Home / Comparisons / 12,000 BTU wall-mounted heat pumps
FUJITSU AIRSTAGE ORION XLTH and KINGHOME POLARIS R32, from 8.3 °C to −30 °C
Two 12,000 BTU wall units, ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified, R-32, both offered by AirGreen. This page lines up their AHRI and NEEP values point by point, explains why their two coldest points cannot be compared directly, and shows what the manufacturers’ sheets add.
FUJITSU AIRSTAGE
ORION XLTH 12,000 BTU
ind. ASUH12KZAS · outd. AOUH12KZAH1 · AHRI 214888802
Also sold under the name GENERAL AIRSTAGE ORION XLTH (same AHRI certificate).
See the product page
KINGHOME
POLARIS R32 12,000 BTU
ind. KWP12R32C3I · outd. KWP12R32C3O · AHRI 218451122
Listed at NEEP under the “Glovia” series (same AHRI certificate).
See the product pageWhat the electricity costs, in dollars, winter and summer
AirGreen estimate for the same 12,000 BTU/h zone in Montréal, at Hydro-Québec’s Rate D, taxes included. Both heat pumps are calculated in exactly the same way, with the same method as on all our comparison pages; only their certified efficiencies change. Electric baseboards serve as the reference point.
How this amount is calculated
- Heat to deliver over the winter. A zone whose heat loss reaches 12,000 BTU/h ( kW) at −23.1 °C, Montréal’s design temperature: kW × 24 h × 4,167 degree-days ÷ (18 − (−23.1)) = kWh of heat for round-the-clock heating, all winter. Heating degree-days (base 18 °C) and design temperature: Natural Resources Canada, HOT2000 climate data, Montréal Intl station. With fewer hours per day (“Heating” slider), the heat is reduced in the same proportion, for the heat pump as for the baseboards: this simplification does not account for recovery after a temperature setback.
- Electricity for heating. Heat pump: heat × 3.412 ÷ HSPF2 Region V, the AHRI certificate value published by NEEP. Region V is the coldest in the standard, and its calculation includes the electric backup expected when the heat pump is no longer enough. Electric baseboards: 1 kWh of electricity for 1 kWh of heat.
- Electricity for cooling. 12,000 BTU/h ÷ SEER2 × hours per day × 60 days ÷ 1,000: the method of Hydro-Québec’s air-conditioning calculator, with the SEER2 seasonal efficiency from the AHRI certificate. The number of hours is a scenario you can set above, from 1 to 24 h. At 24 h, the calculation assumes rated capacity all day long: that is a ceiling, since a variable-speed unit slows down once the room is at temperature.
- Price. Hydro-Québec Rate D in effect April 1, 2026: 7.065¢ per kWh up to 40 kWh a day, 11.142¢ beyond; the average price, 9.104¢, is the one Hydro-Québec’s calculators use. GST and QST included. Network access charges, the same with or without a heat pump, are not counted.
AirGreen method v1.1, November 9, 2026. An estimate is used to compare units under the same conditions. The actual bill depends on the house, the insulation, the settings and the use; this amount is not a promise.
Bring the mercury down, one published point at a time
Slide the thermometer down. The red bar (ORION XLTH) and the blue bar (POLARIS R32) show the maximum published capacity at the displayed temperature, the yellow line the rated capacity when there is one. Down to −15 °C, both are certified by NEEP at the same temperatures. Lower, each bar shows only what its manufacturer or NEEP publishes at that exact temperature; between two published points, a band shows the range between them.
Below −15 °C: every published number, at its exact temperature
NEEP certifies both units down to −15 °C, at the same temperatures. Lower, each manufacturer publishes its own points: each figure is placed at its exact temperature, with its source. Nothing is calculated between two points.
ORION XLTH: maximum heating capacity as a percentage of the 12,000 BTU/h rated capacity, with 21 °C indoors, per FUJITSU AIRSTAGE brochure FG8153C (revision 4/2025). Vertical line: 100%.
Maximum or rated capacity: the order changes with the figure you read
A sheet often shows a single heating capacity. NEEP, however, publishes three at each temperature: the minimum, the rated (the point where the manufacturer has its efficiency measured) and the maximum. For this pair, the last two do not tell the same story.
At maximum capacity, the ORION XLTH is higher at all three shared temperatures: 23,600 against 17,060 BTU/h at 8.3 °C, 18,700 against 15,000 at −8.3 °C, 16,600 against 13,700 at −15 °C. At rated capacity, it is the reverse at −8.3 °C: 15,000 BTU/h for the POLARIS against 10,000 for the ORION XLTH. Each manufacturer chooses where to set its rated point, so a single figure does not sum up a unit.
Over a whole season, the gap shows mainly in heating
SEER2, EER2 and HSPF2 come from the AHRI certificates. They are seasonal averages calculated with the same method for both units, so they compare directly. The higher the figure, the less the unit uses for the same heating or cooling, under those test conditions.
SEER2
Cooling, whole season
EER2
Cooling at 35 °C outside
HSPF2 Region IV
Heating, the standard’s reference climate
HSPF2 Region V
Heating, colder climate
Region V of the HSPF2 standard describes a colder climate than Region IV, closer to a Montréal winter. Both units lose points there, and the heating gap remains: 10.1 against 8.0.
These figures are not converted into dollars on this page. A bill depends on the house, the insulation, the settings and the role given to the heat pump.
On the wall and on the ground, from the published dimensions
The photos are at the same scale based on the width published by each manufacturer. The ORION XLTH is wider indoors; the POLARIS is wider and deeper outside.
Indoor units, front view
Outdoor units, front view
Width × height × depth, per FUJITSU AIRSTAGE brochure FG8153C and the KINGHOME POLARIS R32 sheet. All four photos are at the same scale: 100% of the photo area = 38.56 in. Small framing differences remain possible.
Is your wall wide enough?
Slide to set the free space between two obstacles (window frame, wall corner, furniture). The minimum clearances required around the indoor unit are not included: the installer checks them on site.
How far can the outdoor unit go?
Slide the piping length between the two units. Below the precharged length, the factory refrigerant is enough; beyond it, each manufacturer specifies an addition from its table; beyond the maximum, the manufacturer does not provide for the installation.
Outdoor unit clearances ORION XLTH
FUJITSU AIRSTAGE installation manual, part 9300793025-01, figure 3.2.1: 4 in behind, 4 in on one side, 10 in on the other, 24 in in front. Top view, diagram.
Outdoor unit clearances POLARIS R32
KINGHOME POLARIS 12K submittal sheet, p. 2: 4 in behind, 4 in on one side, 12 in on the other, 40 in in front, 12 in above, and at least 18 in above the ground for snow and defrost water. The KINGHOME outdoor unit owner’s manual (9,000 to 24,000 BTU models) shows larger values: 30 cm behind and on one side, 50 cm on the other, 200 cm in front. The installer goes with the more cautious one.
| Installation | ORION XLTH | POLARIS R32 |
|---|---|---|
| Piping length, min. to max. | 10 to 82 ft | 10 to 131 ft |
| Precharged length | 49 ft | 24.6 ft (7.5 m)KINGHOME POLARIS 12K submittal sheet; the brochure rounds to 25 ft. 0.2 oz/ft added beyond. |
| Maximum indoor–outdoor height difference | 66 ft | 82 ft (25 m)KINGHOME POLARIS 12K submittal sheet |
| Liquid – gas diameters | 1/4 – 3/8 in | 1/4 – 1/2 in |
| Electrical protectionPer the manufacturer | 15 A breaker | MOCP 15 A (MCA 13 A) |
| Power supply | 208/230 V | 208/230 V |
| Rated heating rangeOutdoor temperature, per the manufacturer | −26 to 24 °C | −30 to 30 °C |
| Rated cooling range | −10 to 50 °C | −29 to 50 °C |
What each manufacturer writes, line by line
Only the features named in the manufacturers’ documents are listed: FUJITSU AIRSTAGE brochure and manuals; KINGHOME submittal sheet, brochure and owner’s manuals. “Not published” means the document does not mention it for this model, not that the feature is absent.
| Feature | ORION XLTH | POLARIS R32 |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | ||
| Heating with no automatic shutoff in extreme cold | “No lockout”, down to −26 °C | No published shutoff temperature; heating rated down to −30 °CKINGHOME POLARIS 12K submittal sheet; shutoff field blank at NEEP |
| Outdoor unit base pan heating element | Yes | Yes, plus a compressor heating elementKINGHOME POLARIS 12K submittal sheet; NEEP: 72 W, active below 1 °C or during defrost |
| Defrost | Automatic | “Forced defrost” namedKINGHOME POLARIS 12K submittal sheet |
| Rated capacity at −21 °CPercentage of rated capacity, outside the NEEP certificate; calculation base not specified | 124% | Not published by the manufacturer |
| Comfort | ||
| Power mode | “Powerful” | “Turbo Mode” |
| Economy mode | “Economy”, “Energy Saving” | “G-AI Energy Saving” |
| Minimum heat / occupancy mode | “Minimum Heat”, “Occupancy” | “Heating 8 °C”, “I-feel”; no named occupancy modeKINGHOME POLARIS 12K submittal sheet |
| Published fan speeds | 6 (Quiet to Hi) | 7 (Sleep to Turbo), 182 to 424 CFMKINGHOME POLARIS 12K submittal sheet |
| Airflow direction | Automatic vertical, manual horizontal louversBrochure FG8153C | Automatic up-down; adjustable left-right, with swing (“3D airflow”)KINGHOME indoor unit owner’s manual |
| DehumidificationPer the manufacturer | 1.9 L/h | 1.4 L/h |
| Automatic restart | Yes | Not published by the manufacturer |
| Control and maintenance | ||
| Built-in Wi-Fi | Yes, AIRSTAGE Mobile app | Yes; app not named for this modelKINGHOME POLARIS 12K submittal sheet |
| Remote control | Wireless, backlit, included | YBE1FBF infrared, includedKINGHOME POLARIS 12K submittal sheet |
| Wall controls and 24 V thermostat | Optional (KAGAMI, wired, UTY-TTRXZ1) | Optional: wired controls XE71-44G, XE74-44E, XE72-44E (Wi-Fi) and 24 V interlock control XE71-00/EKINGHOME POLARIS 12K submittal sheet |
| BACnet / Modbus | Through an optional gateway | Not published by the manufacturer |
| Filter / cleaning | Washable filter | “Smart cleaning” |
| Compressor | Inverter (type not stated) | Triple rotary |
The sound of each, according to its manufacturer
FUJITSU AIRSTAGE publishes six named speeds for the ORION XLTH. For the POLARIS R32, KINGHOME publishes two sets of figures that do not match; both are shown.
How to read these figures. dB(A) measures a noise level as the ear perceives it: the lower the figure, the quieter the unit. Each dot is a fan speed published by the manufacturer, from the slowest to the fastest.
Why this is not a ranking. FUJITSU AIRSTAGE measures sound pressure in its own anechoic chamber. KINGHOME publishes neither the distance nor the measurement conditions, and its two documents differ by 10 dB(A). A gap of a few dB(A) can come from the method as much as from the unit.
Indoor unit, in the room
Cooling, every published speed
Outdoor unit, outside
Highest published speed
Measurements taken by each manufacturer using its own method: read them separately, not as a ranking.
Sources: FUJITSU AIRSTAGE brochure FG8153C and technical manual DR_AS233ES; KINGHOME POLARIS sales brochure (20260722) and KINGHOME POLARIS 12K submittal sheet. The 10 dB(A) gap between the two KINGHOME documents is not explained by the manufacturer.
Four questions to settle at the quote
Certified capacities only matter once compared with the room’s real need in extreme cold. That calculation is what tells whether 13,700 or 16,600 BTU/h at −15 °C changes anything in your home.
Main heating or backup to existing baseboards: the answer changes how much the points below −15 °C matter, and how much coordination with the backup heat matters.
Piping distance, height difference, height above the snow and clearances. The published limits differ: 82 ft for one, 131 ft for the other.
Both require 208/230 V and 15 A protection according to the manufacturers. The panel capacity still needs checking.
Before choosing between these two wall units
Which one keeps more heat at −15 °C?
According to NEEP, the ORION XLTH is certified at 16,600 BTU/h maximum at −15 °C, the POLARIS R32 at 13,700 BTU/h. In both cases, the rated capacity at −15 °C equals the maximum. This is the lowest temperature at which both units are measured under the same conditions.
Why aren’t both measured at −30 °C?
The coldest point published by NEEP is chosen by each manufacturer according to its unit’s range. FUJITSU AIRSTAGE rates the ORION XLTH’s heating down to −26 °C and has it measured at −15 °F (−26.1 °C). KINGHOME rates the POLARIS R32 down to −30 °C and has it measured at −22 °F (−30 °C). No measurement is published for the ORION XLTH at −30 °C, nor for the POLARIS R32 at −26.1 °C.
Why does the POLARIS have a higher rated capacity at −8.3 °C?
Rated capacity is a setting point the manufacturer chooses for the test. KINGHOME set it at 15,000 BTU/h at −8.3 °C, FUJITSU AIRSTAGE at 10,000 BTU/h. The maximum capacities at the same point are 15,000 and 18,700 BTU/h. Both readings are accurate; they answer two different questions.
KINGHOME, is it the same thing as GREE?
At NEEP, the record of the POLARIS R32 (“Glovia” series) and that of the GREE Glovia 12,000 BTU (GWH12BDCXE, AHRI 218338205, record 368049) carry exactly the same certified values, and both are listed under the same manufacturer, Gree Electric Appliances (Zhuhai). Indoor units, remote control, documentation and warranty may differ from one brand to the other.
What changes for the installation?
The POLARIS R32 accepts longer piping (131 ft against 82 ft) and a greater height difference (82 ft against 66 ft), but it is precharged for 24.6 ft against 49 ft for the ORION XLTH. Its published outdoor clearances are larger in front (40 in against 24 in), and KINGHOME requires at least 18 in above the ground.
Are they eligible for rebates?
Eligibility depends on the official list in force on the date of purchase (for example Hydro-Québec’s LogisVert). This page promises no amount; check the current list or ask for it with the quote.
Why aren’t the warranties compared?
Warranty terms vary with the manufacturer, registration and date of purchase. They are set out in the documents each manufacturer publishes.
Every AHRI and NEEP value, line by line
| Certified value | ORION XLTH | POLARIS R32 |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling | ||
| Rated capacity at 35 °C | 12,000 BTU/h | 12,000 BTU/h |
| SEER2 | 30.5 | 25.5 |
| EER2 | 16.0 | 14.5 |
| Heating, same conditions | ||
| HSPF2 Region IV | 12.7 | 10.0 |
| HSPF2 Region V | 10.1 | 8.0 |
| 8.3 °C: min. / rated / max.BTU/h | 3,500 / 16,000 / 23,600 | 3,070 / 12,000 / 17,060 |
| 8.3 °C: COP min. / rated / max. | 5.13 / 4.64 / 3.07 | 5.62 / 4.19 / 3.29 |
| −8.3 °C: min. / rated / max.BTU/h | 2,200 / 10,000 / 18,700 | 2,700 / 15,000 / 15,000 |
| −8.3 °C: COP min. / rated / max. | 3.39 / 3.45 / 2.44 | 3.04 / 2.14 / 2.00 |
| −15 °C: min. / rated / max.BTU/h | 1,950 / 16,600 / 16,600 | 2,600 / 13,700 / 13,700 |
| −15 °C: COP min. / rated / max. | 3.36 / 2.16 / 2.16 | 3.17 / 1.80 / 1.80 |
| Coldest point — different temperatures, not highlighted | ||
| Test temperature | −26.1 °C (−15 °F) | −30 °C (−22 °F) |
| Capacity min. / max.NEEP publishes no rated value at this point | 1,400 / 12,200 BTU/h | 2,000 / 7,300 BTU/h |
| COP min. / max. | 2.74 / 1.81 | 2.79 / 1.51 |
| Listings and refrigerant | ||
| ENERGY STAR / cold climate | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes |
| AHRI certificate · NEEP record | 214888802 · 392122 | 218451122 · 426104 |
| RefrigerantGWP per the IPCC (AR4); ASHRAE 34 safety class | R-32 · GWP 675 · A2L | R-32 · GWP 675 · A2L |
higher marks the higher value of the same measure taken under the same conditions. It is not a recommendation. Capacities are not highlighted: depending on the point read (minimum, rated or maximum), the order changes.
Both are on the AirGreen website.
To find out which one suits your room, talk it over with our team: bring the room’s dimensions, the planned location for the outdoor unit and your current heating.
Where every figure on this page comes from
Data verified November 9, 2026. Performance values: AHRI certificates and NEEP cold-climate heat pump database. Dimensions, sound, piping and features: per the manufacturer. When a source contradicts the AHRI certificate, the certificate prevails.
Trademarks. FUJITSU AIRSTAGE, ORION XLTH, KINGHOME and POLARIS are trademarks of their respective owners. Logos are used only to identify the products compared. AirGreen is a dealer for both brands; this page is not produced, sponsored or endorsed by the manufacturers.
Photos: AirGreen and manufacturers, for identification.
Does a figure look wrong to you? Write to us : any reported value is checked again.