MiniSplit Facts

ACiQ Standard vs Daikin Aurora

Different factories: ACiQ Standard's certified ratings match models Midea certifies under its own name; Daikin certifies its own units with ENERGY STAR. ACiQ Standard has 23 products on sale across 1 category, priced $959.99 to $2,449.99. Daikin Aurora has 5 products on sale across 1 category, priced $1,473 to $2,981. Largest system: 36,000 BTU/h (ACiQ Standard 36,000 BTU wall mount system) against 24,000 BTU/h (Daikin Aurora 24,000 BTU wall mount system). Highest SEER2 (cooling efficiency): 26 (ACiQ Standard 9,000 BTU floor console system) against 21 (Daikin Aurora 15,000 BTU wall mount system). Highest HSPF2 (heating efficiency): 13.9 (ACiQ Standard 9,000 BTU floor console system) against 10.5 (Daikin Aurora 15,000 BTU wall mount system). Most heat at 5 °F: 19,700 BTU/h (ACiQ Standard 30,000 BTU wall mount system) against 24,000 BTU/h (Daikin Aurora 24,000 BTU wall mount system).

At a glance

Fact ACiQ Standard Daikin Aurora
Launched 2024 2024
Products on sale235
CategoriesSingle-zone systems (23)Single-zone systems (5)
Price range$959.99 – $2,449.99cheapest: 9,000 BTU 115V wall mount system$1,473 – $2,981cheapest: 9,000 BTU wall mount system
Largest system36,000 BTU/h36,000 BTU wall mount system24,000 BTU/h24,000 BTU wall mount system
Highest SEER2 (cooling efficiency)269,000 BTU floor console system2115,000 BTU wall mount system
Highest HSPF2 (heating efficiency)13.99,000 BTU floor console system10.515,000 BTU wall mount system
Most heat at 5 °F19,700 BTU/h30,000 BTU wall mount system24,000 BTU/h24,000 BTU wall mount system
Keeps heating in the coldest weathernone publishednone published
Longest compressor warranty12 years12,000 BTU 115V wall mount systemnone published
Warranty if you install it yourselfLicensed installer requiredon 23 productsLicensed installer requiredon 5 products
Where soldHVACDirectGot Ductless, HVACDirect

Who makes them?

Different factories: ACiQ Standard's certified ratings match models Midea certifies under its own name; Daikin certifies its own units with ENERGY STAR.

ACiQ Standard

22 of ACiQ Standard's 22 ENERGY STAR certified systems carry certified ratings identical to models Midea certifies under its own name, which points to Midea as the maker (inferred from the certification records; not a statement by ACiQ).

  • Midea: 22 systems with identical certified ratings

Daikin Aurora

confirmed Daikin. source ↗

How we work out who makes what →

Part by part

Matched by each product's size tier within its own line, so a row pairs each brand's compact, medium, large or XL piece. Tiers are for lining lineups up; the dimensions say how big each one really is.

Single-zone systems 23 vs 5

TierACiQ StandardDaikin Aurora
9,000 BTU
9,000 BTU 115V wall mount system 9,000 BTU/h · 24.5 · $959.99
9,000 BTU ceiling cassette system 9,000 BTU/h · 21.6 · $1,456.99
9,000 BTU concealed duct system 9,000 BTU/h · 19.7 · $1,606.99
9,000 BTU floor console system 9,000 BTU/h · 26 · $1,506.99
9,000 BTU slim ceiling cassette system 9,000 BTU/h · 22.1 · $1,706.99
9,000 BTU wall mount system 9,000 BTU/h · 24.6 · $1,059.99
9,000 BTU wall mount system 9,000 BTU/h · 21 · $1,473
12,000 BTU
12,000 BTU 115V wall mount system 12,000 BTU/h · 23.2 · $1,099.99
12,000 BTU ceiling cassette system 12,000 BTU/h · 21.1 · $1,739.99
12,000 BTU concealed duct system 12,000 BTU/h · 19.5 · $1,839.99
12,000 BTU floor console system 12,000 BTU/h · 24.6 · $1,789.99
12,000 BTU slim ceiling cassette system 12,000 BTU/h · 22.1 · $1,889.99
12,000 BTU wall mount system 12,000 BTU/h · 23.1 · $1,199.99
12,000 BTU wall mount system 12,000 BTU/h · 20 · $1,543
15,000 BTU —
15,000 BTU wall mount system 15,000 BTU/h · 21 · $2,382
18,000 BTU
18,000 BTU ceiling cassette system 18,000 BTU/h · 20.7 · $1,944.99
18,000 BTU concealed duct system 18,000 BTU/h · 20 · $2,044.99
18,000 BTU floor console system 18,000 BTU/h · 22.3 · $2,088.99
18,000 BTU slim ceiling cassette system 18,000 BTU/h · 22.2 · $2,124.99
18,000 BTU wall mount system 18,000 BTU/h · 24 · $1,399.99
18,000 BTU wall mount system 18,000 BTU/h · 21 · $2,759
24,000 BTU
24,000 BTU ceiling cassette system 24,000 BTU/h · 22 · $2,256.99
24,000 BTU concealed duct system 24,000 BTU/h · 19 · $2,356.99
24,000 BTU floor console system 24,000 BTU/h · 21.1 · $2,356.99
24,000 BTU wall mount system 24,000 BTU/h · 23.5 · $1,699.99
24,000 BTU wall mount system 24,000 BTU/h · 21 · $2,981
30,000 BTU
30,000 BTU wall mount system 30,000 BTU/h · 20 · $2,149.99
 —
36,000 BTU
36,000 BTU wall mount system 36,000 BTU/h · 18 · $2,449.99
 —

All single-zone systems from both brands, side by side →

Questions

Are ACiQ Standard and Daikin Aurora made by the same company?

Different factories: ACiQ Standard's certified ratings match models Midea certifies under its own name; Daikin certifies its own units with ENERGY STAR. How we work it out.

Which is cheaper, ACiQ Standard or Daikin Aurora?

On the prices we have (as of October 14, 2026), the cheapest ACiQ Standard system is the 9,000 BTU 115V wall mount system at $959.99, and the cheapest Daikin Aurora system is the 9,000 BTU wall mount system at $1,473. Prices are re-checked weekly.

Which has more products, ACiQ Standard or Daikin Aurora?

ACiQ Standard: 23 products on sale across 1 categories. Daikin Aurora: 5 across 1.

Which is more efficient at cooling, ACiQ Standard or Daikin Aurora?

By the brands' own figures: 26 for ACiQ Standard (9,000 BTU floor console system) and 21 for Daikin Aurora (15,000 BTU wall mount system). Seasonal cooling efficiency under the 2023 test procedure. Higher uses less electricity.

Which is more efficient at heating, ACiQ Standard or Daikin Aurora?

By the brands' own figures: 13.9 for ACiQ Standard (9,000 BTU floor console system) and 10.5 for Daikin Aurora (15,000 BTU wall mount system). Seasonal heating efficiency under the 2023 test procedure. Higher uses less electricity.

Which puts out more heat at 5 °F, ACiQ Standard or Daikin Aurora?

By the brands' own figures: 19,700 BTU/h for ACiQ Standard (30,000 BTU wall mount system) and 24,000 BTU/h for Daikin Aurora (24,000 BTU wall mount system). Heat output with 5 °F outdoors, from the certification record. Published for units certified for cold climates.

Which has the better warranty if you install it yourself, ACiQ Standard or Daikin Aurora?

ACiQ Standard publishes Licensed installer required on 23 of its 23 products; Daikin Aurora publishes Licensed installer required on 5 of its 5 products. What the brand's warranty says when the owner installs the unit: kept, reduced, or void without a licensed installer. The quote is on the product page.

Answered from the catalogue data, as of October 14, 2026. How we compare.

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