7 Best AC in India (2024) | Inverter, 3 & 5 Star!

Are you looking to buy the best AC in India to cool your home this Summer!

If Yes, then you are at the right place 🙂

Best Air Conditioners in India 2024

1. LG 1.5 Ton 5 Star Dual Inverter TS-Q19YNZE

Best 1.5 Ton 5 Star Split AC in India With Dual Inverter Compressor, and ISEER 5.2. Annual Energy Consumption is 744.99 Units Per Year

Check Price at Amazon

Price at LG Website

For those more budget-conscious, a 3 Star variant (LG TS-Q18JNXE3) with identical features is also available at 37K.

LG is one of the leading air conditioner brands in India, and its ACs are among the best-selling models on Amazon. In 2024, LG introduced some minor changes to their 2023 model, along with improvements in energy savings.

The minimum requirement for a BEE 5 Star rating for air conditioners is now an ISEER Value greater than 5. The 2024 model of the LG 1.5 Ton Split AC boasts a BEE 5 Star rating with an ISEER Value of 5.2 and an annual energy consumption of 744.99 units.

2. Daikin 1.5 Ton 3 Star Inverter Split AC – MTKL50U

One of the best 1.5 Ton Air Conditioners in India with excellent cooling and robust build quality. ISEER 4 and BEE 3 Star Rating.

Check Price at Amazon

Price at Daikin

Daikin is a popular AC brand in India, known for its robustness and high cooling capacity due to Japanese technology.

This Daikin MTKL50U AC is a 2023 model with an ISEER 4 and BEE 3 Star Rating. Priced at ₹37,000, this Daikin AC offers good value for money. The annual power consumption of this AC is 966.47 units, which is slightly higher when compared with the LG 3 Star AC.

The noise levels for the indoor unit of this model are around 35db. While this noise level is good, the LG AC is quieter at just 31db.

3. Panasonic 1.5 Ton 5 Star Inverter AC with Wi-Fi CS/CU-NU18ZKY5W

If you’re looking for the best split AC with Wi-Fi, AI features, and excellent cooling performance, you should consider this AC.

Check Price at Amazon

Price at Panasonic

Same model is also available with 3 Star rating Panasonic CS/CU-SU18ZKYWT and is Priced at 36K

This Panasonic CS/CU-NU18ZKY5W AC is a 2024 model and comes with excellent features, priced lower than the LG model mentioned above.

This Panasonic AC is a BEE 5 Star 2024 model with an ISEER of 5.10, and the annual energy consumption is 774.19 kWh. When it comes to power savings, the LG TS-Q19YNZE performs slightly better.

4. Blue Star 1.5 Ton 5 Star Convertible Smart AC – IC518YNURS

Blue Star is an Indian AC brand and this 1.5 Ton Blue Star AC is one of the best performing models in 2024.

Check Price at Amazon

Price at Blue Star

Blue Star is a leading Indian AC manufacturer known for making robust and high-quality air conditioners. The Blue Star IC518YNURS Split AC is also priced at ₹44,900, similar to the Panasonic split AC mentioned previously.

This Blue Star Split AC is a BEE 5 Star model with an ISEER of 5.04, and its annual energy consumption is 774.88 units. When compared to the LG 2024 AC model, the LG is slightly better in terms of energy savings.

This model also features a copper condenser coil, and there is a Blue Fin Coating on the coils to protect the condenser and evaporator coils from corrosion. Blue Fin is an excellent coating, making this AC suitable even for those living very close to the coast.

5. Carrier 1.5 Ton 5 Star AI Flexicool Inverter Split AC – CAI18ES5R34F0

With Top-Notch Features, this Carrier AC is the best budget 5 Star AC in 2024 with ISEER 5.13. This model is priced around ₹42,000.

Check Price at Amazon

Price at Carrier Store

Carrier is an American AC brand that produces units comparable in quality to Japanese brands like Daikin, Mitsubishi, and Panasonic. The Same model is also available with 3 Star and is priced at ₹35,000 (Carrier CAI18ER3R34F0)

This Carrier 1.5 Ton AC is a 2024 model with a BEE 5 Star rating and an ISEER of 5.13, both commendable metrics. The annual energy consumption of this Carrier AC is 754.05 units.

Similar to the other air conditioners mentioned above, this Carrier AC comes equipped with copper condenser coils. It also features a unique coating called Aqua clear protection and Hydro Blue Fin on the condenser, designed to protect against rust and corrosion.

Best AC in India – Buying Guide

What is the difference between a computer and an air conditioner? A computer requires ‘Windows’ to be open for effective functioning whereas the AC needs the windows to be shut 🙂

Having begun on a lighter note, we shall dig deep and look at the various aspects that you should understand while installing air conditioners in your homes and offices.

You have different kinds of AC units. In a single-unit window AC, the compressor, condenser, and the evaporator are located in a single unit. In case of a split AC unit, you have the compressor and the condenser situated in the outdoor unit whereas the indoor unit comprises of the evaporator coils.

Size of the AC – Select the right Tonnage

Related: AC Tonnage Calculator

Various factors go into the selection of the right size of the AC. Let us look at all of them in brief.

1. City where you live: The climate of the city where you live is important because you need air conditioners of higher capacities when the outdoor temperature increases. For example, the summers in Delhi can see temperatures touching 45 degrees Centigrade whereas it would hover around the 38 to 40-degree mark in a city like Chennai at the same time.

2. The area and the volume of the room where you install the AC are very important.

3. The location of the room is vital because a lot depends the rooms can get hotter if the ceiling gets direct sunlight from the top during the day. The same applies to the side walls as well.

4. The daily usage of the AC unit is essential and so also is the duration of the usage in terms of months during the year.

What is the concept of tonnage of the AC?

As you browse your way through the AC units in the market, you find the air conditioners of different tonnage such as 1-ton, 1.5-ton, 2-ton, and so on.

What does this imply?

The tonnage is the amount of heat the air conditioner removes from the room in one hour. The mathematical unit for tonnage is BTU (British Thermal Units). 1 ton equals 12000 BTU. Higher the BTU, the greater is the cooling effect.

We have just seen that the size/tonnage of the AC depends on various factors. You can also add a couple of other relative factors such as a number of occupants in the room, the amount of furniture/appliances in the room, etc.

Electricity consumption of the AC units:

How much electricity does an air conditioning unit consume? This is a common question on the minds of all AC buyers. It again depends on various factors like the tonnage, star rating, and usage of the AC and so on. Let us look at some of the principal aspects in brief.

Size of the Room

The principal job of the air conditioner is to remove the heat from the room thereby making it cool. Hence, a lot depends on the size of the room. Understand that the electricity consumption of an AC unit depends on the amount of heat present in the room.

A 1.5-ton AC in a room measuring 120 sq feet will work differently as compared to the same AC in a room measuring 150 sq feet. This is because of the greater volume of hot air.

Location

Some places in India like Delhi or Nagpur become very hot in the summer months. However, the climate remains dry. On the other hand, places like Mumbai and Chennai experience a great deal of humidity.

It might not be hot but the humidity can be a draining experience. Your AC will work differently under both circumstances.

The former case requires the AC to cool down the rooms whereas the principal job of the AC in the latter instance is to remove the humidity. Thus, an AC with a larger size and tonnage is perfect for the hot places whereas a smaller AC unit would suffice to remove the humidity.

Colours

This is a surprising factor, but colours do affect the performance of the AC. Darker colours absorb more heat. Hence, they take a longer time to cool. Hence, it is always better to have lighter coloured walls and curtains.

Number of people

The more the number of people in the room, the higher is the emission of heat from the bodies. Hence, you experience that you require AC units of higher tonnage to cool rooms having a higher number of people.

A 150 sq feet room in your house can work with a 1.5-ton AC whereas the room of the same size will need two 2-ton ACs in case you run a coaching class/school with say 20 to 25 kids in the room.

Electrical appliances

Just as people emit heat, so also do electrical and electronic appliances. The simple appliances like bulbs emit heat. Hence, it is beneficial to have LED lights in your room. They not only save electricity but also emit less heat.

Having a lot of furniture in the room can also increase the electrical consumption of the AC. It is better to keep your cupboards and shelves closed in an AC room. The walls absorb heat as well. Hence, insulating the walls can also help in reducing electrical consumption.

Inverter AC – Concept, Working, and Benefits

The most common term doing the rounds today is ‘Inverter AC’. What is an inverter AC? If you think that this is an AC unit that can work on the home inverters, I am afraid, you are sadly mistaken.

The home inverters have nothing to do with inverter AC. These AC units work on the Inverter Technology whereby they save a lot of power.

In a regular AC, the compressor works at full capacity when it is on. On reaching the optimum temperature, the compressor switches off and the fan continues to operate.

Once, the temperatures rise above the threshold limit, the compressor starts again and works at full capacity. This entails that the compressor works at only two speeds, full and Zero.

This is not the case with inverter ACs. These compressors work at variable speeds. In this technology, the compressor never switches off. It is always on. But, it runs at varying speeds thereby drawing less power.

It is more or less like the functioning of the accelerator in a car. As you increase the speed, you press on the accelerator. In case you want to slow down, removing the foot from the accelerator pedal is enough. The vehicle starts cruising without consuming any fuel. Thus, inverter technology is a power-saving feature available only in the split AC models.

The benefit of using inverter AC units is that they are highly energy efficient. A 3-star inverter AC is equivalent to the 5-star normal split AC. This explains the efficiency of the inverter AC vis-à-vis the non-inverter ACs.

Inverter AC vs Non-Inverter AC

We shall see the difference between the efficiency of an inverter AC and the non-inverter AC.

The basic difference between the inverter AC and the non-inverter AC is that the former is capable of running at variable speed and variable tonnage. The non-inverter AC units run at a constant speed and tonnage.

Inverter AC units are capable of adjusting their speed and tonnage according to the heat inside the room. The non-inverter AC units do not have this capacity.

Efficiency wise, inverter AC units are 7% more efficient than their counterparts in the same star rating category.

Do you have the ideal setting in your room at all times? No, the numbers of people vary and so does the temperature levels. Hence, you need an AC unit that is capable of adjusting to the ambience in the room. The inverter AC units are capable in this regard.

We reproduce the BEE data of 2018 about power consumption of various AC units if different tonnage and ratings. This data assumes total consumption for 1600 hours.

This table shows that higher the star rating, the lower is the consumption. It also indicates that the inverter AC units are extremely energy efficient.

Related: Inverter vs Non-Inverter AC Power Consumption

Copper Coil vs Aluminium Coil

AC units work on the basis of compression, condensation, and evaporation. This involves moving of the refrigerant gas inside coils in gaseous as well as liquid forms. The question now arises as to which of the coils is better, copper or aluminium.

In the olden times, the coils were primarily made of copper. Subsequently, General Electronics made the revolutionary change in 1970 when they substituted copper coils with aluminium coils. Since that day in 1970, the debate between aluminium and copper coils continues.

We shall throw some light on the various aspects of choosing the right kind of coils for your AC.

Heat transfer

Copper has a higher heat transfer coefficient than aluminium. Hence, it proves to be a better heat exchanger than aluminium

Cost factor

Aluminium is cheaper than copper. Therefore AC units with aluminium coils are cheaper.

Malleability

Aluminium is more malleable than copper. Hence, it is possible to mould aluminium into any desired shape more easily than copper. Thus, aluminium is the preferred choice for making AC coils.

Strength

Now, copper is undoubtedly stronger than aluminium. Cooper coils have the reputation of lasting much longer than aluminium coils. They need fewer repairs as well.

Maintenance

You notice that the condenser coils are always placed in the external units. Hence, they are subject to the vagaries of weather. Copper coils are easier to maintain whereas you need to keep the aluminium coils in heavy-duty cabinets thereby making them difficult to maintain.

Corrosion

The AC works in a damp environment at all times. Hence, there is always a danger of corrosion. This corrosion results in the formation of a layer over the coils thereby affecting its conductivity. People living in humid areas near the sea should be extremely cautious about this aspect.

Blue Fin Condenser Technology

On the subject of corrosion, one must add that there are technologies available today that work towards reducing corrosion. One such technology is Blue Fin Condenser. In this technology, they paint these coils with anti-corrosive materials thereby increasing the overall life of the AC units. 

Microchannel condenser coils

In fact, you find the microchannel condenser coils to be aluminium coils. They are flat aluminium tubes having minute holes in them through which the refrigerant flows. Since the entire set up is of a single metal, aluminium, there is no question of galvanic corrosion.

Hence, these coils are a good option for ACs working in coastal regions. Samsung uses this technology in its AC and calls it the MultiJet technology.

Reciprocating vs Rotary Compressors

You have seen the difference between aluminium and copper coils. Now we shall shirt our attention towards compressors. Let us now look at the difference between the reciprocating and rotary compressors.

Anyone will say that the compressor is the most important component of any AC unit. In fact, it is the heart of the unit. Hence, one should have knowledge of how compressors work. Let us see the role of the compressor in an AC.

The principal job of the compressor is to compress the refrigerant gas to a high pressure thereby converting it into a high-pressure liquid at high temperature. This liquid passes through the condenser coils that take out the heat from the liquid and release it to the surroundings.

However, the pressure remains high. The expansion valve then reduces the pressure and converts the liquid into gas that subsequently passes through the evaporator coils. The evaporator coils absorb the heat from the room thereby cooling the rooms.

There are two major types of compressors in use in the AC units.

Reciprocating compressor – This is similar to the engine of the automobile that works on the concept of the cylinder and piston. The piston works in a back and forth motion resulting in compression and release of the gas.

Rotary compressor – This arrangement consists of a number of rotors having very little clearance between them. These rotors rotate in opposite directions whereby the air passing through them emerges at a higher pressure.

Let us look at the pros and cons of the reciprocating and rotary compressors to understand which of the technologies is better.

Reciprocating Compressors Pros

• Easy to maintain
• Capable of working at higher pressures

Reciprocating Compressors Cons

•  Produces a lot of noise
•  The air comes out at a high temperature

Rotary Compressors Pros

• Good for large offices and industries
• Less noise
• Air comes out at a lower temperature

Rotary Compressors Cons

• Expensive as compared to reciprocating compressors
• Higher usage is required for optimum working

One can conclude from the above pros and cons that the reciprocating compressors are perfect for homes and small offices. The rotary compressors are ideal for heavy-duty uses such as in offices and industries.

Air conditioning Refrigerants

Normally, when you find that the AC does not deliver enough cooling, the mechanic suggests that you replace the coolant. What exactly is this coolant or the gas as they call it in many parts of the world?

Coolant is also known as the refrigerant and forms an important part of air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. The principal function of the air conditioning refrigerants is to absorb the heat from the room and deliver it outside. Once you eliminate heat from the room, the air in the room automatically cold.

The coolant is originally in the form of a gas. The compressor compresses this gas at high pressure and converts it into a liquid. At such extreme pressures, the liquid has a very high temperature.

This liquid passes through the condenser coils where the temperature of the liquid comes down considerably but the pressure remains high. On releasing the high-pressure cold liquid through an expansion valve, the AC units reduce the pressure.

This liquid then travels through the evaporator tubes/coils. This cold liquid absorbs the heat from the rooms and eliminates it thereby making the air in the room cold. The fans in the AC unit help in sustaining the temperature.

On absorption of the heat, the liquid evaporates and converts into gas once again. The same process is again repeated continuously. This is how an AC works. Thus, you have seen that the refrigerant is the principal component of any AC.

Star Ratings, EER, CoP, ISEER

Let us now look at the factors affecting the efficiency of the AC units and the concept of star ratings.

Energy Efficiency Ratio: (EER)

The EER is a very important ratio that differentiates between AC units. Scientifically, EER = Amount of heat removed per hour divided by the amount of power consumed.

Thus, EER = BTU/hr/Watt

The higher the EER, the better is the performance because the air conditioner removes more heat per hour per unit of power consumed. Thus, you can deduce that an air conditioner with a higher EER is more efficient.

Co-efficient of Performance: (CoP)

You need to do some simple mathematical calculations to arrive at the CoP. In order to understand the concept of CoP, you should know the relation between BTU and KW hr.

1 KW hr = 3412 BTU. Alternatively, you can say that 1 KW = 3412 BTU/hr.

Therefore, 1 W = 3.412 BTU/hr

Now, CoP is the amount of heat removed by the air conditioner in Watts divided by the power consumption in Watts. Hence, CoP does not have any units. Higher the CoP, higher is the efficiency of the air conditioner unit. Let us now look at the relation between EER and CoP.

EER = 3.412 X CoP

Star Ratings

Whenever you venture to buy an AC, the first thing you normally look out for the star ratings. What exactly are the star ratings?

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Department of Energy Savings Government of India prescribes these star ratings for various electronic products. A lot of factors go into the formulation process.

These ratings are fixed for specific periods. The latest star ratings released by BEE are from January 01, 2018, to December 31, 2023.

You should look at the star ratings along with the EER. It is mandatory on the part of AC manufacturers to include the EER on the star rating sticker.

Understand that the 5-star AC is always going to be more expensive than the 3-star AC. However, you do save a lot in energy consumption over a long period.

There are other aspects to look into while we are on the topic of energy savings. They include the SEER, ISEER, and other terms concerned with the performance of the AC such as CSTL and CSEC. We shall look at all these terms in brief for the sake of better understanding of the subject.

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER)

Among the various factors that affect the performance of the AC is the external and internal temperature. In case the temperature outside the house is more, the AC consumes more electricity to cool the interiors.

The temperatures in the rainy season and winters are much less than what you get in the summer season. Therefore, the EER of the AC varies depending on the season in which you use the appliance. This is the concept of SEER.

Indian Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (ISEER)

The concept of SEER and ISEER is the same. However, you need to look into two additional factors as below.

Cooling Seasonal Energy Consumption (CSEC): Total energy consumed by the AC when it is in active mode

Cooling Seasonal Total Load (CSTL): Total heal removed by the AC in active mode.

Now, we come to the concept of ISEER.

ISEER = CSTL/CSEC (Total amount of heat removed to the total amount of energy consumed)

The BEE makes it mandatory for Indian AC manufacturers to declare the ISEER on the star rating label. 

While on the subject of star ratings, you should be aware of certain terms and concepts regarding your AC units. You will come across these terms frequently. It is better to be aware of the same and ask questions to the dealer before deciding on the type of AC you wish to buy for your home.

Rated Cooling Capacity

The rated cooling capacity of an AC is ‘a ton’. This is equal to 12000 BTU per hour.

Maximum Cooling Capacity

The maximum cooling capacity is again measured in tons. For example, a 2-ton AC will remove 24000 BTU of heat per hour from the room. The requirement for the room can vary depending on various factors discussed earlier. It is advisable not to oversize the AC because it can affect the performance of the AC.

Rated Power Input

You find this figure on the star rating label. It is mandatory on the part of AC manufacturers to include this figure. This is equivalent to the power consumption in Watts when the AC runs at 100% load. A 1.5-ton AC will consume about 1500 w/hr. Hence, you can see that the AC will consume around 1.5 to 2 units per hour.

However, if you use the AC continuously for say 5 hours, the consumption is not 1.5 or 2 times 5. This is because the compressor switches off and on at regular intervals. Therefore, the consumption of 5 hours will definitely be less.

Half Power Input

By applying the above concept, the half power input is the power consumption in Watts when the AC runs at 50% of the load.

Maximum Power Input

This is the power consumptions when the AC runs at its maximum tonnage capacity. This figure will differ from the Rated Power Input because of the tolerance of + or – 5% allowed by the BEE. Even a 1.2 ton AC is marketed as 1 ton.

Now, you have seen the various factors that affect the electricity consumption of the air conditioning units.

Related: AC Power Consumption Calculator

Best Air Conditioner – Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which AC brand is the best?

You have various companies that are specialists in the manufacture of AC equipment. The first names that come to mind are Daikin, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, LG, Carrier, Panasonic, Samsung, etc. You have the local India brands like Voltas, Blue Star, Onida and Godrej that manufacture ACs to suit Indian conditions. All these brands are reputed brands. You can go for the one that offers the maximum benefits at the minimum cost.

2. Is it safe to buy AC online?

Yes, it is. You have reputed websites like Amazon where you can order the best AC units at great discounted rates. There is absolutely no harm in buying AC units online, especially from the reputed eCommerce platforms.

3. is it OK to opt for AC with aluminium condenser?

The most common metals used for manufacturing condenser tubes are copper and aluminium. Both these metals have their advantages and disadvantages. Copper has a high heat transfer coefficient as compared to aluminium. At the same time, aluminium is extremely malleable and comparatively inexpensive.

But, they require higher maintenance. Therefore, you can opt for AC with aluminium condensers though copper is the preferred choice all over the world. Aluminium condensers are not bad either.

4. What is Blue Fin / Gold Fin technology?

Corrosion is the biggest enemy of these air conditioning units. Over a period, the condenser tubes suffer from corrosion thereby requiring replacement and repairs.

To overcome this problem, manufacturers use Blue Fin or Gold Fin technology whereby they paint the condenser tubes with special anti-corrosive paint. This improves the life of the AC unit. The only difference between Blue Fin and Gold Fin technology is that Gold Fin technology does not rust easily thereby increasing the life expectancy of the AC.

However, this technology is expensive as compared to Blue Fin. Both these technologies have their merits and demerits. It is up to the consumer to make the choice after considering all aspects.

5. Is stabilizer required for the Air conditioner?

Every AC has a voltage operating limit. You will find this range printed on the AC label. Check out if the area you live in has voltage fluctuations beyond these limits.

In case, it is so, you should invest in a stabilizer for your AC to protect it from voltage fluctuations. It is better to be safe than to be sorry. A stabilizer will not cost much when compared to your AC. Install one and do not worry about voltage fluctuations.

6. Which condenser is better for coastal areas?

Corrosion is the main problem that condensers face. Copper is an excellent metal for manufacturing condenser coils. But, copper is also unique for being the only metal to fall prey to formicary corrosion. This type of corrosion requires the presence of oxygen, water, copper, and an organic acid.

The worst part of this corrosion is that it is invisible to the naked eye. You find this type of corrosion in coastal areas where there is a lot of humidity in the environment. Usually, you see AC units having copper coils and aluminium fins. Such units suffer from galvanic corrosion. Hence, it is better to have a single metal for the condenser tubes as well as the fins.

The microchannel condenser coils are the best for use in coastal regions. Samsung uses this technology in the manufacture of condenser coils. The major AC manufacturers use Blue Fin and Gold Fin technology for coating the condenser coils.

7. What is Air Purifier, dust, bacterial filters in AC?

Indoor air has a lot of dust. This dust and bacteria can cause respiratory problems. In the normal circumstances when you do not use the AC, you keep the doors and windows of the room open. This ensures circulation of the air. But, when you operate the AC, you have to close the windows and doors. This entails that you inhale the same air.

The AC units have dust and bacterial filters that trap these ingredients from recirculation. The modern-day AC units come with air purifiers as well. This ensures that you have pure and clean air to breathe. You will understand the amount of dust in the air when you remove these filters from the AC for cleaning. Imagine the amount of dust you inhale in the normal course.

8. What is a dehumidifier?

In the normal course, the air contains a lot of humidity. Running the AC in normal mode entails that you circulate the humidified air through the machine. This is why you have the dehumidifier mode in the AC.

This is also known as a Dry mode where the AC removes the excess humidity from the room without any significant change in the temperature. Hence, people living in areas near the coast should go for ACs with dehumidifiers. They add to the comfort value of the AC.

9. What is a dual inverter AC?

You find this Dual inverter compressor in certain brands of LC AC units. The very name suggests that you have double the efficiency that you experience in a single inverter AC.

This technology ensures that the AC functions with less noise and cools faster as well. When it cools faster, it entails that the compressors function at low speeds most of the time. Hence, you save a lot in your electricity consumption

10. What is Mosquito Away technology?

The Mosquito Away technology is present in the latest brand of LG AC units. This technology is based on ultrasonic sound to keep away mosquitoes. The AC units emit this sound that is beyond the hearing power of humans.

But, it can discourage mosquitoes. LG uses this technology in their phones, washing machines, and televisions as well.