Samsung vs Mitsubishi: Which Heat Pump Is Better?
Samsung’s EHS Mono R290 and Mitsubishi Electric’s Ecodan R290 are both R290 monobloc heat pumps that reach 75°C and run down to -25°C. On paper they are close on efficiency. The bigger differences are noise, indoor units, apps and how clear the warranty is.
- Manufacturer datasheets checked 25 October 2026
- Published data, not paid placement
- Independent UK research
Quick verdict
See the specificationsClose on efficiency, with Samsung slightly ahead on paper; Mitsubishi is quieter and has clearer published warranty terms. For most homes the deciding factors will be where the outdoor unit goes, which indoor unit suits your space and which brands local installers are accredited for.
Choose Samsung EHS Mono R290 if…
- You want a ClimateHub indoor unit with a 200 or 260-litre cylinder built in
- You already use SmartThings for other devices at home
- Your home needs a large 16kW unit
- The outdoor unit can go well away from bedrooms and neighbours
Choose Mitsubishi Ecodan R290 if…
- Noise matters: its 8.5kW unit is rated 5 dB(A) lower
- You want clear, tiered warranty terms of up to 7 years
- A UK-built heat pump matters to you: Ecodan is made in Scotland
- Your installer is a Mitsubishi Accredited Installer or Business Solutions Partner
Samsung EHS Mono R290 vs Mitsubishi Ecodan R290 side by side
Both are monobloc-style heat pumps: the R290 refrigerant stays sealed in the outdoor unit and water pipes run into the house.
Samsung
Samsung EHS Mono R290
- 5, 8, 12 and 16kW models
- Up to 75°C flow temperature
- Rated to run down to -25°C
- Pairs with Samsung’s ClimateHub indoor unit (200 or 260-litre cylinder built in)
Best suited to: homes with room for an integrated indoor unit, SmartThings users, and larger homes needing up to 16kW.
Mitsubishi Electric
Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan R290
- Models from 5kW to 12kW
- Up to 75°C flow temperature
- Rated to run from -25°C to +46°C
- Made in Livingston, Scotland
Best suited to: homes where the outdoor unit sits near a boundary, and buyers who want a clear long warranty through an accredited installer.
Product photos are for illustration and may not show the exact model compared.
Specifications compared
We compared the closest sizes each brand makes: Samsung’s 8kW (AE080CXYDEK) and Mitsubishi’s 8.5kW (PUZ-WZ85VAA). Samsung’s efficiency and sound power figures are from its Heat Pump Keymark certificate data; Mitsubishi’s are from its April 2025 datasheet. Checked 25 October 2026. We have not tested these heat pumps ourselves.
| Specification | Samsung EHS Mono R290 | Mitsubishi Ecodan R290 |
|---|---|---|
| Model compared | 8kW (AE080CXYDEK) | 8.5kW (PUZ-WZ85VAA) |
| Refrigerant | R290 (propane) | R290 (propane) |
| Range of sizes | 5, 8, 12 and 16kW | 5kW to 12kW |
| SCOP at 35°C (underfloor) | 4.85 (A+++) | 4.47 (A+++) |
| SCOP at 55°C (radiators) | 3.55 (A++) | 3.51 (A++) |
| Maximum flow temperature | 75°C | 75°C |
| Lowest outdoor temperature | -25°C | -25°C |
| Sound power (heating) | 59 dB(A) | 54 dB(A) |
| App | SmartThings | MELCloud Home |
| Longest manufacturer warranty | Samsung’s UK homeowner warranty terms were not published where we could check them; ask your installer | 7 years through a Business Solutions Partner; 5 with an Accredited Installer; 3 as standard (details) |
Ask installers which of these brands they fit, and get both quoted if you can. A good installer will size the heat pump from a room-by-room heat loss calculation, not from the size of your old boiler.
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Efficiency and winter performance
At 55°C, the radiator temperature that matters most in older homes, the two are almost level: 3.55 for Samsung’s 8kW and 3.51 for Mitsubishi’s 8.5kW. That difference is too small to notice on your bills.
At 35°C, typical of underfloor heating, Samsung is rated at 4.85 against 4.47 for Mitsubishi. Both are rated to run down to -25°C and to produce 75°C water, so UK winters are well within range for either.
These are lab ratings for an average European climate, on slightly different sizes. In a real home, good design matters far more: a heat pump running at a low flow temperature with weather compensation will beat a better-rated one that is set up badly. Our guide to heat pumps in winter explains what happens on the coldest days.
Noise
Mitsubishi has the edge: its 8.5kW Ecodan R290 is rated at 54 dB(A) sound power, against 59 dB(A) for Samsung’s 8kW. A 5 dB difference is noticeable and can affect where the outdoor unit is allowed to go.
Samsung’s datasheet lists a quiet mode that cuts sound pressure from 45 to 35 dB(A), which helps at night, though it can reduce output. Ask your installer whether the noise assessment was done with quiet mode on or off.
Sound power is measured at the unit itself. What you and your neighbours hear depends on distance, walls, fences and how hard the heat pump is working. Your installer must check the position against the MCS noise assessment for permitted development, so ask to see that calculation.
Hot water and indoor units
Samsung’s ClimateHub puts the cylinder, pump and controls in one floor-standing unit, with 200 or 260-litre options. That can simplify the indoor side if you are starting from scratch.
Mitsubishi’s Ecodan R290 pairs with Mitsubishi’s own pre-plumbed cylinders and controllers. Samsung can also connect to a separate cylinder from another manufacturer through its control kit.
Either way you will normally need a hot water cylinder. If you are coming from a combi boiler, our combi to heat pump guide explains how to find the space. Your installer will also set a regular legionella cycle.
Controls and apps
Samsung uses SmartThings, its wider smart home app; Mitsubishi uses MELCloud Home.
SmartThings is handy if you already use it for other Samsung appliances or smart devices. MELCloud Home is dedicated to Mitsubishi equipment and lets you change schedules and temperatures and view energy use. Both need a Wi-Fi kit connected to the heat pump.
We compare the apps in more depth in our best heat pump apps guide.
Warranty and installer network
Mitsubishi’s terms are clearer: 3 years as standard, 5 years with an Accredited Installer and 7 years with a Business Solutions Partner. Mitsubishi cylinders and interface equipment stay at 3 years.
We could not find Samsung’s UK homeowner warranty terms published online when we checked, so ask any installer quoting Samsung to put the length of cover, and who registers it, in writing.
Registration deadlines and servicing conditions apply. Our heat pump warranties guide sets them out brand by brand. In practice, the cover you get depends on the installer, so ask about their accreditation before comparing quotes.
Cost: what changes the price
Neither brand publishes UK installed prices, and the brand is rarely the biggest factor in what you pay. The Energy Saving Trust puts a typical air source heat pump installation at around £12,000 before grants, and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme takes £7,500 off for most eligible homes in England and Wales.
What actually moves the quote is the heat pump size your heat loss survey calls for, the cylinder, how many radiators need upgrading, pipework and electrical work. Installers also get different trade prices from different brands, so the same home can be quoted very differently for Samsung and Mitsubishi. The only reliable way to compare is to get quotes for both from MCS-certified installers, using the same heat loss figures. Our air source heat pump cost guide and grants guide cover the detail.
Which suits your home?
Older home with radiators
Either works: both reach 75°C and are almost level at 55°C. Let the heat loss survey decide the size.
Terrace or tight plot
Mitsubishi’s lower sound power makes it easier to place near a boundary. Check the noise assessment for your exact spot.
Large or poorly insulated home
Samsung goes up to 16kW, against 12kW for the Ecodan R290 range.
Read what size heat pump do I need and get a proper heat loss survey. An oversized heat pump costs more and can short-cycle, which hurts efficiency.
Questions to ask installers
- Which of these two brands do you fit, and are you accredited with either one?
- What output does my heat loss calculation call for, and which model size would you fit?
- What is the SCOP at the flow temperature you are designing for, not just at 35°C?
- Where will the outdoor unit go, and does it pass the MCS noise assessment for that spot?
- Which cylinder or indoor unit would you use, and how much floor space does it need?
- How many years of manufacturer warranty will I actually get, and who registers it?
- Will you set up weather compensation and show me how to use the app before you leave?
Frequently asked questions
Is Samsung or Mitsubishi better?
On published data they are close on efficiency, with Samsung slightly ahead. Mitsubishi is quieter and has clearer warranty terms. The right choice depends on your home, where the outdoor unit goes and which installers are available.
Which is quieter, Samsung or Mitsubishi?
Mitsubishi’s 8.5kW Ecodan R290 is rated at 54 dB(A) sound power, against 59 dB(A) for Samsung’s 8kW EHS Mono R290. Samsung’s quiet mode reduces noise at night.
How long is Samsung’s heat pump warranty?
We could not find Samsung’s UK homeowner warranty terms published online. Ask your installer to confirm the length of cover and how it is registered before you sign.
Is Mitsubishi Ecodan made in the UK?
Yes. Mitsubishi Electric makes Ecodan heat pumps at its factory in Livingston, Scotland.
Can I get the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant with either brand?
Yes, as long as an MCS-certified installer fits it and your home meets the scheme rules. The grant does not depend on the brand. See our grants guide for eligibility.
Sources and further reading
All sources checked on 25 October 2026. Specifications can change between model updates, so ask your installer for the datasheet of the exact model they quote.
- Samsung Climate Solutions: EHS Mono R290 8kW product information sheet
- Heat Pump Keymark: Samsung EHS R290 Mono 8kW certificate data (September 2023)
- Mitsubishi Electric: Ecodan R290
- Mitsubishi Electric: Ecodan R290 Monobloc datasheet, PUZ-WZ85/100/120 (April 2025)
- Mitsubishi Electric: Ecodan warranty terms and conditions
- Energy Saving Trust: Air source heat pumps
- GOV.UK: Apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme