Water Purifiers · Comparison
Havells Gracia Alkaline vs AO Smith Z9 Hot Water Purifier
Which should you buy?
Buy the Havells Gracia Alkaline if you want hot and warm water from a stainless-steel tank and slightly quicker hot cups. Buy the AO Smith Z9 if a 10 L reserve for a large family matters more than tank material. Both have 1-year warranties, child locks and no app.
Choose the Havells Gracia Alkaline Hot, Warm and Ambient RO + UV Water Purifier if
- You want a stainless-steel tank rather than ABS plastic
- You want a separate warm outlet as well as hot and ambient
- You want a slightly quicker first hot cup and a few more cups an hour
Choose the AO Smith Z9 10 L RO Water Purifier with Hot and Ambient Water if
- You have a large family and want a 10 L reserve
- You prefer AO Smith's dedicated service line
- You want 45 and 80 degree settings and do not mind a plastic tank
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Havells Gracia Alkaline Hot, Warm and Ambient RO + UV Water Purifier vs AO Smith Z9 10 L RO Water Purifier with Hot and Ambient Water: side by side
| Havells Gracia Alkaline Hot, Warm and Ambient RO + UV Water Purifier | AO Smith Z9 10 L RO Water Purifier with Hot and Ambient Water | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | ||
| Our grade | B 7.9 (better result) | B− 7.3 |
| Test results | ||
| Output TDS from 450 ppm input How we test this : Output TDS from 450 ppm input | 18 ppm (better result) | 19 ppm |
| Output TDS from 900 ppm input How we test this : Output TDS from 900 ppm input | 31 ppm (better result) | 33 ppm |
| Output TDS from 1,500 ppm input How we test this : Output TDS from 1,500 ppm input | 55 ppm (better result) | 61 ppm |
| First hot cup from cold How we test this : First hot cup from cold | 50 s (better result) | 55 s |
| Hot cups in an hour How we test this : Hot cups in an hour | 25 cups (better result) | 24 cups |
| Temperature at the tap How we test this : Temperature at the tap | 76 to 80 °C on hot; 43 to 47 °C on warm | 76 to 80 °C on the 80 °C setting; 43 to 47 °C on the 45 °C setting |
| Standby energy How we test this : Standby energy | 0.1 kWh/day (better result) | 0.11 kWh/day |
| Child lock on the hot tap How we test this : Child lock on the hot tap | Pass | Pass |
| Key specs | ||
| Price at review | MRP ₹48,790 | MRP ₹32,500 |
| Model code | GHWRGAS015 (Havells page) | — |
| Purification | 10 stages, RO + UV + alkaline | 8 stages, RO with minerals |
| Input TDS limit | Up to 2,000 mg/L | Up to 2,000 ppm |
| Purification rate | Up to 15 L/h | — |
| Storage | About 7.5 L: 6.5 L ambient, 0.8 L hot; stainless steel | — |
| Hot water | Hot and warm settings; a Reliance Digital listing gives 80 and 45 °C | 45 degrees C and 80 degrees C |
| Power | 60 W, 230 V, 50 Hz | — |
| Warranty | 1 year with Care 360 service | 1 year comprehensive; RO membrane covered if TDS under 2,000 ppm and hardness under 400 ppm |
| Capacity | — | 10 L total, 0.8 L hot (Flipkart listing) |
| Tank material | — | Food-grade ABS (Flipkart listing) |
| Smart features | — | None listed |
Both are wall-mounted RO purifiers that give hot and ambient water, with a warm setting near 45 °C for formula and a hot setting near 80 °C for chai. They purified and heated almost identically in our tests. The real choice is between the Havells’ steel tank and the AO Smith’s bigger reserve.
Steel tank or bigger tank?
The Havells Gracia stores about 7.5 L in a stainless-steel tank, 0.8 L of it hot. The AO Smith Z9 holds 10 L, more than any other hot water purifier we tested, but its tank is food-grade ABS plastic. We found no taste issue on the Z9. If you want no plastic in the storage path, pick the Havells; if a large family drains the tank often, the Z9’s extra reserve is worth more.
How hot is the water, and how accurate are the settings?
Our thermometer read 76 to 80 °C on hot and 43 to 47 °C on warm on both units. That suits chai and instant noodles at full heat and a warm start for formula that will be cooled further. Neither gives boiling water, and both child locks blocked a single accidental press.
How do they handle winter and power cuts?
Both have a small 0.8 L hot section, which recovers more slowly when inlet water is cold in winter; on the Havells it took about 15 seconds more per cup. Heating stops in a power cut on both, so keep a filled bottle ready if cuts are common.
What about warranty and running cost?
Both carry a 1-year warranty: the Havells with Care 360 service, the AO Smith with the RO membrane covered only below 2,000 ppm TDS and 400 ppm hardness. Neither brand publishes a filter price on the product page, and neither has an app or usage tracking.
Questions buyers ask
Which has a stainless-steel tank, the Havells Gracia Alkaline or the AO Smith Z9?
The Havells Gracia Alkaline lists a stainless-steel tank with a brass tap. The standard AO Smith Z9 lists a food-grade ABS plastic tank; AO Smith's separate Z9 Pro listings describe stainless steel.
Which gives hot water faster, the Havells Gracia Alkaline or the AO Smith Z9?
The Havells Gracia Alkaline was slightly quicker. Its first 150 ml cup at 80 °C took about 50 seconds from cold against about 55 seconds for the AO Smith Z9, and it gave 25 hot cups an hour against 24. Both hold only 0.8 L of hot water.
Which purifies hard water better, the Havells Gracia Alkaline or the AO Smith Z9?
They are almost level. From 1,500 ppm input the Havells Gracia Alkaline gave 55 ppm and the AO Smith Z9 gave 61 ppm, and both are rated for input up to 2,000 ppm.
Read the full reviews
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Havells Gracia Alkaline Review: Hot, Warm and Ambient RO
The Havells Gracia Alkaline is a solid 10-stage hot, warm and ambient RO+UV purifier with a stainless-steel tank and 15 L/h output, but it has a 1-year warranty and no app.
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AO Smith Z9 Review: 10 L Hot and Ambient RO Purifier
The AO Smith Z9 is a capable 10 L hot and ambient RO purifier with 45 and 80 degree settings, held back by a plastic tank, a 1-year warranty and no app.