Series photoGree · Single-Zone
~$2,240
Gree Vireo R-32 24,000 BTU
Large rooms or open plans up to about 1,100 sq ft in climates with real winters, with a Gree contractor available.
- BTU/h
- 24k
- Volts
- 230
- Refrig.
- R-32
- SEER2
- 26
- HSPF2
- 10
- Heats to
- -22°F
Gree · Single-Zone
Gree Sapphire 12,000 BTU
SAP12HP230V1A
~$2,270approximate retailer price at last check, equipment only
Discontinued. Gree replaced it with the Gree Sapphire R-32 12,000 BTU. Leftover stock still turns up; the specs below are for this model.
- BTU/h
- 12k
- Volts
- 230
- Zones
- 1
- SEER2
- 24
- HSPF2
- 8.5
- Heats to
- -22°F
- Refrig.
- R-410A
- Covers
- 550 ft²
- Wi-Fi
- Built in
Best forCold-climate buyers who want hyper-heat-class winter performance without the Japanese-brand installed price.
Overview
The Sapphire is Gree's flagship answer to Mitsubishi Hyper-Heat, and Gree — the world's largest AC manufacturer, building hardware for half the industry — meant it as a statement: rated heating operation down to -22°F, a G10 inverter compressor, built-in WiFi, and Energy Star certification. Under the old metrics it advertised a famous 30.5 SEER / 14 HSPF; under today's tougher SEER2/HSPF2 tests the published numbers land lower and vary confusingly by pairing and refrigerant generation (R410A vs the newer R32 versions), which is worth knowing before you compare spec sheets across retailers. Owners generally rate the Sapphire as the budget-conscious cold-climate pick that delivers in northern winters, with the standing Gree caveats: distributor-dependent warranty service, parts that move slower than Mitsubishi's Diamond network, and street prices that have crept close enough to entry Mitsubishi to make you think. If you find leftover stock and the quote gap is real, it's a strong buy.
- G10 inverter from the world's biggest AC maker
- Built-in WiFi and Energy Star
Cold-weather output
At 5°F it still makes 98% of its rated heat, according to the certified NEEP listing for this pairing. Gree rates it to keep running down to -22°F.
- COP at 5°F
- 1.91
- Refrigerant
- R-410A
- AHRI cert.
- 10149903
- ENERGY STAR cold climate
- Yes
Pairing: SAP12HP230V1AO with SAP12HP230V1AH. From NEEP's ccASHP list; a different head or condenser posts different numbers.
Strengths and catches
Strengths
- +Rated heating operation down to -22°F — true cold-climate class
- +Built by Gree itself, not a rebadge — factory-direct engineering
- +G10 inverter holds output deep into negative temperatures
- +Energy Star certified with utility-rebate eligibility in many states
- +Meaningfully cheaper installed than Mitsubishi/Fujitsu equivalents
Catches
- −Published SEER2/HSPF2 vary by pairing and refrigerant generation — read the AHRI cert, not the banner
- −Warranty service depends on distributor cooperation, not a dealer network
- −Street price has crept toward entry-level Japanese systems
- −Parts availability lags the majors outside big metros
What owners report
Covers the Gree Sapphire line as a whole, summarised from 47 owner discussion threads, with the replies on the 12 most-discussed.
Owners treat the Sapphire as a cold-climate single-zone unit that costs less than the big names, and the most enthusiastic of them run it as their main heat source. A New England owner heats a 1,000 sq ft apartment over a garage with a 24k unit and says it barely runs most of the day. A southern Vermont owner says it kept working at -17F, though it was working hard and they would still keep a backup, and that their heating bill was about half what oil had cost. A Connecticut owner has run a 12k since 2017 alongside a Midea, and logged nearly the same electricity per heating degree day every winter. On the newer R-32 generation, one owner's 24k ran through a winter near -32C with no other heat source down to about -25C.
Most complaints are about how the unit modulates, not raw capacity. The 12k model gets praise for idling at under 100 watts. Two 18k owners describe it cycling off rather than modulating down, one never dropping below about 800W and another switching off for up to an hour. The first traced it to firmware stuck at v1.0 that the app cannot update in the US, while a 12k owner replies that the unit is probably oversized for its room. A Maine owner with three rebadged 12k heads says they settle 1-5 degrees below the setpoint at some loads. The return-air sensor is easily fooled: two owners whose head was 'boiling' the room found cold outside air leaking in through an unsealed wall penetration. The 22k and 24k sizes use 5/8-inch line sets that DIY installers find hard to bend.
The evidence fits a DIY-capable owner, or one with a willing installer, heating a defined space in a cold climate who wants high efficiency for the money. Buyers note the same unit is sold under other badges, sometimes cheaper and with better support, and that US distribution and cold-climate owner reports are harder to find than for Mitsubishi.
What owners like
- +Keeps heating in real cold: owners run it as primary heat through New England winters, one at -17F in Vermont, and an R-32 24k ran without backup down to about -25C
- +The 12k model idles extremely low: owners log about 80W cooling and 222W heating at a COP above 5, and the R-32 model has been seen as low as 70W
- +Steady over the years: one Connecticut owner, running a 12k Sapphire and a 12k Midea since 2017, used almost the same electricity per heating degree day every winter, about 3,000 kWh a season for the pair, with the Sapphire carrying most of the load
- +DIY-friendly in owners' hands: several self-installed 22k and 24k units, and one mounted on an offset foundation bracket makes no sound inside the building
- +Cheaper than the big cold-climate names: one buyer was quoted about $7,000 installed for a rebadged pair against $10,000 for Mitsubishi, and owners say the rebadged versions can cost less and come with better warranty support
Common complaints
- −Some 18k units will not modulate below about 800W and cycle off for up to an hour instead. One owner blames firmware stuck at v1.0 with no US update path in the app, while a 12k owner suspects oversizing
- −Can settle below the setpoint: a Maine owner says three rebadged 12k heads hold the room 1-5 degrees low at certain loads despite spare capacity
- −The return-air sensor is easily fooled. An unsealed wall penetration let outside air reach it and the head overheated the room, and one technician found the sensor connector not fully seated
- −The 22k and 24k sizes use 5/8-inch line sets that DIY installers struggle to bend, and runs past 25 feet need extra refrigerant that one installer called optional
- −One owner reports the head clicking and popping as plastic expands each time heating restarts, on a unit that cycles a few times an hour
- −US distribution is thin, and buyers struggle to find cold-climate owner reports, especially for the newer R-32 generation
Questions buyers ask
Can the Sapphire really replace a Mitsubishi Hyper-Heat?+
On winter capability, largely yes: rated heating operation to -22°F with Gree's G10 inverter holding output deep into negative temperatures, at a meaningfully lower installed price. What you give up is the dealer network — Mitsubishi's installer and parts coverage is far deeper, which matters most in year eight, not year one.
Why do I see different SEER2 numbers for this unit online?+
Published ratings vary by indoor/outdoor pairing and refrigerant generation, and retailers are sloppy about which they quote. Before buying, look up the specific AHRI certificate for your exact model pair rather than trusting the banner number — this catalog's 24.0 SEER2 is for the R-410A SAP12HP230V1A pairing, which Gree has discontinued in favor of the R-32 Sapphire.
What's warranty service like without a dealer network?+
You get 7-year compressor / 5-year parts with online registration, but claims run through distributor cooperation rather than a branded dealer program, and parts availability lags the majors outside big metros. Owners who buy through a supportive local supply house have a much smoother experience than pure online purchasers.
Does it need an adapter for app control?+
No — WiFi is built in, which Gree includes even where Bosch, Carrier, and Mitsubishi charge extra for dongles. It also carries Energy Star certification, which unlocks utility rebates in many cold-climate states.
Is it still a bargain versus the Japanese brands?+
Less than it used to be — street price has crept toward entry-level Japanese systems at around $2,270. The value case now rests on it being cheaper installed than a Mitsubishi or Fujitsu cold-climate equivalent while matching their -22°F rating, not on being cheap outright.
Similar systems
Everything from GreeSeries photo
Series photoGree · Single-Zone
~$2,430
Gree Livo R-32 24,000 BTU
Large open rooms in mild climates that want a 2-ton wall unit with a 7-year compressor term.
- BTU/h
- 24k
- Volts
- 230
- Refrig.
- R-32
- SEER2
- 19
- HSPF2
- 8.5
- Heats to
- -13°F
Series photoGree · Single-Zone
~$2,105
Gree Vireo R-32 18,000 BTU
Cold-climate homes that want a documented 5°F capacity and built-in Wi-Fi without paying Sapphire prices.
- BTU/h
- 18k
- Volts
- 230
- Refrig.
- R-32
- SEER2
- 24.5
- HSPF2
- 9
- Heats to
- -22°F