# Daikin Aurora vs MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen

> Different factories: Daikin certifies its own units with ENERGY STAR; MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen's certified ratings match models Midea certifies under its own name. Daikin Aurora has 5 products on sale across 1 category, priced $1,473 to $2,981. MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen has 27 products on sale across 3 categories, priced $443 to $3,769. Largest system: 24,000 BTU/h (Daikin Aurora 24,000 BTU wall mount system) against 36,000 BTU/h (MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 36,000 BTU wall mount system). Highest SEER2 (cooling efficiency): 21 (Daikin Aurora 15,000 BTU wall mount system) against 23.9 (MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 18,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit). Highest HSPF2 (heating efficiency): 10.5 (Daikin Aurora 15,000 BTU wall mount system) against 12.2 (MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen Hyper Heat 18,000 BTU ceiling cassette system). Most heat at 5 °F: 24,000 BTU/h (Daikin Aurora 24,000 BTU wall mount system) against 46,000 BTU/h (MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 55,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit).

| | [Daikin Aurora](https://minisplitfacts.com/lines/daikin-aurora/) | [MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen](https://minisplitfacts.com/lines/mrcool-diy-5th-gen/) |
|---|---|---|
| Launched | 2024 | 2024 |
| Products on sale | 5 | 27 |
| Categories | Single-zone systems (5) | Single-zone systems (12), Multi-zone outdoor units (5), Indoor units (10) |
| Price range | $1,473 – $2,981 | $443 – $3,769 |
| Largest system | 24,000 BTU/h (24,000 BTU wall mount system) | 36,000 BTU/h (36,000 BTU wall mount system) |
| Highest SEER2 (cooling efficiency) | 21 (15,000 BTU wall mount system) | 23.9 (18,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit) |
| Highest HSPF2 (heating efficiency) | 10.5 (15,000 BTU wall mount system) | 12.2 (Hyper Heat 18,000 BTU ceiling cassette system) |
| Most heat at 5 °F | 24,000 BTU/h (24,000 BTU wall mount system) | 46,000 BTU/h (55,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit) |
| Keeps heating in the coldest weather | none published | -22 °F (Hyper Heat 12,000 BTU wall mount system) |
| Longest compressor warranty | none published | 7 years (9,000 BTU 115V wall mount system) |
| Warranty if you install it yourself | Licensed installer required on 5 products | Kept on 27 products |
| Where sold | Got Ductless, HVACDirect | Got Ductless, HVACDirect, Amazon |

## Questions

**Are Daikin Aurora and MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen made by the same company?**
Different factories: Daikin certifies its own units with ENERGY STAR; MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen's certified ratings match models Midea certifies under its own name. [How we work it out](https://minisplitfacts.com/who-makes/).

**Which is cheaper, Daikin Aurora or MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen?**
On the prices we have (as of October 14, 2026), the cheapest Daikin Aurora system is the [9,000 BTU wall mount system](https://minisplitfacts.com/products/daikin-aurora-9k-wall/) at $1,473, and the cheapest MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen system is the [24,000 BTU air handler system](https://minisplitfacts.com/products/mrcool-diy-5th-gen-24k-air-handler/) at $970. Prices are re-checked weekly.

**Which has more products, Daikin Aurora or MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen?**
Daikin Aurora: 5 products on sale across 1 categories. MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen: 27 across 3.

**Which is more efficient at cooling, Daikin Aurora or MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen?**
By the brands' own figures: 21 for Daikin Aurora ([15,000 BTU wall mount system](https://minisplitfacts.com/products/daikin-aurora-15k-wall/)) and 23.9 for MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen ([18,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit](https://minisplitfacts.com/products/mrcool-diy-5th-gen-18k-multi-zone-outdoor/)). Seasonal cooling efficiency under the 2023 test procedure. Higher uses less electricity.

**Which is more efficient at heating, Daikin Aurora or MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen?**
By the brands' own figures: 10.5 for Daikin Aurora ([15,000 BTU wall mount system](https://minisplitfacts.com/products/daikin-aurora-15k-wall/)) and 12.2 for MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen ([Hyper Heat 18,000 BTU ceiling cassette system](https://minisplitfacts.com/products/mrcool-diy-5th-gen-18k-hyper-heat-cassette/)). Seasonal heating efficiency under the 2023 test procedure. Higher uses less electricity.

**Which puts out more heat at 5 °F, Daikin Aurora or MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen?**
By the brands' own figures: 24,000 BTU/h for Daikin Aurora ([24,000 BTU wall mount system](https://minisplitfacts.com/products/daikin-aurora-24k-wall/)) and 46,000 BTU/h for MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen ([55,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit](https://minisplitfacts.com/products/mrcool-diy-5th-gen-55k-multi-zone-outdoor/)). 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, Daikin Aurora or MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen?**
Daikin Aurora publishes Licensed installer required on 5 of its 5 products; MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen publishes Kept on 27 of its 27 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.

Full product lists with specs and sources: [Daikin Aurora](https://minisplitfacts.com/lines/daikin-aurora/index.md), [MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen](https://minisplitfacts.com/lines/mrcool-diy-5th-gen/index.md). Page: https://minisplitfacts.com/vs/daikin-vs-mrcool/

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MiniSplit Facts lists modular tool storage from every brand side by side, with a source for every spec. [How we compare](https://minisplitfacts.com/how-we-compare/). Data as of 2026-10-14.