Gree Alto GWH09ATBXB-K6DNA1C (2.7kW)

Boosting a 6 year warranty and with over 400-million users worldwide (meaning one in three air conditioning units are produced by Gree Electric), if opening impressions are anything to go by, the Alto promises much. However, with 2.7 kW Cooling | 3.0 kW Heating, this air con unit is on the smaller side. In fairness and reality, if you have a unit… Read more

that's even a fraction to small for your space (in this case, a combined, medium size living and dining area) and you live in a hot climate with raging humidity, you will have issues. While towards the dining table where the unit is located it is sheer bliss, you can hardly feel a thing when parked on the nearby sofa. For that reason, if this was an air con unit placed in a small or medium sized bedroom, the rating would be 3/5 minimum. In terms of performance, unless we are talking about cooler days or nights, it doesn't really deliver the full on chill you are hoping for. Even on 16 Degrees Celsius, if you have walked in hot and bothered on a hot summers day or evening, it's not exactly making ice cream. Sure, you can go on 19 with the fan and improved flow of air circulating to the sides and front (just press the buttons), but this bliss is during an evening test run at sundown. It gets you comfortable on hot autumn days, but not particularly cool. The best bit is the Alto produces lovely, clean air via excellent filtration which makes up for the lack in power. However, this means when it's hotter than a Madras with extra chilli, you have to put the ceiling fan on to compensate, which then in turn drives up costs and means you need to then put on an air purifier if you have allergies. Which ultimately leaves you back to square one; the intended solution still has a problem. The remote is easy to use and there are some clever features. You also get heating (up to 30 Degrees Celsius). However, back to the important stuff and with any degree of hot temperatures or humidity during summer (I haven't experienced spring or winter yet), this Gree air conditioner is, despite plenty of promise, found wanting.