Why This Comparison Still Matters
With another record-breaking British summer expected and greater pressure on improving household energy efficiency, choosing the right air conditioning system has never mattered more. Whether you’re installing a split or multi-split setup, Daikin and Mitsubishi remain the UK’s most trusted brands.
Brand Snapshots – What’s Changed for 2025?
| Feature | Daikin | Mitsubishi |
|---|---|---|
| Flagship refrigerant | Early mover to R-32, now rolling out R-290 on Altherma | Rapid R-32 adoption; R-290 pilot units planned 2026 |
| Top SEER/SCOP (UK) | Up to 8.3 / 5.1 (Stylish wall-mount) | Up to 8.7 / 5.2 (MSZ-LN Diamond) |
| Indoor noise (min.) | 19 dB(A) (Stylish 2.5 kW) | 18 dB(A) (MSZ-AP 2.0 kW) |
| Warranty (UK domestic) | 5 yrs; up to 7 yrs with D1+ installer | 5 yrs; 7 yrs with Diamond Dealer |
| Smart controls | Onecta app + Alexa/Google | MELCloud + Smart-ME controller |
| Typical 2.5 kW price | £530–£1,020 | £600–£1,100 |
Energy Efficiency & Refrigerants
Efficiency remains a key priority for homeowners — and a major ranking factor for Google. Daikin’s early R-32 adoption set the standard, while Mitsubishi’s Hyper-Heating compressors now achieve slightly higher SCOP values in UK conditions.
Across Airvana’s London and South-East installations, the real-world annual difference is under 4%.
Installer insight: If your EPC is already Grade C or better, zoning your home with a multi-split often saves more energy than chasing the highest SEER number.
Heating Performance in a British Winter
Mitsubishi’s Hyper-Heating range has long excelled below 5 °C. Daikin’s 2025 Bluevolution upgrades now maintain 100% output at −10 °C — suitable for virtually all UK homes.
Noise – The Decibel You Don’t Hear
Both brands offer exceptionally quiet systems. Indoors, Mitsubishi’s MSZ-AP reaches just 18 dB(A) — quieter than a rustling leaf.
This helps meet Part O regulations requiring bedrooms to stay below 30 dB(A) at night.
Smart Controls & Integration
Both brands now support modern automations including Alexa, Google Assistant and smart-home APIs.
Daikin’s new Onecta API (v1.15, 2025) finally allows reliable Home Assistant and Octopus Agile integration.
Running Costs – The Numbers That Matter
| Scenario | Daikin Stylish 3.5 kW | Mitsubishi MSZ-LN 3.5 kW |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling 500 h/year | £43 | £41 |
| Heating 400 h/year | £72 | £69 |
| Total annual running cost | £115 | £110 |
The difference is just £5 per year — choose based on features, not pennies.
Warranty & After-Sales
Daikin’s 7-year D1+ warranty covers both parts and labour when installed by an authorised partner such as Airvana.
Mitsubishi’s Diamond 7-year warranty is parts-only after year 5 unless you add their Service Care package.
Installation Standards – What Others Overlook
Under UK law, all refrigerant pipework must be pressure-tested with OFN, vacuumed to ≤ 500 microns and logged for five years. Airvana includes all of this as standard.
DIY or unregistered installations void warranties and may result in Environmental Agency penalties.
Real-World Case Studies
- Sevenoaks home: Two Daikin Comfora 2.5 kW units reduced bedroom noise to 20 dB(A) at pillow height.
- South London Pilates Studio: Mitsubishi Compact Cassettes created a silent training environment.
- Kent farmhouse: Hybrid Daikin Altherma + Mitsubishi wall-mount achieved COP 4.3 through February.
So… Daikin or Mitsubishi?
Choose Daikin if you want:
- Sleek designer wall units (Stylish series)
- Best-in-class smart-home integrations
- Full parts-and-labour 7-year D1+ warranty
Choose Mitsubishi if you need:
- Outstanding low-temperature heating
- Ultra-quiet operation at 18 dB(A)
- More flexible multi-split expansion
Ready for a Quote?
Still unsure? Send Airvana your room sizes and get a free two-option heat-load calculation within 24 hours.
Call 0203 370 6773 or email info@airvana.co.uk.
We specify, supply and install with full after-care and manufacturer warranty.