MiniSplit Facts

DELLA Optima CloudAir vs MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen

Different factories: DELLA Optima CloudAir's certified ratings match models TCL certifies under its own name; MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen's certified ratings match models Midea certifies under its own name. DELLA Optima CloudAir has 5 products on sale across 1 category, priced $899.96 to $1,804.96. MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen has 27 products on sale across 3 categories, priced $443 to $3,769. Largest system: 23,000 BTU/h (DELLA Optima CloudAir 23,000 BTU wall mount system) against 36,000 BTU/h (MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 36,000 BTU wall mount system). Highest SEER2 (cooling efficiency): 24 (DELLA Optima CloudAir 12,000 BTU wall mount system) against 23.9 (MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 18,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit). Highest HSPF2 (heating efficiency): 10 (DELLA Optima CloudAir 18,000 BTU wall mount system) against 12.2 (MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen Hyper Heat 18,000 BTU ceiling cassette system). Most heat at 5 °F: 18,600 BTU/h (DELLA Optima CloudAir 23,000 BTU wall mount system) against 46,000 BTU/h (MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 55,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit). Keeps heating in the coldest weather: -13 °F (DELLA Optima CloudAir 23,000 BTU wall mount system) against -22 °F (MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen Hyper Heat 12,000 BTU wall mount system).

At a glance

Fact DELLA Optima CloudAir MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen
Launched 2025 2024
Products on sale527
CategoriesSingle-zone systems (5)Single-zone systems (12), Multi-zone outdoor units (5), Indoor units (10)
Price range$899.96 – $1,804.96cheapest: 9,000 BTU 115V wall mount system$443 – $3,769cheapest: 6,000 BTU wall mount indoor unit
Largest system23,000 BTU/h23,000 BTU wall mount system36,000 BTU/h36,000 BTU wall mount system
Highest SEER2 (cooling efficiency)2412,000 BTU wall mount system23.918,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit
Highest HSPF2 (heating efficiency)1018,000 BTU wall mount system12.2Hyper Heat 18,000 BTU ceiling cassette system
Most heat at 5 °F18,600 BTU/h23,000 BTU wall mount system46,000 BTU/h55,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit
Keeps heating in the coldest weather-13 °F23,000 BTU wall mount system-22 °FHyper Heat 12,000 BTU wall mount system
Longest compressor warrantynone published7 years9,000 BTU 115V wall mount system
Warranty if you install it yourselfKepton 5 productsKepton 27 products
Where soldDELLA, AmazonGot Ductless, HVACDirect, Amazon

Who makes them?

Different factories: DELLA Optima CloudAir's certified ratings match models TCL certifies under its own name; MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen's certified ratings match models Midea certifies under its own name.

DELLA Optima CloudAir

5 of DELLA Optima CloudAir's 5 ENERGY STAR certified systems carry certified ratings identical to models TCL certifies under its own name, which points to TCL as the maker (inferred from the certification records; not a statement by DELLA).

  • TCL: 5 systems with identical certified ratings

MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen

14 of MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen's 14 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 MRCOOL).

  • Midea: 14 systems with identical certified ratings

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 5 vs 12

TierDELLA Optima CloudAirMRCOOL DIY 5th Gen
9,000 BTU
9,000 BTU 115V wall mount system 9,000 BTU/h · 23 · $899.96
9,000 BTU 115V wall mount system 9,000 BTU/h · 23.6 · $2,269
12,000 BTU
12,000 BTU 115V wall mount system 12,000 BTU/h · 23 · $969.96
12,000 BTU wall mount system 12,000 BTU/h · 24 · $949.96
12,000 BTU 115V wall mount system 12,000 BTU/h · 23.5 · $2,288
Hyper Heat 12,000 BTU wall mount system 12,000 BTU/h · 23.5 · $2,532
18,000 BTU
18,000 BTU wall mount system 18,000 BTU/h · 23 · $1,499.96
18,000 BTU ceiling cassette system 18,000 BTU/h · 21.4 · $2,822
18,000 BTU wall mount system 18,000 BTU/h · 22.5 · $2,909
Hyper Heat 18,000 BTU ceiling cassette system 18,000 BTU/h · 19.8 · $2,175
Hyper Heat 18,000 BTU wall mount system 18,000 BTU/h · 21.2 · $3,173
24,000 BTU —
24,000 BTU air handler system 24,000 BTU/h · 19.4 · $970
24,000 BTU wall mount system 24,000 BTU/h · 22.7 · $3,229
36,000 BTU —
36,000 BTU air handler system 36,000 BTU/h · 15.7 · $1,118
36,000 BTU wall mount system 36,000 BTU/h · 18 · $3,769
Untiered
23,000 BTU wall mount system 23,000 BTU/h · 23 · $1,804.96
—

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

Only one of them makes

  • MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen only: multi-zone outdoor units, indoor units.

Questions

Are DELLA Optima CloudAir and MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen made by the same company?

Different factories: DELLA Optima CloudAir's certified ratings match models TCL certifies under its own name; MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen's certified ratings match models Midea certifies under its own name. How we work it out.

Which is cheaper, DELLA Optima CloudAir or MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen?

On the prices we have (as of October 14, 2026), the cheapest DELLA Optima CloudAir system is the 9,000 BTU 115V wall mount system at $899.96, and the cheapest MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen system is the 24,000 BTU air handler system at $970. Prices are re-checked weekly.

Which has more products, DELLA Optima CloudAir or MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen?

DELLA Optima CloudAir: 5 products on sale across 1 categories. MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen: 27 across 3.

Which is more efficient at cooling, DELLA Optima CloudAir or MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen?

By the brands' own figures: 24 for DELLA Optima CloudAir (12,000 BTU wall mount system) and 23.9 for MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen (18,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit). Seasonal cooling efficiency under the 2023 test procedure. Higher uses less electricity.

Which is more efficient at heating, DELLA Optima CloudAir or MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen?

By the brands' own figures: 10 for DELLA Optima CloudAir (18,000 BTU wall mount system) and 12.2 for MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen (Hyper Heat 18,000 BTU ceiling cassette system). Seasonal heating efficiency under the 2023 test procedure. Higher uses less electricity.

Which puts out more heat at 5 °F, DELLA Optima CloudAir or MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen?

By the brands' own figures: 18,600 BTU/h for DELLA Optima CloudAir (23,000 BTU wall mount system) and 46,000 BTU/h for MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen (55,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit). Heat output with 5 °F outdoors, from the certification record. Published for units certified for cold climates.

Which keeps heating in colder weather, DELLA Optima CloudAir or MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen?

By the brands' own figures: -13 °F for DELLA Optima CloudAir (23,000 BTU wall mount system) and -22 °F for MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen (Hyper Heat 12,000 BTU wall mount system). The lowest outdoor temperature the brand says it will still heat at. Output at that temperature is far below its rating.

Which has the better warranty if you install it yourself, DELLA Optima CloudAir or MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen?

DELLA Optima CloudAir publishes Kept 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.

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

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