Prime day starting from July 4 and Goat sale on July 3 (early access)

But first, one important thing: a new ISEER star rating system has been implemented in 2026. Because of this, brands will launched new AC models with updated ISEER star ratings.

Here’s the 2026 AC buying guide based on the older BEE star ratings.

I wouldn’t recommend Window AC or Portable AC in 2026. They’re a very noisy and portable ac is useless.

Things to check before buying an AC

5 years PCB warranty
1 year comprehensive warranty on the whole product
10 years compressor warranty, copper coil, and protective coating
Refrigerant should be R32 gas
If any company is not giving the above four things, don’t buy it.

For surge protection, buy a stabilizer according to the voltage fluctuation in your area. It will protect your AC’s PCB.

Now people will suggest buying a 3-star AC.
But trust me, go with the 5-star version of the same model if you can. 5 star model ODU units are bigger than 3 star IDU. It will save you money in the long run. If your budget is tight or you use your AC for less than 5-6 hours a day, then a 3-star model is perfectly fine.
Convertible mode works for about 30 minutes. After that, the AC runs in Auto mode.

Installation

Vacuum is must (till -30psi)

Don’t forget to vacuumr your AC (till -30 PSI) while installing. Otherwise, the AC will not cool your room.
If the technician says it’s not required, tell him to come with a vacuum machine. Otherwise, bhaga dena. I have attached a photo. Yesterday one new AC was installed at my home.

Keep ₹1.5K–4K extra in your budget for installation. The price varies by brand. You can provide the installation materials yourself (

i. drain pipe,
ii. 2.5 mm 3-core wire,
iii. ODU stand,
iv. Wrapping tape
v. 3-pin plug

The technician will then charge only the installation fee.

Installation is the most crucial part of AC installation, no matter which brand you buy. If it isn’t done properly, your AC won’t cool your room.

AC Brands

1. Mitsubishi and General

Both are the OGs in the market. These are premium and heavy-duty ACs.
For example, a Mitsubishi AC costs around ₹90K just for the indoor and outdoor units. You have to purchase the copper pipe separately, plus installation charges. The total cost comes to around ₹95K–100K.
After-sales service is available only in a few metro cities. Still, they are the kings. If you have the budget and service is available in your area, you won’t regret buying one. But for these 2 modle better to buy offline from Croma, Reliance Digital or Vijay sales

2. Daikin

Pros: Excellent cooling, low electricity consumption, auto clean (Dew Clean), large outdoor unit, 100% copper.
Cons: Old design and lack of smart features.
Daikin inverter ACs do have Convertible Mode. Don’t believe misinformation saying otherwise.
➡️ I am using a Daikin 1.5-ton 3-star and a 1.8-ton 5-star since 2024, and recently bought the same 1.5-ton 3-star model (2025) again. I’m really happy with it. Bought another Daikin 2026 model on June.
If you have a high budget, go with O General or Mitsubishi. Otherwise, buy Daikin.

3. LG

LG makes very silent ACs, but their actual tonnage is often lower. For example, they sell a 1.24-ton (2024) AC as a 1.5-ton model. Always check the actual cooling capacity before buying.
The 2025 models are good. I’ve mentioned some in the pinned comment.
Excellent after-sales service with their own technicians. Service is available even in Tier 3 cities and villages.

4. Hitachi

Pros: Excellent cooling, especially in the 2-ton segment, plus auto clean.
Cons: Slightly higher electricity consumption, no temperature display, and no manual Convertible Mode (it works automatically, so it’s not really an issue).
➡️ Hitachi currently offers 5 years of comprehensive warranty, while most other brands offer only 1 year. The PCB is one of the most important components in an inverter AC.
5. Carrier
Good cooling, auto clean, Convertible Mode available. Overall, a solid choice.
Carrier is the company that invented air conditioning.

6. Panasonic

Absolute cooling with smart features. The AC itself is excellent, but the remote is small and tends to stop responding after some time.
Wi-Fi smart features are available, so you can control the AC from your phone.
Cons: The indoor and outdoor units are quite noisy.

Don’t buy Lloyd, Samsung, Voltas, Godrej, Haier, IFB, Bluestar (except some models), or Whirlpool.

No brand is the best at making every appliance.

➡️ Smart Wi-Fi is genuinely useful. Alexa voice commands make it much easier for elderly people to control the AC.
AI features are mostly marketing gimmicks. Don’t fall for them.

AC Tonnage According to Room Size

1 ton — 100–150 sq ft
1.5 ton — 131–190 sq ft
2 ton — 191–250 sq ft
2.5–3 ton — 400–600 sq ft (or install two 2-ton ACs / centralized AC)
If your room is on the top floor and gets direct sunlight throughout the day, choose an inverter AC with 0.5 ton higher capacity.
For example, if the same room on the ground floor needs a 1-ton AC, the top-floor version may require a 1.5-ton AC.

Bonus tip:

Suppose your room is 170 sq ft on the top floor with direct sunlight all day. You might think a 1.5-ton AC is enough. It isn’t. You should buy a 1.8–2-ton AC.
You can always run a 2-ton AC like a 1.5-ton AC (some models have 7 Convertible Modes, though Convertible Mode works for only about 30 minutes before switching to Auto Mode).
But you can’t push a 1-ton AC beyond its capacity without affecting efficiency and potentially reducing compressor life.
For these situations, it’s always better to buy the higher-tonnage AC.

Don’t run behind brands. Check the ISEER value, actual tonnage, and maximum cooling capacity, then compare them with your room size.

Salespeople may recommend an AC, but remember they’ll usually push the brand or model that gives them the highest commission.
It’s recommended to use a good stabilizer. It costs around ₹2K and can save your AC’s PCB.
I’ve mentioned some recommended models in the pinned comment. I’ll continue updating the best models in the future.

Hi everyone,

After quite a few discussions and iterations, the new r/IndiaTech banner is officially live!

We wanted the banner to tell a story, rather than just look cool, so we tried to capture India’s entire technological journey in a single frame blending our ancient innovations right into the modern tech era.

A special thanks to u/Mememandir for sponsoring the banner. A huge shoutout to u/final-drawer9333 for the incredible artwork and bringing the concept to life!

And lastly, a quick thanks to all the mods who kept sharing ideas, suggestions and feedback throughout the whole process.

The r/IndiaTech Mod Team.

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