LG LW8017ERSM1 Review: An Honest Budget 8,000 BTU Window AC

Last updated: 2026-09-15 · By NicheHive Editorial

This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, NicheHive earns from qualifying purchases. See our full disclosure.

The LG LW8017ERSM1 is an 8,000 BTU window air conditioner rated for 340 sq ft, with LG ThinQ Wi-Fi control at a price below most inverter competitors. Full review covering cooling performance, noise, app reliability, and who should skip it.

An 8,000 BTU window air conditioner with a smartphone app used to mean paying a premium. The LG LW8017ERSM1 is one of the more affordable ways to get both.

At $300 to $320 for 8,000 BTU and 340 sq ft of rated coverage, it undercuts the Midea U-Shaped and GE Profile ClearView while still including LG's ThinQ Wi-Fi app for remote start and scheduling.

Owner reports consistently describe a 340 sq ft room cooling noticeably within about 15 minutes on high, and the washable filter is easy to service from the front without pulling the whole unit out of the window.

Its main tradeoff is noise. The fixed-speed compressor cycles fully on and off rather than ramping smoothly, and LG hasn't published a low-noise dB rating the way Midea and GE Profile have for their units.

What You Are Buying

The LG LW8017ERSM1 is an 8,000 BTU window air conditioner rated to cool up to 340 sq ft. It typically sells for $300 to $320, positioning it below the Midea and Frigidaire inverter units and well below the GE Profile ClearView.

It uses a standard fixed-speed compressor rather than an inverter, paired with 3 cooling and 3 fan speeds and a mechanical-plus-digital control panel. LG ThinQ Wi-Fi connectivity is included for remote app control, Alexa, and Google Assistant.

Performance

Cooling speed: Owner reports across multiple retailers describe a 340 sq ft room becoming noticeably cooler within roughly 15 minutes on the highest cooling and fan setting, in line with what an 8,000 BTU unit should deliver at its rated coverage.

Noise: No published low-noise dB figure is available for this model, unlike the Midea U-Shaped (32 dBA) or GE Profile ClearView (41 dB). It uses a standard fixed-speed compressor, which cycles fully on and off rather than holding a steady low output, producing a noticeable startup burst each time it kicks back in.

App reliability: The LG ThinQ app requires a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection and an LG account. Once paired, remote start, scheduling, and temperature adjustment work as expected; a dropped Wi-Fi connection disables only the app features, not the unit's basic operation from its physical panel.

Filter maintenance: The washable pre-filter slides out from the front grille without needing to remove the unit from the window, which makes monthly cleaning during the cooling season genuinely convenient.

What It Does Well

The price-to-coverage ratio is the strongest argument for this unit. 340 sq ft of rated coverage at $300 to $320 undercuts every inverter competitor in this category while still including smart features.

Auto restart is a small but real convenience: after a power outage or brief power blip, common during summer storms, the unit resumes its last setting automatically instead of requiring a manual restart.

What Falls Short

No inverter compressor means more noise and less efficiency over a long cooling season compared to the Midea U-Shaped or Frigidaire FHWW085WE1, both of which use inverter technology at a similar or only slightly higher price.

No U-shaped or flex-depth frame means it sits fully inside the window opening rather than allowing the sash to lock down over it, a security consideration on ground-floor installations.

Who Should Buy It

The LG LW8017ERSM1 is right if: you want 340 sq ft of reliable cooling at the lowest price in this category, you're comfortable with a standard, moderately louder compressor, and you want Wi-Fi app control without paying an inverter premium.

Consider alternatives if: quiet operation is the top priority (Midea U-Shaped), you want the lowest visual footprint in the window (GE Profile ClearView), or you need directional airflow across a wide room (Frigidaire FHWW085WE1).

Check price on Amazon

See Also

Frequently Asked Questions

NicheHive EditorialEditorial Team

Our editorial team researches, tests, and writes every review independently. We never accept payment for placement.