How to read our recommendations: comparisons use published specifications, listed prices and editorial assessments. Scores are not measured performance results. Our
lab section publishes protocols; it currently has no completed test results. Prices and availability can change after the check date shown.
Research and scoring method ·
Affiliate disclosure.
For a room used a few hours an evening, a 3-star inverter is usually the smarter buy than a 5-star: it costs ₹7,000-₹15,000 less, and the electricity saving of the 5-star unit takes many summers to recover at that level of use. The page to be careful on is the one where you run the AC all night — then the 5-star arithmetic wins.
3-star is a wide band. On the inverter splits we compare, ISEER runs from 3.9 to 4.5 — a difference of about 15% in running cost between two units with the same star. Window ACs rated 3-star sit lower still, at 3.13-3.4, because the format is inherently less efficient.
Check rated watts, not just the tonnage in the name. A true 1 ton is 3,517 W, 1.5 ton is 5,275 W and 2 ton is 7,034 W, and several units sold in each class are rated 5-12% below that. Every product here publishes its rated cooling where the brand does, and our room-size advice is calculated from it.
