APOWER vs PRIME: heat pump ratings compared
Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical APOWER model beats 58% and a typical PRIME model 20%. APOWER rates higher overall.
Covers heat pumps sold new today (R-454B and R-32 refrigerant). See older R-410A models · Updated
APOWER
58%
of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model
Above average19 models listed
PRIME
20%
of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model
Well below average18 models listed
- Efficiency on a 5°F dayCOP at 5°FAPOWER: Beats 49%PRIME: Beats 44%
- Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FAPOWER: Beats 65%PRIME: Beats 15%
- Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2APOWER: Beats 43%PRIME: Beats 21%
- Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2APOWER: Beats 61%PRIME: Beats 18%
- Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2APOWER: Beats 67%PRIME: Beats 32%
Average (50%)Dashed outline: the other brand, for comparison
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Rebate standards
CEE 2025
- APOWER
- 90%
- PRIME
- 11%
Xcel CC
- APOWER
- 95%
- PRIME
- 11%
CEE Advanced
- APOWER
- 16%
- PRIME
- 0%
ENERGY STAR CC
- APOWER
- 0%
- PRIME
- 0%
All-around best, ductless 2 tons
Balances heating (5°F output and efficiency, HSPF2) and cooling (SEER2, EER2), each rating against units their size.
Showing Ductless, 2 tons (21,000–26,999 Btu/h cooling). What size is my system?
APOWER
- 1AP24HP230VBOwith ductless indoor unit AP24HP230VBIAPOWER2 tons · 22,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 50.4Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 79% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Good
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 1.80 (COP at 5°F)
- Below the middle
- Winter efficiency
- 10.0 (HSPF2)
- Good
- Cooling efficiency
- 26.0 (SEER2)
- Top 10%
- Hot-day cooling
- 13.7 (EER2)
- Top 10%
- 2AP3M24HP230VMOAPOWER2 tons · 24,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 67.5Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 90% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Great
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 2.00 (COP at 5°F)
- Good
- Winter efficiency
- 10.0 (HSPF2)
- Good
- Cooling efficiency
- 21.0 (SEER2)
- Below the middle
- Hot-day cooling
- 13.3 (EER2)
- Great
- 3AP24HP230VAOwith ductless indoor unit AP24HP230VASIAPOWER2 tons · 24,000 Btu/h · DuctlessNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 64% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 65% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Below the middle
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 1.80 (COP at 5°F)
- Below the middle
- Winter efficiency
- 8.5 (HSPF2)
- Below the middle
- Cooling efficiency
- 19.0 (SEER2)
- Below the middle
- Hot-day cooling
- 11.9 (EER2)
- Below the middle
PRIME
- 1CMPRN242-W1with ductless indoor unit EMPRN242-W1PRIME2 tons · 23,000 Btu/h · DuctlessNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 58% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 58% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Below the middle
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 2.00 (COP at 5°F)
- Good
- Winter efficiency
- 8.5 (HSPF2)
- Below the middle
- Cooling efficiency
- 19.0 (SEER2)
- Below the middle
- Hot-day cooling
- 10.5 (EER2)
- Below the middle
- 2CMPRN242-V1with ductless indoor unit EMPRN242-V1PRIME2 tons · 23,000 Btu/h · DuctlessNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 53% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 54% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Below the middle
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 1.80 (COP at 5°F)
- Below the middle
- Winter efficiency
- 9.5 (HSPF2)
- Below the middle
- Cooling efficiency
- 17.0 (SEER2)
- Below the middle
- Hot-day cooling
- 9.5 (EER2)
- Below the middle
These are certified test ratings, not a recommendation for your home. The right size comes from a load calculation by a contractor.
Next steps
The advanced view adds ranks, both brands’ models inside every size class, standout models per rating and cold-weather curves.
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