The MAD35S1QWT sits at the mid-capacity sweet spot of the Midea Cube line, and it was Consumer Reports' top-scoring mid-pint dehumidifier in 2026 testing. It carries over the cube chassis and the 3x-larger tank from the 50-pint sibling in a quieter, lower-wattage package for medium spaces. This SKU has no built-in pump, and real-world coverage lands closer to 1,500 sq ft than the marketing's 3,500 sq ft claim. In the rooms it actually suits, no other 35-pint unit matches its scores.
Full review
Top-tier moisture removal and efficiency
Consumer Reports gave the MAD35S1QWT the highest score in their three size categories for moisture removal — a clean win over every other 35-pint unit in their 2026 lab tests.
Dehumidifier Buyers Guide called it the best 35-pint dehumidifier currently on the market, citing the same combination of Energy Star efficiency, low noise, and large tank that earned the 50-pint sibling top honors. The unit hits target humidity quickly in rooms up to 1,500 square feet and holds setpoint with minimal cycling — which is also what keeps the lifetime energy bill manageable.
Effective coverage is closer to 1,500 square feet
Midea markets the unit for spaces up to 3,500 square feet. Buyers should size by realistic coverage: this unit is ideal for 800 to 1,500 square feet of living area, a finished basement under 1,800 square feet, or a single floor of a smaller home.
For anyone with a 3,000-plus square foot conditioned space, the 50-pint MAD50S1QWT or Honeywell TP50AWKN is the right step up. For a single bedroom or sub-500 square foot office, the 20-pint MAD20S1QWT in this lineup is the better fit on both noise and size. The 35-pint sits squarely in the middle: the right answer for a typical condo, smaller starter home, or finished basement family room.
Gravity drainage only and awkward bucket design
The MAD35S1QWT comes with a gravity-drain hose, but unlike the 50-pint sibling there is no built-in pump on this SKU. For installations where the drain destination is below the unit, that is fine — set up the hose and forget about it. For setups where the destination is above (utility sink halfway up a basement wall), the 35-pint Cube cannot service that geometry without an aftermarket pump kit.
When run on the bucket, the 3.2-gallon (25.6-pint) tank is the second-largest in this category — only the 50-pint Cube's 34-pint tank beats it. The lift-and-twist storage mode is convenient for offseason garage stowage between summers.
Noise and Bedroom Friendliness
Consumer Reports described the unit as "whisper-quiet" in their lab evaluation, which they reserve for the rare dehumidifier that disappears into background noise during normal living-space operation. It is genuinely livable in a living room with the TV on at moderate volume.
For bedroom placement, anyone sensitive to fan noise should place it in an adjacent room. The MAD20S1QWT 20-pint sibling tests at similar low-dB readings with smaller capacity; the LG PuriCare line is the only consumer dehumidifier that consistently tests below 50 dB on low, but trades that for higher sticker price and shorter coverage.
Efficient energy use and lower upfront costs
The MAD35S1QWT is Energy Star Most Efficient certified and draws roughly 310 watts at 50% RH — substantially less than the 50-pint Cube's 512 W draw, which is the natural result of a smaller compressor. Over a summer running 10 hours per day at U.S. average residential rates, the energy cost lands in the $50 to $70 range — meaningful for budget-conscious buyers and a strong argument for sizing this rather than the 50-pint sibling when the room layout permits.
Sticker price typically lands $50 to $80 below the 50-pint MAD50S1QWT, putting it close to the hOmeLabs HME020031N's territory while offering meaningfully better noise and warranty experience. Like all Midea Cube SKUs, the one-year warranty is the weak point — Honeywell offers five years on the sealed system on its 50-pint, which is worth real money over a decade of ownership.
Reliable connectivity with outdated app functionality
The MAD35S1QWT shares the MideaAir SmartHome app with its 50-pint and 20-pint siblings. Wi-Fi, Alexa, and Google Assistant integration all work the same way — scheduling, target humidity, mode toggles, and a basic dashboard of readings. Voice commands respond within a second or two and the unit retains state through power loss.
The same app stagnation that affects the 50-pint Cube affects this SKU — MideaAir has not received feature updates in over a year as of mid-2026, and the basic UI feels older than 2026 expectations. Wi-Fi pairing requires a 2.4 GHz network, which can be a pain on modern mesh setups where the dehumidifier needs to be specifically connected to the legacy band. Once paired, the connection has been reliable in user reports.
Called the best 35-pint dehumidifier on the market
Consumer Reports' verdict drove much of the unit's reputation: highest score of any 35-pint unit in their lab in 2026, with top marks for energy efficiency and convenience. Dehumidifier Buyers Guide reinforced the verdict with the simple statement that this is "the best 35 pint dehumidifier currently on the market." Home Depot customer reviews consistently echo the same praise: quiet, energy-efficient, and the large tank means less attention than 22-pint units demand.
Real coverage is 1,500 sq ft, not 3,500
The absence of a built-in pump on this SKU is the biggest functional limitation. Buyers who specifically need to lift water above the unit have to step up to the 50-pint MAD50S1QWT or accept an aftermarket pump kit.
The tank emptying experience is awkward — the bucket has to be lifted and rotated to pour cleanly into a sink, and full-tank weight at 26 pints is meaningful. The app's lack of recent updates raises long-term concerns about smart-feature support over the unit's expected eight-to-ten-year service life. And the one-year warranty trails the five-year coverage on Honeywell's competitors.
Fits 800 to 1,500 square foot starter homes
The MAD35S1QWT is the right pick for someone with 800 to 1,500 square feet of living area, a smaller finished basement, or a starter home with a single-floor footprint. It is particularly well-suited to placement in a living room or open kitchen where quiet operation matters and the gravity drain hose can run to a nearby drain. Consumer Reports' verdict makes it the safe default for mid-capacity buyers who are not sure which SKU to pick.
It is not the right pick for users who need pump drainage (step up to the 50-pint MAD50S1QWT) or for very small spaces under 600 sq ft where the 20-pint MAD20S1QWT fits better. Buyers who want maximum warranty coverage should consider the Honeywell TP50AWKN's five-year sealed-system policy instead. And anyone planning to drop this in a 3,000-plus square foot open-concept layout should size up — the 35-pint cannot hold setpoint in that volume of conditioned air.
Strengths
- +Same lift-and-twist cube design and 3x larger tank as the 50-pint Midea sibling
- +Wi-Fi, Alexa, and Google Assistant integration at no subscription cost
- +Energy Star Most Efficient certified for low operating cost
Watch-outs
- −No built-in pump — gravity drain only on this SKU
How it compares
The Midea Cube MAD35S1QWT shares the cube chassis and large-tank design of the Midea Cube MAD50S1QWT and the Midea Cube MAD20S1QWT. It is quieter than the 50-pint Cube (50.4 dB versus 65.4 dB on low) but gives up that model's built-in pump. The hOmeLabs HME020031N is louder at 58.6 dB on low and carries standard Energy Star certification, not the Most Efficient tier.
Rating sources
“It's not silent, but it's manageable. If you are a light sleeper, place it in a separate room or use a white noise machine.”
“The MAD35S1QWT is considered the best 35 pint dehumidifier currently on the market.”
Counts as 4.57/5 in our score — this publisher's 13 scores on the site average 4.35, so its scores are adjusted down to compare fairly with other publishers.
“Consumer Reports testers find the medium-capacity Midea MAD35S1QWT to be whisper-quiet, and it earns the highest rating score of any model in their three size categories.”
Our 4.6 score is the average of the 1 scored review above, each adjusted for how strictly its publisher scores; 2 more reviewed it without printing a score and are not in the average. More about methodology.
