What people refer to as a “heat pump” is just an air conditioner that can run in reverse to provide heat in the home as well as cool it. The cooling part is the same technology as a non- heat pump air conditioner.

Heating this way is more efficient than resistive electric heat

Cooling is the same mechanism as standard air conditioners

Biggest efficiency difference in A/C (cooling) would be if the compressor is inverter-driven or not

A/C and “heat pump” are the same technology

Whose*