The maker's photo for this series, not this exact size; the outdoor unit grows with capacity
Gree · Single-Zone
VIR12HP230V1R32AO / VIR12HP230V1R32AH
~$1,624approximate retailer price at last check, equipment only
Best forValue shoppers in cold states who want low-ambient capability from a big-box-available unit.
The Vireo is Gree's volume seller — the sensible middle of their range — and the Gen3 R32 refresh quietly turned it into a sleeper cold-climate unit: 24.5 SEER2, HSPF2 up to 9.5, and a published heating operating range that now reaches -22°F, territory that used to require stepping up to the Sapphire. At the $1,600-$2,100 street prices Home Depot and the wholesalers post, that's one of the cheapest paths to genuine low-ambient heating from a manufacturer that builds its own compressors. The honest fine print: '-22°F operation' is not '-22°F full capacity' — Gree doesn't publish the same NEEP-style capacity-retention story Mitsubishi does, so treat it as strong shoulder-to-deep-winter gear with backup for design-cold snaps. WiFi means adding a Cielo-style controller (~$130), the warranty wants online registration and a professional install, and resale recognition is a fraction of the Japanese brands'. As a value-for-cold-climate play, it's hard to argue with.
At 5°F it still makes 92% of its rated heat, according to the certified NEEP listing for this pairing. Gree rates it to keep running down to -22°F.
Pairing: VIR12HP230V1R32AO with VIR12HP230V1R32AH. From NEEP's ccASHP list; a different head or condenser posts different numbers.
Be careful with this one: -22°F is the rated operating range, and Gree publishes no capacity-retention data at low temperatures for the Vireo — operation is not the same as full output. It's a legitimate cold-weather unit at a value price, but plan backup heat for design-cold nights rather than assuming full 12k output below zero.
Two Vireo generations are still in retail circulation, and it's easy to accidentally buy the older R-410A version. Check the model number for the R32 designation (VIR12HP230V1R32AO/AH) before ordering — the Gen3 R32 refresh is the one with 24.5 SEER2 and the -22°F rating.
No — app control requires a third-party controller add-on running about $130. It's one of the visible cost cuts that keeps the Vireo roughly $1,500 under the R-32 Sapphire.
Big-box availability makes sourcing easy, but this is still a conventional install: flared linesets, evacuation with a vacuum pump, and a dedicated 230V circuit. More importantly, warranty enforcement requires professional install documentation, so a DIY job risks the 7-year compressor coverage.
Not yet — the R32 refresh specifically has little US review history, though Gree builds its own compressors at enormous scale and the Vireo line has been their volume seller for years. You're betting on the manufacturer's track record more than on documented Gen3 field experience.
Series photoGree · Single-Zone
~$1,379
Buyers who want a basic R-32 12k from a distributor-sold brand with a longer compressor term than the budget imports.
Series photoGree · Single-Zone
~$1,321
Mild-climate bedrooms and offices that want a distributor-backed R-32 unit with a 7-year compressor term.
Series photoGree · Single-Zone
~$2,105
Cold-climate homes that want a documented 5°F capacity and built-in Wi-Fi without paying Sapphire prices.