Daikin vs Mitsubishi Electric: which air conditioning is better?
Both make excellent heat pump air conditioning, and their flagship wall units are very close. Here we compare Daikin's Perfera with Mitsubishi Electric's MSZ-LN using the figures each publishes in the UK, and explain how their warranties work, so you can choose on facts rather than badges.
- SEER at 2.5 kW, MSZ-LN vs Perfera
- 10.5 vs 9.47
- SCOP for both at 2.5 kW
- 5.2
- both, on the quietest setting
- 19 dB(A)
- refrigerant in both
- R32
The short answer
Neither wins everywhere. At 2.5 kW, Mitsubishi Electric's MSZ-LN has the higher published cooling efficiency and more heating output, and comes in four colours. Daikin's Perfera is smaller and lighter, comes in more sizes, and costs less to fit with us.
Both are equally quiet on their lowest setting, heat about as efficiently and use R32. For most rooms, the size, the look and the warranty your installer can offer matter more than the badge.
Perfera vs MSZ-LN at 2.5 kW
The two flagship wall units side by side, from each manufacturer's UK technical data.
| Specification | Daikin Perfera FTXM25A | Mitsubishi Electric MSZ-LN25VG3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling output, nominal | 2.5 kW | 2.5 kW |
| Heating output, nominal | 2.8 kW | 3.2 kW |
| SEER, cooling | 9.47 | 10.5 |
| SCOP, heating (average climate) | 5.20 | 5.2 |
| Indoor sound, quietest to top speed | 19 to 41 dB(A) | 19 to 42 dB(A) |
| Indoor sound, low speed | 25 dB(A) | 23 dB(A) |
| Outdoor sound, cooling | 46 dB(A) | 46 dB(A) |
| Indoor unit, width x height x depth | 804 x 298 x 252 mm | 890 x 307 x 233 mm |
| Indoor unit weight | 11.5 kg | 14 to 15 kg, by colour |
| Refrigerant | R32 | R32 |
| App | Daikin Onecta | MELCloud Home, Wi-Fi built in |
Daikin: FTXM-A and RXM-A technical data on daikin.co.uk. Mitsubishi Electric: UK MSZ-LN R32 datasheet, effective February 2026. Sound is sound pressure in cooling. Checked October 2026.
And at 3.5 kW
The living room size. Here the gap in efficiency narrows.
| Specification | Daikin Perfera FTXM35A | Mitsubishi Electric MSZ-LN35VG3 |
|---|---|---|
| Heating output, nominal | 4.0 kW | 4.0 kW |
| SEER, cooling | 9.25 | 9.5 |
| SCOP, heating (average climate) | 5.20 | 5.1 |
| Indoor sound, quietest to top speed | 19 to 45 dB(A) | 19 to 43 dB(A) |
| Outdoor sound, cooling | 47 dB(A) | 49 dB(A) |
Same sources as above. Higher SEER and SCOP mean less electricity for the same cooling or heating.
What the efficiency gap is worth
SEER is the cooling delivered over a season divided by the electricity used, so a higher number costs less to run. At 2.5 kW the MSZ-LN's 10.5 against the Perfera's 9.47 means it uses about a tenth less electricity for cooling. On the energy label method, Daikin lists a year's cooling for the Perfera 2.5 kW at 92 kWh. The same method gives about 83 kWh for the MSZ-LN25.
At the October to December 2026 price cap of 26.32p per kWh, that's a difference of a few pounds a year. For heating, where both have a SCOP of about 5.2, there's almost nothing between them. Efficiency shouldn't decide this one on its own.
Sizes, looks and features
Daikin makes the Perfera wall unit in 2.0, 2.5, 3.5, 4.2, 5.0, 6.0 and 7.1 kW, all in white. The 2.0 and 4.2 kW sizes help when a room falls between the usual steps. Mitsubishi Electric makes the MSZ-LN in 2.5, 3.5, 5.0 and 6.1 kW, plus a 1.8 kW model for multi-split systems only, in Ruby Red, Onyx Black, Pearl White and Natural White.
Both have motion sensors, air-cleaning filters and voice control through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, according to the manufacturers. The MSZ-LN has its Wi-Fi interface built in. Both brands also make design ranges: Daikin's Emura and Stylish, and Mitsubishi Electric's Zen.
How the warranties work
Both manufacturers link the air conditioning warranty to the installer's status in their partner programme. This is general information from each maker's UK website, not a statement about any installer.
| Brand and installer status | Air conditioning warranty available |
|---|---|
| Daikin, no partner status | Standard warranty, typically 1 or 3 years by product type |
| Daikin Certified Installer | Up to 5 years on AC equipment |
| Daikin D1 and D1+ partners | Up to 7 years on AC equipment |
| Mitsubishi Electric Accredited Installer | Up to 5 years |
| Mitsubishi Electric Business Solutions Partner | Up to 7 years |
| Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Quality Partner | Up to 10 years |
Sources: Daikin UK installer warranties page and Mitsubishi Electric UK partner programme page, checked October 2026. Neither page says whether the cover is parts only or parts and labour, so ask for that in writing.
Servicing to keep the warranty
Daikin's UK warranty page says a warranty is only valid if annual maintenance is carried out, and that Daikin can ask for proof. Keep every service record.
Mitsubishi Electric's partner programme page doesn't set out a servicing condition for air conditioning, so check the warranty document your installer gives you. A yearly service is the sensible minimum for either brand.
Which suits you?
- Lowest published cooling running cost at 2.5 kW: Mitsubishi Electric MSZ-LN
- More heat from a 2.5 kW unit for a cold room: MSZ-LN, at 3.2 kW against 2.8 kW
- A colour other than white: MSZ-LN
- A narrow wall or a gap above a window: Perfera, at 804 mm wide against 890 mm
- A size between the usual steps, like 2.0 or 4.2 kW: Perfera
- The lowest price with us: Perfera, which adds less to our standard price
- Adding a room to an existing multi-split: stay with the brand you already have
- The longest warranty: depends on your installer's tier with that brand, so ask
What each costs to fit with us
Both are fitted at our standard price plus an uplift per indoor unit. The Perfera takes the premium-range uplift, and the MSZ-LN the design-range uplift.
- from£1,850inc. VAT
A bedroom or study
2.5 kW wall unit, 5 m pipe, fitted in a day
- from£2,050inc. VAT
A living room
3.5 kW wall unit
- from£250inc. VAT
Premium range upgrade
Quieter, more efficient unit
- from£550inc. VAT
Design range upgrade
Daikin Emura, Mitsubishi Electric Zen, LG Artcool
Daikin vs Mitsubishi questions
Is Daikin better than Mitsubishi Electric?
Neither is better across the board. On published figures the MSZ-LN is a little more efficient in cooling at 2.5 kW, while the Perfera is smaller, lighter, offers more sizes and costs less to fit with us. Both are quiet, efficient and use R32.
Which is quieter, Daikin or Mitsubishi Electric?
They're almost identical. Both list 19 dB(A) on the quietest setting and 46 dB(A) for the 2.5 kW outdoor unit in cooling. The MSZ-LN25 is 2 dB(A) quieter on low, and the Perfera 2.5 kW is 1 dB(A) quieter on its top speed.
Which is more energy efficient?
In cooling, the MSZ-LN: a SEER of 10.5 at 2.5 kW against 9.47 for the Perfera. In heating they're level, with a SCOP of about 5.2 each at 2.5 kW. The difference in running cost is a few pounds a year for typical home use.
Which has the better warranty?
It depends on the installer, not just the brand. Mitsubishi Electric's top partner tier offers up to 10 years on air conditioning, and Daikin's D1 and D1+ partners up to 7 years. Ask any installer to put the warranty for your exact model in writing, including whether labour is covered.
Can I mix Daikin and Mitsubishi Electric units on one outdoor unit?
No. A multi-split outdoor unit only runs the indoor units on its own manufacturer's compatibility list. You can mix ranges from the same brand, such as a Perfera and an Emura on one Daikin outdoor unit.