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kritireviews.com

Methodology

How we review.

Every roundup on this site is research-based. We don't run a test lab and we don't claim measurements we haven't taken. What we do is read every credible signal exhaustively before we name a pick, and we're honest about which signals we're using.

How we shortlist

We start from the marketplace listings with the broadest filter that still keeps the category usable - for ACs, that's split inverter units in the relevant tonnage and star rating with at least 500 verified-purchase reviews. That typically gives us 10-15 contenders. From there, anything with a weak service network in Tier 2 / Tier 3 cities gets dropped, regardless of how good the specs look.

How we research

For each shortlisted product:

  • We read the most recent 50 verified buyer reviews, weighting 3- and 4-star feedback higher than 5-star. The 5-stars usually say "delivered on time"; the 3-stars tell you what actually breaks.
  • We cross-check specs against the official BEE star-rating database for energy efficiency, and the manufacturer's own product page for warranty terms and refrigerant type.
  • We scan complaint patterns on ConsumerCourt and Mouthshut over the last 12 months. A brand that's improving counts in its favour; one that's getting worse counts against.
  • We map service-network coverage city by city. A great AC you can't get repaired in July is worse than a good AC you can.

How we score

We distil all of that into a single number: Kriti's score, out of 10. It is our editorial verdict, not a lab measurement, and it is deliberately not a copy of the retailer's star rating. A blended star average hides the things that decide whether you will still be happy in year two, so our number is calibrated to real satisfaction and moves away from the star when a product is let down by service or longevity.

7.5 is the floor. Nothing below it makes a "best" list, so every product you see here has already cleared the bar - the score grades how far above it each one sits, and the highest score is our winner. We won't pad a list with a weak pick just to reach a round number, and we won't crown a product the score doesn't back.

The score weighs four things, and in India the last one carries more weight than buyers expect:

  • Performance - what owners report about real-world behaviour, not lab numbers.
  • Build and longevity - failure patterns in years two and three, coating and finish wear, control ageing.
  • Value - judged against the current street price, not the MRP.
  • Service and support - authorised-service-centre density and complaint-resolution patterns by city. A great product you can't get repaired locally scores below a good one you can.

How we keep reviews current

We revisit every roundup quarterly, and after every major online sale event. Prices shift, models get refreshed, and brands' service reputations move. When a recommendation no longer holds up we update the ranking - we don't quietly leave the old pick at the top.

Every review carries an "Updated" date. If you're reading one with a date more than six months old, treat the prices as indicative and check the retailer page for the latest.

How we earn

The "Buy" buttons on this site are affiliate links. When a reader clicks through and buys, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to the buyer. That's the only way the site is funded - there are no paid placements, no sponsored coverage, and no commercial considerations in our rankings.