At IFA 2026 in Berlin, Midea unveiled a voice-controlled air conditioner that no longer blows cold air blindly into the room but directs it toward the people in it. According to Midea, the unit uses sensing and imaging to detect where occupants are and aims the airflow individually.
How the targeted cooling works
At its heart is an mmWave sensor system that, together with imaging, works out where users are positioned in the room. Instead of chilling the whole space evenly, the unit sends a directed stream of cool air exactly where someone sits or stands, Midea says. The idea is to avoid unpleasant drafts in empty spots while saving energy – a cooler you and less wasted cold.
Voice control and connected climate
The air conditioner is voice-activated and syncs with other Midea air-quality appliances, such as a humidifier, to hold a target temperature and humidity together. Midea frames the concept within its wider AI push, which also includes its AI ECOMASTER system for intelligent power management across connected devices.
Not a shipping product yet
Midea gave no product name, technical specs, price or release date at the show. Reports note the unit was not fully up and running on the stand, so this reads as a technology preview rather than a buyable product. Rival makers are exploring similar person-aware airflow too. Shoppers who want a portable Midea cooling option today can instead look to the R290-based PortaSplit shown alongside it.
Already available – the portable Midea PortaSplit air conditioner:
Sources: Midea / PR Newswire · Tom’s Guide (IFA 2026 roundup)
