Best ACs under Rs 40000 in India: LG, Samsung, and More

Buying an air conditioner under Rs 40,000 in India no longer means settling for a basic inverter split AC. The current crop of models brings features such as Wi-Fi connectivity, voice control, convertible cooling, AI-based energy management, self-cleaning systems and high-ambient cooling into this price segment. However, the feature lists can vary considerably between models, so picking purely on the number of features can be misleading.

We shortlisted five 1.5-ton and 1.6-ton inverter split ACs from Godrej, LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Blue Star that offer particularly strong feature sets for their current prices. The ranking here isn’t based on the number of features each AC packs.

We’ve looked at the things that actually matter when you live with an AC, including cooling performance, energy efficiency, useful features, smart controls, comfort and what you get for the money.

Godrej Eon Magnus 1.6-ton 3-Star Smart IoT AC (193MTG)

The 1.6-ton capacity makes this Godrej AC a good fit for larger bedrooms and living rooms, while its inverter compressor and 5-in-1 convertible mode give you some control over how hard the AC works. You can drop the cooling capacity when the room isn’t particularly hot instead of running it at full capacity all the time. It is a 3-Star model with a 4.40 ISEER rating, and Godrej rates it for cooling in temperatures of up to 52°C. There is also Wi-Fi connectivity and voice control, but the feature I find more interesting is i-Sense. The temperature sensor sits in the remote, so the AC can use the temperature around where you’re sitting rather than relying only on the sensor inside the indoor unit. Add to that a Pure Air filter, Hygiene+ self-cleaning, blue-fin protection and automatic four-way swing, and you get an AC that covers most of the features you’d expect from a modern model in this price range.

LG 1.5-ton 3-Star AI Convertible AC (AS-Q18HWXE)

The 1.5-ton LG AC is a good option if you want a little more flexibility than a conventional inverter AC. Its 6-in-1 Convertible mode lets you reduce the cooling capacity when the room doesn’t need the AC running at full power, while the inverter compressor takes care of adjusting the output as the temperature changes. It is a 3-Star model and comes with Wi-Fi connectivity, so you can control the AC and keep an eye on its energy usage through LG’s app. LG also rates it for cooling in temperatures of up to 55°C, which should come in handy during peak summer. The more useful additions include a four-way swing, an HD filter with anti-virus protection, HimClean for cleaning the indoor unit and VIRAAT Mode when you need faster cooling.

Samsung Bespoke AI WindFree 1.5-ton 3-Star AC (AR60H18D1L)

Samsung takes a different approach with this 1.5-ton Bespoke AI AC, with WindFree cooling being its biggest draw. Instead of having cold air constantly blowing directly at you, the system distributes air through thousands of micro air holes, making the cooling feel considerably gentler. Behind that is a 5-step Convertible mode and an inverter compressor, giving you some control over how much cooling the AC delivers. It is a 3-Star model with Wi-Fi and voice control, while Samsung’s AI Energy Mode can help reduce power consumption when you don’t need maximum cooling. Four-way swing and a copper condenser round off the package, making this a particularly interesting option if you care about cooling comfort as much as raw cooling performance.

Panasonic 1.5-ton 3-Star Wi-Fi Smart AC (CS/CU-SU18BKY3W)

Panasonic has packed a lot into this 1.5-ton inverter AC, but the 8-in-1 Convertible mode is probably the feature that will have the biggest day-to-day impact. It gives you more control over the AC’s cooling capacity, so you can run it at a lower level when the room is already reasonably cool. It is a 3-Star model with a copper condenser and is rated to cool in temperatures of up to 55°C. The AC also supports Wi-Fi, AI features and Matter, making it a better fit if you’re building a connected home. Panasonic has also paid attention to air filtration, with a PM0.1 filter and DustBuster technology, while the higher airflow should help move cool air around the room more quickly.

Blue Star 1.5-ton 3-Star Smart Wi-Fi AC (IA518ZXU)

This Blue Star model comes closest to the Godrej in terms of the features it puts together. It is a 1.5-ton inverter AC with a 5-in-1 Convertible mode, so you can reduce the cooling capacity when full power isn’t necessary. It carries a 3-Star rating and is designed to handle ambient temperatures of up to 52°C, which makes it well suited to Indian summers. You also get Wi-Fi connectivity, app controls and voice commands, while i-Sense technology uses the temperature around the remote to fine-tune the cooling. The combination is particularly useful if you want a connected AC but don’t want to give up features aimed at handling India’s high summer temperatures. Blue Star also uses anti-corrosion protection to help the outdoor unit withstand prolonged exposure to moisture and weather.

Rating and price of the best ACs under Rs 40,000 in India

AC	Price
Godrej Eon Magnus 1.6 Ton 3-Star	Rs 37,990
LG 1.5 Ton 3-Star AI Convertible	Rs 39,829
Samsung Bespoke AI WindFree 1.5 Ton 3-Star	Rs 38,990
Panasonic 1.5 Ton 3-Star Wi-Fi	Rs 36,990
Blue Star 1.5 Ton 3-Star Smart Wi-Fi	Rs 37,490