an hour or two on a hot day, it can take a long time for the unit to cool your home to a habitable temperature. By creating a schedule, you may end up using less electricity overall than you would by letting your home get warm and then setting the AC to its minimum temperature when you get back. Another pro of an internet-connected window unit is that you'll be able to update your product as the manufacturer releases firmware updates.

One patch might fix a handful of bugs and glitches, while another could add entirely new features and screens to your AC's companion software. As far as drawbacks go, we can't think of too many, but one you may want to be cognizant of is network congestion. Adding another device to your Wi-Fi is going to eat up bandwidth, and many smart-home devices can't be connected to a 5GHz band. If your 2.4GHz internet is already bottlenecking, a Wi-Fi appliance won't be a welcome addition.

There's no denying that Wi-Fi-enabled window ACs are more expensive than their non-internet counterparts. If you've thought to yourself, "Couldn't I just use a smart plug in my home to connect a regular AC?" the answer is yes. That said, you'll be losing a lot of functionality; a smart plug can only be turned on or off, whereas an internet-powered AC gives you an entire dashboard of temperature, scheduling, and power controls.