Home / Comparisons / 12,000 BTU wall-mounted heat pumps
TCL ULTIMATE 25 and SENVILLE AURA R454B, kilowatt by kilowatt
Two 12,000 BTU wall units on the same refrigerant, certified ENERGY STAR cold climate and offered by AirGreen. Their Region IV HSPF2 values are identical. Their Region V HSPF2, their capacity in extreme cold and the electricity they draw at each temperature are not: this page shows where the two certificates part.
ULTIMATE 25, 12,000 BTU
H12SUH25XGE / H12SUH25XGC · AHRI 216506201
See the product pageOther names: no other known NEEP record with the same values.
AURA R454B, 12,000 BTU
SENA-12HF-IGG / SENA-12HF-OG · AHRI 215735296
See the product pageOther names: same AHRI- and NEEP-certified values as the MIDEA28 (AHRI 215471381), the DIRECT AIR HEAT XTREME PRO R-454B (216571373) and the BOSCH Climate 5000 MAX PERFORMANCE R-454B (215223282).
What the electricity costs, in dollars, winter and summer
AirGreen estimate for the same 12,000 BTU/h zone in Montréal, at Hydro-Québec 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.
The winter difference comes from the Region V HSPF2 on the certificates: 9.0 for the ULTIMATE 25, 8.0 for the AURA. In Region IV, both certificates give 10.5.
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.
The electricity each one draws, at each certified temperature
The AHRI certificate gives more than the heat delivered: it also gives the electrical power measured at the same moment. Each disc turns at the speed of that power, like the disc of a meter. Both units are measured at the same four temperatures.
Power, capacity and COP: AHRI certificates 216506201 and 215735296, published by NEEP, with 21.1 °C indoors. Hourly amount: power × average price of Hydro-Québec Rate D (9.104¢ per kWh as of April 1, 2026), GST and QST included, for a full hour at that speed. A variable-speed unit changes speed over the hour; this amount gives an order of magnitude, it is not a bill.
Same refrigerant, two heating ranges
Each bar runs from the certified minimum to the certified maximum capacity, at the same temperature for both units. The yellow tick marks the rated capacity, when the certificate gives one.
Certified heating capacities in BTU/h, 21.1 °C indoors. Same scale on every line.
At the top of the range, the ULTIMATE 25 is certified for more heat at all four temperatures: 18,400 versus 16,000 BTU/h at 8.3 °C, 15,300 versus 12,800 at −8.3 °C, 12,000 versus 11,500 at −15 °C and 7,100 versus 5,900 at −30 °C.
At the bottom of the range, the order depends on the temperature. At 8.3 °C, the ULTIMATE 25 goes down to 3,200 BTU/h and the AURA to 3,800. Below zero, the AURA goes lower: 5,300 versus 6,000 BTU/h at −8.3 °C, 4,100 versus 6,300 at −15 °C, 2,000 versus 5,000 at −30 °C. A lower minimum lets the unit run longer without stopping when the room needs little heat.
Three values the two certificates share. The rest of the record differs: SEER2 of 25.0 and 25.4, EER2 of 14.0 and 13.4, Region V HSPF2 of 9.0 and 8.0.
Below −15 °C: 500 BTU/h apart at −15 °C, 1,200 at −30 °C
NEEP certifies both units at −15 °C and at −30 °C: these two lines compare directly. TCL also publishes, outside the certificate, a maximum capacity at −25 °C; SENVILLE publishes none between −15 °C and −30 °C. Where a value is missing, the table gives the range between the two published points on either side of the temperature.
What TCL and SENVILLE write, feature by feature
For the ULTIMATE 25: TCL Ultimate 25 Series brochure (TCL_ULT_050525_1). For the AURA: SENVILLE SENA-12HF product page. Each line repeats what the manufacturer writes.
ULTIMATE 25: “Extreme low temperature heating”: per TCL, operates efficiently down to −25 °C (−13 °F); maximum capacities published at −15, −25 and −30 °C; heating range down to −30 °C.
AURA R454B: heating down to −30 °C (−22 °F); “PTC Heat Belt and Pan”.
ULTIMATE 25: cooling stated from −15 to 55 °C outdoors.
AURA R454B: “Low Ambient Cooling” down to −30 °C.
ULTIMATE 25: wireless remote with Wi-Fi and voice control; TCL HOME app; compatible with Google Home and Alexa.
AURA R454B: Wi-Fi (iOS and Android); “Works with Alexa”; remote with built-in thermostat (“Follow Me”).
ULTIMATE 25: “Gentle Breeze”; three published airflows: 470, 411 and 323 CFM.
AURA R454B: “Vertical Swing”; four published speeds, from Low to Turbo; “Whisper Technology”.
ULTIMATE 25: the brochure names “Gentle Breeze” and self-cleaning, without detailing other modes.
AURA R454B: self-cleaning mode, built-in dehumidification, self-diagnosis.
ULTIMATE 25: “Deep self-cleaning and sterilization”: condensation, frosting, defrosting, drying and sterilizing cycles.
AURA R454B: “Silver Ion Filter”.
ULTIMATE 25: “Inverter” compressor; DC fan motors; electronic expansion valve (EXV).
AURA R454B: “Inverter Technology”, with no further detail on the product page.
ULTIMATE 25: Not published by the manufacturer in the brochure consulted.
AURA R454B: Not published by the manufacturer on the product page consulted.
ULTIMATE 25: Not published by the manufacturer in the brochure consulted.
AURA R454B: “Refrigerant Leak Detection”.
A feature missing from a document is not necessarily missing from the unit: the document simply does not mention it. Each unit's user guide is more complete.
Two bounds at TCL, four speeds at SENVILLE
TCL publishes two bounds for the ULTIMATE 25 indoor unit: the minimum and maximum sound pressure. SENVILLE publishes four speeds for the AURA, from “Low” to “Turbo”.
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 value published by the manufacturer, from the lowest to the highest.
Why this is not a ranking. TCL refers to sound pressure; SENVILLE writes “dB”, without saying pressure or power. Neither publishes the measurement distance or conditions: different method — not comparable.
Indoor unit, in the room
All published values
Outdoor unit, outside
Published value
Measurements taken by each manufacturer using its own method: read them separately, not as a ranking.
Sources: TCL Ultimate 25 Series brochure (TCL_ULT_050525_1); SENVILLE SENA-12HF product page.
Nearly three inches apart on the wall
The ULTIMATE 25 indoor unit is 36 1/4 in wide, the AURA's 33.4 in. Drag the slider to see what fits above a door or between two windows.
Is your wall wide enough?
Widths published by each manufacturer. The side clearances required by each installation manual are added to these.
Indoor units to scale
Same scale for both photos.
In profile, against the wall
Diagram to scale, height and depth published by each manufacturer: the ULTIMATE 25 is slightly taller (12 1/16 in versus 11.76 in), the AURA deeper (9.18 in versus 7 11/16 in).
| Installation | ULTIMATE 25 | AURA R454B |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum piping length | 50 ftMinimum 10 ft, per TCL. | Not published by the manufacturer on the product page consulted. |
| Precharged length | 25 ftThen 0.11 oz/ft beyond. | 25 ft |
| Maximum height difference | 33 ft | Not published by the manufacturer on the product page consulted. |
| Liquid – gas diameters | 1/4 – 3/8 in | Not published by the manufacturer on the product page consulted. |
| Outdoor unit W × H × D, weight | 34 × 23 11/16 × 13 3/4 in, 69.4 lb | 30.31 × 21.65 × 12.20 in, 82.67 lb |
| Indoor unit W × H × D, weight | 36 1/4 × 12 1/16 × 7 11/16 in, 23.1 lb | 33.4 × 11.76 × 9.18 in, 24.25 lb |
| Electrical protectionPer the manufacturer | Max. breaker 20 A (MCA 12 A) | Max. fuse 15 A (minimum circuit ampacity 12 A) |
| Dehumidification | Not published by the manufacturer. | 1.4 L/h |
| Stated heating / cooling range | −30 to 30 °C / −15 to 55 °C | Heating down to −30 °C; low-ambient cooling down to −30 °CFull range not published on the product page. |
Outdoor unit clearances are in the installation manual supplied with each unit; neither the TCL brochure nor the SENVILLE product page gives them.
What people ask about these two wall units
They use the same refrigerant: why do their figures differ?
The refrigerant is only one part of the system. Each manufacturer's compressor, coils and settings also count, and the AHRI certificate measures the whole. Two R-454B units can therefore have different certificates, as here.
Which one heats more at −15 °C and at −30 °C?
According to NEEP, the certified maximum capacity is 12,000 BTU/h for the ULTIMATE 25 and 11,500 BTU/h for the AURA at −15 °C, then 7,100 and 5,900 BTU/h at −30 °C. Both units are measured at the same temperatures.
Which one draws more electricity?
It depends on the speed. At full capacity, the ULTIMATE 25 draws more power at all four certified temperatures, and also delivers more heat. For the same 12,000 BTU/h of heat at −8.3 °C, the ULTIMATE 25 certificate states 1.17 kW and the AURA certificate 1.40 kW.
Where does the heating cost difference between the two come from?
From the Region V HSPF2, the certificate value our estimate uses: 9.0 for the ULTIMATE 25, 8.0 for the AURA. In the milder Region IV, both certificates give 10.5.
TCL publishes 9,100 BTU/h at −25 °C: what about SENVILLE?
SENVILLE publishes no capacity between −15 °C and −30 °C on its product page. The two certified points on either side of −25 °C are 11,500 BTU/h at −15 °C and 5,900 BTU/h at −30 °C. The TCL figure comes from its brochure, outside the certificate: it does not compare directly with a range.
The TCL brochure says 7,800 BTU/h at 17 °F: why does the page say 12,000?
Brochure TCL_ULT_050525_1 prints 7,800 BTU/h “rated” at 17 °F (−8.3 °C). AHRI certificate 216506201, as shown by NEEP, states 12,000 BTU/h rated capacity at that temperature. When sources differ, this page follows the certificate.
SENVILLE AURA, MIDEA28, DIRECT AIR, BOSCH: what is the link?
At 12,000 BTU, these models have the same AHRI- and NEEP-certified values as the AURA R454B; the indoor unit, remote, app and warranty may differ. For the ULTIMATE 25, we know of no other NEEP record with the same values. See the MIDEA platform page.
Are they eligible for grants?
Eligibility depends on the official list in effect on the purchase date, and programs can change. This page promises no amount; the current list is checked when the quote is prepared.
All AHRI and NEEP values, at the same temperatures
| Certified value (AHRI, via NEEP) | ULTIMATE 25 | AURA R454B |
|---|---|---|
| Seasonal efficiency, same conditions | ||
| SEER2 | 25.0 | 25.4 |
| EER2 | 14.0 | 13.4 |
| HSPF2 Region IV | 10.5 | 10.5 |
| HSPF2 Region V | 9.0 | 8.0 |
| Rated capacity at 35 °C | 12,000 BTU/h | 12,000 BTU/h |
| Heating at 8.3 °C (47 °F) | ||
| Capacity min. / rated / max.BTU/h | 3,200 / 12,000 / 18,400 | 3,800 / 12,000 / 16,000 |
| COP min. / rated / max. | 4.08 / 4.00 / 2.84 | 4.84 / 3.74 / 3.35 |
| Power input min. / rated / max.kW | 0.23 / 0.88 / 1.90 | 0.23 / 0.94 / 1.40 |
| Heating at −8.3 °C (17 °F) | ||
| Capacity min. / rated / max.BTU/h | 6,000 / 12,000 / 15,300 | 5,300 / 12,000 / 12,800 |
| COP min. / rated / max. | 3.20 / 3.01 / 2.04 | 2.22 / 2.51 / 1.75 |
| Power input min. / rated / max.kW | 0.55 / 1.17 / 2.20 | 0.70 / 1.40 / 2.14 |
| Heating at −15 °C (5 °F) | ||
| Capacity min. / rated / max.BTU/h | 6,300 / 12,000 / 12,000 | 4,100 / 11,500 / 11,500 |
| COP min. / rated / max. | 1.79 / 1.80 / 1.80 | 1.72 / 1.80 / 1.80 |
| Power input min. / rated / max.kW | 1.03 / 1.95 / 1.95 | 0.70 / 1.87 / 1.87 |
| Heating at −30 °C (−22 °F) | ||
| Capacity min. / max.BTU/h | 5,000 / 7,100 | 2,000 / 5,900 |
| COP min. / max. | 1.22 / 1.22 | 1.17 / 1.25 |
| Power input at min. / max. capacitykW | 1.20 / 1.71 | 0.50 / 1.38 |
| Certifications and refrigerant | ||
| ENERGY STAR / cold climate (NEEP) | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes |
| ENERGY STAR directory, markets listed | United States, Canada | United States, Canada |
| AHRI certificate · NEEP record | 216506201 · 382523 | 215735296 · 385685 |
| RefrigerantGWP per the IPCC (AR4); ASHRAE 34 class | R-454B · GWP 466 · A2L | R-454B · GWP 466 · A2L |
higher marks the higher value of the same measure, under the same conditions. It is not a recommendation. Capacities, COPs and power inputs by point are not highlighted: the order changes depending on the point read.
Both are on the AirGreen website.
To choose for your room, talk to our team: bring the room dimensions, the width of the planned wall, the distance to the outdoor location and your current heating.
Where each figure comes from
Data verified November 9, 2026. Performance: AHRI certificates and the NEEP database. Dimensions, sound, piping and features: according to the manufacturer. When a source contradicts the AHRI certificate, the certificate prevails.
Trademarks. TCL, ULTIMATE 25, SENVILLE and AURA 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.