Chinese air treatment company Midea is releasing its first Matter-certified appliance – a U-shaped inverter window air conditioner – in the USA.

This version of the Midea U allows consumers to open and close their windows after installation, thus ensuring quiet operation as low as 32dB. This is achieved as the design effectively insulates operating and compressor noises.

Based on ISO 3744 testing, nine Midea U units generate less noise than some standalone traditional units. Furthermore, the Midea U was the first window AC to receive the Energy Star Most Efficient 2020 certification, with over 35 per cent energy savings compared with regular air conditioners.

“With the release of our first Matter-certified window AC, which is also the first on the market, Midea continues to spearhead innovations,” said Patrick Serrato, head of IoT at Midea in America. “By offering a Matter-certified product, we reaffirm our commitment to providing reliable and user-friendly home appliances.”

Matter-certified products ease major pain points for consumers. Having the Matter badge entails having the same setup process as other Matter-certified products, protection of home networks through one of the most secure connectivity standards in the market, and local wifi network connectivity for speed and reliability. Matter enables smart devices to communicate regardless of their specific network protocols or ecosystems.

“In January 2022, we expressed our support of Matter as we were confident it would drive product excellence and cultivate more efficient smart homes,” said Kurt Jovais, president of Midea in America. “With the launch of our first Matter-certified product, we see this vision materialise.”

With more than 166,000 employees and a presence in over 195 countries, Midea’s products touch the lives of millions of people and families through air treatment, refrigeration, laundry, small and large kitchen appliances, water appliances, and floor care. Midea in America (www.midea.com/us) is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, and has a research and development centre in Kentucky.

Developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, the Matter (csa-iot.org/all-solutions/matter) standard brings a promise of reliable, secure connectivity and a seal of approval that devices will work seamlessly together.