Many consumer electronics have become a part and parcel of our everyday lives- laptops, tablets, smartphones, washing machines, vacuum cleaners. The list is endless. Air conditioners are another popular example of these electronics. By allowing us to control the temperature of the room we are into a level that is comfortable to us, air conditioners offer numerous benefits, from improving our sleep to reducing the risk of dehydration to allowing us to focus better. However, with the myriad number of brands out there, it might be difficult to choose the right air conditioner. Whether it is for your home or your office, this article is a comprehensive guide on the best air conditioner brands out there. Stick around and read further to learn more!
Evaluation
Before we get to specific brands, it is important to determine the criteria for evaluation. Each of the air conditioners I will be talking about in the article are evaluated based on a variety of factors:
- Cost- How affordable is the AC?
- Reputation- How reputed and established is the brand?
- Durability- How many years will it last?
- Rating- What is the official energy rating given to this brand?
- Capacity- How many tons of water can it hold?
- Warranty- Will you receive a warranty on the product? If yes, for how many years?
- Other- What are some other beneficial features that air conditioners of this brand have?
Best brands
Now that we’ve understood how to pick the best brands, here’s a detailed rundown of 6 of them that best meet these criteria. The brands are ordered in terms of their quality.
Voltas
Voltas specializes in air conditioning and cooling technology and is a Tata enterprise. Hence, there is no doubt that it is a highly reputed and well-established company, learning the perfect AC designs for Indian customers over the years. The following are the features of Voltas ACs:
- Cost: Rs. 35,000 or below
- Durability: 5 years
- Energy rating: 3 stars
- Capacity: 1.5 tons
- Warranty: 1 year
It also has many other beneficial features, allowing it to optimize its performance:
- DC inverter technology- Allows the AC to operate economically and energy efficiently
- Ambient cooling- Allows it to use natural cool air outside the building
- Stabilizer-free operation- Protects the AC from massive voltage fluctuations, saving you money as 1. you don’t have to buy a separate stabilizer, and 2. your AC is protected from electrical damage
- Copper condenser coil- Improves its durability and performance
- Active dehumidifier- Reduces humidity inside the room
- Strong filters- Toxins and other harmful particles in the air are filtered out, keeping you healthy
- Noise-free operation- Allows you to get a good night’s sleep and work in a cool environment without distraction
Panasonic
Many of us recognize Panasonic through their endearing advertisements for batteries. The Japanese multinational electronics company also manufactures air conditioners- high-quality ones. The company, having been in business for a little over a century, has a strong reputation not just in Japan, but also internationally. Here’s how Panasonic air conditioners fare:
- Cost: Rs. 45,000 or below
- Durability: 10 years
- Energy rating: 5 stars
- Capacity: 1.5 tons
- Warranty: 1 year
Other beneficial features of the Panasonic ACs:
- Inverter compressor- Changes the amount of energy it consumes depending on conditions, hence saving power
- Wi-Fi mode- The air conditioner connects to the local Wi-Fi, allowing you to control it using your smartphone
- Built-in stabilizer- Automatically responds to voltage fluctuations so that you don’t have to take any additional steps
- Copper condenser coil- Improves its durability and performance
- Uses R32 Refrigerant- Purifies the air to ensure that it is eco-friendly
- Uses PM2.5 filter- Purifies the air to ensure that toxins and harmful particles are removed
- Noise-free operation- Allows you to get a good night’s sleep and work in a cool environment without distraction
Whirlpool
Whirlpool, the popular American-based multinational electronics manufacturer, has also made a name for itself in air conditioner manufacturing. Founded in 1911 in Michigan, it is one of the best companies for home appliances. The following is a summary of its features:
- Cost: Rs. 40,000 or below
- Durability: 10 years
- Energy rating: 5 stars
- Capacity: 1.5 tons
- Warranty: 1 year
whirlpool ACs are equipped with many additional features:
- 6th Sense FastCool Technology- Allows the room to cool down instantly and uniformly
- Intellisense Inverter technology- Manages electricity usage by responding to the room’s requirements
- Magicool compressor technology- Allows the AC to cool the room down even if outside temperatures are extremely high
- Multi-Port Fluid Injection (MPFI) technology- Allows the AC to cool down the room instantly and maintain this level of cooling
- In-built stabilizer- Allows the AC to automatically respond to voltage fluctuations, saving you a lot of money
- Self-diagnosis technology- The AC automatically identifies any faults within the system and notifies you on the display panel
- Sleep function- Gives you the ability to input your bedtimes so that the air condition meets your sleeping needs
Hitachi
Hitachi is another Japanese multinational company that has been established for a little over 100 years. It is a conglomerate, specializing in the manufacture of technologies in various arenas- from energy to home appliances. Hitachi air conditioners also offer competitive features:
- Cost: Rs. 50,000 or below
- Durability: 10 years
- Energy rating: 5 stars
- Capacity: 1.5 tons
- Warranty: 1-year warranty + 1-year manufacturer warranty + 5 years controller warranty
The following are some features that allow Hitachi ACs to have high-quality cooling performance:
- Wide-angle deflector- Allows the AC to maintain top performance by removing bad odor
- Inverter compressor- Saves electricity
- Copper condenser coil- Improves its durability and performance, allowing you to cut down on costs
- Split AC- Ensures that the coolness is spread uniformly across the room
- In-built stabilizer- Allows the AC to automatically respond to voltage fluctuations, saving you a lot of money
- Uses R410A refrigerant- Ensures that the AC is eco-friendly, as this is one of the best refrigerants available today
- Noise-free operation- Allows you to get a good night’s sleep and work in a cool environment without distraction
LG
LG is a South Korean electronics brand, manufacturing products of the highest quality. It was founded in 1947 with a vision of revolutionizing consumer technology- and that is exactly what it has managed to do. LG ACs are one of the best in the market, offering the following features:
- Cost: Rs. 45,000 or below
- Durability: 10 years
- Energy rating: 5 stars
- Capacity: 1.5 tons
- Warranty: 1-year warranty on product + 10-year warranty on condenser + 10-year warranty on compressor
The following are some innovative features that LG offers:
- Dual inverter system- Allows the AC to automatically diagnose and solve problems (like excessive noise) and improves its speed and efficiency
- Mosquito Away Technology- Ensures mosquito protection healthily and efficiently (using ultrasound waves)
- Himalayan cooling technology- Cools your room faster (around 30% faster) energy efficiently (saving you around 25% of power)
- Monsoon Comfort Feature- Optimizes various other factors- such as humidity- in the room for better cooling and greater comfort
- Plasmaster Ionizer- Eliminates virtually all harmful particles and bacteria in the room, making it a healthier place
- Ocean Black Fin technology- Improves durability of the technology by preventing the corrosion of the coil
- Gold Fin Condenser- Also improves durability by preventing corrosion
- Active Energy Control- Another feature that reduces energy usage, saving you money
Toshiba
Toshiba is another Japanese, Tokyo-based multinational conglomerate. It has been in business for around 145 years and over time, has exerted its influence in various fields- from consumer electronics to medical tools to home appliances. Toshiba ACs are also an attractive option, as you can see below:
- Cost: Rs. 75,000 or below
- Durability: 10 years
- Energy rating: 4 stars
- Capacity: 1.5 tons
- Warranty: 1-year warranty on product + 5-year warranty on compressor
Further advantageous features of Toshiba:
- Pulse Amplitude Modulation technology- Ensures rapid and temperature-sensitive cooling
- Pulse Width Modulation technology- Another feature that ensures rapid and high-quality cooling
- Self-cleaning mechanism- (A unique feature of Toshiba ACs) AC cleans itself of dust particles using the in-built fan, making way for a better cooling experience
- Aqua Resin Coated Coil- Prevents the coil from corroding, thereby making it durable for a longer period
- Inverter compressor- An energy saving-technology that also ensures noise-free operation
- Fan Coil Unit- Allows the AC to cool the room down instantly and also improves the AC’s durability
- Small size- Saves you installation costs
These are some of the brands that have developed inventive technology to bring high-performing air conditioners to your rooms. I hope this article served as a guide for picking the right brands out of the innumerable ones out there and helped you make the right decision!