You've probably seen it. It’s that weird, nesting box sitting in the middle of the appliance aisle that looks more like a piece of high-end luggage than a damp-basement workhorse. Most dehumidifiers are basically ugly plastic towers on wheels that roar like a jet engine and heat up your room. But the Midea Cube 50-Pint Dehumidifier tried to do something else entirely. It’s weird. It’s compact. Honestly, it’s a bit of a transformer.
Basements are gross.
If you’ve ever dealt with that "basement smell"—which is really just mold and mildew spores having a party in your carpet—you know that a 20-pint unit usually won't cut it. You need capacity. But 50-pint units are traditionally massive eyesores that weigh fifty pounds and take up a huge chunk of floor space. Midea realized that we only really need that giant tank when the machine is actually running. When it’s off? It’s just wasted air.
The Nesting Trick Nobody Else Thought Of
The "Cube" name isn't just marketing fluff. The unit literally detaches from its water tank and nests inside of it. When it’s tucked away for the winter, it’s roughly half its operating size. This is a massive win for anyone living in a condo or a house where storage space is basically a myth. You can shove it on a shelf in the closet rather than tripping over a monolithic plastic tower in the hallway.
When you’re ready to use it, you lift the mechanical "brain" out of the bucket and set it on top. It sits there, perched over a massive 3-gallon reservoir. That’s the kicker. Most 50-pint dehumidifiers have tanks that hold maybe 1.5 to 2 gallons. This means you’re constantly running to the sink to dump it out before the "full" sensor shuts the whole thing down at 3:00 AM.
The Midea Cube 50-Pint Dehumidifier holds roughly three times more water than most traditional units of the same rating. You can actually let it run for a full day or two in a humid environment without touching it. It’s a simple engineering fix for a problem that has annoyed homeowners for decades.
Is 50 Pints Too Much or Just Right?
There is a lot of confusion about what "50-pint" actually means. Back in 2019, the Department of Energy (DOE) changed the testing standards. What used to be called a 70-pint unit is now effectively a 50-pint unit under the new, cooler testing temperatures. So, when we talk about the Midea Cube 50-Pint Dehumidifier, we’re talking about a beast.
It’s rated for spaces up to 4,500 square feet.
That’s huge. If you have a damp 1,000-square-foot basement, this thing will breathe easy. It won't have to run at max capacity 24/7, which actually extends the life of the compressor. It's like buying a truck with a V8 engine to haul a small trailer; it just doesn't have to work as hard. If you put a tiny 20-pint unit in a big basement, it’ll run until the motor burns out and your electric bill hits the roof.
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The Connectivity Side of Things
Midea pushed the "smart" angle hard with this one. It connects to the MSmartHome app. Now, usually, "smart" appliances are a gimmick. Do you really need your toaster to send you a push notification? Probably not. But for a dehumidifier tucked away in a dark corner of the house, it’s actually useful.
The app shows you the real-time humidity level. It tells you exactly how full the bucket is. It even lets you set schedules. If you’re at work and you realize you forgot to turn it on before a big rainstorm, you just tap your phone. It’s compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, though yelling at your basement from the kitchen feels a bit like living in a sci-fi movie.
One thing that people often overlook is the "fill level" setting. Because the tank is so big, it can get incredibly heavy when full. Three gallons of water weighs about 25 pounds. If you have a bad back or just don't want to lug a heavy bucket to the drain, you can tell the app to alert you when it's only 25% or 50% full. It’s a thoughtful touch that shows Midea actually talked to humans before building this.
Real World Quirk: The Drain Hose Situation
Everything has a downside. For the Cube, it’s the bucket-less mode.
You can actually run the Midea Cube 50-Pint Dehumidifier without the bucket at all. You just set the top unit over a floor drain or on a sink edge and attach a hose. This sounds great in theory. In practice, because the unit is so low to the ground, you need a very specific setup for gravity to do its job.
If your floor drain is even slightly elevated, the water will back up.
Midea does sell a version with a built-in pump, which solves this. If you don't have the pump version, you’re stuck with gravity. You’ll see people on forums complaining that the unit "leaks," but 90% of the time, it’s just because the hose wasn't angled correctly or the washer wasn't tight. It’s a finicky bit of physics that you have to respect.
Energy Star and the Wallet Factor
Electricity is expensive. Running a compressor-based appliance around the clock is basically like leaving a large window AC unit on all summer. The Cube is Energy Star Most Efficient 2024 (and carries over that tech into 2025/2026 models).
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It uses a high-efficiency compressor that cycles intelligently. Instead of just being "on" or "off," it tries to maintain a steady state. This prevents those massive power spikes that happen every time a motor kicks over. Over a damp summer, this could save you $50 to $100 compared to an older, non-rated unit from ten years ago. It pays for itself. Eventually.
Noise: The Silent Killer of Comfort
Nobody wants a wood chipper in their living room.
The Midea Cube 50-Pint Dehumidifier clocks in at around 42 to 48 decibels depending on the fan speed. For context, a normal conversation is about 60 decibels. A quiet library is 40. It’s not silent—you’ll hear the hum—but it’s a white noise hum, not a mechanical rattle.
The air intake is positioned in a way that minimizes that "whistling" sound you get with some cheaper units. If you put it in a bedroom, you’ll definitely notice it, but in a basement or a laundry room, it’s basically invisible.
Maintenance That Isn't a Pain
The filter is washable. You just slide it out, rinse it in the sink, let it dry, and pop it back in. Don't skip this. If the filter gets clogged with dust and pet hair, the coils will freeze up. When coils freeze, the unit stops dehumidifying and starts acting like a very expensive, very wet paperweight.
The bucket is also surprisingly easy to clean. Because it’s a wide-open square design, you can actually get your hand in there with a sponge. Most dehumidifier buckets have weird, narrow crevices that grow black mold because you can't reach them. Midea dodged that design flaw.
Why Some People Hate It
It’s not perfect. The most common complaint is the "lift." Since you have to lift the heavy motor unit off the bucket to empty it (unless you use a hose), it can be awkward. If you’re frail or have mobility issues, the nesting design is actually a hindrance. You’re better off with a traditional front-pull drawer model in that case.
Also, the "bucket-full" sensor can be sensitive. If the unit isn't perfectly level on the floor, it might think it’s full when it’s only halfway there. Use a spirit level. Seriously. It’ll save you a headache.
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Practical Steps for Better Air
If you've decided to pick up a Midea Cube 50-Pint Dehumidifier, don't just plug it in and walk away. There's a strategy to getting the most out of it.
Placement is everything. Don't shove it against a wall. The air needs to circulate. Give it at least 12 inches of clearance on all sides. If you put it in a corner, it'll just dehumidify the same three feet of air over and over while the rest of the room stays damp.
Set the right target. Most experts, including those at the Mayo Clinic, suggest keeping indoor humidity between 30% and 50%. Anything higher and you're inviting dust mites and mold. Anything lower and your skin will start to crack and your throat will feel like sandpaper. Set the Cube to 45% and let it do its thing.
Check the temperature. Dehumidifiers don't work well in freezing temperatures. If your basement drops below 41°F (5°C), the unit's auto-defrost will kick in constantly. It won't break, but it won't be very effective either. It’s built for "cool" basements, but not "freezing" ones.
Use the pump if you can. If you bought the version with the internal pump, use it. Run the thin included hose up to a utility sink or out a window. It turns the machine into a "set it and forget it" appliance. Not having to carry 25 pounds of water up a flight of stairs every day is a luxury you didn't know you needed.
The Midea Cube 50-Pint Dehumidifier is a rare case where a company actually looked at a boring, decades-old product and asked, "How can we make this take up less space and hold more water?" It’s a smart, efficient solution for anyone tired of smelling their basement before they see it.
Next Steps for Your Home
- Measure your space: Confirm your area is under 4,500 square feet to ensure the 50-pint capacity is sufficient.
- Check for a floor drain: Decide if you need the base model or the version with the built-in pump for continuous drainage.
- Download the MSmartHome app: Get familiar with the interface so you can monitor your basement’s humidity levels remotely during the first few days of operation.
- Level your floor: Ensure the spot where the Cube will sit is perfectly flat to prevent false "bucket full" alerts.