How to choose a brand
The established brands sold in New Zealand all make capable residential heat pumps. Differences between them are real but smaller than the difference between a well-sized, well-installed unit and a poor one.
Most installers are dealers for a handful of brands and know those ranges well. In practice, choosing an installer you trust often decides the brand.
The main brands at a glance
| Brand | Known for | Strong in |
|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Electric | One of the most widely installed brands in New Zealand, with a large dealer network | High-wall, floor console, ducted and multi-split |
| Daikin | One of the world's largest air conditioning makers, with design-focused models and a strong ducted range | High-wall, ducted, multi-split and design models |
| Fujitsu | A long-standing name in New Zealand homes, particularly for high-wall and ducted systems | High-wall, ducted and multi-split |
| Panasonic | nanoe X air purification technology on many models, and quiet indoor units | High-wall, floor console and multi-split |
| Toshiba | Inverter technology history and a design high-wall range | High-wall, multi-split and ducted |
| Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | Solid Japanese engineering, often positioned as a value alternative to the biggest names | High-wall, ducted and multi-split |
| LG | Smart home features through the LG ThinQ app and design-focused models | High-wall, multi-split and ducted |
| Samsung | WindFree airflow and SmartThings app integration | High-wall, multi-split and ducted |
What to compare instead of the logo
- Heating output at low outdoor temperatures, from the spec sheet
- Heating star rating, and the zone rating for where you live
- Indoor noise on the lowest fan speed, and outdoor noise
- Warranty on parts and labour, and any servicing conditions
- Whether the installer fits and services the brand regularly