Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Review: Clean Air That Won't Break the Bank

Air purifiers weren't a big deal in India until good ol' Hugo Barra (Google’s former head of Android and Xiaomi’s former VP) unveiled Xiaomi's first Air Purifier in 2016, right when the air quality index in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Kolkata started taking a nosedive. Since then, Xiaomi's air purifiers have become the go-to choice for affordable options, but they're now up against a slew of old and new competitors. Xiaomi's rep has taken a hit in the past two years due to a decline in their dealer and after-sales networks. So, will the Smart Air Purifier 4 breathe new life into Xiaomi's smart home game?

When it comes to design, the Smart Air Purifier 4 sticks to the tried-and-true squared-off cylindrical shape with a 360-degree operating window. It's built to last, and fitting the filter is a piece of cake. Plus, it's so discreet that it'll easily blend into any corner of your room.

But here's the real game-changer: an intuitive OLED screen nestled in a sleek circular enclosure that shows real-time info like AQI levels. The touch-sensitive screen lets you switch modes or power the air purifier on and off with a simple tap.

What's more, Xiaomi has included an option to manually clean the fans, something missing from previous models. Overall, the cleaning performance of this baby has taken a serious leap forward.

Now, let me paint you a picture of my living situation. I'm in a dusty area in New Delhi, just a stone's throw away from a national highway and a huge, polluted gutter. My testing lab is in my parents' basement studio, where people, pets, and cigarette smoke are a regular part of life. Xiaomi claims the Smart Air Purifier 4 can cover a whopping 48 square meters, thanks to its high-efficiency filter that churns out negative ions and boasts a 400 CADR m3/h.

In my experience, the Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 consistently cleaned the air in just minutes, often taking no more than 10. I also tried out the Xiaomi Vacuum Mop 2i, which proved to be the perfect sidekick for the air purifier by getting rid of the dust on the floor.

As an asthmatic, I found the Smart Air Purifier 4 to be a godsend. It was really effective and since I have been using it, I have not been coughing which usually is normal for me. It works like a charm with the Mi Home app, giving me info on room temperature, and air quality status, and allowing me to control it remotely via Wi-Fi.

The app also keeps an eye on filter health and life expectancy. A cool feature of Xiaomi's Mi Home app is that it'll let you know when you need a new filter and makes ordering a breeze. However, filters have been out of stock more often lately, leaving customers in a bind.

While I can't guarantee smooth sailing when buying new filters, I wholeheartedly recommend the Smart Air Purifier 4, especially when teamed up with Xiaomi's robot vacuum cleaner.

At Rs 14,999, the Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 is hands-down the best value for your money, just like Xiaomi's previous air purifiers.