Air conditioners
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Air conditioner reviews 

Best air conditioners to buy in Australia

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air conditioners

304 models rated and ranked

Our air conditioning data doesn’t lie

Results based on data, not opinions or fake reviews.

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Our experts test and rate

Cooling capacity and efficiency

Which air conditioners cool you down best over a hot summer?

Heating capacity and efficiency

Which air conditioners keep your house warm and toasty?

Yearly running costs

Which models will save you money year on year?

Air conditioners to avoid buying 

Buy right and avoid costly mistakes. Here are the models that rated lowest in our latest lab tests.

Reverse-cycle air conditioners to avoid
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We give each model a CHOICE score made up of:

Cooling efficiency (40%)

Cooling efficiency scores are based on the model’s AEER (Annual Energy Efficiency Ratio) – a measure of efficiency that factors in standby power consumption when the unit’s not in use. Our scores are more precise than energy star ratings.

Heating efficiency (40%)

Heating efficiency scores are based on the model’s ACOP (Annual Coefficient of Performance) – a measure of efficiency that factors in standby power consumption when the unit’s not in use. Our scores are more precise than energy star ratings.

Airflow (20%)

Based on the range of airflow on the lowest to highest fan speed settings. Ideally, air conditioners should have a gentle airflow on low settings and a powerful airflow on high. The wider the range of airflows, the better the score.

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CHOICE keeps the marketplace honest. Without them, manufacturers will be able to do whatever they want.

Aaron – CHOICE member

They’re here to make a difference and here to make us safe.

Allison – CHOICE member
CHOICE member Aaron

CHOICE keeps the marketplace honest. Without them, manufacturers will be able to do whatever they want.

James – CHOICE member
Which brands does CHOICE review?

Our review includes over 240 air conditioner models from Actron Air, Braemar, Carrier, Daikin, Fujitsu, Haier, Hisense, Hitachi, Kelvinator, LG, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Panasonic, Samsung and Toshiba.

How does CHOICE pick which air conditioner models to review?

Our priority is reviewing the models you’ll see in stores, major online retailers and from installers. To do this, we check what’s in stores and online, and survey manufacturers to find their latest models. We’ll also test models that a lot of members have requested.

How are air conditioners reviewed?

We’ve been comparing air conditioners of various sorts for decades now. CHOICE participates in relevant Australian Standards committees and regulatory forums so we can keep an eye on industry trends and air conditioner regulations. We no longer lab test split-system air conditioners, but we review based on extensive analysis of manufacturer and government registry data.

Who does the reviewing?

We get data on each model directly from manufacturers and cross-check it against the government registration database. Scores are then calculated with a lot of number-crunching, spreadsheets and careful data-checking – just the sort of thing CHOICE people like to do!

How often are new air conditioner models tested?

We review split-system air conditioners twice a year, once for summer and once for winter.

Why don’t you test air conditioners in-house?

Testing air conditioners requires a very specific laboratory, with controlled indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity. While CHOICE does have high-quality laboratories, including thermal labs for testing fridges, we don’t have a lab suited to air conditioner testing – it would be too expensive to construct and maintain. So instead, when we need an air conditioner tested, we send it to a qualified external lab. But most of our split-system air conditioner reviewing is based on data analysis as described above.

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