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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 average

19 models listed

PRIME

20%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Well below average

18 models listed

Rating by ratingEach bar is the share of same-size, same-type heat pumps that a typical model beats, so the two brands compare fairly even if they make different sizes.
  • 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

Want ranks, distributions per size class and cold-weather curves? Switch to Advanced

Rebate standards

Share of each brand’s models that meet the level. Programs can have other rules too.

  • 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 up to 1.5 tons

Balances heating (5°F output and efficiency, HSPF2) and cooling (SEER2, EER2), each rating against units their size.

Showing Ductless, Up to 1.5 tons (under 21,000 Btu/h cooling). What size is my system?

APOWER

  1. 1AP09HP230VBOwith ductless indoor unit AP09HP230VBIAPOWER1 ton · 9,100 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 62.2Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    90% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.88 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    10.4 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    26.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    15.0 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    78.0score / 100Heating 62 · Cooling 94
  2. 2AP12HP230VBOwith ductless indoor unit AP12HP230VBIAPOWER1 ton · 12,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 57.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    92% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.95 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    24.5 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    13.0 (EER2)
    Good
    67.7score / 100Heating 58 · Cooling 78
  3. 3AP18HP230VBOwith ductless indoor unit AP18HP230VBIAPOWER1.5 tons · 18,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 46.0Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    81% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    24.5 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    13.7 (EER2)
    Great
    64.3score / 100Heating 46 · Cooling 83

PRIME

  1. 1CMPRN121-W1with ductless indoor unit EMPRN121-W1PRIME1 ton · 12,000 Btu/h · DuctlessNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 66% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026
    Heat kept at 5°F
    67% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.05 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    22.0 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    10.0 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    38.0score / 100Heating 39 · Cooling 37
  2. 2CMPRN182-W1with ductless indoor unit EMPRN182-W1PRIME1.5 tons · 18,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 42.2Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    70% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.09 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    19.0 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    11.0 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    33.4score / 100Heating 42 · Cooling 25
  3. 3CMPRN122-W1with ductless indoor unit EMPRN122-W1PRIME1 ton · 12,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 37.8Meets Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    74% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    8.3 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    18.5 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    9.5 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    25.1score / 100Heating 38 · Cooling 12

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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