Model comparison
GE APMS05BWF vs APMS06BWF: 5,000 or 6,000 BTU DOE?
GE model comparison · exact earlier configurations
GE APMS05BWF vs APMS06BWF: compare cooling tier, handling and the drain route
These are closely related small-room GE portable air conditioners, but not one interchangeable capacity. APMS05BWF is labeled 5,000 BTU DOE with a GE estimate up to 150 square feet; APMS06BWF is 6,000 BTU DOE and estimated for up to 250 square feet. Both use a single exhaust hose, list the same 26.8 × 11.6 × 11.4-inch cabinet and call for the same basic 20-to-46-inch window-opening span with a 20-inch minimum height. They differ in the exact capacity, weight and listed power draw. Both are no longer manufactured.
Choose by the required cooling rating first
If the smallest sufficient machine is the goal and a 5,000-BTU DOE rating fits the room, APMS05BWF is the lighter option at 40 pounds, with 770 watts listed. It carries a 6.1 EnergyGuide CEER. If your minimum is 6,000 BTU DOE/SACC, APMS05BWF is out and APMS06BWF is the only one of these two that clears it. The larger unit is listed at 46 pounds and 930 watts. Its exact EnergyGuide says CEER 6.6, while GE’s detailed page says CEER 6.7; keep that discrepancy visible if label efficiency is an essential condition.
Do not treat either room-area estimate as a room-load guarantee. Direct sun, ceiling height, leaky windows and internal heat can make a manufacturer’s nominal square-foot figure too optimistic. And do not compare DOE capacity directly to an ASHRAE headline from another brand. The rating method and installation plan matter before the advertised room number.
Same narrow cabinet, same installation cautions
The matching body dimensions can make either cabinet look easy to place, but the installation takes more room than the casing suggests. The shared owner manual gives conflicting clearance instructions: its location-requirements page asks for 20 inches from the exterior wall and 30 inches at other sides, while a later installation page says 20 inches from the wall and other obstructions and 20 inches around the cabinet. Until GE clarifies which applies, plan conservatively for the larger location-page gaps (20 inches behind and 30 inches at other sides), or confirm the clearance before assuming a tighter placement. The included one-hose window kit is specified for widths of 20 to 46 inches and at least 20 inches of opening height. Both pages describe double-hung or sliding-window installation. Check the actual track, kit parts, seals and outward route before deciding that an opening fits. The five-foot hose is used as instructed rather than extended; a portable AC must send its hot exhaust outside.
Both require a grounded outlet and the manual says not to use an extension cord or adapter. Their listed operating supply is 115 volts and 8 amps; the product pages show a 120-volt/15-amp plug category. APMS06BWF’s extra 190 listed watts and six pounds may matter if you move the appliance or share a crowded room circuit, but those differences are not a substitute for calculating electrical compatibility from the manual and product label.
Plan water handling by mode
Both units list Cool, Dry and Fan, with two fan speeds, remote control, a 24-hour timer, sleep and automatic restart. Neither is a heater. During ordinary cooling, GE says auto evaporation handles condensate in most room conditions, but the internal tank still needs attention if the warning appears. Dry mode is a separate task: the manual calls for a 1/2-inch-outer-diameter flexible drain hose at the upper port, routed downward to a floor drain. It is not included, and no built-in lift pump is documented. Do not combine “self-evaporative” with an assumption that Dry mode can drain uphill or run unattended without a destination.
The permanent mesh filter is washable and should be cleaned at least every two weeks. If routine cleaning or carrying water is unacceptable, compare another exact model only after checking its manual; a generic “auto-evaporating” label does not prove that every mode is drain-free.
These are earlier-model references, not stock recommendations
GE lists both models as no longer manufactured and gives separate production periods on their support pages. The exact pages may still be reachable and may display historical offers, but neither fact confirms current inventory or warranty for a used machine. If considering an older offer, inspect the serial/nameplate, hose, full window kit, remote and drain fittings, then verify the seller’s return and coverage terms. APMS05BWF has a one-year replacement-parts listing; the exact APMS06BWF page has the same parts term. Neither page lists labor warranty.
Choose APMS05BWF when 5,000 BTU DOE is enough and the lighter 40-pound body is preferable. Choose APMS06BWF when the 6,000-BTU tier is essential and a six-pound increase is acceptable. Pass on both if you require two exhaust paths, heat, a proven app connection, an integral lift pump or an opening outside the shared panel range. For a fresh purchase, compare current-reference machines in the same capacity band and check their exact setup documents rather than assuming a discontinued GE model remains available.
Read the GE APMS05BWF review or read the GE APMS06BWF review for the individual limits and installation details.
Source basis: GE’s exact product/support pages, shared APMS05/APMS06 owner manual and separate model-specific EnergyGuides. Room estimates, efficiency and sound specifications are manufacturer data, not independent performance testing.