Home & Kitchen · Head-to-head
Waterdrop G3P600 Reverse Osmosis System vs APEC ROES-50 Essence
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Reverse Osmosis Systems: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The G3P600 gets rid of the storage tank, produces 600 gallons a day, states a 2:1 pure-to-drain ratio, and tells you its TDS and filter life at the faucet. The APEC is the better buy if you want a system with no power supply, no electronics and a published operating envelope you can check against your own water.
Waterdrop G3P600 Reverse Osmosis System
Buy itTankless, 600 gallons a day, and the only system here that reports its own water quality.
- 600 GPD tankless output, so there is no pressure tank eating the cupboard and no stale stored water.
- A stated 2:1 pure-to-drain ratio, meaning about two gallons of purified water for each gallon sent to drain.
- Certified to NSF/ANSI 42, 58 and 372, and the smart faucet displays TDS and remaining filter life.
- It needs mains electricity, so a power cut means no filtered water.
- At 32.4 pounds and 18.11 by 5.67 by 17.73 inches it is a substantial unit.
- Three filter lives to track, at 6, 12 and 24 months.
APEC ROES-50 Essence
Buy itNo electronics, no power lead, and one of the most completely published specifications in the category.
- Runs on line pressure alone, so there is nothing to plug in and nothing to fail electronically.
- APEC publishes the whole operating envelope: 40 to 85 psi feed pressure, 40 to 100F, maximum 2000 ppm TDS, feed pH 2.0 to 11.0.
- Five stages built around a FILMTEC membrane, with a four gallon pressurised tank and full installation hardware in the box.
- 50 gallons a day at 60 psi, and APEC states that drops to 30 gallons a day at 50 psi.
- The four gallon tank is 11 by 11 by 15 inches and has to live in the cupboard alongside the 15.5 by 5.25 by 17 inch manifold.
- No TDS readout, so you find out a filter is spent by taste.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Waterdrop G3P600 Reverse Osmosis System Our pick | APEC ROES-50 Essence | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | A household of three or more that wants the cupboard back and does not mind a power lead. | Anyone who wants water treatment with no electronics, and who has cupboard space for a tank. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
| System type | Tankless, powered | Tank, line pressure only |
| Stated daily capacity | 600 GPD | 50 GPD at 60 psi, 30 at 50 psi |
| Filter stages | 8 | 5 |
| Certification stated | NSF/ANSI 42, 58 and 372 | WQA certified |
| Pure-to-drain ratio | 2:1 | Not published |
| Published dimensions | 18.11 x 5.67 x 17.73 in | 15.5 x 5.25 x 17 in plus 11 x 11 x 15 in tank |
| Published operating limits | Not published | 40-85 psi, 40-100F, 2000 ppm TDS, pH 2-11 |
| Water quality readout | TDS and filter life at the faucet | None |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Waterdrop G3P600 Reverse Osmosis System if
a household of three or more that wants the cupboard back and does not mind a power lead.
Know before buying: it needs mains electricity, so a power cut means no filtered water.
Pick the APEC ROES-50 Essence if
anyone who wants water treatment with no electronics, and who has cupboard space for a tank.
Know before buying: 50 gallons a day at 60 psi, and APEC states that drops to 30 gallons a day at 50 psi.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Waterdrop G3P600 Reverse Osmosis System - Tankless, 600 gallons a day, and the only system here that reports its own water quality. Choose the APEC ROES-50 Essence instead if anyone who wants water treatment with no electronics, and who has cupboard space for a tank.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Reverse Osmosis Systems: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).