APEC RO-90 vs APEC ROES-50
Two of the reverse osmosis systems in our best reverse osmosis systems comparison, lined up spec by spec. Every figure comes from the manufacturer pages linked below, and the scores use the same published formula as the full ranking.
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Best for: 5-stage 90 GPD under-sink RO with a named WQA contaminant list
Check price at AmazonBest for: 5-stage 50 GPD under-sink RO with a 4-gallon tank
Check price at AmazonSpec-by-spec comparison
Green marks the better published figure. "Not listed" means the manufacturer doesn't publish it.
| Spec | APEC RO-90 | APEC ROES-50 | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily productionThe maker's rated gallons per day, usually at a stated feed pressure. Missing values take the category minimum. | 90 GPD | 50 GPD | 24% |
| NSF/ANSI 58 namedYes when the official page names NSF/ANSI 58 (or WQA certification to 58). A generic certified claim without the standard is No. | No | No | 20% |
| Broader named certificationYes when the official page names an additional NSF/ANSI standard such as 42 or 53, or lists certified contaminant reductions beyond TDS. NSF/ANSI 372 (lead-free materials) alone is not enough. | Yes | No | 16% |
| Drain water per product gallonComputed from a clearly worded pure-to-drain or product-to-waste ratio. Lower is less wastewater. Missing values, including traditional tank systems that do not publish a ratio, take the category minimum. | Not listed | Not listed | 16% |
| Filtration stagesStage count the maker lists. Missing values take the category minimum. | 5 | 5 | 12% |
| WarrantyLimited warranty length the official page publishes, in years. Missing values take the category minimum. | Not listed | Not listed | 12% |
| Daily production (maker) | 90 gallons per day @ 60 psi, 75 gallons/day @ 50 psi and 77 deg F | 50 gallons per day @ 60 psi, 30 gallons/day @ 50 psi and 77 deg F | info |
| Filtration stages (maker) | 5 stages | 5 stages | info |
| NSF/ANSI 58 (maker) | WQA Gold Seal Certified (NSF/ANSI 58 is not named on the page we used) | WQA Certified (standard not named on the page we used) | info |
| Broader named certification | Official page names an additional NSF/ANSI standard (for example 42 or 53) or certified reductions beyond TDS | Not listed as a broader named certification on the page we used | info |
| Drain ratio (maker) | Not listed | Not listed | info |
| Drain water per product gallon | Not listed | Not listed | info |
| Warranty (maker) | Not listed | Not listed | info |
| Tank capacity (maker) | 4 gallons. 14 gallons optional | 4 gallons | info |
| Certified reductions (maker) | Official page says the system is certified to reduce Arsenic+3, Arsenic+5, Barium, Cadmium, Chromium-3, Chromium-6, Copper, Fluoride, Lead, Radioactivity, Selenium, and Turbidity | Not listed | info |
| Package weight (maker) | 25 lbs | Not listed | info |
| Feed water pressure (maker) | 40-85 psi | 40-85 psi | info |
| HydroPick score | 2.0/10 | 0.3/10 | 100% |
Where each one comes out ahead
APEC RO-90
Better published figure on: Daily production, Broader named certification.
What we like
Watch out for
- Drain water per product gallon not published by APEC
- Warranty not published by APEC
APEC ROES-50
No scored spec where it is strictly ahead; its case rests on the strengths below.
What we like
Watch out for
- Lowest daily production in this comparison (50 GPD)
- Drain water per product gallon not published by APEC
- Warranty not published by APEC
Verdict
Both are 5-stage APEC under-sink systems with 4-gallon tanks. The official tables list 50 GPD at 60 psi on the ROES-50 and 90 GPD at 60 psi on the RO-90. The RO-90 page also publishes a WQA Gold Seal contaminant-reduction list; the ROES-50 page says WQA Certified without naming NSF/ANSI 58.
- APEC RO-90: APEC: RO-90
- APEC ROES-50: APEC: ROES-50