How to choose the right air conditioner
Choosing the right air conditioner for your home is about more than just beating the heat. It’s about creating a perfectly comfortable indoor environment, ensuring clean, healthy air for your family, and integrating smart, sustainable technology into your daily life.
The modern aircon has evolved from a simple cooling device into a sophisticated climate control system. This guide provides a detailed breakdown of what consumers need to know, from calculating the right size for your space to understanding the latest features, to help you buy an Air Conditioner that perfectly suits your needs.
Multi-split system Air Conditioner
A multi-split system air conditioner is a cooling solution that allows a single outdoor condensing unit to connect and power multiple indoor units (usually between two and five). Unlike a traditional central ducted system, each indoor unit is installed in a separate room and operates independently, meaning you can set different temperatures for each zone to suit individual comfort needs.
This system is highly valued for its zoning capabilities, providing efficient, customizable cooling. It offers significant advantages:
Aesthetics: Only one outdoor unit is required, minimising visual clutter outside your home compared to using multiple single-split units.
Flexibility: You can choose different styles and capacities for each indoor unit.
Energy Efficiency: By only running the indoor units in the rooms you are actively using, multi-split systems often offer excellent energy savings, especially when using Inverter technology.
Installation: Installation is often simpler than ducted systems, as it avoids the need for extensive ductwork.
Single-split system 1 air conditioner
Indoor unit: 1
Outdoor unit: 1
Best suited for: Single rooms, studios, small offices, or a specific area in a home (like the living room or a master bedroom) that requires dedicated, individual cooling.
Key benefit: Simple, cost-effective, and highly efficient solution for cooling a single space.
Multi-split system 2 air conditioner
Indoor units: 2
Outdoor unit: 1
Best suited for: Small Apartments, condos, 2-3 room HDB needing cooling for living area and one bedroom, or cooling for 2 bedrooms.
Key benefit: Efficient two-zone control with minimal outdoor equipment.
Multi-split system 3 air conditioner
Indoor units: 3
Outdoor unit: 1
Best suited for: Medium-sized homes or offices needing cooling for the main living spaces and up to two bedrooms, or cooling for 3 bedrooms.
Key benefit: Good balance of coverage and cost-effectiveness for most family homes.
Multi-split system 4 air conditioner
Indoor units: 4
Outdoor unit: 1
Best suited for: Larger homes cooling for multiple zones like a living room, dining room, and two large bedrooms, or cooling for living room and 3 bedrooms.
Key benefit: Max zoning flexibility and whole house comfort from one external footprint.
Choose the right features for comfort
Essential features depend on your priorities. Look for models that go beyond basic cooling:
Comfort cooling
For those sensitive to direct airflow, Samsung’s WindFree™ Cooling provides a more comfortable, draft-free cooling experience. Fast Cooling modes are also useful for quickly lowering the room temperature.
Clean air
Many modern units double as an air purifier. Advanced filters can capture dust, allergens, and even certain bacteria and viruses, improving your indoor air quality. Easy-to-clean filters, like the Easy Filter Plus, make Air Conditioner maintenance simple.
Smart control
The ability to control your unit remotely, automate its operation, and monitor energy usage offers unparalleled convenience and efficiency.
Quiet operation
For bedrooms, a quiet Air Conditioner is essential. Features like Samsung’s Good Sleep mode create the ideal climate for sleeping without disruptive noise.
Picking the perfect aircon size and capacity
The most critical step is determining the correct size and capacity for your space. An undersized unit will struggle to cool the room, while an oversized one will cool too quickly without properly removing humidity, leading to a clammy feeling and wasted energy.
Placement
A room that gets a lot of direct afternoon sun will require about 10% more cooling power.
Ceiling height
Rooms with ceilings higher than the standard 2.4 meters will need more capacity.
Occupancy
A room regularly used by many people (like a living room) will require more cooling than a bedroom.
Insulation
A well-insulated room will hold cold air better, while a poorly insulated one will need a more powerful unit.
How to measure your room?
Simply measure the length and width of the room in meters and multiply the two numbers to get the area in square meters (sqm).
Length (m) x Width (m) = Area (sqm).
|
Room Size (sqm) |
Recommended Capacity |
Ideal For |
|---|---|---|
|
Up to 15 sqm |
approx. 5,000 - 6,000 BTU |
Small rooms (bedrooms, study rooms, compact offices) |
|
15 - 25 sqm |
approx. 7,000 - 8,500 BTU |
Medium bedrooms, small living rooms, studio apartments |
|
25 - 40 sqm |
approx. 9,000 - 12,000 BTU |
Medium-size living rooms, larger bedrooms, small meeting rooms |
|
40 - 65 sqm |
approx. 14,000 - 21,000 BTU |
Large living rooms, master bedrooms, open-plan dining areas |
|
65 sqm and above |
22,000+ BTU or a multi-split system |
Extra-large spaces, open-plan homes, large offices, or commercial areas |
Important features to look for in air conditioners
Smart features
Samsung air conditioners can be controlled with the SmartThings app, giving you a central place to manage your home. From there, you can use voice commands, check real-time usage, and even get a map view of your home's connected devices. The AI Auto Cooling feature learns your habits and room conditions, so it can automatically adjust the cooling to keep you comfortable without you having to think about it. You can also set up routines to have your AC and other devices work together, like turning on when you get home or adjusting the temperature when you leave.
Energy efficiency
It's helpful to look for an energy efficiency rating label when shopping. Air conditioners with inverter technology, like Samsung Digital Inverter Boost, are designed to save on electricity. Instead of constantly cycling on and off, the compressor runs at varying speeds to maintain your desired temperature. This approach helps reduce energy consumption and can result in significant savings on your bill. It also helps the unit operate more quietly and last longer.
Warranty and after-sales support
An Air Conditioner is a significant purchase, so a good warranty is important for peace of mind. A strong warranty, especially on the compressor, shows the manufacturer stands behind its product. Samsung offers extended care plans, like Samsung Care+, for added protection against unexpected repairs. Having access to reliable service and cleaning options is also a key part of owning an Air Conditioner, ensuring your unit runs well for years to come.
Location matters
When choosing an air conditioner in Singapore, it's useful to consider the local climate, room size, and your daily usage. Because Singapore experiences hot, energy efficiency is often a top priority to help keep electricity costs manageable. Samsung offers a variety of models, including those with our WindFree™ Cooling technology. This feature gently disperses cool air through thousands of micro-holes, helping to avoid the feeling of a direct, cold draft, which can be useful for long-term comfort.
Why choose Samsung air conditioners?
Comfort technology (WindFree™ Cooling)
Samsung’s WindFree™ Cooling delivers a gentle, draft-free breeze through micro-holes, ensuring a cooler yet quieter environment, perfect for those sensitive to direct airflow.
Smart control (via SmartThings)
Samsung’s AI system learns your preferences and room conditions to automatically adjust cooling. It engages Fast Cooling when needed, then shifts to WindFree™ Cooling once the ideal temperature is reached for effortless comfort.
Energy efficiency (Digital Inverter Boost)
Samsung’s AI-Energy Mode intelligently manages compressor use, helping achieve up to 28% energy savings compared to standard cooling, while maintaining steady, efficient performance.
Samsung Care+
Samsung Care+ extends coverage up to 5 years, including parts, labour, transport, and remote troubleshooting support for peace of mind. Upgrading to Care+ Premium adds maintenance cleaning (blower, coils, filters, drainage, and gas checks), complimentary service accessories, and monthly home care reports when paired with SmartThings.
Final considerations
Finding the perfect Air Conditioner is a personal decision that balances cooling power, energy efficiency, and the smart features that fit your lifestyle. By following this guide, carefully calculating your capacity needs, selecting a type that suits your home, and prioritizing the technologies and long-term support that matter most, you can move forward with confidence.
Whether your choice is a whisper-quiet WindFree™ model for the bedroom or a powerful multi-split system for the whole family, a well-informed decision will ensure you enjoy perfect comfort in your home for years to come.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
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What is the difference between an inverter and a non-inverter Air Conditioner?A non-inverter aircon has a compressor that runs at a single, fixed speed—it’s either on full power or off. An inverter Air Conditioner has a variable-speed compressor that intelligently adjusts its power to maintain the desired temperature. This makes inverter models significantly more energy-efficient, quieter, and better at maintaining a consistent room temperature.
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What exactly is WindFree™ Cooling?WindFree™ Cooling is a signature Samsung technology that disperses cool air gently and quietly through thousands of micro-air holes in the front panel of the Air Conditioner. This creates a "still air" environment, cooling the room effectively without the uncomfortable feeling of a direct, cold draft blowing on you.
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Can my air conditioner also heat my room?Yes, many modern split system Air Conditioners are "reverse cycle" models, meaning they can function as both a cooler in the summer and an efficient heater in the winter. This makes them a versatile, year-round climate control solution.
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Where can I buy air conditioners online?You can buy air conditioners directly from Samsung’s official online store, where you’ll find the latest models, exclusive deals, and added benefits such as professional installation, delivery, and warranty coverage. Visit Samsung Buy Direct.
