MiniSplit Facts

MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen vs Pioneer Quantum Ultra

Different factories: MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen's certified ratings match models Midea certifies under its own name; Pioneer Quantum Ultra's certified ratings match models TCL certifies under its own name. MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen has 27 products on sale across 3 categories, priced $443 to $3,769. Pioneer Quantum Ultra has 46 products on sale across 3 categories, priced $398 to $5,068. Largest system: 36,000 BTU/h (MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 36,000 BTU wall mount system) against 48,000 BTU/h (Pioneer Quantum Ultra 48,000 BTU concealed duct system (RYB-20)). Highest SEER2 (cooling efficiency): 23.9 (MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 18,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit) against 24.6 (Pioneer Quantum Ultra 12,000 BTU floor console system (FYB-24)). Highest HSPF2 (heating efficiency): 12.2 (MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen Hyper Heat 18,000 BTU ceiling cassette system) against 13.5 (Pioneer Quantum Ultra 18,000 BTU floor console system (FYB-24)). Most heat at 5 °F: 46,000 BTU/h (MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 55,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit) against 40,500 BTU/h (Pioneer Quantum Ultra 48,000 BTU ceiling cassette system (CYB-20)). Keeps heating in the coldest weather: -22 °F (MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen Hyper Heat 12,000 BTU wall mount system) against -13 °F (Pioneer Quantum Ultra 55,000 BTU 6-zone multi-zone outdoor unit (YNL-24)). Longest compressor warranty: 7 years (MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 9,000 BTU 115V wall mount system) against 5 years (Pioneer Quantum Ultra 55,000 BTU 6-zone multi-zone outdoor unit (YNL-24)).

At a glance

Fact MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen Pioneer Quantum Ultra
Launched 2024 2025
Products on sale2746
CategoriesSingle-zone systems (12), Multi-zone outdoor units (5), Indoor units (10)Single-zone systems (27), Multi-zone outdoor units (5), Indoor units (14)
Price range$443 – $3,769cheapest: 6,000 BTU wall mount indoor unit$398 – $5,068cheapest: 9,000 BTU wall mount indoor unit (MSI-24)
Largest system36,000 BTU/h36,000 BTU wall mount system48,000 BTU/h48,000 BTU concealed duct system (RYB-20)
Highest SEER2 (cooling efficiency)23.918,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit24.612,000 BTU floor console system (FYB-24)
Highest HSPF2 (heating efficiency)12.2Hyper Heat 18,000 BTU ceiling cassette system13.518,000 BTU floor console system (FYB-24)
Most heat at 5 °F46,000 BTU/h55,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit40,500 BTU/h48,000 BTU ceiling cassette system (CYB-20)
Keeps heating in the coldest weather-22 °FHyper Heat 12,000 BTU wall mount system-13 °F55,000 BTU 6-zone multi-zone outdoor unit (YNL-24)
Longest compressor warranty7 years9,000 BTU 115V wall mount system5 years55,000 BTU 6-zone multi-zone outdoor unit (YNL-24)
Warranty if you install it yourselfKepton 27 productsKepton 46 products
Where soldGot Ductless, HVACDirect, AmazonPioneer, Amazon

Who makes them?

Different factories: MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen's certified ratings match models Midea certifies under its own name; Pioneer Quantum Ultra's certified ratings match models TCL certifies under its own name.

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

Pioneer Quantum Ultra

24 of Pioneer Quantum Ultra's 26 ENERGY STAR certified systems carry certified ratings identical to models a factory certifies under its own name: TCL (15) and Midea (9). Most point to TCL (inferred from the certification records; not a statement by Pioneer).

  • TCL: 15 systems with identical certified ratings
  • Midea: 9 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 12 vs 27

TierMRCOOL DIY 5th GenPioneer Quantum Ultra
9,000 BTU
9,000 BTU 115V wall mount system 9,000 BTU/h · 23.6 · $2,269
9,000 BTU 115V wall mount system (WYT-24) 9,000 BTU/h · 23 · $1,053
9,000 BTU ceiling cassette system (CYT-24) 9,000 BTU/h · 23 · $1,443
9,000 BTU concealed duct system (RYT-24) 9,000 BTU/h · 19.6 · $1,363
9,000 BTU one-way cassette system (CYK-24) 9,000 BTU/h · 22.1 · $2,293
9,000 BTU wall mount system (WYT-24) 9,000 BTU/h · 23 · $1,023
12,000 BTU
12,000 BTU 115V wall mount system 12,000 BTU/h · 23.5 · $2,288
Hyper Heat 12,000 BTU ceiling cassette system 12,000 BTU/h · 22.2 · —
Hyper Heat 12,000 BTU wall mount system 12,000 BTU/h · 23.5 · $2,532
12,000 BTU 115V wall mount system (WYT-24) 12,000 BTU/h · 23 · $1,133
12,000 BTU ceiling cassette system (CYT-24) 12,000 BTU/h · 21 · $1,533
12,000 BTU concealed duct system (RYT-24) 12,000 BTU/h · 19 · $1,413
12,000 BTU floor console system (FYB-24) 12,000 BTU/h · 24.6 · $1,573
12,000 BTU one-way cassette system (CYK-24) 12,000 BTU/h · 22.1 · $2,403
12,000 BTU wall mount system (WYT-24) 12,000 BTU/h · 24 · $1,113
18,000 BTU
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
18,000 BTU ceiling cassette system (CYT-24) 18,000 BTU/h · 20.5 · Out of stock
18,000 BTU concealed duct system (RYT-24) 18,000 BTU/h · 20.3 · $1,753
18,000 BTU floor console system (FYB-24) 18,000 BTU/h · 23.8 · $2,063
18,000 BTU floor/ceiling system (UYT-24) 18,000 BTU/h · 20.5 · $1,813
18,000 BTU one-way cassette system (CYK-24) 18,000 BTU/h · 22.2 · $2,743
18,000 BTU wall mount system (WYT-24) 18,000 BTU/h · 23 · Out of stock
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
24,000 BTU ceiling cassette system (CYT-24) 24,000 BTU/h · 22.5 · Out of stock
24,000 BTU concealed duct system (RYT-24) 24,000 BTU/h · 19 · $2,238
24,000 BTU floor/ceiling system (UYT-24) 24,000 BTU/h · 20 · $2,188
24,000 BTU wall mount system (WYT-24) 24,000 BTU/h · 23 · $1,958
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
36,000 BTU ceiling cassette system (CYB-20) 36,000 BTU/h · 20 · $3,858
36,000 BTU concealed duct system (RYB-20) 36,000 BTU/h · 18.7 · $3,818
36,000 BTU floor/ceiling system (UYB-20) 36,000 BTU/h · 20 · Out of stock
48,000 BTU —
48,000 BTU ceiling cassette system (CYB-20) 48,000 BTU/h · 19 · Out of stock
48,000 BTU concealed duct system (RYB-20) 48,000 BTU/h · 17.1 · $5,068
48,000 BTU floor/ceiling system (UYB-20) 48,000 BTU/h · 19.8 · $4,938

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

Multi-zone outdoor units 5 vs 5

TierMRCOOL DIY 5th GenPioneer Quantum Ultra
18,000 BTU
18,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit 18,000 BTU/h · 23.9 · $1,508
18,000 BTU 2-zone multi-zone outdoor unit (YNL-24) 18,000 BTU/h · $1,298
27,000 BTU
27,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit 27,000 BTU/h · 23 · $2,037
27,000 BTU 3-zone multi-zone outdoor unit (YNL-24) 27,000 BTU/h · $1,678
36,000 BTU
36,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit 36,000 BTU/h · 23 · $2,467
 —
42,000 BTU —
42,000 BTU 5-zone multi-zone outdoor unit (YNL-24) 42,000 BTU/h · $3,138
48,000 BTU
48,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit 48,000 BTU/h · 21.8 · $3,131
 —
55,000 BTU
55,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit 55,000 BTU/h · 22 · $3,695
55,000 BTU 6-zone multi-zone outdoor unit (YNL-24) 55,000 BTU/h · $4,068
Untiered —
35,000 BTU 4-zone multi-zone outdoor unit (YNL-24) 35,000 BTU/h · $2,538

All multi-zone outdoor units from both brands, side by side →

Indoor units 10 vs 14

TierMRCOOL DIY 5th GenPioneer Quantum Ultra
6,000 BTU
6,000 BTU ceiling cassette indoor unit 6,000 BTU/h · $1,273
6,000 BTU wall mount indoor unit 6,000 BTU/h · $443
 —
9,000 BTU
9,000 BTU ceiling cassette indoor unit 9,000 BTU/h · $1,368
9,000 BTU wall mount indoor unit 9,000 BTU/h · $516
9,000 BTU ceiling cassette indoor unit (MSI-24) 9,000 BTU/h · $798
9,000 BTU concealed duct indoor unit (MSI-24) 9,000 BTU/h · $678
9,000 BTU wall mount indoor unit (MSI-24) 9,000 BTU/h · $398
12,000 BTU
12,000 BTU ceiling cassette indoor unit 12,000 BTU/h · $1,378
12,000 BTU wall mount indoor unit 12,000 BTU/h · $668
12,000 BTU ceiling cassette indoor unit (MSI-24) 12,000 BTU/h · $828
12,000 BTU concealed duct indoor unit (MSI-24) 12,000 BTU/h · $688
12,000 BTU wall mount indoor unit (MSI-24) 12,000 BTU/h · $418
18,000 BTU
18,000 BTU ceiling cassette indoor unit 18,000 BTU/h · $1,397
18,000 BTU wall mount indoor unit 18,000 BTU/h · $903
18,000 BTU ceiling cassette indoor unit (MSI-24) 18,000 BTU/h · Out of stock
18,000 BTU concealed duct indoor unit (MSI-24) 18,000 BTU/h · $753
18,000 BTU floor/ceiling indoor unit (MSI-24) 18,000 BTU/h · $823
18,000 BTU wall mount indoor unit (MSI-24) 18,000 BTU/h · Out of stock
24,000 BTU
24,000 BTU wall mount indoor unit 24,000 BTU/h · $936
24,000 BTU ceiling cassette indoor unit (MSI-24) 24,000 BTU/h · Out of stock
24,000 BTU concealed duct indoor unit (MSI-24) 24,000 BTU/h · $913
24,000 BTU floor/ceiling indoor unit (MSI-24) 24,000 BTU/h · $923
24,000 BTU wall mount indoor unit (MSI-24) 24,000 BTU/h · $613
36,000 BTU
36,000 BTU wall mount indoor unit 36,000 BTU/h · $1,243
 —

All indoor units from both brands, side by side →

Questions

Are MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen and Pioneer Quantum Ultra made by the same company?

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

Which is cheaper, MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen or Pioneer Quantum Ultra?

On the prices we have (as of October 14, 2026), the cheapest MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen system is the 24,000 BTU air handler system at $970, and the cheapest Pioneer Quantum Ultra system is the 9,000 BTU wall mount system (WYT-24) at $1,023. Prices are re-checked weekly.

Which has more products, MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen or Pioneer Quantum Ultra?

MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen: 27 products on sale across 3 categories. Pioneer Quantum Ultra: 46 across 3.

Which is more efficient at cooling, MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen or Pioneer Quantum Ultra?

By the brands' own figures: 23.9 for MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen (18,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit) and 24.6 for Pioneer Quantum Ultra (12,000 BTU floor console system (FYB-24)). Seasonal cooling efficiency under the 2023 test procedure. Higher uses less electricity.

Which is more efficient at heating, MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen or Pioneer Quantum Ultra?

By the brands' own figures: 12.2 for MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen (Hyper Heat 18,000 BTU ceiling cassette system) and 13.5 for Pioneer Quantum Ultra (18,000 BTU floor console system (FYB-24)). Seasonal heating efficiency under the 2023 test procedure. Higher uses less electricity.

Which puts out more heat at 5 °F, MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen or Pioneer Quantum Ultra?

By the brands' own figures: 46,000 BTU/h for MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen (55,000 BTU multi-zone outdoor unit) and 40,500 BTU/h for Pioneer Quantum Ultra (48,000 BTU ceiling cassette system (CYB-20)). Heat output with 5 °F outdoors, from the certification record. Published for units certified for cold climates.

Which keeps heating in colder weather, MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen or Pioneer Quantum Ultra?

By the brands' own figures: -22 °F for MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen (Hyper Heat 12,000 BTU wall mount system) and -13 °F for Pioneer Quantum Ultra (55,000 BTU 6-zone multi-zone outdoor unit (YNL-24)). The lowest outdoor temperature the brand says it will still heat at. Output at that temperature is far below its rating.

Which has the longer compressor warranty, MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen or Pioneer Quantum Ultra?

By the brands' own figures: 7 years for MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen (9,000 BTU 115V wall mount system) and 5 years for Pioneer Quantum Ultra (55,000 BTU 6-zone multi-zone outdoor unit (YNL-24)). Years of compressor coverage under the brand's warranty, often only when registered. Conditions are on the product page.

Which has the better warranty if you install it yourself, MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen or Pioneer Quantum Ultra?

MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen publishes Kept on 27 of its 27 products; Pioneer Quantum Ultra publishes Kept on 46 of its 46 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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