In 2025, driven by the "dual carbon" policy and consumption upgrades, the central air conditioning industry accelerated its transformation with a focus on "energy efficiency, comfort, and intelligence." Domestic and international brands launched new products, promoting high-quality development in the sector.
Domestic Brands: Technological Breakthroughs for Diverse Scenarios
Domestic brands such as Haier, Gree, and Midea have achieved multiple breakthroughs in extreme environment adaptation, energy-saving technology advancements, and comfort experience optimization through their deep understanding of the local market, forming a comprehensive product matrix that covers both household and commercial scenarios.
In December 2025, Haier launched a groundbreaking series of ultra-low-frequency (4Hz) central air conditioning systems, introducing four core models—the Yujia X6, Mingjia M6, Jinyi V6, and Yunshu V6—to redefine industry standards with unparalleled energy efficiency. With a minimum operating power of just 124W, significantly below the industry's 6Hz standard of 245W, this series drastically reduces daily electricity costs. Equipped with the VEP predictive algorithm, it enhances temperature control precision while maintaining an ultra-quiet operation at just 16dB(A), creating a serene and comfortable environment. Notably, the Yujia X6 and Mingjia M6 models boast an ultra-wide operating temperature range of 104°C, enabling stable performance in extreme climates from -37°C to 67°C, making them suitable for environments across all regions. Additionally, Haier's Cloud Flame HOT series heat pump central air conditioning, introduced in November of the same year, further enhances adaptability to severe cold conditions, achieving a perfect balance between energy efficiency and comfort.
In 2025, Gree will continue to refine its product matrix, launching major new products across the high-end household market to large-scale commercial projects. The GMV9 series of central air conditioners, unveiled at the 138th Canton Fair in October, is a benchmark for energy efficiency in the industry: the flagship model features a full-range refrigerant active regulation system, enabling stable operation in extreme conditions from -35°C to 60°C and adapting to complex buildings with a 120-meter height differential design. Equipped with a self-developed AI energy-saving chip, it achieves a SEER value of 9.0 and an average energy-saving rate exceeding 25%. The GMV9 FLEX's side air outlet design saves 44.6% of installation space, while the GMV9 MINI supports dual refrigerant compatibility, offering a "one-machine solution" for air conditioning, underfloor heating, and hot water.
Targeting the demand for high-end mansions, Midea has introduced the True Enjoyment Water Technology Central Air Conditioner, equipped with a Moisture Control System, offering customized seasonal climate management solutions for villa and large flat users. The MDV9 Boundaryless Multi-Split System, designed for commercial applications, achieves comprehensive performance, reliability, and energy efficiency improvements through its Seven-Star Electric Control Matrix technology. Additionally, the Midea Navigator IV series, utilizing Twin-Wing Track Technology, delivers "cooling without headwind and heating that warms to the feet," with a wide temperature range from -35°C to 65°C, making it a core competitive advantage in the high-end home market.
Foreign brands: Deepening expertise in low-carbon and intelligent technologies
Foreign brands such as Daikin and Hitachi focus on low-carbon transformation and intelligent upgrades, introducing targeted products leveraging global technological expertise to strengthen their advantages in the commercial building and high-end residential markets.
Daikin launched multiple innovative products in 2025 to meet the low-carbon demands of commercial buildings. In March, the VRV5 series concealed floor-standing units were introduced in Europe, incorporating the R-32 eco-friendly refrigerant into its product matrix. These units provide multifunctional comfort solutions for commercial building decarbonization, particularly suitable for small-space applications. In December, the Compact R series compact air handling units further expanded the product line, utilizing rotary heat recovery technology to achieve efficient energy recycling within a compact housing. These units can recover both sensible and latent heat, significantly reducing energy consumption.
At the 2025 China Refrigeration Exhibition, Hitachi launched the SET-FREE RIII updated series of top-airing multi-split systems and the SET-FREE Jiyu series of dual new products under the theme "Carbon Exploration for a Sustainable World, AI in Harmony." This showcased Hitachi's profound expertise in low-carbon technology. The SET-FREE RIII series directly addresses the pain points of air conditioning retrofits in existing buildings, serving as an upgrade solution that simplifies renewal processes, significantly reducing retrofit cycles and costs, earning the "Innovative Product" title at the exhibition. Meanwhile, the SET-FREE Jiyu series leverages condensate heat recovery systems and advanced deep dehumidification technology to achieve constant temperature and humidity environments in high-precision settings such as laboratories and medical facilities, balancing energy efficiency with comfort.
Overall, the industry will exhibit three major trends in 2025: extreme energy efficiency as the baseline, precise wind control and wide-temperature-range adaptation to enhance comfort, and smart and health features becoming standard. In the future, central air conditioning may further integrate into smart homes and green building ecosystems, delivering more efficient and environmentally friendly spatial experiences.