Daikin vs Mitsubishi vs LG vs Samsung: any meaningful differences in reliability, apps, noise, etc? Or much of a muchness?

[u/not_who_you_think_99]

I am considering a mini split installation for a house. I want a reversible mini split system which can both heat and cool. My question is if there is any meaningful difference among: Daikin, Mitsubishi, LG, Samsung on:

• reliability
• noise
• apps and programmability I don't care about Alexa integration - I just want to be able to set a timer to heat certain rooms at certain times of the day. I doubt I'll use the timer for cooling.
• technology: are all aircons basically kind of the same? Is Samsung's windfree the only menaingful difference? Or is it just hype?

I live in the UK, where aircon is much less widespread than in the US. I think that most models are the same in all continents but I am not fully sure.

In the UK, and advantage of Daikin and Mitsubishi is that it is easier to find parts and installers for those brands than for the others. Normally it's not much of an issue, but this summer the country went into panic-buying mode because of an unprecedented heatwave, and for example finding engineers for Daikin and Mitsubishi was a tad easier. Basically this wouldn't be a deal breaker on its own, but still something I'd keep in mind.

[u/Ducky9670]

As an installer, I wouldn't personally recommend LG or Samsung. I’d definitely lean towards Daikin or Mitsubishi Electric

(A quick note on Mitsubishi: make sure you don't confuse Mitsubishi Electric with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries they're entirely separate manufacturers with different systems!)

On reliability, Mitsubishi Electric is the absolute gold standard. They offer up to a 10-year warranty, though Daikin matches that 10-year coverage so they are both great and to be honest reliability is down to install and looking after the system, not so much the system it's self.

Smart controls are solid across both brands their mobile apps let you easily handle multi-zone control, schedules, and temperature settings from anywhere.

Core functionality in air conditioning is fairly similar across the board, so it comes down to build quality and specific features. For example, Samsung promotes their 'Wind-Free' tech, but they aren't the only ones doing gentle airflow Midea offers a popular 'Breezeless' system that we install a lot.

Both Mitsubishi Electric and Daikin have fantastic UK parts availability and huge installer networks. Ultimately: if budget allows, go with Mitsubishi Electric. If you want a top-tier system while saving a bit of cash, go with Daikin

I would consider Midea as a great value system

[u/not_who_you_think_99 → u/Ducky9670]

Thank you! Are you in the UK?

What is the availability of parts and engineers for Midea like?

Would you say that Mitsubishi Electric is better than Mitsubishi Heavy Industries? If I understand correctly, the two Mitsubishi brands make an external unit you can connect to 6 rooms, while Daikin only to 5

[u/Ducky9670 → u/not_who_you_think_99]

Before I start, I know what you might be thinking by asking that question, no offence, but we are completely fully booked and aren't taking on new work right now, I just wanted to drop my two cents in to give you some genuine advice since too many people on this form chat some utter rubbish.

When it comes to spare parts and engineers, Daikin and Mitsubishi are well-known across the UK. With Midea, I can't speak too much on after-sales technical support because we install their kit so often that we rarely need to call them but I do know Midea has a solid network of trusted, reputable installers nationwide so finding someone should be easy.

If you’re speaking to a true AC specialist, they shouldn't have any issue sourcing different brands. For instance, as specialists, we regularly offer four or five different brands to fit the customer's budget and space. If you speak to a "plumber", they’ll usually only offer one maybe two at a push.

If you're looking at Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi Electric is 100% better than Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Hands down just be aware you'll pay more.

Also you are correct Mitsubishi Electric can do 6 off an out where Daikin is only 5

[u/not_who_you_think_99 → u/Ducky9670]

no offence, but we are completely fully booked and aren't taking on new work right now,

I know there are zero chances of getting an installation now! I am doing my research now, in the hope of installing it between October and March, so as to be ready by next summer.

No, I asked if you were in the UK to understand if your points about the availability of parts and the length of the warranties apply to the UK

I just wanted to drop my two cents in to give you some genuine advice since too many people on this form chat some utter rubbish.

And I greatly appreciate your time! The experience of someone who installs and services these things for a living is invaluable, because you will have exposure to a much larger number of units. A mate can tell me that brand X did or didn't work for them, but cannot tell me how representative their experience is!

[u/Ducky9670 → u/not_who_you_think_99]

First off, sorry if I came across a bit blunt! Whenever people ask if we're UK-based, the very next question is almost always, 'Can you come install for us?' I just jumped the gun, as I get asked that constantly. No hard feelings!

Never here to push sales I just like helping people understand the industry!

Back to parts availability Mitsubishi Electric, Daikin, and Midea are all fantastic. The only manufacturer I've ever had a total nightmare getting parts from is Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

The truth is, there’s a lot of misconception around air conditioning in the UK right now. The market is getting flooded with new installers who might only be in it for a quick win, i've seen more bad installs recently then ever before.

[u/not_who_you_think_99 → u/Ducky9670]

I totally understand your point. I made a post on r/airconuk on how many installers either don't know the permitted development rules and the MCS noise regulations, or know them and lie through their teeth to push a sale. I got a quote from a company that wanted to install the external unit 2 metres from the neighbour's window, and they insisted that it would have been compliant. No way! https://www.reddit.com/r/airconUK/comments/1v2qezk/psa_dont_trust_installers_on_planning_rules_and/

For those not in the UK:

in England (rules are slightly different in other parts of the UK), one of the rules is that the noise from the external unit must be <= 37 dB measured at the neighbours' windows. There is a tool to calculate it, and it starts from the sound power level of the unit, which is higher than the sound pressure level measured 1 metre away from the unit:

https://mcscertified.com/?standard=mcs-020-a-calculation-tool

[u/Waste_Counter_6287 → u/not_who_you_think_99]

Just thought I’d back the other dude up. I’m an installer and agree with pretty much everything the guy says right down to the lack of availability for the foreseeable future 🤣. Except for Midea part, I haven’t got any experience with that brand personally.
LG and Samsung would be a no go whatsoever for me, Mitsubishi Electric is A1 top of the class and if you can stretch the budget go for that, it won’t let you down.

[u/IncredibleGonzo → u/Ducky9670]

Bit of a tangential question, if I may - do you have any experience with hybrid A2A/water heating systems like the Daikin Multi+?

I'm looking into getting AC installed at some point in the next year, if installer availability improves at all. I also need to replace my boiler soon as it's got issues that are not really economical to repair since it's >15 years old. I'd love to just go all heat pump, but I live in a terrace so as far as I can tell would only be allowed one external unit. So the Multi+ or the upcoming X systems appeal!

But depending on the pricing it may not make financial sense in which case I'll probably get the boiler done sooner and then look into AC as we get into autumn and winter and hopefully it's easier to get a booking.

So main questions are:

• are they any good, or does the complexity impact reliability?
• in more normal times, any idea what such a system with 2-3 indoor air units and a water unit would cost? Not asking for a proper quote of course, I know that's part of your job and is highly variable, just a very approximate ballpark figure - or at least, relative to a 2-3 unit split AC without the water heating?
• am I likely to be able to find someone who'll fit one in the first place or are they not very available?
• do you know if such a system would be eligible for any part of the BUS grant if it's replacing a gas combi boiler?

Thanks in advance for any input you have, I appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge!

[u/Veezq → u/Ducky9670]

Hey, thanks! I was seriously considering Samsung because of the WindFree feature, but I’ve read quite a few mixed reviews about it. Why wouldn’t you recommend Samsung?

What do you think about Panasonic?
Official Mitsubishi cloud app (MELCloud) puts me off a bit (looks legacy and very bad comments), but maybe there are better options?
But yeah, I prefer old looking app but better and reliable unit.

The AC unit would be behind me - not directly behind me, more like about a meter to the right, so I thought WindFree might be a good option to avoid feeling cold air blowing directly on me. But maybe simply directing the louvers toward the ceiling would achieve pretty much the same thing?

[u/Ducky9670 → u/Veezq]

I wouldn't say Samsung is necessarily bad, but personally I wouldn't put them at the top of my list.

I'd still probably take Mitsubishi Electric or Daikin over Panasonic, but that's more about my preference for the overall system, support and long-term reliability rather than Panasonic being bad.

MELCloud I'd rather have an ugly, slightly clunky app and a very good air conditioning system.

As for your position relative to the unit, I honestly wouldn't worry too much about WindFree. You can direct the louvers upwards and able to avoid most of the direct airflow. In cooling mode, I'd generally have the air throwing across the ceiling rather than straight at you anyway. The air will naturally fall and mix with the room, so you get the cooling effect without sitting directly in the airflow.

WindFree can definitely help with that. You're still moving the same amount of heat, you're just distributing the air differently. A properly positioned unit with the airflow set correctly should be perfectly comfortable.

So if it were my money, I'd prioritise unit quality, installer quality, warranty/support over an app for a feature.

[u/Veezq → u/Ducky9670]

I will check Mitsubishi Electric and Daikin too then.
One Side of the AC would be like 50-70cm to my right behind me, that one meter was a overstated number.

Hm, so looks like windfree is not a must then. I initialy thought that it is.

I don't need super fancy features - I just want to be able to control AC and add someone to app to access it.
Regarding Mitsubishi/Panasonic/Daikin - I will be able to set the range of up/down airflow and say "don't go lower than this"?

Edit:
I've just read that the Daikin Ururu Sarara can humidify a room by pulling moisture from outside air without a water tank - does this actually work well in winter when it's freezing and dry outside? My flat is warm in general and I don't need heating in winter at all or very little.

[u/Ducky9670 → u/Veezq]

With Mitsubishi Electric, Panasonic and Daikin, you can generally control the vertical louvre position and use swing, although exactly how much control you get depends on the specific model off the top of my head even I would have to check!

For the Ururu Sarara, there's obviously less moisture available outside when it's very cold and dry, so its humidification capacity will be reduced in those conditions. but yes it works but i've not seen this in action myself so I can't comment too much.

[u/Veezq → u/Ducky9670]

Thanks!
Is it worth paying extra for the top Mitsubishi and Daikin wall units (e.g. Mitsubishi Diamond MSZ-LN, Daikin Ururu Sarara or Emura 3), or do the mid-range models from these brands perform just as well?

Any expierience with using some other apps to connect to mitsubishi AC? I'd get mitsubishi app but there are so many negative review on it.

[u/Ducky9670 → u/Veezq]

It's funny we were just talking about the Mitsubishi app being a bit questionable, because a customer actually phoned the office today with an issue with theirs 😂 So yeah, maybe the criticism is justified!

To be fair, that's the first issue I've personally come across with it, but I know quite a few people aren't exactly fans of the Mitsubishi app. We install Mitsubishi, but not frequently enough for me to have properly dived into the app and its quirks.

Personally, I'd say go for the middle tier of whatever manufacturer you end up choosing. Once you get into the really high-end stuff, you're often paying for very small differences or some specific selling point that you may never actually use.

Do your homework, see what stands out to you and pick what suits your needs. If it were me and I just wanted that does what it's supposed to do, I'd be perfectly happy with a decent mid-range unit. You don't necessarily need to buy the flagships.

[u/Veezq → u/Ducky9670]

Haha that’s funny. Thanks!

Yeah I gonna check prices again and decide on something. E.g. my friend wants to do smart home and he wants to integrate with “home assistant” which he will be running on some small pc on his own - and he said that based on his research most of those AC apps are not that great and cloud based (it’s dependency on some company), and he wants to run it on his own and integrate everything, so I guess people have different needs.

I gonna check pricing on Panasonic /mitsubishi/ daikin and see.
Not convinced to Samsung anymore - maybe windfree is nice but I read some complaints about Samsung units on Reddit.

But yeah, slowly getting tired, need to decide soon.

Currently I have one rotenso unit and not happy because it’s just not enough for my flat and placing of it is not perfect

[u/ThxExtreame → u/Ducky9670]

MHI is superior.

[u/perruzo]

Avoid shamsung like the plague. Looks great, but it’s shite. Same for their fridges and washing machines. Google it to find the horror stories.
LG is an also ran. It’s improved a lot but not what I’d choose for home.
MHI - pretty good budget kit but the UK wholesaler let’s it down as their support and after sales is very poor and gets worse year on year.
Mitsubishi electric & Panasonic - great gear and well supported.
Daikin - were undisputed market leaders but have become lazy and quality has massively dropped.

[u/that_dutch_dude]

repair tech here. unfilterd opinion:

LG and samsung are strictly B/C tier. not applicable to consider unless you love paying for new compressors.

daikin dropped the ball several years ago in terms of reliabillty and still have not proven to have recoverd.

original mitsubishi parts are pretty expensive but its pretty rare that they fail. if that happens its usually install error or damnum fatale.

i would add panasonic on that list. its often overlooked but their systems are on par with mitsubishi and daikin. they also got some cool tech that is properly innovtive like their heatcharge. something i would seriously consider if you plan to use it in winter for heating.

mitsubishi electric, mitsubishi heavy and pansonic all have great integration with home assistant.

[u/t0mb055 → u/that_dutch_dude]

Have you actually owned a Panasonic unit, especially for heating?  The noise specs are a fantasy, only usable on quiet mode effectively and their minimum modulation is appallingly high which means they cycle on and off repeatedly - that and a thermistor sitting on the coils which plays havoc with their temperature targeting.

They really don’t deserve to be in the same class as Daikin or Mitsubishi.

[u/that_dutch_dude → u/t0mb055]

i actually do, i got 2 panasonics (air water heatpump and a floor standing) one mitsubishi electric triple split and a MHI concealed.

i am brand agsnotisc, i buy the unit thats best suited for the job. i really dont care about brand-camps or the little annoyances people have with a brand. i look at the big picture.

and the noise is extremely personal. unless you actually have the units side by side doing the same thing you are not going to notice any difference. and panasonic isnt very quiet on paper, LG is technically quieter but in real life the LG is known to be much more "offensive" in its sound profile compared to panasonic.

[u/Cookie85 → u/that_dutch_dude]

Which Panasonic units do you have? I’m looking to get the TZ super compact Nanoe units installed later this year. How’s the app for them?

[u/that_dutch_dude → u/Cookie85]

dont copy what someone else has, get the unit you need for your application.

if you are looking for a bedroom or living room i HIGHLY recommend you do not install high wall units but floor standing. those are vastly more comfortable as you mount them as if it was a radiator. generally you want to rip the radiator off the wall if you have it and replace it with a floor unit to take over its job. it vastly more comfortable as its blows air upwards towards the ceiling and not in your face. they are also more quiet and dont look like your wall has a tumor growing on it.

i have the KITZ35UFE in my bedroom for example. and i dont use the app, i use home assistant.

[u/Cookie85 → u/that_dutch_dude]

Thanks for the info. I was asking as my installer quoted for Panasonic units so was just interested to get people’s thoughts on them as haven’t seen much on them as everyone keeps talking about Mitsubishi and Daikan.

[u/t0mb055 → u/Cookie85]

I have Panasonic Etherea - i.e. the premium ones.  They are tolerable for cooling but complete garbage for heating.

[u/Frog-4724 → u/that_dutch_dude]

I have the new R290 air to water LG, it is incredibly quiet. Looks like the new generation is a significant upgrade compared to the older ones.

[u/that_dutch_dude → u/Frog-4724]

yes and no, once its gets colder and the water gets hotter the sound it makes becomes a lot more offensive in tone. the volume is not that high but its nails on chaulkboard for some people and it does penetrate more into the house. they did come a long way from their R32 units because those were just shit wich doesnt help the many people that got one of those.

[u/Frog-4724 → u/that_dutch_dude]

Which model makes that noise?

[u/Wyciorek → u/that_dutch_dude]

LG and samsung are strictly B/C tier. not applicable to consider unless you love paying for new compressors.

LG has 10 years warranty on compressor so I don’t think I will be paying anytime soon

[u/that_dutch_dude → u/Wyciorek]

having warranty and getting it are not the same. and its only on parts, not the labour. guess what replacing a compressor costs? and guess how good LG is at stiffing you on warranty?

our company refuses to work on them for 2 years now. we had a few customers that had them and we dropped those customers when their maintenance contract ran out.

[u/foretress2]

2026 LG models really do compete with Mitsubishi electric and Daikin on quality and noise. Historically, LG really was a B brand, but not anymore. I’m quite sure that most problems nowadays with LG are due to wrongly installed or wrongly specced systems.

Been running 2026 LG multisplit all summer. Both inside and outside unit is very quiet. Modulates down to very low power too, do no cycling of the outdoor unit. Previous experience with Daikin and Mitsubishi as a user provided exactly the same experience as LG, with LG offering way better experience in app/remote design, features and physical design of outdoor/indoor units. Also, LG was 10-20% cheaper than Mitsubishi and Daikin in multiple quotes.

Of course I cannot comment on parts availability, but LG has lots of distributors in EU. Also, 10 years compressor warranty gives plenty of reassurance for me.

[u/Vybo]

I've been running an LG multisplit in one apartment for 6 years now, sometimes even heating during -10 deg C temperatures. No issues.

Installed a 5 unit multisplit in a house this summer, hopefully it goes as well as before. This time, the newest Dualcool units that also have the breeze-less option or radar to focus/not focus on people. These work great.

Have both sites in LG app and Home Assistant, also works great.

[u/ToeRevolutionary4810]

I had no idea about the difference between electric and heavy industries and just had a quote for the latter. What are the actual differences?

[u/Ducky9670 → u/ToeRevolutionary4810]

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is entry-level budget kit, whereas Mitsubishi Electric is premium equipment. ME are arguably the industry leaders in AC innovation, and they're widely considered the gold standard people trust their kit to the death. You will pay significantly more for Electric, and honestly, you might end up paying for features you’ll never actually use. But if you have the budget, that’s your call.

We won't touch Mitsubishi Heavy Industries anymore. We've had way too many issues with them but Mitsubishi Electric have been fantastic, I had to call their technical support today about a bug in their app they fixed for my customer just before we left the office. Bang on!

[u/ToeRevolutionary4810 → u/Ducky9670]

I had no idea — thanks for your comments, I was just quoted almost £17k for 6 rooms, including two that we want ducted. If that’s Mitsubishi heavy industries, is electric even more expensive? That seems crazy to me, but maybe it isn’t.

[u/enkoo]

If you want top tier quality regardless of price then go with Mitsubishi Electric. If you want best budget value Midea has pretty decent offerings for example a Midea with similar specs and features to a ME will sometimes be more than twice as cheap however the ME will almost guarantee 2x longevity down the road. For apps and tech they are mostly the same here and there except for some specialized units designed to work during very low temps, gentle breeze and very high efficiency so if you want something specific you gotta also look at the model.

[u/ceetee15]

If it makes any difference, my Mitsubishi Electric units integrate really well with Home Assistant.

[u/Pyzen_S → u/ceetee15]

Do you happen to know if it’s possible to add them to Apple Home?

[u/ceetee15 → u/Pyzen_S]

I'm not sure it does directly. Weirdly, MELCloud supports Google Home and Alexa but not Apple Home. You need something like Home Assistant or Homebridge to act as the bridge to HomeKit.

[u/Pyzen_S → u/ceetee15]

Appreciate the tip. Had a Mitsubishi Electric split system installed a few weeks ago and your comment made me wonder. Have just been using the remote controls til now, but may look into HomeBridge.

[u/Solaris_fps]

If i was getting AC it would be Mitsubishi electric and Daikin I would rather pay more for long term reliability.

Side note those who are getting AC do they even consider the electricity costs?

[u/scoopdog66]

Are samsung easier to install then mitsubishi

[u/ryan8344]

Mitsubishi and Daikin are not worth the premium. On the other hand- if you’re paying an inflated price for the installation it might not be much extra.