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• Comparison of three AC systems in different climate regions was conducted. • Reheat energy consumption accounts for the large proportion in split AC system. • The SDAC system has the best temperature control. • The LDAC system has the best relative humidity control. • A dividing line is developed to achieve the suitable AC system in different areas. Liquid desiccant air conditioning (LDAC) system and solid desiccant air conditioning (SDAC) system have strong dehumidification capability. To evaluate and compare their feasibility and applicability, performance analysis of these two air conditioning systems and the conventional split air conditioning (AC) system in apartment buildings was conducted under different climates in China. Results show that SDAC system has the best temperature control and LDAC system has the best relative humidity control with the same requirements. In hot and humid cities, 45% relative humidity can be reached and stably maintained by LDAC system in summer when the relative humidity set point is 50%. While for apartment building controlled by split AC system and SDAC system, indoor air relative humidity could even reach 65% in summer. LDAC system is most efficient in hot and humid cities. In cold and dry cities, split AC system performs better than other two systems. Moreover, a dividing line between areas where LDAC system is more efficient and areas where split AC system is more efficient is developed in this paper. Areas where LDAC system is more efficient are mainly distributed in the coastal areas, Yangtze River basin and south of the Yangtze River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]