Head-to-Head · Large Appliances
KENT vs Aquaguard Water Purifier: Which RO Is Better for Indian Homes?
By Bikram Nath · Updated 2026-07-25 · How we pick · Affiliate disclosure: links earn a small commission
The short answer
For homes with hard, high-TDS borewell water and unreliable power, the KENT Grand is the stronger choice — the RO + UV + UF combination with a TDS controller and a larger storage tank is built for exactly those Indian conditions.
Best on features
KENT Grand RO + UV + UF Water Purifier
Best on value
Aquaguard Aura RO + UV Water Purifier (Eureka Forbes)
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, PakkaPick earns from qualifying purchases. This comparison contains Amazon affiliate links — we may earn a commission, but it never changes our verdict and your price is unaffected.
KENT and Aquaguard (Eureka Forbes) are the two brands most Indian families weigh up when buying an RO water purifier. Both are established, both offer multi-stage RO + UV purification, and both are built for the real Indian problem: high-TDS borewell or municipal water that a simple candle filter can't touch. The KENT Grand is the model that made KENT a household name, using RO + UV + UF with a TDS controller and a mineral step, while the Aquaguard Aura from Eureka Forbes counters with RO + UV + a taste/mineral stage (MTDS) and a compact wall-mount design. The decision usually comes down to four things that actually affect you over years of ownership: how each handles your specific water hardness, storage capacity for power-cut-prone areas, the honesty and reach of the after-sales service (RO purifiers need filter changes roughly yearly), and total cost including consumables. This comparison breaks down where KENT and Aquaguard each pull ahead so you can match the purifier to your water and your city rather than the ad campaign.
Specs compared
| Spec | KENT Grand RO + UV + UF Water Purifier | Aquaguard Aura RO + UV Water Purifier (Eureka Forbes) |
|---|---|---|
| Purification | RO + UV + UF with TDS controller✓ | RO + UV with MTDS taste/mineral stage |
| Suitable for | High-TDS borewell / municipal water✓ | Moderate-to-high-TDS municipal / borewell water |
| Mineral step | Yes (TDS controller retains minerals) | Yes (MTDS taste adjuster) |
| Mounting | Wall-mount / counter-top | Compact wall-mount✓ |
| Storage tank | Larger tank (good for power cuts)✓ | Standard tank |
| Service network | Wide national coverage | Very large Eureka Forbes network✓ |
| Warranty | 1 year (brand warranty) | 2 years (brand warranty) |
Pros & cons
KENT Grand RO + UV + UF Water Purifier
Pros
- +RO + UV + UF plus TDS controller handles hard, high-TDS water well
- +Larger storage tank is a buffer during frequent or long power cuts
- +Established brand widely associated with RO purifiers in India
- +TDS controller retains some essential minerals after RO
Cons
- −Larger body needs more counter or wall space
- −Yearly filter and AMC costs can add up — confirm pricing upfront
- −Premium positioning usually means a higher sticker price
Aquaguard Aura RO + UV Water Purifier (Eureka Forbes)
Pros
- +Compact wall-mount design suits smaller Indian kitchens
- +Backed by Eureka Forbes' very large installed service base
- +MTDS stage lets you adjust taste/mineral balance
- +RO + UV covers typical municipal and moderate borewell water
Cons
- −Standard storage tank offers less buffer during long power cuts
- −AMC and filter pricing should be checked before committing
- −UF stage not always included at this tier — verify the exact model
Our verdict
For homes with hard, high-TDS borewell water and unreliable power, the KENT Grand is the stronger choice — the RO + UV + UF combination with a TDS controller and a larger storage tank is built for exactly those Indian conditions. For compact kitchens, moderate-TDS municipal supply, and cities with dense Eureka Forbes service coverage, the Aquaguard Aura is the more practical fit and often the easier unit to get serviced. Both are capable RO purifiers; the deciding factors are your actual water TDS, your power-cut frequency, and — most of all — the local filter and AMC running costs, which you should price out before you buy either.
Best for value
Aquaguard Aura RO + UV Water Purifier (Eureka Forbes)
Best for features
KENT Grand RO + UV + UF Water Purifier
Prices and availability on Amazon.in change frequently — the price on the Amazon product page at the time of purchase is the one that applies. As an Amazon Associate, PakkaPick earns from qualifying purchases; your price is unaffected.
Editor's take
Choose KENT Grand if you have hard, high-TDS water and frequent power cuts — the larger storage and RO+UV+UF+TDS-control combination is built for exactly that. Choose Aquaguard Aura if your kitchen is compact and your city has strong Eureka Forbes service coverage. Whichever you pick, price the yearly filter/AMC cost first — that decides the real value.
Editor's read
The honest truth with RO purifiers is that the brand matters less than the after-sales relationship in your specific area, because these are consumable-heavy products that need a technician roughly once a year. KENT built its reputation on the RO + UV + UF + TDS-controller combination and larger storage, which genuinely helps in hard-water, power-cut-prone regions. Aquaguard's advantage is Eureka Forbes' very large installed service base and a more compact footprint for smaller kitchens. Neither brand is a bad choice for typical Indian municipal or borewell water above 300 ppm — but before buying either, confirm your actual TDS and the local filter/AMC pricing, because that lifetime running cost is what separates a good purchase from an expensive one.
— Bikram, editor
How we compared these
This head-to-head is researched from each product's published specifications, manufacturer documentation, expert reviews and the aggregate of genuine Indian buyer feedback — not hands-on lab testing. We weigh the specs that actually matter for Indian conditions (voltage variability, hard water, monsoon humidity, service-network reach) and tell you which contender suits which buyer, rather than claiming to have bench-tested either unit. We do not accept paid placements — our only commercial relationship is the Amazon affiliate link. See our full methodology.
What to look for
- 1Test your water TDS before you buy: An RO purifier is only necessary above roughly 300-500 ppm TDS. Get a cheap TDS meter or ask your RWA — if your supply is already low-TDS municipal water, a UV/UF purifier may be enough and RO would strip useful minerals unnecessarily.
- 2Match storage to your power situation: RO purifiers only work when powered, so the storage tank is your buffer during cuts. KENT Grand's larger tank suits areas with frequent or long power cuts; a smaller tank is fine where supply is stable.
- 3Factor in yearly running cost, not just the sticker price: RO membranes and filters need replacing roughly every 6-12 months depending on water quality. Ask for the per-filter and AMC (annual maintenance) cost upfront — this is where the real lifetime cost sits, and it varies between KENT and Aquaguard.
- 4Weigh service reach and honesty for your area: Both run large service networks, but experiences vary by city. RO purifiers are service-heavy products, so a responsive, non-pushy local service technician matters more than a marginal feature. Check recent local reviews for your pincode, not just national ratings.
- 5Don't over-pay for mineral marketing: Both add a mineral/taste step after RO. It genuinely improves taste and adds back some minerals, but treat elaborate 'mineral technology' branding sceptically — the core value is reliable RO + UV for your TDS level.
Also worth a look
KENT Supreme RO + UV + UF Water Purifier
View on Amazon →A step-up KENT model with RO+UV+UF plus alkaline and copper if you want extra mineral stages beyond the Grand
HUL Pureit Copper+ RO Water Purifier
View on Amazon →A third-brand alternative with copper-infusion and RO+UV if you want to look beyond KENT and Aquaguard
Frequently asked questions
Is KENT or Aquaguard water purifier better in India?
It depends on your water and your city's service coverage. KENT Grand is stronger for hard, high-TDS borewell water and power-cut-prone areas thanks to its RO + UV + UF with TDS controller and larger storage tank. Aquaguard Aura suits compact kitchens and areas with strong Eureka Forbes service reach. Because RO purifiers need a technician roughly once a year for filter changes, the quality and honesty of local service often matters more than the feature list — check recent reviews for your pincode before deciding.
Do I need an RO purifier or is UV enough for my home?
It comes down to your water's TDS level. Above roughly 300-500 ppm (common with borewell and many municipal supplies in India), you need RO to reduce dissolved salts and hardness — UV alone won't remove them. Below about 200-300 ppm, a UV or UV+UF purifier is usually enough, and RO would needlessly strip useful minerals. Test with a TDS meter first; both KENT and Aquaguard also sell UV-only models for low-TDS supplies.
How often do KENT and Aquaguard filters need replacing?
For both brands, the RO membrane and pre/post filters typically need replacing every 6-12 months depending on your water quality and usage — harder, dirtier water shortens the interval. This yearly consumable and annual-maintenance-contract (AMC) cost is the biggest ongoing expense of owning any RO purifier, so ask for the exact per-filter and AMC pricing before buying. It varies between KENT and Aquaguard and is worth comparing alongside the purchase price.
Does an RO purifier remove essential minerals from water?
Yes, RO membranes remove dissolved salts including some beneficial minerals along with the contaminants — which is why both KENT and Aquaguard add a mineral or taste-enhancing stage after the RO step to reintroduce some minerals and improve flavour. For genuinely low-TDS water this mineral loss is a reason to prefer UV over RO. For hard, high-TDS Indian water, the trade-off is worthwhile because RO is the only practical way to bring the dissolved-solids level within safe drinking limits.