Air Conditioners have become more of a necessity these days rather than being a luxury. Gone are the days when people used to visit someone’s house and got amused that they own an AC. Today, it is a part of everyone’s life, especially for the people who are living in hot and humid areas. However, the process to buy a perfect AC can be quite confusing and cumbersome as the market has a lot of options not only in terms of brands but type, weight, inverter, and non-inverter. Since this year we are experiencing the heatwave quite early, this is the best time to buy an AC and make your summer somewhat bearable. Below is a complete guide to online AC shopping in India. Go through the pointers below and make an informed decision.
Which type of AC is suitable for you?
When it comes to buying an AC, the first thing is to decide which type is best for you. There are three types of ACs offered by several brands; Split AC, Windows AC, and Portable AC. Each of them has its pros and cons and one should choose according to the needs and priorities.
Split AC
Split ACs feature two units; an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit features an evaporator and a blower while the outdoor unit features the compressor and the condenser. Both units are connected through a pipe. These ACs cool faster and offer higher airflow but they are costlier to install and even uninstall. Apart from that, the indoor and outdoor units cannot be too far from each other as it makes the whole thing less efficient. If we talk about the maintenance, these are again a little expensive.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Suitable for bigger rooms | Expensive |
| Faster cooling | Maintenance is also expensive |
| Low noise | |
| Can be installed on any wall |
Window AC
Window ACs are mostly found in Indian households and they are also known as Monoblock ACs. They are simpler to install, do not require a lot of space, and are not complex as compared to the split ACs. All the components are included in the same unit and so, the installation and uninstallation are somewhat simpler. This means even if you live in a rented house and have to move frequently, this will not cost you a lot. If we talk about the look, they do not look as good and sophisticated as the split ones but they do their job well. Since the components are included in the same unit, these tend to make a lot of noise and that is one thing to consider while purchasing them. Also, they are not an ideal type for bigger spaces and rooms.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Relatively affordable | Noisy |
| Easier to install and uninstall | Block window |
| Maintenance is easier | Not ideal for larger rooms |
| Ideal for smaller rooms |
Portable AC
As the name itself suggests, portable ACs are easier to move from one room to another. They are somewhat like the window ACs but you can move them. These ACs come with a hose that has one of its ends connected to the AC unit while the other needs to be placed outside the window. If you are someone who does not want to spend on two ACs, this might be helpful for you. You can easily shift it from one place to another. However, it has its share of disadvantages that include more noise and a comparatively higher price. And to top all of that, you can use them only in smaller rooms.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Easy to move | Pricey |
| Easy installation | Noisy |
| Messy |
What AC capacity do you need for effective cooling?
This is one of the trickiest parts of purchasing an AC. You need to calculate the size of the room in which you wish to install the AC in. In India, AC capacity is rated at tonnage which measures the AC’s energy efficiency. Several factors affect the cooling of an AC including the number of windows, heat sources, area exposed to the sun, area exposed to the sun from outside, and the number of people in the room. The following table can help you to see what tonnage is appropriate for your room.
| Room Size | Tonnage |
| 100-120 sq. ft. | 0.5 Ton |
| 120-150 sq. ft. | 0.75 Ton |
| 150-180 sq. ft. | 1.00 Ton |
| 180-250 sq. ft. | 1.50 Ton |
| 300-350 sq. ft. | 2.00 Ton |
| 350-500 sq. ft. | 3.00 Ton |
Best AC brands in India
Before making an expensive purchase, one needs to be informed enough. While several brands offer some of the best ACs, picking a brand seems like a tough job. Below is a list of the top AC brands in India.
Voltas
Voltas offers some of the cheapest ACs to its customers. They come in all sizes and you can choose one according to your requirements.
Daikin
Daikin is known for offering some cheap AC online in India. You can buy a Daikin AC from several platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Croma, and more.
Haier
When looking for the best AC brand in India, consider Haier which offers products at affordable prices. You can buy both split and window AC from this brand.
Blue Star
Ranked one of the top AC brands in India in 2019, Blue Star is also one of the oldest AC brands in India and known for its energy-sufficient products.
Lloyd
Lloyd’s ACs are known for their smart features like wireless control, express cooling, and rapid cooling.
LG
LG is undoubtedly one of the best AC brands in India since it offers durable units at reasonable prices.
Hitachi
Hitachi is among the top AC brands in India that design its products to complement India’s energy efficiency standards. The brand manufactures ACs in all sizes as required by the Indian household.
Samsung
Samsung is a trusted AC brand in India and gives you the option to choose between 3- and 5-star ACs.
Panasonic
Panasonic is among the top AC brands in India. You might find the price of some products a little higher but you will never regret buying any piece from this brand.
Whirlpool
Whirlpool is known for offering some of the most pocket-friendly ACs making it a great brand for Indian consumers.
Which is better: Inverter Vs. Non-Inverter?
While an inverter AC is more energy-efficient, non-inverter AC is more pocket friendly. There is this misconception that inverter ACs run on some sort of power back up but that is not about it. The compressor of a non-inverter AC runs on full power until the room’s temperature reaches the desired temperature and after that, it stops working. Thus, this start-stop procedure puts a lot of load on the power supply and consumes a lot of power.
On the other hand, the inverter AC compressor runs all the time that does not put that much load on the power supply. And this is the reason Inverter ACs are more power-efficient than non-inverter ACs. However, this costs you more money.
Apart from these two, there are dual inverter ACs that use a more advanced version of motors that have twin rotators. These ACs use a single-cylinder, single rotatory compressor with variable speed. So, these ACs cover a wider frequency range and thus, offer better cooling and higher energy efficiency as compared to normal inverter ACs.
Additional features to consider while buying an AC
Buying appliances like an AC needs a lot of things that one needs to consider. While weight, type, inverter or non-inverter, and usage are some of the factors to consider but there are a few more factors that one should not neglect.
Auto Start
This feature is useful when there is a power outage. Some ACs do not restart on their own and auto-start is a great feature for such situations.
Dehumidification
While all ACs control humidity levels, some brands offer additional dehumidification feature that reduces humidity in the room. This feature is useful for areas that have high humidity; mostly coastal areas.
Smart Features; App Controls and Wi-Fi Connectivity
Since everything is being converted to a smarter version, ACs have also become smart now. Most ACs have smart features these days including Wi-Fi connectivity. You can keep your phone connected to the AC and operate it through it. Say, you are coming back home and it is a hot day. All you have to do is turn on the AC while you are on your way and before you enter the house, the AC will already be at the desired temperature. However, these features depend upon the brand and the price of course.
Best sites to buy AC online in India
Currently, there are several sites from which you can purchase a good air conditioner. Below is a list of the best sites from where you can make the purchase
Flipkart.com
The second name that comes to one’s mind when you want to purchase a cheap ac online is Flipkart. With so many options, you won’t close the website without making a purchase.
Amazon.in
The biggest player in the e-commerce industry, Amazon offers some of the finest ACs. Not only this, but the platform also offers some of the cheapest ACs online. Find the one that suits you the best and you can also get so many amazing offers for the payment and the EMIs.
Croma.com
While you can physically visit the store, the website allows you to scroll through their products and find the best fit. Apart from that, they have some of the best options. Croma also has so many great offers on AC online. Also, the website curates the best AC brands in India.
Tatacliq.com
At Tatacliq, everything comes from the best brands and their authorized resellers from India and across the world. Therefore, when it comes to buying an AC, you can get one of the best ACs here. Also, the platform curates top AC brands in India and thus, you can visit the website to buy one.
RelianceDigital.in
Like the other platforms, you will find ample options for buying ACs. Buying an AC from this platform is easy as you will find every information related to the product on the website itself. And since the platform offers regular deals and discounts, you might get a fantastic deal on online ac purchases.
So, the above details will help you to make a choice. Also, pay additional attention to the size because it can be tricky. While the bigger ones will lure you and you would think they can cool the room faster, on the other hand, they consume a lot of electricity. Beyond that, make sure you have a budget in mind and if you are exceeding it, you are getting a good deal with it. An additional sleep mode lets you save on power bills by reducing cooling every hour and so, you can also consider it.