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.

Samsung and Star Air Kontrol 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, Samsung and Star Air Kontrol split the 6 ratings 3–3.

Samsung
Star Air Kontrol
Other ranked manufacturers

Source: AHRI Directory, NEEP · as of Oct 11, 2026

Average peer percentile, raw median and rank among ranked manufacturers
Rating	Samsung	Star Air Kontrol
Efficiency index	62% (higher)median — · 5th ranked	56% (higher)median —
COP at 5°F	45%median 1.99 · 24th ranked	61%median 2.10
Capacity retention at 5°F	66% (higher)median 80% · 2nd ranked	46% (higher)median 72%
HSPF2	60%median 9.7 · 10th ranked	66%median 9.6
SEER2	61%median 21.2 · 5th ranked	62%median 19.0
EER2	71% (higher)median 13.0 · 1st ranked	45% (higher)median 11.0
Heating capacity at 5°F	70% (higher)median 17,900 Btu/h · 1st ranked	51% (higher)median 19,700 Btu/h
Outdoor models	82	51
AHRI certifications	496	64

Share of models meeting each standard

Percent of each manufacturer’s models with a qualifying certification
Standard	Samsung	Star Air Kontrol
CEE 2025 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	95.1%78 models	84.3%43 models
CEE 2026 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	95.1%78 models	78.4%40 models
CEE Advanced Tier (Split ASHP)	9.8%8 models	2%1 models
Xcel Energy Colorado cold-climate ASHP (2025)	90.2%74 models	70.6%36 models
DOE Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge	9.8%8 models	2%1 models
ENERGY STAR Cold Climate	61%50 models	49%25 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 · 10 groups where both have models

Samsung
Star Air Kontrol
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 11, 2026

Models per peer group · efficiency index within the group
Size and duct type	Samsung	Star Air Kontrol
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	5 · index 55%	6 · index 72%
Ducted, 2 tons	8 · index 56%	6 · index 64%
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	11 · index 66%	7 · index 60%
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	9 · index 57%	10 · index 54%
Ducted, 5 tons and up	3 · index 68%	2 · index 64%
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	41 · index 66%	14 · index 54%
Non-ducted, 2 tons	15 · index 58%	3 · index 52%
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	10 · index 59%	6 · index 42%
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	5 · index 45%	2 · index 43%
Non-ducted, 5 tons and up	3 · index 73%	1 · index 27%

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	SamsungCold-climate score, best model	Star Air KontrolCold-climate score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	56.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)AC009DXSCCGwith ducted air handler AC009DNHDCG5 of 5 models qualify · AHRI 216441745	93.5(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)SAK-06-DT2/220Vwith ducted air handler SAK-06-DT1/220V5 of 6 models qualify · AHRI 216369214
Ducted, 2 tons	64.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)AC024FCUPCGwith ducted air handler HE-XX-5-BC+TXV+RDS+TDR7 of 8 models qualify · AHRI 218405855	77.1(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)SAK-24-DT2/220Vwith ducted air handler SAK-24-DT1/220V7 of 7 models qualify · AHRI 216369218
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	80.3(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)AC036FCUPCGwith ducted air handler CV362B*A+TXV+AEF48BXP11 of 11 models qualify · AHRI 217993392	64.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)S36SCQ2Cwith ducted air handler S36AUPDA4 of 6 models qualify · AHRI 218806027
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	71.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)AC048FCUPCGwith ducted air handler CH606C*C+TXV+AEF60CXP8 of 9 models qualify · AHRI 217993424	77.9(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)SAK-48-QZ/220V10 of 10 models qualify · AHRI 216369242
Ducted, 5 tons and up	83.7(50 is the typical model of its size class)AM060FCMDCG13 of 3 models qualify · AHRI 216016316	None on this board (0 of 2 models qualify)
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	92.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)AR15DXDACWKXwith ductless indoor unit AR15DXDABWKNAlso listed as AR15DXDABWKX36 of 41 models qualify · AHRI 215222778	94.4(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)SAK-06-OCT2/220Vwith ductless indoor unit SAK-06-OCT1/220V9 of 14 models qualify · AHRI 216369228
Non-ducted, 2 tons	82.9(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)AM024HCMDCG14 of 15 models qualify · AHRI 218717190	73.7(50 is the typical model of its size class)SAK-24-CT2/220Vwith ductless indoor unit SAK-24-CT1/220V3 of 3 models qualify · AHRI 216369225
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	82.5(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)AM036FCMDCGAlso listed as AM036HCMDCS10 of 10 models qualify · AHRI 216032693	62.8(50 is the typical model of its size class)SAK-36-CT2/220Vwith ductless indoor unit SAK-36-CT1/220V4 of 6 models qualify · AHRI 216369226
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	57.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)AM048FCMDCGAlso listed as AM048HCMDCS4 of 5 models qualify · AHRI 216032694	60.1(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)SAK-48-QZ/220V2 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 216369243
Non-ducted, 5 tons and up	84.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)AM060FCMDCG13 of 3 models qualify · AHRI 216032696	None on this board (0 of 1 models qualify)

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	SamsungAll-around score, best model	Star Air KontrolAll-around score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	71.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)AC009DXSCCGwith ducted air handler AC009DNLDCG5 of 5 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216441743	95.0(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)SAK-06-DT2/220Vwith ducted air handler SAK-06-DT1/220V6 of 6 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216369214
Ducted, 2 tons	79.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)AJ020DXS3CG8 of 8 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216372803	79.6(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)SAK-24SQN2-M18Mwith ducted air handler SAK-24SQN1-M18MAlso listed as SAK-36SQN2-M18M7 of 7 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218612775
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	80.7(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)AC030DXSCCGwith ducted air handler AC030DNHDCG11 of 11 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215385456	69.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)S27TZL2C*6 of 6 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218374496
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	73.7(50 is the typical model of its size class)AM048FCMDCGAlso listed as AM048HCMDCS9 of 9 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216014183	85.1(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)SAK-48-QZ/220V10 of 10 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216369242
Ducted, 5 tons and up	84.6(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)AM060FCMDCG13 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216016316	65.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)SAK-60-DT2/220Vwith ducted air handler SAK-60-DT1/220V2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216369221
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	89.6(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)AR09DXDACWKXwith ductless indoor unit AR09DXDABWKNAlso listed as AR09DXDABWKX41 of 41 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215399292	85.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)SAK-06-OCT2/220Vwith ductless indoor unit SAK-06-OCT1/220V14 of 14 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216369228
Non-ducted, 2 tons	90.7(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)AM024HCMDCG15 of 15 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218717190	66.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)SAK-24-CT2/220Vwith ductless indoor unit SAK-24-CT1/220V3 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216369225
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	78.8(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)AM036FCMDCGAlso listed as AM036HCMDCS10 of 10 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216032693	65.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)S27TZL2C*6 of 6 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218426452
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	66.3(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)AM048FCMDCGAlso listed as AM048HCMDCS5 of 5 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216032694	52.8(50 is the typical model of its size class)SAK-48-QZ/220V2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216369243
Non-ducted, 5 tons and up	91.6(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)AM060FCMDCG13 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216032696	32.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)SAK-60-QZ/220V1 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216369244

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	Samsung	Star Air Kontrol
COP at 5°F	beats 98% · 2.50AR15DXDACWKXAlso listed as AR15DXDABWKXNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 98% · 2.47SAK-12-OCT2/220VNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
Capacity retention at 5°F	beats 99% · 85%AM060FCMDCG1Ducted, 5 tons and up	beats 94% · 100%S48SCQ2CDucted, 3.5–4.5 tons
HSPF2	beats 99% · 10.5AM060FCMDCG1Ducted, 5 tons and up	beats 99% · 13.8SAK-06-DT2/220VDucted, up to 1.5 tons
SEER2	beats 98% · 23.0AM060FCMDCG1Non-ducted, 5 tons and up	beats 99% · 22.0S27TZL2C*Ducted, 2.5–3 tons
EER2	beats 100% · 17.0AM024HCMDCGNon-ducted, 2 tons	beats 99% · 14.4SAK-06-DT2/220VDucted, up to 1.5 tons
Heating capacity at 5°F	beats 100% · 54,000 Btu/hAC024DXSCCGNon-ducted, 2 tons	beats 91% · 50,000 Btu/hS60SCQ2CDucted, 3.5–4.5 tons

More comparisons

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Samsung vs Star Air Kontrol heat pumps