Best 2kW split system air conditioner units
For the very small split system air conditioning units, the top two energy-efficient Mitsubishi Electric models are also the lowest in price. They are affordable and great value for money. The Daikin and Panasonic model is less energy efficient, but much higher in price. Fujitsu offers a great value cooling the only model for around half the price of the top Mitsubishi Electric models.
| Brand | Model No | Cool Stars | Cool Output (kW) | Heat Stars | Heat Output (kW) | Purchase Price |
| MitsubishiElectric | SRK20ZSXA-W | 7.0 | 2 | 7.0 | 2.70 | $445 |
| MitsubishiElectric | SRK20ZMXA-S | 6.0 | 2 | 5.5 | 2.5 | $457 |
| Fujitsu | ASTG07CMCA/AOTG07CMCA | 5.5 | 2.10 | $240 | ||
| MitsubishiElectric | DXK06ZSA-W | 5 | 2 | 5 | 2.7 | $554 |
| Daikin | FTXM20P/RXM20P | 5 | 2 | $234 | ||
| Panasonic | CS-Z7RKR/CU-Z7RKR | 5 | 2.05 | 5 | 2.7 | $548 |
| Daikin | FTXM20P/RXM20P | 5 | 2 | 5 | 2.70 | $571 |
Best 2 to 2.5 kW split system air conditioners
For small split systems, the Daikin model comes out on top. It has an amazing 7 star energy efficiency rating and a lower purchase price than all the other brands. The other brands offer their top models with less energy efficiency and a higher purchase price.
| Brand | Model No | Cool Stars | Cool output (kW) | Heat Stars | Heat Output (kW) | Purchase price |
| Daikin | US7 FTXZ25NV1B/RXZ25NV1B | 7 | 2.5 | 7 | 3.5 | $594 |
| Daikin | FFA25A2/RXS25L3 | 5.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.2 | $777 |
| Samsung | AR09KSWSWKN | 5 | 2.5 | 5 | 3.2 | $625 |
| Mitsubishi | MSZ-GL25VGD/MUZ-GL25VGD | 5.5 | 2.5 | 5 | 3.2 | $657 |
| Panasonic | CS-Z25TKR/CU-Z25TKR | 5 | 2.5 | 5.5 | 3.2 | $640 |
| Fujitsu | ASTG09KNCB/AOTG09KMCB | 5.0 | 2.5 | 5 | 3.2 | $662 |
Best 3.5 kW split system air conditioners
With the small/medium split system air conditioning units, Daikin again comes out on top for the best value for money. Its model holds an energy efficiency of 5.5 stars and a purchase price, similar to the other brands. The other brands however offer a lower energy efficiency rating score. Interestingly, the Samsung model was the least energy efficient with 3 stars and had the highest purchase price.
| Brand | Model No | Cool Stars | Cool output (kW) | Heat Stars | Heat output (kW) | Purchase price |
| Daikin | FTXZ35N/RXZ35N | 5.5 | 3.5 | 5.5 | 5 | $954 |
| Panasonic | CS-RZ12RKR/CU-RZ12RKR | 4 | 3.5 | 5 | 3.7 | 891/457 |
| Panasonic | CS-Z35TKR/CU-Z35TKR | 4 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.3 | $994 |
| Mitsubishi | SRK35ZSA-W | 4 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 3.7 | $931 |
| Daikin | FTXM35P/RKM35P | 3.5 | 3.5 | 5 | 3.7 | $954 |
| Fujitsu | ASTG12KMCB/AOTG12KMCB | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 3.7 | $954/491 |
| Mitsubishi | MSZ-FH35VE-A | 3.5 | 3.5 | 5 | 4.00 | $948 |
| Samsung | AR12KSFSAWKN/AR12KSFSAWKX | 3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.00 | $1039 |
Best 5 kW split system air conditioners
In the medium split system unit range, Panasonic, Daikin and Mitsubishi Electric all had models with the same energy efficiency rating of 4 stars and a similar purchase price. Samsung again reflected the worst value for money, with two of its models having extremely low energy star ratings and high purchase prices.
| Brand | Model No | Cool Stars | Cool Output (kW) | Heat Stars | Heat Output (kW) | Purchase price |
| Panasonic | CS-RZ18RKR | 4 | 5 | 4. | 6 | 1456 |
| Daikin | FTXM50P/RXM50P | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | $1485 |
| MitsubishiElectric | MSZ-GL50VGD/MUZ-GL50VGD | 4 | 4.8 | 3.5 | 5.8 | $1450/714 |
| Fujitsu | ASTG18KMCA/AOTG18KMCA | 3.5 | 5 | 3.5 | 6 | $1507/697 |
| Samsung | AR18KSFSAWKN/AR18KSFAWKX | 2.5 | 5 | 3 | 6 | $1622 |
| Samsung | AR18KSFTAWQN/AR18KSFTAWQX | 2 | 5 | 2.5 | 6 | $1804 |
Best 7kW+ split system air conditioners
In the large air conditioner group, all of the five brands had a model with a 3 star energy efficiency rating. All also had a similar purchase price except for Samsung, which again had a much higher purchase price. Samsung also has another model with a 2 star rating, with the highest purchase price than all of the other models listed.
| Brand | Model No | Cool Stars | Cool Output (kW) | Heat Stars | Heat Output (kW) | Purchase price |
| Samsung | AC071KN4PEH/AC071KXAPEH | 3 | 7.1 | 3 | 8 | 2238 |
| Fujitsu | ASTG22KMCA | 3 | 6 | 3.5 | 7.2 | $1919 |
| Panasonic | CS-Z21RKR/CU-Z21RKR | 3 | 6 | 3.5 | 7.2 | $1919 |
| Daikin | FTXM60P/RKM60P | 3 | 6 | 3.5 | 7 | $1867 |
| Daikin | FTXM60P/RKM60P | 3 | 6 | $885 | ||
| MitsubishiElectric | MSZ-GL60VGD/MUZ-GL60VGD | 3 | 6 | 3.5 | 6.8 | $1861 |
| Fujitsu | ASTG24KMCA/AOTG24KMCA | 2.5 | 7.1 | 3 | 8 | $2358 |
| Daikin | FTKM71Q/RKM71Q | 2.5 | 7.10 | 3.5 | 8.1 | $2233 |
| Samsung | AR24KSFSAWKN/AR24KSFSAWKX | 2 | 7.1 | 2 | 8 | $2518 |
Best 9kW+ split system air conditioners
For extra large units, Panasonic has the highest energy efficiency rating with 3.5 stars and the lowest purchase price, offering value for money. Samsung again had one of the highest purchase prices, alongside Fujitsu.
| Brand | Model No | Cool Stars | Cool Output (kW) | Heat Stars | Heat Output (kW) | Purchase price |
| Panasonic | S-100PU2E5A/U-100PE1R5A | 3.5 | 10 | 4.5 | 11.20 | $2615 |
| Samsung | AC100KN4PEH/AC100KXAPEH | 3 | 10 | 3.5 | 11.20 | $3078 |
| Mitsubishi | SRK95ZRA-W/SRC95ZRA-W | 2.5 | 9.5kW | 3 stars | 10.3kW | $2895 |
| Fujitsu | AUTA36LCLU/AOTA36CTL | 2.0 | 10.00 | 2.5 | 11.20 | $3380 |