10 Best Inverter Air Conditioners in the Philippines 2022 | Kolin, Samsung, and More

To give you a rundown, here are our top 5 picks for the best inverter air conditioners you can buy online:

1. Best overall: Kolin Window-Type Inverter Air Conditioner KAG145WCINV
2. Best for health-conscious families: Koppel Super Inverter III Split Wall Mount Aircon KV09WM-ARF21C2/KV09OD-ARF21C2
3. Best portable cooling unit: LG DUAL Inverter Portable Air Conditioner PA150DLX
4. Best value for money: Samsung Basic S-Inverter Split Type Aircon AR-12TYHYEWKNTC
5. Best window-type inverter aircon: Hitachi Window Type Inverter Aircon RA-06HSV

The products we introduce below were carefully curated by the mybest team, from the best-sellers of E-commerce sites like Lazada, and using the points mentioned in our detailed and thoroughly researched buying guide.

**Prices may vary depending on the website and their campaign period.**

Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.

An inverter air conditioner can save electricity if you select the correct size, but it won't be as efficient if you happen to choose the wrong size for your space. With that said, to save electricity, start by purchasing an aircon with a horsepower (HP) that is suitable for your area. To know how much HP you need for your room, please see the guide below: 

• 10.5 sqm - 0.5 HP 
• 11-14 sqm - 0.75 HP 
• 15-21 sqm - 1.0 HP 
• 22-25 sqm - 1.5 HP 
• 26-28 sqm - 2.0 HP 
• 39-48 sqm - 2.5 HP 

Aside from the floor area and horsepower, you should also turn off your aircon after 4-5 hours to reduce the stress and electrical consumption of the unit. Considering these tips in your next aircon purchase may save you electricity costs that you can allot to improve other aspects of your home!

Air conditioners should be professionally cleaned once a year. However, there are a couple of ways to clean your aircon at home without a professional for proper maintenance. 

1. Using a toothbrush or brush with a solution of warm water and vinegar, softly bristle the filter to remove the dirt. 
2. Continue until the filter is clean and returns to its original color. 

Clean the condenser coils and water pan:

1. Use a soft bristle brush and a spray of a house cleaner to remove the dirt and dust. However, be extra careful not to bend the coil fins.
2. Using warm water and white vinegar solution, clean the water pan or base of the unit.

According to aircon technicians, you should have your aircon professionally cleaned twice a year or every 6 months, and your aircon filter every 2 weeks. However, this can also be contextual since some air conditioners are placed in dusty and busy areas. Thus, the unit accumulates more dirt causing unnecessary stress to your air conditioner. 

Here are some key points to consider:

1. Choose the type of aircon unit based on your preference.
2. Get the cooling appropriate for your space.
3. Opt for higher EER to cut down energy costs.
4. Select an AC With the lowest noise level possible for quiet operation.
   
5. Go for a CFC-Free refrigerant for a lower carbon footprint.
   
6. Look for additional features that offer more value and convenience.
   

For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.

There are different types of air conditioning units available in the market today. You can narrow down your choice by looking at the most popular ones below.

If your house cannot be affixed with ducts, you could opt for a split-type air conditioner. You can have the compressor and condenser out of your living space and get an indoor air-handling unit to control the temperature and air volume inside the room.

This indoor unit is usually wall-mounted and releases cold air sideways with the help of the fans inside. Most people prefer this as it saves more space inside their homes than a window-type unit. It also looks sleek, so it can blend with your home's aesthetics better.

However, it requires wall drilling and raceway installations to connect with the condensing unit placed outside. With that said, you might need to plan all those out before the installation. 

Among the different types of air conditioners, the window-type is probably the most common air conditioning unit you will see in a Filipino household. You can find this commonly installed in smaller rooms or confined spaces since it only requires a small rectangular hole to be put in place.

Given its popularity and efficiency, window-type units are the best for condo units as some rooms are already designed with a holed wall. Aside from the portable air conditioner, the window-type is more convenient and an all-in-one appliance that requires minimum installation cost. 

If you don't want to break down walls or take down a portion of your window, a portable air conditioning unit can work best for you. All you need is a working power outlet inside the room as the appliance can be conveniently moved wherever needed. 

Just make sure to consider the correct cooling capacity that your area requires so that you don't end up with a low-powered unit that won't be able to cool your entire area.  

The most important thing to consider in making this purchase is the size of the room it is supposed to cool. Knowing the appropriate cooling power needed for a specific room will keep your electricity consumption lower and your power bill reasonable. 

A room with less than 18 square meters should have at least a 0.75 HP air conditioner, while any other room with 22 square meters must get a 1 HP capacity. On another note, a 28 to 40 square meter room would need a 2.0HP unit.

To ensure the energy efficiency of your air conditioner, check the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) of your unit. The minimum allowed for air conditioners is 9.1 EER. The relationship between the EER and electricity consumption is indirectly proportional: the higher the EER, the lower your electricity bill is! Another plus? A higher EER means it's a more environment-friendly unit!

Who wants extra noise in your room anyway? Limit the unnecessary noise by choosing an aircon that operates quietly. The best way to confirm this is by checking the unit's noise level or sound level that is usually indicated on its specifications. You might also want to refer to this guide to gauge how quiet a particular decibel is. 

• Whisper: 30dB 
• Library: 40dB
• Moderate rain: 50dB
• Normal conversation: 60dB 

Most inverter air conditioners operate on 30-60dB, but choosing the lowest noise level possible would be best, so you can place it in different areas in your home, like your bedroom and workspace without worrying about being interrupted during your work or rest.

Purchasing an air conditioner promises comfort, but it shouldn't be at the expense of the environment. Understanding the different types of refrigerants in your air conditioner can help you decide the best environmentally-friendly unit to purchase. These are the most common types of refrigerants:

1. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), including R12 refrigerant - this type is known to contribute to the greenhouse gas effect, so it was discontinued in 1994.
2. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), including R22 - these are slightly less damaging to the ozone than R12 but are still hazardous given their volume of users, so they were completely discontinued by 2020.
3. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), including R410A and R134 - HFCs are generally safer for the environment. The units that run on these refrigerants are more efficient in cost and energy, reliable, and able to produce better air quality.

Even though the CFCs and HCFCs are already phased out, you may still stumble upon them when buying older units. Hence, it is best to double-check and be conscious about the units that we are purchasing. This way, we can be assured of our health, and we could be at peace knowing that it's not harming the environment.

An aircon is considered both a luxury and a necessity in the Philippines, so when we purchase one, we try to look for the unit that can give us a bang for our buck. If you want to do this, it is a good idea to look for one with additional features that can offer you convenience in the long run.

Here are a few features to look out for when choosing an air conditioner: 

1. Automatic Temperature Control - this feature automatically changes the aircon's temperature based on the room's heat. This prevents rooms from being too cold or too hot!  
2. Timer - This function turns your unit off at a specific time. Setting a timer in your aircon before you sleep can also help reduce the electricity consumption of your unit!
3. Air Filter - different aircon units have different filter features. Some eliminate odor, while others prevent mildew from entering your house! 
4. App-Connected - some aircon units can be connected through an app on your device. This would enable you to check the status and the number of hours it has been running. It can also let you control your unit using your device! 

Living in the tropics means that the outdoor temperatures, no matter what the season is, will be warm throughout the year. Hence, you should choose a cooling unit that freshens up your home. To expand your choices, check out some helpful links below!

Author: Laura Mercado

Re-editor: Bill Urrutia

Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.