Against comparable models

Each cell is the share of same-size, same-type models that the manufacturer’s typical model beats (50% is typical); the higher score is in bold. Raw medians are underneath for context: they depend on which sizes each one makes, so they are not compared.

APOWER and PRIME on every ratingPeer scores, 0–100 · grey ticks: every ranked manufacturer · shaded: the middle half of each one’s modelsMeasured against models of the same size and duct type, APOWER scores higher on 6 of the 6 ratings.

APOWER
PRIME
Other ranked manufacturers

Source: AHRI Directory, NEEP · as of Oct 9, 2026

Average peer percentile, raw median and rank among ranked manufacturers
Rating	APOWER	PRIME
Efficiency index	58% (higher)median —	20% (higher)median —
COP at 5°F	49% (higher)median 2.00	44% (higher)median 1.95
Capacity retention at 5°F	65% (higher)median 90%	15% (higher)median 61%
HSPF2	43% (higher)median 9.2	21% (higher)median 8.2
SEER2	61% (higher)median 21.0	18% (higher)median 17.0
EER2	67% (higher)median 12.0	32% (higher)median 10.3
Heating capacity at 5°F	62% (higher)median 14,600 Btu/h	26% (higher)median 9,200 Btu/h
Outdoor models	19	18
AHRI certifications	55	18

Share of models meeting each standard

Percent of each manufacturer’s models with a qualifying certification
Standard	APOWER	PRIME
CEE 2025 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	89.5%17 models	11.1%2 models
CEE 2026 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	89.5%17 models	11.1%2 models
CEE Advanced Tier (Split ASHP)	15.8%3 models	0%0 models
Xcel Energy Colorado cold-climate ASHP (2025)	94.7%18 models	11.1%2 models
DOE Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge	15.8%3 models	0%0 models
ENERGY STAR Cold Climate	0%0 models	0%0 models

Sizes and duct types offered

Models in each peer group, with the efficiency index of those models against the rest of the group.

Side by side, inside each size and duct typeShape: every model of the group · bars: each manufacturer’s middle half, median dot, 10th–90th line · 7 groups where both have models

APOWER
PRIME
All models of the group

Raw ratings are only placed side by side within one size and duct type, where they are comparable.

Source: AHRI Directory · as of Oct 9, 2026

Models per peer group · efficiency index within the group
Size and duct type	APOWER	PRIME
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	5 · index 72%	1 · index —
Ducted, 2 tons	2 · index 64%	1 · index —
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	4 · index 61%	2 · index —
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	2 · index 74%	3 · index —
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	9 · index 45%	6 · index 23%
Non-ducted, 2 tons	3 · index 55%	2 · index 18%
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	4 · index 60%	3 · index 8%
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	1 · index 68%	None

Cold-climate and all-around picks, size class by size class

Each manufacturer’s best model on each board in every size and duct type, side by side; the higher score is in bold. Both scores are 0–100 against every model of that size class (the line on each bar is 50, the typical model there), so the two compare fairly even when they make different sizes.

Cold-climate picks

Best cold-climate pick per size and duct type (keeps at least 70% of its heat at 5°F). Qualifies when its capacity retention at 5°F (capacity at 5°F as a share of capacity at 47°F) is at least 70% and Capacity retention at 5°F, COP at 5°F, HSPF2 are all rated. Score = the equal-weight mean of its peer percentiles on Capacity retention at 5°F, COP at 5°F, HSPF2 (share of the other models in its peer group it beats, 0–100), all from one certified pairing: in each duct type a model is sold in, its qualifying pairing of that type with the best score; equal scores (one decimal) go to the higher heating capacity at 5°F.
Size and duct type	APOWERCold-climate score, best model	PRIMECold-climate score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	69.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)AP24HP230VBOwith ducted air handler APDE09HP230VAIAlso listed as AP09HP230VBO5 of 5 models qualify · AHRI 215832423	None on this board (0 of 1 models qualify)
Ducted, 2 tons	49.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)AP3M24HP230VMO1 of 1 models qualify · AHRI 215832436	None on this board (0 of 1 models qualify)
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	76.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)APFH36HP230VAO-R32with ducted air handler APF36HP230VAI-R325 of 5 models qualify · AHRI 217655829	None on this board (0 of 2 models qualify)
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	85.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)APFH60HP230VAO-R32with ducted air handler APF60HP230VAI-R322 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 217655831	None on this board (0 of 3 models qualify)
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	62.2(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)AP09HP230VBOwith ductless indoor unit AP09HP230VBI9 of 9 models qualify · AHRI 215832408	42.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)CMPRN182-W1with ductless indoor unit EMPRN182-W12 of 6 models qualify · AHRI 217747236
Non-ducted, 2 tons	67.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)AP3M24HP230VMO2 of 3 models qualify · AHRI 215832435	None on this board (0 of 2 models qualify)
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	77.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)AP5M36HP230VMOAlso listed as AP4M36HP230VMO4 of 4 models qualify · AHRI 215832441	None on this board (0 of 3 models qualify)
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	66.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)AP5M42HP230VMO1 of 1 models qualify · AHRI 215832444	No models in this size class

All-around best

Best all-around model per size and duct type. Score = 50% heating, the mean of its peer percentiles on COP at 5°F, Capacity retention at 5°F, HSPF2, plus 50% cooling, the mean of its peer percentiles on SEER2 and EER2 (share of the other models in its peer group it beats, 0–100). All five ratings are required; there is no minimum heat kept at 5°F. In each duct type a model is sold in, it is scored on its pairing of that type with the best score; equal scores (one decimal) go to the higher cold-climate score, then the higher heating capacity at 5°F.
Size and duct type	APOWERAll-around score, best model	PRIMEAll-around score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	83.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)AP24HP230VBOwith ducted air handler APDE09HP230VAIAlso listed as AP09HP230VBO5 of 5 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215832423	None on this board (0 of 1 models have all five ratings)
Ducted, 2 tons	72.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)APFH36HP230VAO-R32with ducted air handler APF24HP230VAI-R322 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217655828	None on this board (0 of 1 models have all five ratings)
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	64.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)AP36HP230VAOwith ducted air handler AP36HP230VDAI4 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215832432	None on this board (0 of 2 models have all five ratings)
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	83.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)APFH60HP230VAO-R32with ducted air handler APF48HP230VAI-R322 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217655830	None on this board (0 of 3 models have all five ratings)
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	78.0(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)AP09HP230VBOwith ductless indoor unit AP09HP230VBI9 of 9 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215832408	38.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)CMPRN121-W1with ductless indoor unit EMPRN121-W16 of 6 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217747235
Non-ducted, 2 tons	72.2(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)AP24HP230VBOwith ductless indoor unit AP24HP230VBI3 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215832411	23.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)CMPRN242-W1with ductless indoor unit EMPRN242-W12 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217747228
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	70.5(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)AP4M30HP230VMO4 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215832438	7.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)CMPRN362-V1with ductless indoor unit EMPRN362-V11 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216505870
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	67.7(50 is the typical model of its size class)AP5M42HP230VMO1 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215832444	No models in this size class

All-around board, every manufacturer

Standout model on each rating

Each manufacturer’s model that beats the largest share of comparable models on the rating; the higher share is in bold.

Top model per rating by peer percentile, with its AHRI-certified value and peer group
Rating	APOWER	PRIME
COP at 5°F	beats 88% · 2.10AP5M36HP230VMOAlso listed as AP4M36HP230VMONon-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	beats 96% · 2.21CMPRN362-W1Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons
Capacity retention at 5°F	beats 94% · 100%APFH60HP230VAO-R32Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	beats 44% · 74%CMPRN122-W1Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
HSPF2	beats 90% · 10.5APFH60HP230VAO-R32Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	beats 45% · 9.5CMPRN121-V1Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
SEER2	beats 99% · 22.5AP18HP230VBODucted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 56% · 22.0CMPRN121-W1Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
EER2	beats 97% · 14.2AP24HP230VBOAlso listed as AP09HP230VBODucted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 74% · 12.0CMPRN302-ADucted, 2.5–3 tons
Heating capacity at 5°F	beats 98% · 54,000 Btu/hAPFH60HP230VAO-R32Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	beats 73% · 12,600 Btu/hCMPRN182-W1Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons

More comparisons

Pick any two manufacturers

APOWER vs PRIME heat pumps