With Summer being in full swing here in NYC and hitting some scorching heatwaves, I thought it be a perfect time to not only check out an air conditioner to stay cool but a Smart Inverter A/C from TCL’s Q Series. Inverter A/Cs are known to be quieter, be more cost effective, but overall are more expensive. Is the TCL 8,000 BTU Smart Inverter A/C worth the coolness?
Setup
Getting an A/C installed definitely is a two man job but the design of this 67 lb. unit made it quite easier. Taking the device out the box, the A/C is mostly assembled down to the window guards or what TCL calls FastFrame. All I had to do was pull the tape off and they fold out and can be adjusted accordingly.
We were able to get the A/C in the window mounted and the window sits and fits flush right on the side railing area of the A/C that was also preinstalled.
Included with the A/C is also a remote control, foam seals, security bracket, multiple screws, batteries, and modeling material(plasticine).
Functionality
The TCL Q-Series Inverter Window A/C comes in a white colorway. It has a clean modern design featuring mesh grill with the TCL on front(that can be pulled open for filter access) and multiple buttons for controls on the left. This is next to the vent that opens when in use. Soon as you turn on the A/C it’s ready for various tasks with its illuminated digital LED display. Buttons on the A/C are Fan, Swing, Mode, Filter, Eco, Timer, and Mute. Depending on the settings you can change the fan speeds and how you want the air to feel ranging from dry to cool.
Cool Mode
• The AC cools the room to the set temperature.
• Temperature and fan speed are adjustable.
Dry Mode
• The AC works as a dehumidifier to remove excess humidity in
the air. The fan runs constantly but at a low speed.
• Temperature and fan speed are not adjustable.
Fan Mode
• The AC circulates air like a normal fan. Remember to keep
the vent opens during the fan function but closed during the
cooling function to maximize the cooling efficiency.
• Fan speed can be adjusted to Low, Med, and High.
• Temperature cannot be adjusted.
Auto Mode
• The AC adjust between Cool and Fan modes automatically
based on the room’s temperature.
• Temperature and fan speed cannot be adjusted.
Now with this being a Smart A/C you are also able to set it up via the TCL Home app OR via Matter which is another way of connecting your smart home devices.
I actually setup the A/C via Matter which connected to Google Home using a Google Display as a Hub. From there I was able to connect to the TCL Home app and get it all connected. Also with the TCL Home app you are able to “share” your smart A/C so each person’s smartphone in the home can have access if you desire.
So originally you are supposed to do the Wi-Fi setup via the included remote. Problem was for me I could never get that tiny screw off and unfortunately ended up stripping it. I’d suggest for future remotes just go with the usual push slide off method please.
Usage
With this being a strong 8,000 BTU we thought a great place to be was in the bedroom which would get pretty hot and humid. The A/C managed to cool the room down in a few minutes making the environment more comfortable. Also this A/C can be quiet where you wouldn’t even notice it’s on at times. It can get down under 40dB via its Quiet Mode. But just in general even on higher modes you wouldn’t notice it much. I like it also has the capacity of oscillating the vent so it waves up and down spreading the cool air more.
Using the TCL Home app its sufficient using on the A/C. Anything you do the app you will notice the change on the A/C at the most 5-10 seconds. But I gather it is sending the info via your network and then the device. The fact that you can connect to the A/C anywhere means you can come to a cooled home so as you step in.
You can see more of the TCL Q Series Smart Inverter A/C in action via our social channels on TikTok and Instagram.
Verdict
Using a Smart Inverter A/C is a welcome change to the usual A/Cs of the past. It’s better utilizing in your home, recognizing your environment and adjusting accordingly. Also, the fact you can access your A/C anymore is a plus. Inverter A/C are better energy efficient as well. But they do cost more with this model coming in at $400. That does put it at least $100-150 over other non-inverter A/C in its same 8,000 BTU range. But it can be a nice investment, saving you more money eventually. There are also larger models if you need to cover more space.
