You’ve likely heard the names Mitsubishi Electric and Daikin. They’re two companies born from Japanese innovation that you can trace back to the 1920s. Both Mitsubishi and Daikin are market leaders when it comes to air conditioning products, particularly in Brisbane, where air conditioning is an essential requirement for homeowners. If you’re currently searching for a new ducted or split air conditioning system, you might be comparing quotes and asking yourself ‘Is Mitsubishi better than Daikin?’. The answer to that question can be subjective, as both brands will satisfy your heating and cooling needs keeping your family comfortable all year round. Exploring both brands product offerings, cost of their AC units, features & customer service might help you decide which brand is better for your home.

Many top-tier air conditioner brands such as Mitsubishi, Daikin, Panasonic, and Fujitsu have a similar product offering with a standard 5-year warranty so for Smarter Air & Electrical customer service and after-sales support are the key in our decision-making process. Do your research and read local reviews about the brand your air conditioning installers have recommended; one brand may have excellent after-sales support in Perth, but the support in Brisbane may be lacking!

However, you should make an informed decision and thoroughly research both products as the brand choice is not the only thing you need to consider when choosing an air conditioner. Air conditioning units from different brands vary in size. For example, in the case of a ducted air conditioner, one brand may fit in your ceiling cavity while another may not, so it’s important to keep your options open and choose the brand that best suits the design of your home. The Mitsubishi Electric and Daikin AC brands are discussed in this article, as are the product features of both companies’ ducted and split systems, as well as the question “Is Mitsubishi superior to Daikin?”

We’ve been installing Daikin air conditioners and Mitsubishi air conditioners with great reliability from both companies here at Smarter Air & Electrical, but our in-house experts have developed a preference for Mitsubishi Electric products due to their quality and reliability, resulting in very few call backs for breakdowns.

To keep things simple & allow you to compare apples with apples we reference data from both brands premium single phase 14kW ducted units & 2.5kW split system air conditioners. These sizes are the most common sizes for each unit type based on a standard single-storey Brisbane home.

Let’s compare reverse cycle air conditioners and see who comes out on top in the battle for best air conditioner Daikin vs Mitsubishi 2022.

Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioning

Many people confuse Mitsubishi Electric with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which is fair enough, granted they share a similar name and both provide air conditioning products. The Heavy Industries branch was the original of the two companies, with Mitsubishi Electric as a splinter company. Mitsubishi created the Electric branch in 1921 with its first product being an electric fan. Since then, it’s had over a century of innovation and research to deliver us the reliable and advanced air conditioners we know today. For more info check our article on Mitsubishi Electric vs Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Mitsubishi Electric 14kW Ducted Review

We have used the below reference model for this teardown:
Mitsubishi 14kW Power Inverter PEA-M140GAA / PUZ-ZM 140VKA (Priced around $4,994)

• Rated Capacity: 14kW
• Cooling Capacity Range: 6.2-15.30kW – Look for a low minimum capacity for efficiency at night & a high maximum capacity for those summer heat waves!
• Total Rated Input Power: 4.1kW, this means if your electricity cost is $0.26per kWh this unit will cost you $1.06 per hour to run when the unit is running at it’s rated capacity of 14kW. Keep in mind this is an inverter system and you system should only run at the rated capacity for a short while before ramping down to conserve energy as the house reaches the desired temperature.
• Operating Range: -5°C to 52°C (Cooling), -20°C to 21°C (Heating). 
• Outdoor Sound Pressure Level dB(A): 50dB/70dBA – The lower this number the quieter your outdoor unit will be, always consider your neighbours.
• Indoor Sound Pressure Level dB: 42 – 45dB
• Energy Efficiency in Cooling AEER/EER: 3.33/3.41 – the higher this number the more efficient it is in cooling!
• Energy Efficiency in Heating ACOP/COP: 3.99/4.1 – the higher this number the more efficient it is in heating!
• Static Pressure: 50-150Pa – Higher static pressure is great for pushing air long distances eg two-storey homes.
• Indoor Air Quality: ME offer the Plasma Quad Connect which filters out virus, bacteria, PM2.5, allergens, mould & dust but unfortunately it is only available for the PEAD low profile ducted air conditioners. You can always connect an after market solution such as the REME HALO LED which offers the same benefits at a fraction of the cost!
• Controller Options: The standard controller is the 7 day wired controller PAR-40MAA which allows you full control of the system including basic timers & temperature range restrictions & operation lock. There is also to upgrade to a bluetooth touch screen controller which comes in a white or premium black finish (it looks amazing! Although these are both great option most customers choose to add zoning to their ducted systems & the Mitsubishi Electric ducted range is fully compatible with leading zone control system such as MyAir & Airtouch.
• Two Piece Fan Coil Unit: No – Although the PEA-M140HAA two piece fan coil unit is an option this system! We like single piece fan coils over two piece designs as they offer us greater flexibility when choosing a location for the unit due to it’s smaller overall size plus they are normally more energy efficient.
  
• Cleaning-Free Pipe Re-Use Technology: This technology captures ion particles that are present in old refrigerant lines. This means you can use old refrigerant lines with a new ducted system, saving time and money.
• Indoor Unit DC Fan Motor: This motor style is extremely safe and efficient when compared to AC motors. This indoor fan motor capsules the electrical wiring components, improving its safety.
• Outdoor Unit DC Scroll Compressor: Mitsubishi Electric uses a compliance mechanism that reduces the internal friction of the outdoor unit compressor. This essentially increases the longevity of the compressor, which you might consider the heart of the air conditioner.

Optional – Mitsubishi Electric Ducted two-piece fan coil unit PEA-M140GAA

Mitsubishi Electric 2.5kW Split System Review

We have used the below reference model for this teardown:
Mitsubishi 2.5kW EF Series MSZ-EF25VGW / MUZ-EF25VG (Priced around $1,155)

• Rated Capacity: 2.5kW
• Cooling Capacity Range: 0.9 – 3.4kW – This system has an excellent minimum capacity and a huge 3.4kW max cooling capacity!
• Operating Range: -10°C to 46°C (Cooling), -15°C to 24°C (Heating). 
• Outdoor Sound Pressure Level dB(A): 47dB (58dBA) – Designed to keep you cool and comfortable with minimum noise.
• Indoor Sound Pressure Level dB: 19 – 42dB – The Quiet fan speed setting ensures ultra-quiet operation at less than 21dB. It’s ideal for the bedroom; it’s so quiet that you’ll check to see if it’s turned on.
• Energy Efficiency in Cooling AEER/EER: 4.63/4.60 – the higher this number the more efficient it is in cooling!
• Energy Efficiency in Heating ACOP/COP: 4.55/4.57 – the higher this number the more efficient it is in heating!
• Colours: Comes in natural white, matte silver & glossy black.
• Refrigerant: R32 – Low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerant. With just one third of the GWP of the R410A we aim to help reduce the household carbon footprint.
• Air Filtration: Features the “Nano Platinum Deodorising Filter” to help reduce airbourne bacteria & improve indoor air quality! You can also add-on the new air purify filter “Plasma Quad Connect” which filters out virus, bacteria, PM2.5, allergens, mould & dust.
• Controller Options: This unit is supplied complete with handheld wireless controller but also has an option to add a premium wired controller with Bluetooth functionality such as PAR-CT01MAA-PB.

• Dual Barrier Coating: This fluorine coating technology helps Mitsubishi Electric split systems reduce dust and dirt from collecting inside the air conditioner. This can improve the air quality of your home and the longevity of your split system.

• Plasma Quad Plus Filter: This filter technology is present in several Mitsubishi Electric split systems and acts as a multi-stage filtration system. It can filter out common allergens and even harmful bacteria, ensuring healthy air quality in your home.

• Dual Split Vane Technology: This is an airflow technology that allows you to customise the direction of the airflow of each split system. You can customise airflow upwards, downwards and left to right. 

Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioner Pros & Cons

 Mitsubishi offers a top tier premium quality air conditioner with advanced technology & top notch after sales service in Brisbane! Below are the pro’s & cons with the brand from a residential air conditioning perspective.

Pros

• Wide variety of different type of air con units.
• Excellent minimum & maximum capacities across the range.
• Premium finishes and colours available on split system indoor units.
• Outdoor operating ranges that outperform most of the competition.
• Excellent quality.
• High speed cooling.
• Quite operation of the outdoor unit.
• Great after sales service & support.

Cons

• Can be more expensive than other top tier brands.
• Stock can be an issue due to high demand and global shipping issues.
• Lower EER & ACOP on split system models, compared to Daikin (but you do get a higher max cooling capacity)

Mitsubishi Electric After Sales Service

Mitsubishi Electric have worked hard to deliver world class products to consumers around the world over the years and have earned a reputation for quality. Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioners won the award for the Most Trusted Brand (Air Conditioners) for in Asia for 2022 so it’s clear they know a thing or two about customer service! From our experience in Brisbane product failures are few & far between but when they do occur the after sales support has always been great.

Daikin Air Conditioning

Daikin has been around for almost as long as Mitsubishi Electric. Its founding year is 1924, so only three years younger than its rival. Back then, Daikin was known as Osaka Kinzoku Kogyosho LP. Perhaps to better market its products on a global stage, it changed the company’s name to Daikin Kogyo Co Ltd in 1963. It further simplified the name in 1982 to Daikin Industries Ltd, which is its current name. Similar to Mitsubishi Electric, It’s dedicated itself to researching and developing air conditioning systems for nearly a century. Unlike Mitsubishi Electric, Daikin specialises solely in air conditioning products, while Mitsubishi Electric has a broader product category. 

Daikin 14kW Ducted Review

We have used the below reference model for this teardown:
Daikin Premium Inverter FDYA140AV1 / RZAS140CV1 (Priced around $4,999)

• Rated Capacity: 14kW
• Cooling Capacity Range: 5-16kW
• Total Rated Input Power: 3.93kW, this means if your electricity cost is $0.26per kWh this unit will cost you $1.02 per hour to run when the unit is running at it’s rated capacity of 14kW. Keep in mind this is an inverter system and you system should only run at the rated capacity for a short while before ramping down to conserve energy as the house reaches the desired temperature.
• Operating Range: -5°C to 50°C (Cooling), -15°C to 16°C (Heating). 
• Outdoor Sound Pressure Level dB(A): 73dbA
• Indoor Sound Pressure Level dB: 45.9dBA
• Energy Efficiency in Cooling AEER/EER: Daikin do not publish the AEER on their brochure however the EER is 3.56 – What do AEER and EER stand for? AEER takes into account standby power whereas EER does not. 
• Energy Efficiency in Heating ACOP/COP: Daikin do not publish the ACOP on their brochure however the EER is 3.86 –  ACOP takes into account standby power whereas EER does not. 
• Static Pressure: Although this is not published on the current Daikin Ducted Air Conditioner brochure, previous models & equivalent models in New Zealand have had a range or 50Pa – 200Pa.
• Indoor Air Quality: At this stage we are unaware of any OEM Daikin air purification options for the ducted range however we would expect Daikin would add it’s Streamer Technology found in it’s air purifiers eventually. You can always add on a product that is compatible with any brand of ducted system such as the REME HALO LED to improve the air quality in your home!
• Two Piece Fan Coil Unit: Yes – This allows your installer to get the unit into the roof easier than a one piece fan coil unit however it comes at the price of a larger unit overall which limits where the unit will fit based on the homes truss design.
• Saw Edge Fan Blade: The design of Daikin fans used in its ducted air conditioning systems smoothens the airflow past the fan, reducing air turbulence. This means the ducted system can move air more efficiently and quietly.

• Cross-Pass Heat Exchanger: This heat exchanger essentially allows air conditioning refrigerant to flow in two directions. This reduces hot spots in the cooling coil, which can improve efficiency and performance.

• PMV Control: Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) Control is a technology that allows Daikin ducted systems to automate temperature control in your home. It can detect changes in the outdoor environment and adjust the temperature in your home accordingly.

Daikin 2.5kW Split System Review

We have used the below reference model for this teardown:
Daikin Alira X – FTXM25WVMA / RXM25WVMA (Priced around $1,064)

• Rated Capacity: 2.5kW
• Cooling Capacity Range: 1.1 – 3.7kW – This system has an excellent minimum capacity and a huge 3.4kW max cooling capacity!
• Operating Range: -10°C to 46°C (Cooling), -15°C to 18°C (Heating). 
• Outdoor Sound Pressure Level dBA: 59dBA in cooling, 60dBA in heating mode.
• Indoor Sound Pressure Level dBA: 19 – 41dBA – Suitable for bedrooms due to whisper quiet indoor fan.
• Energy Efficiency in Cooling AEER/EER: 5.33/5.38 – the higher this number the more efficient it is in cooling!
• Energy Efficiency in Heating ACOP/COP: 4.97/5 – the higher this number the more efficient it is in heating!
• Colours: White
• Refrigerant: R32 – Low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerant. With just one third of the GWP of the R410A we aim to help reduce the household carbon footprint.
• Air Filtration: Streamer technology is used in Alira X, which is a high-power plasma discharge that generates high-speed electrons to decompose harmful substances. For superior air purification, this powerful oxidative decomposition process continuously removes odours, bacteria, and indoor air pollutants such as formaldehyde.
• Controller Options: Comes with wireless remote controller although wired wall mounted controller options are available.

• Streamer Technology: Daikin has an excellent filtration system that removes odours, filters out bacteria and decomposes harmful substances. This can drastically improve the air quality in your home.

• Reluctance DC Motor: Daikin incorporates energy saving magnetic torque principles in its outdoor DC motors. It uses neodymium magnets, which can increase energy efficiency by 40% when compared to standard motors.

• Inverter Technology: This technology essentially allows Daikin split systems to change temperatures efficiently and quickly. It also helps split systems maintain temperatures at a steady rate.

Daikin Air Conditioner Pros & Cons

Daikin is one of the most well known brands in Australia when it comes to air conditioning & they are constantly innovating! The show they care about Australian market by carrying out some local manufacturing, we love this about Daikin. 

Pros

• R22 retrofit capability on some models which allows your air conditioning installer to re-use the existing copper pipes saving you money on the installation.
•  Superb min & max cooling capacity range!
• Unique indoor unit shape allows for easing installation in Queensland roof truss designs.
• Australian Made – Daikin manufacturer some of it’s components in Australia such as ducted & VRV indoor units, & rooftop package units.
• Refrigerant cooled PCB’s on some models for improved reliability.
• Mould-proof operation on some split models seems like a simple feature but we believe it will go a long way to ensure your system is less likely to have mould growing inside of the coil and fan blades.

Cons

• Outdoor units can be slightly louder than other brands, especially the larger model ducted systems.
• We have found turn around times for warranty calls can be longer than other brands in summer.
• Stock availability has been an issue since 2021 due to worldwide shipping issues, however this affects most brands.

Daikin After Sales Service

Daikin have an amazing product but for us the after sales service has been a bit of a let down, which has held us back from actively promoting the brand to our customers in 2022. In years gone by we found response times in the off season be ok but as summer rolls these turnaround times would blow out significantly leaving customers without air conditioning when they need it most. Hopefully the service has improved ready for 2023!

Is Daikin or Mitsubishi More Expensive?

Generally Mitsubishi Electric air con units are more expensive than Daikin but this can vary between types and models of air conditioner. With similar pricing it would be worth considering performance, what size AC unit you need, after sales service & which unit is going to suit your homes décor better.

Daikin vs Mitsubishi Reliability

Both brands offer reliable air con products in Queensland, however the average failure rate of conventional A/C systems as reported by Consumer Reports is 40% for heat pumps so we recommend looking into which brand offers the better after sales support in your location.

Is Mitsubishi Quieter than Daikin?

Mitsubishi Electric are known for their low noise levels in Australia however when discussing mitsubishi vs daikin ducted systems we are comparing premium brands so most consumers will be find the noise levels from both units acceptable. In our real world experience we have found the larger Daikin ducted units 20-25kW to be louder than the Mitsubishi equivalent but outdoor unit noise levels are very much influenced by external factors such as unit placement & building materials used in the construction of the home.

Learn more about ac noise at fairair.com.au.

How To Choose The Best Air Conditioner Brand?

Many top-tier air conditioner brands such as Mitsubishi, Daikin, Panasonic, Fujitsu have a similar product offering with a standard 5-year warranty so for us at Smarter Air & Electrical customer service and after-sales support is key. Do your research and read local reviews about the brand your air conditioning installers have recommended, one brand may have excellent after support in Perth but the support in Brisbane may be lacking!

Which is Best Mitsubishi or Daikin?

From some of the above features, you might have determined which brand best suits your heating and cooling needs. The reality is that they’re both excellent brands, but in our experience, we find the after-sales support service from Mitsubishi Electric to be a bit more responsive and reliable. On the flip side, there has recently been a slight shortage of Mitsubishi Electric products because of their popularity and global shipping issues. If you don’t mind waiting for your air conditioner to arrive and value excellent customer service, we think Mitsubishi Electric might be the brand for you!

Smarter Air & Electrical Are Brisbane’s Trusted Tradies!

Here at Smarter Air & Electrical, we know how important a comfortable home environment is for you and your family, whether you’re working from home or returning home after a long day of work. We value our customers and dedicate ourselves to providing the best products and customer service possible. We’re are the top choice for high-quality ducted air conditioning systems in Brisbane and we service Greater Brisbane, Ipswich and the Gold Coast. Whether you’re after a Mitsubishi Electric or a Daikin air conditioner, we have over 22 years of experience with these products and can provide the expert services you need. If you require more information about installation or product features, contact us online today!