Smart AC vs Regular AC: Make the right choice to beat the heat

During the scorching heat of Indian summer, when outside, a glass of chilled sugarcane juice can help you stay cool, but indoors, we have no choice but to use air conditioners to keep the temperatures bearable. However, when out in the market to buy an AC, we are spoilt with choices. Rather, the number options are so many, that there is a problem of plenty. 

We have explained the different kinds of ACs in our previous coverage, in this article, we are here to tell you the difference between smart and regular air conditioners. What’s fit for one household, which has IoT all around, might not be fit for the other, where the residents resort to the rather traditional way of controlling their colling devices. So, here’s a little guide we put together to help understand some of the key differences between a smart and a regular AC: 

Smart vs Regular AC – What's the difference?

Smart ACs, as the name suggests, are smart. Think of them to be regular ACs juiced up with an attached assistant that carefully understands preferences, habits, and optimizes itself accordingly. They can connect to Wi-Fi, and can be controlled via smartphones, voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant, and can even learn your preferred settings over time. 

Regular ACs on the other hand, are the ones that won’t work without your command. They are free from the shackles of being connected to your home network, and you will need to control them with your phone, or the regular remote supplied along the unit. You will have to put in the effort every time you want to turn them on or off. 

Smart vs Regular AC – How is the efficiency?

Smart ACs are inherently designed to be more energy efficient. Features like scheduling, geo-fencing (automatic operation based on your location), and energy consumption tracking allow you to optimise usage, thereby saving on your electricity bills. 

Regular ACs consume energy based purely on how long you run them, without any intelligent management. If you forget to turn them off, or if you leave them running unnecessarily, it adds directly to your power bill. 

ALSO READ: Does your home need an AC or an air cooler? There’s an easy way to know

Smart vs Regular AC – What’s more convenient?

Well, the answer to that question is spelt out already. The AC that has the “smart” prefix, will have the added comfort of convenience. If you are able to dial in the right settings, chances are, you will not even touch your remote through the day. Your wish, will be your AC’s command, but you won’t have to lift a finger to make it do something. 

With a regular AC, your wish is still the AC’s command, but to make it even turn on, you will have to press a button. You can hook up a smart switch to the AC, but then you are essentially making your regular AC smart. Cheating? No. Added convenience, at a cost? Yes. 

Smart vs Regular AC: Which one is easier to maintain?

Another big win for smart ACs is proactive maintenance. Many models can alert you when filters need cleaning, or when there’s a technical issue, helping you maintain the unit in better shape over the years. 

In regular ACs, maintenance is usually reactive. You might only realise something is wrong when the cooling efficiency drops or the AC breaks down altogether. 

Smart vs Regular AC: Which one is cheaper to buy?

Again, the answer is pretty straightforward. A regular AC. If we are considering the upfront cost. If you are looking in the long run, then it makes sense, financially, to get a smart AC. Energy saving, maintenance, and the overall convenience ends up balancing the extra cost you may have had to pay upfront. 

And, if you are someone who cares deeply about the environment, then smart ACs also take the win here. Through optimised usage and energy-saving modes, we contribute towards reducing electricity consumption. In a country like India, where power consumption is already skyrocketing, choosing a smart AC can be a small but meaningful step towards a greener planet. 

At the end of the day, choosing between a smart AC and a regular AC depends purely on one’s preferences and budget. If you value convenience, energy efficiency, and smarter living, a smart AC is a great investment. On the other hand, if upfront cost savings are a bigger priority, a regular AC works just as well.