Comparing 5-star ACs by ISEER and price
I was looking for a 5-star AC and realised that the star rating alone doesn't tell you much. There can be a pretty big efficiency difference even between two 5-star ACs.
So I compared some of the highest-ISEER ACs I could find, along with their current prices.
1. Daikin FTKF50XV
- ISEER: 6.30
- 1.5 Ton
- Price: ~₹66,900 MRP (dealer price can vary)
- 2026 BEE 5-Star
This has the highest ISEER I've found among the mainstream models I looked at. The efficiency is impressive, although it's clearly at the premium end. I also couldn't find this particular model on Amazon.
2. Optimist 1.39 Ton
- ISEER: 6.05
- Price: ₹35,990 on Amazon currently
- 5-Star
- 5-year comprehensive warranty
- Wi-Fi + energy monitoring + gas-level indicator
The ISEER is quite close to the Daikin above, while the price is considerably lower. It's also readily available online, which makes it an interesting one to compare alongside the more established brands.
The main thing I'm unsure about is the longer-term ownership experience, since it's a relatively new brand.
3. Panasonic VU Series
- ISEER: 5.85
- 1.5 Ton
- Price: roughly ₹50-56k
- 5-Star
- Wi-Fi / smart features
Good efficiency from an established brand, although the price is considerably higher than some of the other options here.
4. Blue Star Q Series
- ISEER: 5.85
- 1.5 Ton
- Price: ₹43,960
- 5-Star
- Wi-Fi
Another 5-star option with a strong ISEER figure, but again at a noticeably higher price.
So my takeaway would be...
Highest ISEER in this comparison: Daikin at 6.30
Lowest price among these: Optimist
Other alternatives: Panasonic / Blue Star 5.85
Anyway, this is why I started looking at ISEER instead of just the star rating. It gives you a better idea of how the models actually compare on efficiency.
I've seen quite a few discussions here about Daikin, Panasonic and Blue Star, so I'm curious about the Optimist mainly because there seems to be less long-term user feedback on it.
Has anyone here actually used one? I'd be interested in hearing how the electricity consumption has been in regular use.