A year back I would have said a straight ‘no’ for trying out an air purifier. However, I changed my mind after the bout of severe cough and congestion last year post Diwali and Airtel Delhi Half Marathon. According to WHO, India has half of the world’s 20 most polluted cities when it comes to PM2.5 particulates in the air and of course Delhi tops the charts.

But the prospect of one more device, one more remote, one more thing to keep clean wasn’t very inspiring but looks like Xiaomi’s Mi Air Purifier 2 has taken all that in to consideration.

The purifier is relatively small, compact, sturdy and would possibly fit right into most home decors. It is just 20-inches tall and takes as much space on the floor as an A4 sheet of paper would.

The purifier is capable of circulating air within a standard room, once in a duration of between 5 to 10 minutes depending on the area. Xiaomi claims a clean air delivery rate (CADR) of 310m3/h. The jet engine-inspired dual fan assembly creates enough wind suction and throw to bring in a lease of fresh air in your room.

First things first

Setting up the Mi Air Purifier 2 is extremely simple. All you need is the Mi Home app, which is available both for Android and iOS. Plug the device to a power source and switch it on. On the Mi Home app, search for a new device and the Mi Air Purifier 2 should show up. Connect it and follow the steps on the phone to connect it to a Wi-Fi network. And you are all set. From the app, you will not only be able to switch the Mi air Purifier 2 on and off but also control the fan speed, change modes and see the air quality, temperature and humidity in real time. Basically your phone is the remote control. You can set the fan speed, put it into sleep mode or just set it to auto where the fan would automatically adjust the speed depending on the air quality. The unit is connected to your Mi Account so you can control it from multiple devices. In case you want to go the old fashioned way, you can even toggle through various modes from the button on top of the unit. But to see the air quality and other details, you will have to use the app.

Air Quality Monitoring

Since it’s a smart appliance, it will tell you PM2.5 readings in real time. PM stands for particulate Matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns. This is the most critical pollutant that we need to curb, because these can’t be curbed by the nasal passage and the mucous membrane in our respiratory tracts. PM2.5 can get deposited in our lungs and in the long term, create respiratory disorders.

The MiHome app gives real time readings.

It’s a Ninja

It’s eerily silent. So quiet that you need to look at the fan to know that it’s moving unless you put it on turbo mode which might be needed if the room is excessively dusty.

Power efficient

The Mi Air Purifier 2 consumes 4.8 W of power, which is far less than a low power consumption bulb. Besides, the option to switch between modes remotely, ensures that you can set the purifier on as you head closer home, as well as switch it off completely when you’re going to be away for long.

Convenient filter change

When it comes to air purifiers, the one task that could get daunting is changing the filter. But with the Mi Air Purifier 2, all you need to do is open the filter rear, pull out the air filter, put in a new one and close it back. No screws, no stoppers. Simple. Easy and convenient. However, the life of filter is up to 6 months and a new filter can be ordered directly from the Mi Home app.

If LED light bothers you at night, you have the option to switch it off by selecting the night mode. The purifier can be moved around easily as it weighs less than 5 kgs.

Xiaomi has priced the Mi Air Purifier 2 for Rs 9,999, which is a new benchmark for this product category. At this price and running cost, the Mi Air Purifier 2 makes a lot of sense for anyone who had been planning to buy an air purifier. I would recommend this for those who already have breathing problems or have pets at home.

The Mi Air Purifier 2 could also make for a good Diwali purchase, especially considering the pollution level spike we see during that period.

Before

After 1 hour

• I attended a round table conference with the Xiaomi team and they gave me all the details about the Mi Air Purifier 2 and I have been using it for almost a month now.