What's the most budget-friendly window AC that's still reliable?

The 5,000 BTU Frigidaire and Midea units are the value picks, both priced well under $200 and backed by very large verified-purchase review counts (17,000+ and 12,000+ respectively) at solid 4.4-star averages. They use simple mechanical controls and target small rooms, so expect fewer smart features in exchange for the low price.