Top 10 Best AC in India 2020 – Window, Split, & Inverter AC

Whats the best air conditioner in India for this year? We compare the features and price of best selling AC in India to create this list of top 10 best AC in India in 2020

If you want to avoid spending hours researching air conditioners, trying to understand which AC you need, then you’re at the right website. In this review, we will find out the best AC that suits your needs. We will also help you decide whether to go for 1.5 ton AC or 1 ton AC, inverter AC or normal AC, window AC or split AC. Is it prudent to pay more to buy an Inverter AC or a  5 start BEE rated AC. Find out which air conditioner offers the best value for money.

Below are our comprehensive review and comparison to answer the all-important question: “What’s the best air conditioner for the majority of people?”

Here goes..

How Do We Rate Air Conditioners?

So, when it comes to determining which are the best AC on the market in 2020, how do we go about it? In rating air conditioners, we use a set of five criteria.

1. Features: We look at the overall features offered by the manufacturer relative to how expensive the air conditioner is.
2. Customer Experience: We review buyer ratings on a variety of online platforms to find out the best and worse customer experience.
3. Price: We consider upfront cost of the air conditioner and the cost of operating it and the cost of maintenance over the years..
4. Durability: We consider the durability of air conditioners and the manufacturer’s warranty policy.
5. Brand/Service Quality: We consider the ability of manufacturer to provide good after sales service over a long period of time and to every part of the country.

Lets now look at our list of best AC in India for the year 2020.

Looking for a 2 Ton Air Conditioner? Check out our post for Best 2 Ton AC in 2020

Top 10 Best Air Conditioners in India? – Inverter, Split, Window AC

#1 LG 1.5 Ton 5 Star Dual Inverter Split AC

LG Split AC with dual inverter compressor is our pick# 1 in our list for best air conditioners in India 2020. LG KS-Q18HNZD is a 1.5 Ton inverter split AC with 5 star energy rating and 4.73 ISEER Value. LG offers 1 year comprehensive and 10 year compressor with gas charging warranty on this model. It is fitted with copper condenser with GOLD FIN™ anti-corrosive coating and R32 Environment friendly refrigerant gas.

The best AC in India 2020 is LG 1.5 Ton 5 Star, Dual Inverter Split AC Click To Tweet

This LG AC is exceptionally quiet, yet amazingly powerful, comfortable, and energy saving. Its auto clean feature is really useful if live in area with high humidity. It evaporates moisture from AC’s internal unit, thereby preventing bacteria or mold from breeding and eliminate potential odours.

It also comes with a low refrigerant detection feature which will be handy as your AC ages and you will know when to get refrigerant topped up.

While you can get several air conditioners cheaper than this one, but it offers you exceptional quality, more features, and promises a longer life. Further, LG is a time tested brand, has good service network of its own and manufactures great quality product.

Does LG KS-Q18HNZD Meet Our Criteria for Best AC in India 2020

Bottom Line If you stay near sea/coastal area or area exposed to industrial pollution, then stop your search here and buy this air conditioner of appropriate tonnage now. It offers best protection that an AC would need to survive the corrosive atmosphere present in such areas. This AC is also great for brand cautious buyers who don’t mind spending a little extra for a better product. Its a product that may last for several years if maintained properly. Check Sale Price

#2 Panasonic 1.5 Ton 3 Star Wi-Fi Twin Cool Inverter Split AC

This Panasonic air conditioner is our #2 pick in the list of best air conditioner in India for year 2020. It is also the best inverter AC in India for 2020.

Panasonic CS/CU-SU18WKYTW is 1.5 ton Inverter AC that comes with a wifi that is compatible with Panasonic’s Miraie platform and Amazon Alexa. This makes this AC a “Smart AC” that can be controlled through a mobile App or voice commands if you have alexa.

Even if we assume that this AC does not come with a wifi feature, it is still a great product with copper condenser, twin inverter compressor, hydophillic anti-corrosive coating, 5 star BEE rating, self diagnostics , PM 2.5 Air purification system, stabilizer-free operation, and several other features.

The AC can operate within a range of 145V to 285V, which means you don’t need to purchase a stabilizer for this air conditioner. This means savings of rupees 2500 to 4000.

The brand Panasonic is a great company based in Japan that manufactures quality products in India. It has a wide network of service centers all over India and therefore, the serviceability of these air conditioners will not be a problem.

Does Panasonic CS/CU-SU18WKYTW Meet Our Criteria for Best AC in India 2020

Bottom Line This Panasonic AC offers great value for money as it has every feature required in new age AC and comes at a reasonable cost. This AC is powerful, quiet, provides protection against sand, salt, industrial smoke, and humidity, and also has a WiFi feature. This is a great package and therefore one of the best AC in India 2020 Check Sale Price

 

#3 Sanyo 1.5 Ton 5 Star Inverter Split AC (Best Seller)

Sanyo SI/SO-15T5SCIA is another AC from Panasonic under Sanyo brand. Panasonic acquired Sanyo brand and currently it is a subsidiary of Panasonic in India.

This AC is suitable for rooms under 150 sq ft area. It is an Inverter split AC that comes with R32 refrigerant, 5 star BEE rating, stabiliser free operation (145V to 285V) and PM 2.5 air filter. It also comes with hydrophillic fins that are corrosion resistant. Sanyo offers 1 year comprehensive and 5 year compressor warranty on this model.

This is hands down buy not just for the price sensitive customers but also for others as you get a much powerful machine, which is cheaper, energy efficient, and comes with latest inverter technology.

The customer ratings on Amazon confirm the popularity of this model and the fact that this AC offers best value for your money and that’s the reason this AC finds itself at #3 in our list for Best AC in India 2020.

Does Sanyo SI/SO-15T5SCIA Meet Our Criteria for Best Air Conditioner in India for 2020

Bottom Line If you are a budget cautious person, then this AC is for you. Sanyo has done a great job of offering an inverter AC with such great features at an unbelievable price. This is truly the AC of India that most Indian middle class families can afford and beat the summer heat. This is the best AC in India 2020 for budget customers. Check Sale Price

 

#4 Blue Star 1.5 Ton 5 Star Dual Inverter Split AC – Aluminium

Bluestar IC518QATX is a 1.5 ton Inverter split AC with 5 star BEE rating. It comes with aluminium alloy MCHE condenser coated with anti corrosive, hydrophilic blue coating for longer life.

MCHE condensers offer better and quick heat exchange due to large surface area and thus increase the performance of air conditioners using them. This is when compared to traditional copper tube condenser.

When properly protected with a quality hydrophillic coating, a MCHE condenser lasts as long as a copper condenser if not more. For more on this topic read our post: Copper Condenser vs Aluminium Condenser

Bluestar 5 years warranty on this AC’s condenser and this confirms the quality of condenser used.

Moving on, Bluestar IC518QATX uses dual rotary compressor with twin rotors for faster cooling, high energy savings, low operational noise & greater stability. The self-diagnosis feature that alerts you of a fault in operation is a great help. For air purification, it comes with an active carbon  and silver ion filter in addition to the usual dust filter. Plus its premium looks will add to beauty of your living or bed room.

Overall, it is a great machine for anyone looking to buy an AC with MCHE condenser and thus takes #4 place in our list of best air conditioners in India. .

Does Bluestar IC518QATX Meet Our Criteria for Best AC in India for 2020

 

Bottom Line If you are looking for a high performance air conditioner, that will beat the heat effectively then this is the air conditioner you should buy. It comes with new gen MCHE condenser that is not only durable but very effective too. The cooling capacity of this AC is best of all other models in this list. Avoid if you live near coastal areas. Check Sale Price

 

#5 Voltas 1.5 Ton 5 Star Inverter Split AC

Voltas SAC_185V_ADS is a 5 star BEE rated split inverter AC with 1.5 ton capacity. It is suitable for cooling a room of under 150 sq ft of size. This AC comes with a unique adjustable mode with which you can choose to operate this AC in 1 Ton or 1.5 Ton mode. This is a great feature to use and can help you save on electricity bills.

Other than that, it also comes with a dehumidifier, multi stage air filtration, turbo mode, sleep mode, and several other features. This AC is capable of operating in voltage range of 100-290V and hence you would not need to install a stabiliser with this AC.

For air purification, it comes with Anti Dust Filter, Catechin Filter, Acaro Bacterium Filter, Silver Ion Filter, and CO2 Reduction Filter.

If you look at customer ratings, over 72% people left a 4 or 5 star rating for this product. This is a great rating and confirms the over all satisfaction level of customers using this AC.

Because Voltas brand is customer’s favourite, we therefore place this AC in #5 position in our list of best AC in India 2020

Does Voltas SAC_185V_ADS Meet Our Criteria for Top 5 Split AC in India for 2020

Bottom Line We have placed this AC at number 5 among the split air conditioners for the only reason that it does not come with an anti-corrosive epoxy coating. Other than that, its a great machine. Avoid if you stay near sea/coastal area. Check Sale Price

#6 LG 1.5 Ton 5 Star Wi-Fi Inverter Window AC

LG JW-Q18WUZA is a powerful 1.5 ton windows AC with inverter compressor and WiFi. It comes with a 5 star energy rating and has R32 refrigerant which is eco-friendly and more efficient than the R410A. LG offers a 1 year warranty on product and a 10 year warranty on compressor of this model. It is suitable for a room of up to 150 Square feet.

This LG windows AC comes with a unique top air discharge design that looks trendy and gives it a premium look. The WiFi feature of this AC works with LG ThinQ, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant. With the last two, you can use voice commands to control the functions of this AC.

It has all the features that you see in LG air conditioners like Low Gas Detection, Clean Filter Indication,  Anti-corrosive Ocean Black Protection, and smart diagnosis.

This LG AC takes #1 place in our list of best windows air conditioners in India for its performance, durability, latest features, and wifi connectivity.

Does LG JW-Q18WUZA Meet Our Criteria for Best AC in India for 2020

Bottom Line If you are looking for a Windows AC, then its the best AC in India 2020 you can purchase. This AC is even suitable for areas that see high humidity and industrial pollution. Thanks to its steel body, copper condenser, and anti corrosive coating. With features like WiFi incorporated, this AC is future ready and surely the best you can purchase in India. Check Sale Price

 

#7 Blue Star 1.5 Ton, 5 Star Inverter Window AC

Blue Star 5W18GBTI is a 1.5 ton 5 star window AC with Inverter rotary compressor and copper condenser. It also comes with a high quality hydrophilic blue fins and metal enclosure for PCB. With all these features, Bluestar ensures a powerful cooling performance, quieter operation, along with lower electricity consumption. We therefore have placed this AC at #2 in our list of best AC in India 2020 (Windows Type).

The self-diagnosis feature in this AC alerts you of a fault in operation. It is a very useful feature that helps you fix a problem quickly.

Bluestar offers 1 year warranty on this AC  and 10 years on compressor.

Does Blue Star 5W18GBTI Meet Our Criteria for Best AC in India for 2020

Bottom Line This Bluestar 1.5 ton window AC is an excellent air conditioner to purchase. It is not just powerful, but also durable and energy efficient. Check Sale Price

#8 Voltas 1.5 Ton 5 Star Window AC

Voltas 1.5 ton windows AC ranks #8 in our list for best air conditioners in India 2020. It is #3 pick if you are looking specifically for a windows AC.

Voltas 185DZAR32 is the best selling 1.5 ton AC this year on Amazon India. The reason for this out performance is very clear. It comes with a 5 star energy rating and still does not cost a bomb.

This AC comes with copper condenser coil, two stage filtration, eco-mode, turbo cooling and other regular features. At this cost, you can’t ask for more.  This is the best windows AC for a price sensitive customer.

Does Voltas 185DZAR32 Meet Our Criteria for Best AC in India for 2020

Bottom Line This is a great windows AC for someone looking for a 5 star AC at a budget price. Cons of this AC include the absence of anti-corrosive coating and Inverter technology. Check Sale Price

 

#9 Voltas 1.5 Ton 5 Star Inverter Window AC

Voltas WAC 185VDZA is the 3rd Voltas AC that makes it to the list of best air conditioners in India. It is suitable for a room of upto 140 Square feet. It is an Inverter AC and has a 5 Star BEE rating. It has a wide operating voltage range of 45~270 volts and therefore does not need a stabilizer. As it is a 5 star rated inverter AC, your savings on monthly electricity bill will easily pay back for the extra amount you will spend in purchasing this air conditioner.

This voltas AC is our #9 pick in our review of best air conditioners 2020 in India.

Does Voltas WAC 185VDZA Meet Our Criteria for Best AC in India 2020

Bottom Line This model is not popular among customers as its costly and one can get a split AC for that price. Purchasing this model makes sense only for someone who does not like split AC or if its not feasible to install a split AC in his home/office. Check Sale Price

 

#10. O General AXGT18FHTC Window 3 Star 1.5 Ton Air Conditioner

Any list for best air conditioners will be incomplete if it does not include a O’General AC. This brand is know for manufacturing best quality air conditioners that are powerful and durable. However, as they import their air conditioners from Thailand and elsewhere, their AC cost just too much for customers in India.  Also, their latest models come with aluminium MCHE condensers which are not popular in India as everyone here wants a copper AC.

O General AXGT18FHTC is an old model (manufactured in 2018 or before). However, it is a very powerful windows AC, made of 100% copper condenser, and hyper tropical rotary compressor. It has cooling capacity of 5370 watts which is the maximum offered by any 1.5 ton AC in India. For its powerful performance, we have placed this AC at #10 place in our list of best air conditioners in 2020.

The cons of this AC include absence of Inverter feature and anti-corrosive coating.

Does O General AXGT18FHTC Meet Our Criteria for Best AC in India for 2020

Bottom Line If you want a powerful windows AC and there is a service center of O’General in your city, then you can go for this air conditioner. Avoid if you stay in a coastal area like Mumbai as this AC has no anti-corrosive coating. Check Sale Price

 

Best AC in India by Price

Looking for best air conditioners categorized by price? Check out the following post:

• Best AC under 25000 rupees
• Best AC Under 30000 rupees
• Best AC Under 40000 rupees

 

 

Best AC in India 2020 – Which AC Do You Need? (Buyer Guide)

 This is the most important question you should ask yourself before reading any further.  Air conditioners don’t come cheap and you don’t buy a new AC every next year like your mobile handset. So, its important that you buy a great machine that remains good for years to come and meets requirement of your family not just on regular days but also during small family gatherings.

1 Ton, 1.5 Ton or 2 Ton Air Conditioner?

This can also be measured in terms of BTU by calculating area of a room in sq. ft. and then multiplying it with 30 or with 40 if your room is at top floor and exposed to sunlight from roof or from more than two sides. The number of windows, area of windows, max summer temperature in your city, no of people occupying room, ceiling height, heat emitting appliances in room, and lots of other factors affects the BTU calculations.

Important Note: When calculating BTU for your room, add 600 BTUs for every additional person that is expected to be in the room. Also add 10 percent more BTUs if room is sunny or if your city temperature goes above 40°C in summers.

Once you have calculated the BTU required for your room, compare it with BTU power supplied by different air conditioners as given in table below and then decide the capacity required for your AC.

Power of 1 ton, 1.5 ton and 2 ton AC

AC Capacity (tons)	Power (BTU/hr)
1 Ton AC	12000 BTU/hr
1.5 Ton AC	18000 BTU/hr
2 Ton AC	24000 BTU/hr

If that calculation is tough for you (It actually is), then refer to the simplified information below:

Alternatively, visit the link below for an easy to use BTU calculator:
https://www.bluestarindia.com/roomacs/tonnage-calculator

 

Inverter AC, or Normal AC- Which one is Better?

 In short, go for an Inverter AC.  Don’t fall for low upfront cost, discounts, or freebies. Inverter ACs are more comfortable, highly durable, and last longer that the non invertr air conditioners.

If you buy a 5 star inverter AC, it will save you more money than its cost over a span of 10 years.

Pro Tip: On an average, an AC uses 350-700 units a month (for 12 hours of use daily) costing you ₹1800 to ₹4500 per month in electricity bills in all major cities of India. With an Inverter AC, this cost comes down significantly.

Whats so special about Inverter AC?

An inverter type air-conditioner operates at constant speed after achieving desired indoor temperature so that the temperature never goes up again.  Whereas in ordinary AC, compressor turns off after achieving desired indoor temperature and turns on again when temperature goes up.

Non-inverter air-conditioners stops and starts repeatedly. A 1.5 ton inverter AC would work at 0.3 to 1.7 ton power based on cooling requirement. As a result, inverter air conditioners are more energy-saving and comfortable than non-inverter air-conditioners.

See the Diagram below for better understanding:-

Source: https://www.daikinindia.com/inverter-technology-0

 

BEE Ratings: 2 Star, 3 Star, 4 Star or 5 Star Rated AC – How much of a difference does it make?

Air conditioners are given energy star ratings by the BEE – Bureau of energy efficiency. More the number of stars, more is the energy efficiency of the appliance. The available stars are between a minimum of one and a maximum of five.

An AC with a 5 star BEE ratings save you upto 20 to 40 % in electricity bills when compared to a 1 star AC. Therefore, it makes sense to pay some extra money and purchase an AC with 4 to 5 star energy rating, as it will save you much more money in the long term.

Split AC, Window AC, Portable AC, or Cassette AC

Portable air conditioners, and Cassette air conditioners are not very popular in India. You can find cassette air conditioners in showrooms, or offices but very rarely someone purchases them for their home. Portable air conditioners are even more unpopular.

The remaining two types of air conditioners are very popular. And making a choice between these two is relatively easier. As far as efficiency is concerned, there is no difference. Both are equally good at cooling a room. However, the window air conditioners usually consume more electricity than their counterparts.

Lets look at pros and cons of a window AC and a split AC.

Now that we know the pros and cons of window and split AC, it should be easier for you to make a final decision on the type of best air conditioner to buy.  We recommend going for a split AC but purchasing a windows AC in not a bad idea either.

Type of Compressor & Condenser

If you are looking for comfort and efficiency, you would want your AC to be less noisy, and capable to maintaining a constant indoor temperature. You can achieve this by preferring an AC with Inverter compressor over those that come with a simple rotary type compressor or reciprocating compressor.

Inverter compressor

Actually, inverter compressor is also a type of rotary compressor. The only difference is that it has a DC inverter to control the speed of the compressor according to the cooling requirement. In such air conditioners, the compressor never shuts off completely. This results in less wear and tear to the parts, stable room temperature, no sharp fluctuations in current, and overall quieter operation.

MCHE or PFC Condensers

When it comes to the efficiency of condenser, MCHE (Microchannel heat exchange) condensers made of e-coated aluminium alloy is the best.

The MCHE coil construction provides for excellent heat transfer due to the enhanced surface area and the metallurgical bond between tube and fin. Air conditioners with MCHE coil will cool the rooms much quickly and will be capable of cooling rooms in cities that see temperatures soaring above 45 degree Celsius.

When MCHE is used as a condenser in an air-conditioning unit, it is commonly called a Parallel Flow Condenser (PFC).

However, these condensers are susceptible to corrosion, hard to clean, and hard to repair.

RTPF Aluminium-Fin-Copper-Tube Condensers

RTPF (Round Tube Plate Fin) heat exchanger, made of aluminum fin and copper tube condenser coil, are the most common type of condensers used by air conditioners in India. Such heat exchanger are are not as efficient as the MCHE condensers but are not bad either.

Also, one major advantage of these copper tubes is that they are repairable but the aluminium condensers would more likely need to be replaced when damaged.

For its lower maintenance cost, corrosion resistance, and durability, copper tube-aluminium fin condenser is our choice for condensers. The latest condensers of this type are also high in efficiency with the use of grooved copper tubes and dual inverter compressor.

Durability of Air Conditioner

While durability of any appliance is very important, it is even more important when it comes to purchasing an AC, especially for the people staying closer to coastal areas.

If you live near the coast, your air conditioner is a lot more susceptible to damage from the surrounding salty and humid air. If not protected, your air conditioner body will rust and condenser coil will suffer corrosion, resulting in cooling gas/refrigerant leak. This would lead to premature repair or replacement of broken parts due to galvanisation and salt corrosion.

To avoid such situation, you must purchase a AC that comes with some kind of hydophillic coating on condenser and evaporator. Such coatings don’t let water to stick to the coil or fins and therefore prevent corrosion.

Such coatings are known by different names like bluefin coating or goldfin coating, or titanium dioxide coating. Whether, you have a copper-tube-aluminum-fin condenser, or a MCHE condenser made of aluminium alloy, it should always come with a cathodic e-coating of some hydrophillic material like epoxy, etc. This is a must for longer life of your AC.

Brand and Service Availability

When purchasing expensive appliances like air conditioners, its important to limit your choices to brands that have their own service centers in your area. For example, O’General air conditioners are great when it comes to the quality but when we talk about service availability, it is limited to only a few select cities in India. Then there are brands launched by e-commerce companies that sell for very cheap cost but offer poor after sales service. One must avoid such brands, particularly when there are better options available from brands like LG, Panasonic/Sanyo, Bluestar, Voltas, and Diakin.

 

Best AC India 2020 – Conclusion

We reviewed the most popular 50 air conditioners on the market, across a range of uses and settings. For it’s outstanding performance at a reasonable price, 5 star BEE rating, inverter technology, copper coil, service quality, and sleek design, the Sanyo 1.5 Ton 5 Star Inverter Split AC is our number 1 pick in 1.5 ton split AC and Voltas 185DZAR32 is our top pick in 1.5 ton window AC.

This was our list of best AC in India. Do let us know if you think there is a better AC that we should include in this list.

Last update on 2020-06-02 / Images from Amazon