In India, air conditioners have been increasingly popular due to the extreme heat especially during summertime. In order to beat the heat, a lot of Indian households have their own AC units installed. If you have yet to buy one, you might be overwhelmed by the tons of choices on the market. Fortunately, we’ve come up with a list of recommendations as well as a quick buying guide to help you choose. Based on more than 6 hours of extensive research of all the top-selling models, we have the top picks for you. We looked for models that were energy-efficient, environment-friendly, and cool effectively. Now let us dive into the details of our top picks.
Top Selling AC Units in India
Voltas 173V JZJ Inverter Split AC – Best Budget Pick
As one of the best AC units in India, the Voltas Inverter AC is powered by the Steady Cool Compressor which results in steady cooling and savings. It also has a stabilizer-free operation that protects your AC from sudden voltage fluctuations. The Voltas AC is powered by the DC Inverter Technology to effectively reduce power consumption by maintaining an ideal temperature without frequently turning the compressor on and off. With its active dehumidifier, it can easily sense the indoor humidity and control it during monsoon season.
Editor’s Review:
The AC unit cools easily at high temperatures and heats easily at low temperatures, allowing you to enjoy complete comfort. Its high efficiency keeps you cool even at 52°C. It’s also convenient as it has both auto-restart and timer features. It comes with stage filters to remove pollutants and unnecessary odors, giving you fresh air all the time.
Product Features and Specifications:
- Comes in a 1.4-ton capacity which is suitable for medium-sized rooms of 111 up to 150 sq ft
- Features a 3-star energy rating with an annual energy consumption of 1008.2 units and an ISEER value of 3.8
- 1-year manufacturer’s warranty on the unit product and a 5-year warranty on its compressor
- Copper condenser coil for better cooling with minimal maintenance requirements
- Has no ozone depletion potential
- Includes an anti-bacterial filter, dust filter, and dehumidifier
- Perfect for a small room.
- If in turbo mode, it can bring down the temperature in minutes
- With its sleep mode, you don’t have to wake up in the middle of the night to turn it off if it is getting noisy
- A bit too expensive
- Doesn’t have enough filters
- The high speed setting is a little bit noisy
LG KS-Q18YNZA Inverter Split AC – Editor’s Choice Runner Up
For our Editor’s Choice Runner Up, we have the LG Inverter Split unit which is designed with an inverter compressor and a variable speed compressor that automatically adjusts its power depending on the heat level. A good level of comfort can be achieved due to its auto-clean function. It is also a perfect model for small areas like a doctor’s office or small shops. It uniformly cools every corner of a room and can even detect low refrigerant levels. Additionally, it is designed to resist corrosion. Lastly, this LG AC model has a dehumidifier that helps in making humid monsoon season more bearable.
Editor’s Review:
One of the things I like about this one is that it automatically senses ambient temperature and adjusts it for maximum comfort, thereby reducing your power consumption significantly. Featuring a cooling score of 5, the LG Air conditioner can provide you with true cooling performance regardless of the temperature.
Product Features and Specifications:
- Comes in a 1.5-ton capacity which makes it suitable for medium-sized rooms 111 to 150 sq ft
- An energy rating of 5 stars and an annual energy consumption of 835.50 (KWh) units and ISEER value of 4.73
- Its copper condenser coil gives better cooling with low maintenance requirements
- Special features include antibacterial coating, dust filter, air purifier, and dehumidifier
- Uses R32 as its refrigerant gas which means it is environment-friendly with no ozone depletion potential
- Features Himalaya cooling
- Monsoon comfort technology
- Comes with an anti-rust compressor
- Includes a 4-way swing
- Comes with an auto-clean mode
- Not that energy-efficient
- It is a bit expensive
- Doesn’t have WiFi control, so you cannot use your smartphone to access it
Carrier Esko NEO Hybridjet Inverter Split AC – Best Value Inverter AC
As our pick for the Best Value Inverter AC, this Carrier model is capable of providing powerful cooling, allowing it to effectively cool a room size of up to 150 sq ft. Aside from that, it also comes with a small LCD-like display to show its current temperature. This Carrier unit is energy-efficient, consuming only 1450 watts of electricity which is less than most of its competitors. As a result, you can enjoy massive savings on your electricity bills. Apart from that, its stabilizer-free feature is amazing. Even if you live in a low-voltage area, you can still count on the unit to work efficiently. Lastly, it comes with all standard features such as an auto-swing, timer, leakage detector, sleep, sensor, and more.
Editor’s Review:
It’s capable of providing efficient cooling even if the outside temperature is 55 degrees. It comes in 4 operating modes (free running, 100%, 75%, and 50%) which allows you to adjust the AC’s energy consumption accordingly, helping you manage your electric bills. It has an innovative design that allows for excellent performance and fast indoor cooling.
Product Features and Specifications:
- Comes in a 1.5-ton capacity which is suitable for medium-sized rooms (111 to 150 sq ft)
- An energy rating of 5 stars and an annual energy consumption of 871.07 units and ISEER value of 4.62
- Comes with a warranty of 1 year on the unit, 1 year on the condenser, and 10 years on the compressor
- Comes with a copper condenser coil for better cooling with low maintenance requirements
- Special features include dust filter, air purifier, and dehumidifier
- Features a powerful cooling effect
- It ensures the protection of its compressor
- So far, most of the common complaints talk about the product’s poor installation service
Hitachi KASHIKOI Inverter Split AC – Best Overall 1.5 Ton AC
As the best overall AC in the 1.5-ton category, the Kashikoi inverter split AC has a 5-star rating which makes it a popular pick in India. It has a wave blade design along with wide-angle deflectors that are designed to spread airflow in every corner of your room. Also, it has soft dry machinery to eliminate all dust particles and bad odor from the room.
Product Features and Specifications:
- Features a variable speed compressor which adjusts power based on the heat load
- Comes in a 1.5-ton capacity which is suitable for medium-sized rooms (111 to 150 sq. ft.)
- A 5-star energy rating and a 4.7 ISEER Value
- Comes with a 1-year manufacturers warranty with 1-year additional warranty, a 5-year controller warranty, and a 10-years compressor warranty
- Better cooling with low maintenance requirements
- Refrigerant gas: R410A. No ozone depletion potential
- Includes an indoor unit, outdoor unit, remote control, user manual, and a warranty card
- Consumes less power
- Features multi-level filters
- Amazing cooling capacity
- Expensive
Voltas 185V DZA Inverter Window AC – Best Window AC
As the best window AC, the Voltas window unit is economical and very easy to install. It has a variable speed compressor that adjusts power based on the heat level, not to mention it’s quite energy-efficient as well. You can easily fit this unit into any window without having to worry about it coming out too much as it has a compact design. Moreover, it boasts a rotary compressor with a self-diagnosis operation. Also, this AC unit can ensure that your health will be optimized as it ventilates the room with fresh air. It also has anti-dust filters which make your room fresh and clean.
Product Features and Specifications:
- Economical & easy to install
- Comes in a 1.5-ton size which makes it suitable for medium-sized rooms (111 to 150 sq ft)
- A 5-star energy rating with an annual energy consumption of 1157.29 units and a 3.31 ISEER Value
- Comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty on the unit, 1-year warranty on the condenser, and a 5-year warranty on its compressor
- Comes with anti-bacterial filter, dust filter, and dehumidifier
- Uses R22 as its refrigerant gas
- Includes an AC unit, remote control, user manual, and warranty card in its package
- Features glow-in-the-dark remote buttons to guide you when it’s dark
- Optimizes power consumption and helps you save on your electricity bills
- Comes with a feature which checks abnormalities and failures then resets them automatically
- Can be quite noisy at times
Whirlpool Magicool Window AC – Budget Window AC
If you are looking for a budget window AC, then the Magicool AC is best for you. It is the most economical air conditioner unit with a 5-star rating. Aside from that, it can cool effectively even during the highest temperature. Additionally, it features a super high EER rotary compressor with built-in Japanese technology, allowing it to consume less energy while providing you with powerful cooling.
Product Features and Specifications:
- Economical and easy to install
- Comes in a 1.5-ton capacity which is suitable for medium-sized rooms
- A 5-star energy rating and 840 units of annual energy consumption
- Includes a 1-year manufacturer warranty on the unit, 1-year warranty on the condenser, and a 5-year warranty on its compressor
- Cools even at 60-degrees Celsius
- Uses R22 as its refrigerant gas
- Reasonably priced for its performance
- Amazing cooling experience
- Comes with a silver-ion filter
- Doesn’t come with any additional filters in its package
Blue Star 3WAE081YDF Window AC – Best Overall Window AC
As the best overall window AC, the Blue Star 3WAE081YDFAC unit has an energy rating of 3 with a 925W power consumption. It’s basically a window-type air conditioner unit with a smaller capacity at only 0.75 tons. Despite that, it can offer efficient cooling and features good practical design for its air vents.
Product Features and Specifications:
- Economical and very easy to install
- A 0.75-ton capacity which is designed for small-sized rooms (those less than 110 sq ft)
- A 3-star energy rating with an annual energy consumption of 650.25 units and a 2.98 ISEER Value
- A 1-year manufacturers warranty for the unit and a 5-year warranty on its compressor
- Uses R410A as its refrigerant gas with zero ozone depletion potential
- Features a Dry Mode to reduce excessive humidity
- Designed with special anti-corrosive blue fins
- Comes with an anti-freeze thermostat on the indoor coil
- Doesn’t come with additional filters
Daikin ATKL35TV Inverter Split AC – Best AC for 1 Ton
With a 1-ton capacity, the Daikin ATKL35TV is suitable for small-sized rooms measuring less than or equal to 110 sq ft. It is a split AC unit with an inverter compressor and a variable speed compressor that will automatically adjust its power based on the heat load. With its smooth rotation, the neo-swing compressor can significantly decrease vibration and friction. Aside from that, it can prevent the leakage of refrigerant gas. These aspects allow for quiet and efficient operation. The best part of this unit is that the air draft does not fall on your head directly; instead, it is steered upward to allow air to circulate into the corners of the room, thereby creating a comfortable ambiance.
Product Features and Specifications:
- A 3-star energy rating with an annual energy consumption of 732 units and a 3.7 ISEER Value
- A 1-year manufacturer’s warranty on the unit, 1-year warranty on the condenser, and a 5-year warranty on its compressor
- Comes with a Pm0.1 filter and a stabilizer
- Uses R32 as its refrigerant gas
- Comes with an Economode for further energy savings
- Features a Power Chill Operation which causes the temperature to drop rapidly during extreme heat conditions
- Includes a self-diagnosis feature
- Price is a bit high compared to others
Whirlpool Magicool PRO Inverter Split AC
The Magicool PRO inverter AC from Whirlpool comes with a turbo cool technology that efficiently cools your room even at 55 degrees. It’s made of 100% copper wires which enhance its life and aid in faster cooling. Furthermore, it has the 6th sense power technology to adjust the temperature of your room depending on your preference.
Product Features and Specifications:
- Comes in a 1-ton capacity
- A 5-star energy rating
- Comes with a 1-year warranty on the unit, 1-year warranty on the condenser, and a 10-year warranty on its compressor
- 6th sense fast cool technology
- Intellisense inverter technology
- Stabilizer free(145v-290v)
- Uses R-32 as its refrigerant
- Equipped with the 6th Sense Fast Cool Technology and IntelliSense Inverter Technology for efficient cooling
- Great performance for its price
- Can be quite noisy sometimes
- You might experience some issues with the installation service
How to Choose the Best AC in India
Now that we’ve discussed our top 9 recommendations for getting the best AC unit in India, let us look into the details on how you can choose which one is right for you. Needless to say, there are certain factors you should consider so you can come up with the right AC unit that suits your budget and expectations.
- Size
Ideally, you want to go for a unit that will suit the size of your room. While a larger AC unit will cool down the temperature quickly, you will have to end up paying for more on your electricity bills. Therefore, if you plan to go for a larger unit, make sure it can go along with a large-sized room as well. If you have a smaller space, you’re better off with a smaller unit.
- Type
Another important factor you should consider when planning to buy an AC unit is its type. Would you go for a split-type unit, a window-type, an inverter AC, or the non-inverter variant? Keep in mind that each of them has its own benefits and downsides. A split-type unit comes with two separate parts: an outdoor and an indoor unit. As such, you can benefit from a more aesthetic appeal and can cool one or two of your rooms at the same time. On the other hand, an inverter unit can regulate the temperature inside of your room via a variable speed compressor, allowing you to save energy once enough cooling is achieved. This is as opposed to non-inverter units that come with a fixed speed compressor which runs at full power each time they’re turned on. Lastly, a window-type unit is a smaller unit that is often used in smaller rooms. It comprises of all the important components in an AC unit. The only difference is that it has a compact design which allows it to fit into a slot in a room, mostly window sills.
- Features
You also want to watch out for the features that come in an AC unit. The more features it has, the more convenient it can be.
- EER
Short for Energy Efficiency Ratio, the EER is a rating used to measure the cooling capacity of a unit based on the specific amount of energy it uses. That said, a unit with a higher EER means that you can enjoy more savings while enjoying a more efficient cooling. In most cases, however, higher EER units often have higher initial costs than those with lower EER.
Best AC Brands in India
There are tons of AC brands in India. However, only a few have managed to stand out from the rest. They’re as follows:
- LG
This is a company based in Seoul, South Korea that sells electronics worldwide. Marked with a reputation for producing great products, LG made its way in the Indian AC market, producing some of the best units in India. The introduction of several new features into their units have allowed them to outdo most of their competitors. Some of their models have the “Mosquito Away” technology which keeps mosquitoes away and the “Smart ThinQ” technology which allows their units to interact with WiFi.
- Samsung
One of the largest brands worldwide that sell consumer electronics, Samsung offers AC products that can save up to 3 times more electricity than other 5-star energy-efficient products. They have a feature called “Fast Cooling Mode” where you can cool a room faster than any other unit.
- Voltas
An Indian-owned company under Tata Company, Voltas specializes in air conditioners and other cooling technologies. What makes them different from most manufacturers is that they produce high-quality AC units but at cheaper prices. They were the first to introduce the “Flexible Air Conditioning” which reduces carbon dioxide emissions while maintaining excellent air quality using dust filtration.
- Whirlpool
Whirlpool is one of the largest producers of home appliances which is headquartered in Michigan, USA. Their prices are reasonable, and some of their models are WiFi and voice-controlled. Apart from that, their units even have built-in purifiers.
- Carrier
Carrier is an American company that specializes in producing and distributing air conditioners. This company has been a pioneer in the industry, along with its different innovations. What makes them stand out from the rest is that they are highly specialized in manufacturing highly-efficient air conditioning units. Their units have what they call the “Flexi Cool Technology” that allows them to adjust their cooling efficiency.
Conclusion
We have highlighted some of the considerations you should make while buying the perfect AC for your cooling needs and preferences. After analyzing the best brands in the market and comparing various products, we compiled the ones above as the best AC units you can find in India. Hopefully, with our guide, you can find the perfect AC unit that can meet your cooling demands, allowing you to stay cool even during hot seasons.
