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Avalon A5 Bottleless vs Avalon A8 Countertop Bottleless Water Cooler Dispenser Side-by-Side Comparison

By , , and ·Updated

Avalon A5 Bottleless

$199.99 from Amazon(+2 more)

Avalon A8 Countertop Bottleless

$199.99 from Amazon(+1 more)
Avalon A5 Bottleless vs Avalon A8 Countertop Bottleless Water Cooler

Overall Verdict

The Avalon A5 and and A8 are two bottleless water cooler dispensers that connect to a water main and include two filters. The Avalon A5 is a full-sized freestanding machine, while the A8 is a compact countertop water cooler.

A shared feature between the two machines is an ozone sanitation function and a night light. Other than that, the design and performance are quite different.

The Avalon A8 uses paddle levers and dispensing water into large tumblers is not so easy. The Avalon A5 is a button dispenser and you can stand a tall tumbler on the drip tray. It also dispenses ambient temperature water.

Performance wise, the Avalon A5 is far superior. It is, of course, a bigger machine and heating times are slightly longer. Additionally, the hot water capacity is 5.3 L per hour compared to the A8 with 4 L per hour. The temperature is a same 198 ℉ but the A5 has a better flow rate.

The biggest performance difference is cold water. The Avalon A8 can only produce 2.7 L per hour—or a 8.5 fl. oz. (300 ml) glass every 7 minutes. The machine’s rear heat exchanger gets comparatively quite hot without regular downtime periods. The Avalon A5 produces enough cold water to meet the top standard of 6 L per hour of a glass every 3 minutes.

If price and size are not a consideration, the Avalon A5 is still the better machine for either the home or an office kitchen.

Ranking by
Showing: 2/2 Items

Pros & Cons

  • Stainless steel panel
  • Easy filter installation
  • Cold water performance capacity
  • Hot water temperature
  • Flow rate
  • Ozone sanitation
  • Sanitary nozzle design
  • Color design
  • Hot water heating time
  • Filter attachment design
  • Side pocket handles
  • Hot water safety mechanism
  • Ozone self-cleaning
  • Drip tray attached to door
  • Cold water tank cleaning
  • Cold water performance
  • Fixed nozzle design
  • Narrow drip tray

Key Specs

Dimensions WxDxH
13 x 12 x 41 inches (33 x 30.5 x 104 cm)
W12.5 x D14.2 x H19.3 inches
Weight
35.0 lbs (15.9 kg)
39.7 lbs (18.0 kg)
Loading Type
Freestanding Bottleless
Bottleless countertop
Dispensing Mechanisms
Buttons
Paddle levers
Cold Water Temperature
50‒54 ℉ (10‒12 ℃)
50‒54 ℉
Cold Water Capacity
200 fl.oz. (6 L) / hr
91.2 fl.oz. / Hr

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$249.99
$250.56
$199.99 at AmazonCheck Price on AvalonCheck Price on Walmart
$199.99 at AmazonCheck Price on Avalon

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Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
9.6
6.6

Hot Water Test

9.0
9.0
Water temperature being measured as hot water flows out the nozzle of a water cooler dispenser.
Water temperature being measured as hot water flows out the nozzle of a water cooler dispenser.
Single Draw Capacity
23.05 fl.oz. (680 ml)
22.76 fl.oz.
Heating Time
8.5 fl.oz. (250 ml) / 2 min 55 sec
8.5 fl.oz. / 2 min 35 sec
Temperature
198 ℉ (92.2 ℃)
198 ℉ (92.2 ℃)
Flow Rate
1.1 fl.oz. (33 ml) / sec
1.0 fl.oz or 31 ml / sec

Cold Water Test

10
5.0
A paper cup placed in the center on the drip tray of a water cooler dispenser.
Water temperature being measured as cold water flows out the nozzle of a water cooler dispenser.
Serving Capacity
200 fl.oz. (6 L) / hr
91.2 fl.oz. / hour
Temperature
50‒54℉ (10‒12°C)
50‒54 ℉

Design

Overall Design Scoring
8.7
8.9

In the Box

A full view of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser, product box, and bundled items including the manual and leaflets.
Unboxed Avalon A8 bottleless water dispenser displayed alongside included filters, attachment parts, and bundled literature.

Build Quality

9.0
9.0
Close up of the cabinet and drip tray of a bottom loading water cooler dispenser.
Close up of the cabinet and drip tray of a bottom loading water cooler dispenser.
Side and front view of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
Close up of the cabinet interior of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser with a filtration system and unassembled parts.
Close up of the bottom of a water cooler dispenser with a plastic non-slip stopper.
A side angle view of the Avalon A8 countertop bottleless water cooler dispenser.
A side angle view of the Avalon A8 countertop bottleless water cooler dispenser.
The bottom of a water cooler dispenser showing the plastic base and plastic stub leg.
The filter reset button on the left side of a small countertop bottleless water cooler dispenser.
Side Body
Black metal sheeting
Black metal sheeting
Front Panel
Stainless steel
Black plastic
Cabinet Door
Silver plastic, white inside
No door
Base
PVC plastic
Plastic
Extra Features
Rear carry handle
Side pocket handles

Dimensions

Illustrated dimensions of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser showing the height, depth, and width across in inches.
Illustrated dimensions of the Avalon A8 countertop water cooler dispenser showing the height, depth, and width across in inches.
Depth
12.0" (30.5 cm)
14.2" (36.1 cm)
Width
13.0" (33.0 cm)
12.5" (31.8 cm)
Height
41.0" (104.1 cm)
19.3" (49.0 cm)
Weight
35.0 lbs (15.9 kg)
39.7 lbs (18.0 kg)

Panel & Indicators

9.0
9.5
Stainless steel panel with working indicators shown on a water cooler dispenser.
Stainless steel panel with working indicators shown on a water cooler dispenser.
Side view of the display panel and dispensing booth of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
Three multi-functional indicators found on the Avalon A8 countertop bottleless water cooler dispenser.
Power Status
Far left
Far left
Hot Water Test
Second left
Middle
Cold Water Test
Second right
Far right
Bottle Or Filter
Far right
Dual function feature
Others
Dual function indicators
Leak detection

Water Inlet Controls

8.0
8.5
Filter head brackets on a POU water cooler dispenser already installed on a bracket.
Filter head brackets on a POU water cooler dispenser already installed on a bracket.
Close-up of the water line input valve for a POU water cooler dispenser.
The water baffle of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser displayed above the cold water tank.
From left to right: Two filter attachment brackets, two filter heads, and two filters for a small water cooler dispenser.
From left to right: Two filter attachment brackets, two filter heads, and two filters for a small water cooler dispenser.
Parts for connecting water lines to the filters of a water cooler dispenser: 4 pressure clips and 3 PE line adaptors.
The filter reset button on the left side of the Avalon A8 countertop bottleless water cooler dispenser.
Mechanism
Filter heads, baffle
Filter network
Materials
Plastic and metal
Metal and plastic
Extra Features
Water line inlet, filter drainage port
Filter reset switch, leak detection

Water Dispensers

Close up of three dispensing buttons found on a water cooler dispenser.
Close up of three dispensing buttons found on a water cooler dispenser.
Finger indicating a hot water safety mechanism and a hot water dispensing button on a water cooler dispenser.
Three water spout nozzles found on a water cooler dispenser.
Two lever paddle water dispensers of a countertop water cooler dispenser and the control panel above.
Mechanism
3 buttons
2 press paddle levers
Outflow Points
3 panel nozzles
2 protruding nozzles
Material
Plastic
Plastic
Extra Features
Hot water safety
Hot water safety

Drip Tray

8.3
7.8
A black colored drip tray with a red bobble float found on a water cooler dispenser.
A black colored drip tray with a red bobble float found on a water cooler dispenser.
A water cooler dispenser drip tray removed from its bracket.
A gloved hand showing a small drip tray removed from its holding in a countertop water cooler dispenser.
Material
Plastic
Plastic
Color
Black
Black
Length
10.5" (26.7 cm)
10.0" (25.4 cm)
Width
3.8" (9.7 cm)
2.5" (6.4 cm)
Depth
2.1" (5.3 cm)
1.6" (4.1 cm)
Level Float
Yes
No

Rear Switches

All the switches found on the rear of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
Rear switches on a water cooler dispenser. Far left : ozone. Right side: Night light, hot and cold water switches.
Rear switches on a water cooler dispenser. Far left : ozone. Right side: Night light, hot and cold water switches.
Night light, hot and cold water switches on the rear right side of a water cooler dispenser.
Hot Water Test
Far right
Yes
Cold Water Test
Middle
Yes
Others
Night Light and Ozone
Night light, Ozone

Door and Cabinet

Close up of a cabinet door locking mechanism on a water cooler dispenser.
Close up of a cabinet door locking mechanism on a water cooler dispenser.
Opening the cabinet of a water cooler dispenser from below and not from the side.
Inside the cabinet of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
Has Door
Yes
No
Internal WxDxH
11.5 x 20 x 10 in
N/A
Material
Silver (or black) plastic
N/A
Extra Features
Hook for PE tubing
N/A

Cord & Plug

Close up of the three-pronged plug found on the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
Close up of the three-pronged plug found on the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
Man holding the electric cord across the body of a water cooler dispenser mounted sideways on a table.
A gloved hand holding the three pronged plug of the Avalon A8 water cooler dispenser pictured against the control panel.
A gloved hand holding the three pronged plug of the Avalon A8 water cooler dispenser pictured against the control panel.
A man holding the cord of a small countertop water cooler dispenser wrapped twice along its horizontal length.
Length
76.0" (193.0 cm)
5.9 ft (1.8 m)
Position
Rear right, 21 in from ground
Rear right, 3 in from ground
Plug Type
Type B — two flat pins, one grounding pin
Type B - two flat pins, one grounding pin

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring
8.3
8.8

Dispensing Water

9.0
8.5
A top view of a water cooler dispenser showing three dispensing buttons.
A top view of a water cooler dispenser showing three dispensing buttons.
A close-up view of three water nozzles on a water cooler dispenser molded into the panel roof.
Three paper cups lined up on the drip tray of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand dispensing cold water from a water cooler dispenser into a part cup by pushing a blue lever.
Mechanism
Push button
Push lever
Water Type
Hot, Cold, Normal
Hot and Cold
Spout Type
Molded into panel
Protruding spout
Dispensing Height
9.0" (22.9 cm)
7 in

Hot Water Safety

8.0
9.0
How to operate a hot water safety switch on a water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand dispensing hot water from a water cooler dispenser by operating the hot water safety switch.
Mechanism
Button-mounted lever
Push button

Bottle / Filter Changing

8.0
9.5
A demonstration on how to insert a water filter into the bracket of a water cooler dispenser.
A demonstration on how to insert a water filter into the bracket of a water cooler dispenser.
A demonstration of where to insert the water line into a bottleless water cooler dispenser using POU filters.
A hand pressing a filter reset button on a water cooler dispenser.
A Gloved hand holding a water filter removed from its bracket at the rear of a bottleless countertop water cooler dispenser.
A Gloved hand holding a water filter removed from its bracket at the rear of a bottleless countertop water cooler dispenser.
A hand showing where to insert and remove the main water line into the filter head of a bottleless water cooler dispenser.
A picture showing how two water filters at the rear of a bottleless water cooler dispenser are connected.
Design
POU filters
POU filter
Feature
Attached filter bracket
Filter heads, water lines

Cleaning

7.7
8.8
Using a flat screwdriver to open the cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser.
Using a flat screwdriver to open the cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser.
The inside of a cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser showing the connecting tube to the water baffle.
A close up image of a water cooler dispenser’s water nozzle revealing the ease of cleaning and sanitation.
A close up image of a safety screw cap covering the drainage outlet for a water cooler dispenser.
How to unscrew the safety cap on the drainage port of a small countertop bottleless water cooler dispenser.
How to unscrew the safety cap on the drainage port of a small countertop bottleless water cooler dispenser.
A demonstration on how to remove the cover on a water cooler dispenser in order to access the cold water tank inside.
A gloved hand lifting the unscrewed top off a water cooler dispenser partly revealing the tank and wiring inside.
A gloved hand holding up the cover of a water cooler dispenser revealing the tank and wiring inside.
A close up of the water baffle found in the cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser.
A close up of the working attachments found on the underneath of the lid of the cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser.
Self Cleaning
Ozone
Ozone
Drainage Plug
21 in from ground
Rear rt, 1.5 inches from ground