Comparison · under-sink reverse osmosis

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System vs GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System

Certified reductions, five-year cost and fit, for two under-sink reverse osmosis systems.

verified 2026-09-20
sources 23

FilterSpecs verdict

how we score
APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System $0.18 per gallon

6.2 /10

Within 0.3

GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System $259.99 · $0.28 per gallon

5.9 /10

Within 0.3

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System scores 6.2 against 5.9, and the gap is cost of ownership: it leads by 13.8 points on that component alone.

Where they differ

19 of 26 fields

Only the fields where the two systems actually differ. Everything else is identical and sits in the full comparison below.

Table 1 · Differences, plain English
DifferenceAPEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis SystemGE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System
Asbestos (fibers longer than 10 micrometers) removalNSF/ANSI 58 Not covered no listing Certified winner
Bacteria removalNSF P231 Not covered no listing Certified winner
Cysts (Cryptosporidium, Giardia) removalNSF/ANSI 58 Not covered no listing Certified winner
Free chlorine removalNSF/ANSI 42 Not covered no listing Certified winner
Nitrate (as N) removalNSF/ANSI 58 Not covered no listing Certified winner
PFOA removalNSF/ANSI 58 Not covered no listing Certified winner
PFOS removalNSF/ANSI 58 Not covered no listing Certified winner
Pharmaceuticals and emerging contaminants removalNSF/ANSI 401 Not covered no listing Certified winner
Taste and odor removalNSF/ANSI 42 Not covered no listing Certified winner
Virus removalNSF P231 Not covered no listing Certified winner
Volatile organic compounds (VOC surrogate claim) removalNSF/ANSI 53 Not covered no listing Certified winner
Number of stages 5 Not published
How much it makes a dayDaily production 90 GPD winner 12.2 GPD
Adds minerals backRemineralization No Yes winner
Tells you when to change filtersFilter change indicator manual_timer Not published
Maximum water pressure 85 psi 100 psi winner
Installation Not published DIY, easy
Needs a drain connectionDrain connection Yes Not published
Reversible for renters No Not published

swipe table →

Certified reductions compared

IAPMO R&T · NSF · WQA

✓certified a third-party listing exists · ~claimed manufacturer states it, no listing · —not covered no claim made. [5]

Table 2 · Certification status by contaminant
ContaminantAPEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis SystemGE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System
Arsenic ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58 ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
Barium ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58 ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
Cadmium ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58 ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
Chromium-3 (trivalent chromium) ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58 ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
Chromium-6 (hexavalent chromium) ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58 ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
Copper ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58 ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
Fluoride ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58 ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
Lead ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58 ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
Radium 226 and 228 combined ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58 ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
Selenium ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58 ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
Total dissolved solids ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58 ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
Turbidity and sediment ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58 ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
Asbestos (fibers longer than 10 micrometers) —Not covered ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
Bacteria —Not covered ✓Certified NSF P231
Cysts (Cryptosporidium, Giardia) —Not covered ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
Free chlorine —Not covered ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 42
Nitrate (as N) —Not covered ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
PFOA —Not covered ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
PFOS —Not covered ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
Pharmaceuticals and emerging contaminants —Not covered ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 401
Taste and odor —Not covered ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 42
Virus —Not covered ✓Certified NSF P231
Volatile organic compounds (VOC surrogate claim) —Not covered ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 53

Arsenic

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58

Barium

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58

Cadmium

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58

Chromium-3 (trivalent chromium)

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58

Chromium-6 (hexavalent chromium)

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58

Copper

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58

Fluoride

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58

Lead

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58

Radium 226 and 228 combined

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58

Selenium

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58

Total dissolved solids

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58

Turbidity and sediment

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58

Asbestos (fibers longer than 10 micrometers)

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System —Not covered
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58

Bacteria

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System —Not covered
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF P231

Cysts (Cryptosporidium, Giardia)

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System —Not covered
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58

Free chlorine

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System —Not covered
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 42

Nitrate (as N)

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System —Not covered
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58

PFOA

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System —Not covered
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58

PFOS

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System —Not covered
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 58

Pharmaceuticals and emerging contaminants

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System —Not covered
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 401

Taste and odor

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System —Not covered
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 42

Virus

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System —Not covered
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF P231

Volatile organic compounds (VOC surrogate claim)

APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System —Not covered
GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System ✓Certified NSF/ANSI 53

Cost of ownership

Table 3 · Five years, 700 gallons a year
CostAPEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis SystemGE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System
Purchase priceNot published$259.99
Filters, 5 years$631.95$971.93
Five-year totalNot published$1231.92
Cost per gallon$0.18$0.28

Assumes 700 gallons per year. [3]

Full specification comparison

Capacity and water use
SpecificationAPEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis SystemGE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System
TypeUnder-sink reverse osmosisUnder-sink reverse osmosis
Number of stages5Not published
Daily production90 GPD12.2 GPD
Filter change indicatormanual_timerNot published
Minimum water pressure40 psi40 psi
Maximum water pressure85 psi100 psi
Fit and installation
SpecificationAPEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis SystemGE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System
Dimensions6 x 17 x 18 in3.625 x 12.5 x 9.25 in
InstallationNot publishedDIY, easy
Drain connectionYesNot published
Reversible for rentersNoNot published
Water compatibility and warranty
SpecificationAPEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis SystemGE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System
RemineralizationNoYes
Warranty, parts1 yr1 yr

Sources

  1. [1] APEC Water Systems. RO-90 – Ultimate 5-Stage 90 GPD High Output Reverse Osmosis Water Systems for Drinking Water. retrieved 2026-09-20
  2. [2] APEC Water Systems. ULTIMATE RO-90 Installation Instructions & Owner's Manual. retrieved 2026-09-20
  3. [3] The Home Depot. APEC Water Systems Ultimate Premium Quality WQA Certified 90 GPD Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filter System RO-90. retrieved 2026-09-20
  4. [4] The Home Depot. APEC Water Systems Ultimate Complete Replacement Filter Set for 90 GPD High Flow 5-Stage Systems FILTER-MAX90. retrieved 2026-09-20
  5. [5] Water Quality Association. WQA Gold Seal certified product listing, APEC Water Systems, NSF/ANSI 58. retrieved 2026-09-20
  6. [6] Water Quality Association. WQA Gold Seal certified product listing, APEC Water Systems, NSF/ANSI/CAN 372. retrieved 2026-09-20
  7. [7] The Home Depot. Model number as listed for APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System. retrieved 2026-09-23
  8. [8] IAPMO R&T. IAPMO R&T certificate WC-9859, NSF/ANSI 58-2022, GE Appliances. retrieved 2026-09-20
  9. [9] IAPMO R&T. IAPMO R&T certificate WC-11734, NSF/ANSI 53-2022, GE Appliances. retrieved 2026-09-20
  10. [10] IAPMO R&T. IAPMO R&T certificate WC-9892, NSF/ANSI 42-2022, GE Appliances. retrieved 2026-09-20
  11. [11] IAPMO R&T. IAPMO R&T certificate WC-11735, NSF/ANSI 401-2022, GE Appliances. retrieved 2026-09-20
  12. [12] IAPMO R&T. IAPMO R&T certificate WC-13808, NSF Protocol P231-2014, GE Appliances. retrieved 2026-09-20
  13. [13] IAPMO R&T. IAPMO R&T certificate WC-15030, CSA B483.1-2007 (R2017), GE Appliances. retrieved 2026-09-20
  14. [14] NSF International. NSF Official Listing, NSF/ANSI 58, GE Appliances GXRV40TBN. retrieved 2026-09-20
  15. [15] NSF International. NSF Official Listing, NSF/ANSI 42, GE Appliances GXRV40TBN. retrieved 2026-09-20
  16. [16] NSF International. NSF Official Listing, CSA B483.1, GE Appliances GXRV40TBN. retrieved 2026-09-20
  17. [17] GE Appliances. GE Reverse Osmosis 5 Stage Premium Water Filtration System with Faucet, GXRV40TBN. retrieved 2026-09-20
  18. [18] The Home Depot. GE Under Sink 5 Stage Premium Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System GXRV40TBN. retrieved 2026-09-20
  19. [19] The Home Depot. GE Under Sink 5 Stage Premium Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System GXRV40TBN, product photograph. retrieved 2026-09-21
  20. [20] The Home Depot. GE Reverse Osmosis Replacement Filter Set FQ18PN. retrieved 2026-09-20
  21. [21] The Home Depot. GE Reverse Osmosis Replacement Membrane FQ18MN. retrieved 2026-09-20
  22. [22] The Home Depot. GE Reverse Osmosis Under Sink Replacement Filter FQ18RT. retrieved 2026-09-20
  23. [23] The Home Depot. Model number as listed for GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System. retrieved 2026-09-23
APEC ULTIMATE RO-90 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System$232.99GE Appliances GXRV40TBN Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System$249.00