Brands we fit
Air conditioning brands: Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric and Panasonic compared
These are the air conditioning brands Apex fits most: Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric and Panasonic, plus Airzone zoning for ducted systems. All three make reliable heat-and-cool systems. The differences are in looks, size, apps and air cleaning, and we help you choose for your room, not for a sales target.
The makes we fit
Air conditioning brands we install and service
Each brand page shows the ranges we fit, the jobs we have done with that make and how we look after it.
Daikin air conditioning
Daikin is a Japanese maker and one of the largest air conditioning manufacturers in the world. Its range runs from compact bedroom wall units and design-led Emura and Stylish models to ducted, cassette and VRV systems for whole buildings, all heating as well as cooling.
Daikin ranges
Mitsubishi Electric air conditioning
Mitsubishi Electric is a Japanese maker of quiet, well-built heat-and-cool systems: M Series wall units such as the Zen, floor consoles, and Mr Slim and City Multi systems for businesses. Many current units connect to the MELCloud app.
Mitsubishi Electric ranges
Panasonic air conditioning
Panasonic makes compact, quiet heat-and-cool units, many with nanoe X air cleaning or PM2.5 filters and control through the Comfort Cloud app. It is the make that appears most in our own job posts, from TZ bedroom units to ducted systems.
Panasonic ranges
Airzone zoning
Room-by-room control for ducted systems from any of the brands above: a thermostat in each room and motorised dampers in the ducts. How Airzone zoning works.
Side by side
Daikin vs Mitsubishi Electric vs Panasonic
A quick comparison of the home and commercial ranges we fit. Makers update their models often, so we confirm the current options at the survey.
Swipe sideways to see the whole table →
| Feature | Daikin | Mitsubishi Electric | Panasonic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design wall units | Emura, Stylish | Zen | Etherea |
| Compact units for small rooms | Stylish | DW, AY | TZ, BZ (779mm wide) |
| Phone app | Onecta | MELCloud | Comfort Cloud |
| Air cleaning | Purifying on Ururu Sarara | Optional Plasma Quad Connect on some models | nanoe X and PM2.5 filters on many models |
| Floor consoles | Yes | Yes (MFZ) | Yes |
| Ducted and cassette | Yes, including slim ducted | Yes, Mr Slim range | Yes, pairs with Airzone |
| Large commercial systems | VRV and mini VRV | City Multi | PACi and ECOi |
Want the detail? See the Daikin ranges we fit, Mitsubishi Electric models or Panasonic units.
Honest advice
Does the brand matter?
Less than most people think. All three makers are long-established Japanese companies. Their current home wall units are inverter heat pumps, mostly on R32 refrigerant, with Wi-Fi control and quiet indoor units. A well-sized unit from any of them will outperform a badly sized or badly fitted one from another.
What makes the bigger difference:
- Sizing. A unit chosen from a room-by-room heat-gain calculation, not a guess.
- The install. Pipework pressure-tested and vacuumed properly, a sound drain and a sensible outdoor position.
- Servicing. A yearly service keeps it efficient and keeps the maker's warranty valid.
One customer put our approach simply: "from the initial unbiased advice, through to installation, I have no complaints whatsoever".
By room
Which make suits which room?
- Small bedroom. A compact, quiet unit such as the Panasonic TZ or BZ, or Mitsubishi Electric DW. See wall mounted air conditioning.
- Living room on show. A design unit: Daikin Emura or Stylish, Mitsubishi Electric Zen or Panasonic Etherea.
- Loft or radiator spot. A floor console. All three make one. See floor mounted air conditioning.
- Cleaner air. Panasonic nanoe X models, or the Daikin Ururu Sarara.
- Office or shop. Cassettes or ducted units from any of the three, or Daikin VRV for larger buildings. See commercial air conditioning.
A photo is often enough for a first idea of what will work.
Other makes
We look after other brands too
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is a separate company from Mitsubishi Electric, with its own ranges and parts. We fit and service both, as well as Samsung, and we service and repair most other makes, including Fujitsu. Not sure which type of system you need? Compare ducted systems and ceiling cassettes, or read our guide to what air conditioning costs.
Fitted by Apex
Daikin, Panasonic and Mitsubishi units we have fitted
Photos from our own installs.
Reviews
“Cannot fault either the equipment or Apex”
Word for word from Google and Checkatrade.
Had three units installed now and cannot fault either the equipment or Apex, from the initial unbiased advice, through to installation, I have no complaints whatsoever. Would recommend to anyone
Olly and Andy came to install Mitsubishi HI a 7kw and a 12kw multi-split units. Not a small job as we had 7 indoor units to hang and lots of awkward trunking /pipe runs in eves and suffixes. All in all, a very friendly and professionally installation. I am especially impressed with Olly who is very careful with the work and has a keen eye for detail - a part I highly recommend. Olly and Andy came with shoe protectors, dust sheets and mobile vacuums, keeping all things tidy and clean at all times. Not pushy and very accomodating with all our requirements. Highly recommended!
Apex installed a Panasonic air condition unit through the summer, and we are extremely happy and highly recommend
Questions
Air conditioning brands FAQs
Which air conditioning brand is best?
There is no single answer. Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric and Panasonic all make reliable, efficient heat-and-cool systems, and their current home wall units mostly use R32 refrigerant. The right choice depends on the room, the look you want, the features you will use and your budget. The size of the unit and the quality of the install matter more than the badge.
Is Daikin better than Mitsubishi Electric?
Not across the board. Daikin has a wider range of design units, such as the Emura and Stylish, and a strong commercial VRV range. Mitsubishi Electric is known for very quiet M Series wall units and the Zen design range. For a typical bedroom or living room, either does the job well. We show you the current models side by side.
Is Panasonic as good as Daikin?
For most homes, yes. Panasonic is the make that appears most in our own job posts because its compact, quiet units suit so many UK bedrooms and garden rooms, and nanoe X air cleaning is built into its premium models. Daikin offers more design-led finishes. Both are made by long-established Japanese companies.
Does the brand affect the warranty?
Yes. Each maker sets its own warranty terms, and the length often depends on the installer's status with that maker, registering the system on time and a yearly service. We tell you the exact warranty for the model in your quote, in writing, so you can compare like for like.
Do you service other makes of air conditioning?
Yes. Besides the three main makes, we fit Samsung and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and we service and repair most other makes, including Fujitsu. Send us a photo of the label on your indoor unit and we will tell you what we can do. See air conditioning servicing.
Olly HughesTalk to Olly directly
Tell Olly what you need
Send a photo of the room or the unit on WhatsApp, or give him a call. Olly will tell you honestly what will work and what it costs.
07383 978970