Senville LETO 12,000 BTU

Because it's the rare cheap unit with a real track record: a decade of consistently positive owner feedback, and it's a rebadged Midea — the same hardware backbone as units costing hundreds more. When owners ask HVAC forums for the cheapest mini-split that isn't junk, this is the perennial answer. At 21.2 SEER2 on a standard 115V circuit, the specs back up the reputation.

Technically it's a standard flare-and-vacuum install, but doing it yourself voids the 5-year warranty, which requires a licensed professional install plus registration. One wrinkle to plan for: it uses the newer R454B (A2L) refrigerant, and some installers surcharge or decline A2L work, so confirm your contractor is comfortable with it — and willing to install owner-supplied equipment — before the unit is on your doorstep.

Senville rates it around 550 sq ft, and real-world owners find it comfortable in 450-700 sq ft spaces depending on insulation and sun exposure. It runs on a dedicated 115V circuit (15-20A), which keeps electrical costs down in most retrofits.

Yes. The box includes Senville's USB Wi-Fi kit, which handles both the phone app and Alexa, plus dehumidify, turbo, and sleep modes on the remote. The kit is a plug-in dongle, so seat it during install rather than leaving it in the accessory bag.

Its floor is 5°F, so in northern climates treat it as supplemental heat — it'll carry spring and fall and take the edge off winter days, but you need another heat source for real cold snaps. The 8.7 HSPF2 is respectable for the price but well short of dedicated cold-climate units like the Senville AURA.