Midea Cube 35-Pint Dehumidifier (MAD35S1QWT-A) review

Midea’s Cube MAD35S1QWT-A is the white, no-pump member of a newer 35-pint class. The useful reason to consider it is the certified removal rating and compact, nestable bucket design—not a promise to cover a particular floor area. Plan to collect water in its bucket or route a hose downhill. If a drain is uphill, or if a particular carry weight is essential, this is not the Cube to choose without a clearer exact-specification sheet.

Midea’s U.S. guide lists this suffix, and the ENERGY STAR record gives its U.S. rating. Midea’s exact product page conflicts on capacity, refrigerant and connectivity, so I use only reconciled facts.

Midea’s page for MAD35S1QWT-A uses this front view of a white Cube. It looks like a studio product image, but Midea does not identify whether it is a photograph or rendering.

Read the suffix before comparing pint ratings

There are several Cube labels that look almost interchangeable on a retailer search: MAD35S1QWT, MAD35S1QWT-A, MAD35S1QGR-A and 50-pint models with additional letters. Keep the full identifier intact. The 2025 Midea user guide lists MAD35S1QWT-A by name, while the ENERGY STAR record for that exact model lists a tested water-removal capacity of 35.82 pints per day, an integrated energy factor of 2.01 liters per kilowatt-hour and estimated annual energy use of 378 kWh. It also identifies the portable unit as not connected-capable and names HFC-32 refrigerant.

Midea’s Canada page for the same suffix calls it a 50-pint model and lists 50 pints, R410a and Wi-Fi/app control. The U.S. certification record instead says 35.82 pints, HFC-32 and not connected-capable. Do not average those claims or assume this suffix has an app, a 4,500-square-foot capacity, or a particular weight; use the exact label and a corrected specification sheet for any hard requirement.

Choose it for a bucket or a lower drain, not lift

The exact Midea page says built-in pump: no. The 2025 guide lists this model in a family whose pump function is marked for “some models,” and describes the normal continuous-drain hose as gravity drainage. Its instruction is practical: place the unit above the sink or other drain so water can flow. That makes MAD35S1QWT-A a poor fit when the only outlet is higher than the dehumidifier. A hose can reach a long way across a floor and still fail if it must climb; hose length does not create lift.

For bucket collection, leave the bucket seated, monitor the fill indication and empty it when needed. Midea warns that water can remain under the unit when it is removed, so lift carefully. A gravity hose can avoid routine bucket emptying if it reaches a lower drain. For an uphill outlet, compare a 50-pint Cube with a built-in pump; Midea’s guide requires the bucket in pump mode, so it is not a bucketless route.

Midea promotes no-bucket drainage on its product page, and the family guide mentions bucketless mode, but its setup steps do not clearly tie that procedure to this suffix. I would not rely on it when bucketless operation is essential. The older MAD35S1QWT has a separate 2024 manual with bucketless-gravity instructions; that does not prove the same setup for MAD35S1QWT-A. Ask Midea for the exact guide before ordering if the distinction matters.

Storage helps; handling weight remains an open question

The manual describes separating the top unit from its bucket and nesting the unit inside for storage. That can make a Cube easier to put away than a tall appliance, but nesting is a lifting task: Midea tells users to use both hands, empty the bucket first, unplug before nesting and store the dehumidifier upright in a dry, ventilated place. It is not a lightweight alternative merely because it packs into its own base.

The Midea page lists dimensions and a 41.67-pound weight, but its specification block also conflicts with the certified record on capacity and refrigerant. I do not use those measurements as hard limits for this version. If shelf clearance or lifting weight matters, get a specification for the full suffix rather than borrowing figures from the earlier MAD35S1QWT. A full bucket adds weight either way.

Plan for cool rooms and routine maintenance

The family guide is specific about installation: indoor residential use only, a level surface, at least 8 inches of air space around the sides and 16 inches at the outlet, and a room temperature from 41°F to 95°F. It says lower temperatures can frost the coils and reduce performance. This is not an outdoor, commercial or cold-cellar solution. It also recommends closing doors and windows in the room so the unit is not continually treating outside air.

The filter reminder comes on after 250 operating hours; the guide says to remove and rinse the filters, let them dry, reinstall them and reset the indicator. Midea recommends cleaning the bucket every few weeks and letting the system dry for a full day before long storage. These are manageable chores for a seasonal room, but a permanent drain does not make filter and bucket care disappear.

Who should keep it on the shortlist?

Consider MAD35S1QWT-A for a documented 35.82-pint/day class, nested Cube storage and a bucket or lower gravity drain. It is not the choice for upward pumping, a hard weight limit or verified app control. The 50-pint gravity Cube is the higher-rated no-pump alternative; a 50-pint pump Cube suits an uphill outlet. MAD35S1QWT without “-A” is a separate identity. Shop by the full label and request an exact specification sheet before relying on disputed features.