What's a better water heater, A. O. Smith or Richmond?

What's a better water heater, A. O. Smith or Richmond, is A. O. Smith is better in terms of build quality, warranty options, and features, though Richmond is made by Rheem and is good value for budget. A. O. Smith Corporation, founded in 1874 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, makes A. O. Smith water heaters that are considered premium quality, with Blue Diamond glass coating, DynaClean self-cleaning, and warranties of 6 to 12 years, costing $500 to $1500 for tank, lasting 10 to 15 years, averaging 4.5 to 4.7 stars, and is top brand recommended by plumbers. Richmond Water Heaters is a retail brand made by Rheem Manufacturing Company, founded in 1925, headquartered in Atlanta, owned by Paloma Japan, sold at Menards and other retail stores, essentially same as Rheem but with different badge for retail channel, costing $400 to $1000, with 6-year warranty standard, lasting 10 to 12 years, averaging 4.4 stars, good value but more basic features. A. O. Smith has better glass coating, longer warranty options up to 12 years, and better customer service. Richmond is cheaper and good for budget but not as feature-rich. So A. O. Smith is better water heater for quality, warranty, and longevity, while Richmond is better for budget value, both good, but A. O. Smith is considered better overall quality and recommended by plumbers for long-term reliability.