Gradient all-weather 120V window heat pump in CES 2025pulling cool, refreshing air from the demonstration window on a booth next to it to the conference center floor Biolite and copper.
But this sleek machine is far from clumsy and noisy Window unit past. Unlike traditional window air conditioners, the device can also heat your space only at freezing temperatures. Its larger size and higher price, reflecting the added power and versatility, making it a serious upgrade to year-round comfort.
Read more: Best CES 2025 Winner, awarded by CNET Group
Instead of sitting inside a window like most window units, the gradient unit occupies all space, instead hangs across the bottom of the window with outdoor and indoor installations hanging below, just like the legs of a rider hanging from the saddle.
A powerful heat pump for small space
The all-weather model is designed to improve the heating performance of gradient main models for medium climates. Medium climate models can warm the home when the mercury outside drops to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The all-weather model established to meet the needs of the City Housing Administration was rated as the weather dropped to minus 13 degrees.
The gradient heat pump can be heated and cooled to 500 square feet, with a cooling power of 9,300 btus and a maximum of 9,000 btus for heating. But, perhaps the coolest part is that this large device (weights 140 pounds) can run from a standard 120-volt socket – no electrical work required. Gradients represent telling CNET via email that you don’t need to hire a professional to help install it. The 24/24/7 120V window heat pump can be installed by itself.
Fog, Wi-Fi and more heat pump offers
The unit has some nice features. The diffuser of the outdoor unit turns any condensate into mist, meaning no water gathers under it or drips onto the ground below. Enable heat pumps, which can be controlled via an application or by a touch thermostat on the indoor unit.
The heat pump also does not block the window’s view. Because it hangs below, you can still open and close the windows, see outside, and then use the top of the heat pump as the surface of the small table.
So far, the gradient heat pump is primarily only suitable for specific buyers – i.e. the New York City Housing Administration. But the company representative told me that corporate customers can buy directly from the gradient. Some units are offered to individual consumers through distributors in the New York area, but these are very limited and the company is mostly sold to businesses. A Gradient Representative said the company believes it is the fastest way to expand electrification, which means you may see these heat pumps in business, school or multi-family homes.
The MSRP for the all-weather model is $3,800 – much more than your typical window communication, but with more features. And, since it does not require any permit, plumbing or electrical work, the installation cost is expected to be much smaller than other ways of heating and cooling the home.
Correction on January 29: Updated to clarify that direct to consumers sales are limited to one contractor.
