As the year draws to a close and the air turns crisp, it also brings a surge in pollution levels across the country. The winter chill is now accompanied by harmful pollutants, posing a serious health risk. Alarmingly, according to AQI.in, 15 out of the top 20 most polluted cities in the world are in India.
As awareness of the health risks associated with poor indoor air quality increases, air purifiers are quickly becoming essential household appliances. From safeguarding family health to filtering out allergens, dust, and harmful pollutants, air purifiers offer a protective barrier against indoor contaminants.
MySmartPrice recently conducted an air purifier survey to understand consumer preferences and buying behaviour. Here’s an in-depth look at the trends shaping air purifier usage and ownership in India.
Most Popular Air Purifier Brands in India
Air purifiers are not a new product category in India. Initially, it was considered to be a niche segment, with players like Philips and Eureka Forbes dominating the market. However, the tide began to turn in 2016, and air purifiers transitioned from niche luxury products to mainstream appliances for every household.
Xiaomi made its debut in India’s appliance market in September 2016 with the launch of the Mi Air Purifier 2, which was priced attractively at Rs 9,999, and replacement filters costing Rs 2,499. A couple of years later, in 2018, Xiaomi launched an even more affordable Mi Air Purifier 2S for Rs 8,999, which shared the same specs as its predecessor, but this device came with an additional OLED display.
Since then, the brand has launched Mi Air Purifier 3, Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4, and Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Lite with powerful features and IoT connectivity. All these air purifiers were also launched at disruptive prices. Thanks to affordable pricing and class-leading features, Xiaomi was the most popular air purifier brand, with a 25.29% market share.
Philips and Dyson are in second and third place, respectively. Together, Xiaomi, Philips, and Dyson dominate the market with a combined share of 57.35%. Other popular air purifier brands in India include Havells, Eureka Forbes, Samsung, Daikin, Honeywell, Coway, and more.
Top Air Purifier Brands Across Price Ranges
When we talk about top air purifier brands across price ranges, Xiaomi, Philips, and Dyson are again the most prominent names that our respondents have mentioned. Philips has emerged as the most popular brand, with users across all price ranges.
As mentioned earlier, Xiaomi has carved a niche for itself in the disruptive pricing strategy. The company dominates the market segment under Rs 20,000. Among survey respondents, 32.05% mentioned that they own a Xiaomi air purifier priced under Rs 10,000, while 26.10% shared that they have a Xiaomi model in the Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 range.
On the flip side, Dyson is synonymous with luxury products in India, and this is reflected in the consumer sentiment captured. The brand is the top most preferred in price segments Rs 20,000-Rs 30,000, Rs 30,000-Rs 45,000, and above Rs 45,000 with 15.63%, 35.80%, and 34.15% users respectively.
Philips is the most popular brand, with 33% of users under Rs 20,000, 6.25% users in the Rs 20,000-Rs 30,000 segments, 13.58% users in the Rs 30,000-Rs 45,000 bracket, and 14.63% users in above Rs 45,000 category.
Air Purifier Usage and Ownership Trends in India
In the survey, MySmartPrice asked users about the price of their air purifiers. A whopping 75% of users revealed that they own air purifiers priced above Rs 20,000. The chart below shows the price breakdown.
Other usage and ownership trends in the air purifier market are as follows:
- Over 55% of the respondents had purchased an air purifier in the last year.
- 41.6% of air purifier owners use it for both cooling and heating the room, 22.6% for neither, 31.2% for cooling, and 4.6% for heating.
- More than 55% of air purifier users change their filters yearly, whereas 25% do so every two years.
- More than 38% of users own an air purifier with a Clean Air Delivery Rate or CADR between 200 and 350 m³/hour.
Key Factors Deciding Air Purifier Purchase
Air pollution is a severe and ever-growing concern, especially in Tier 1 and 2 cities. It is designed to remove allergens, dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, and other airborne particles.
Almost half of the survey respondents said they purchased an air purifier to protect themselves from pollution, ease of breathing, and reduce allergies. Other factors that influenced their purchase included getting the latest model, increased air purifying requirements, and upgrading from a dysfunctional model.
When buying a new air purifier, around 57% of users consider CADR the most important factor, as it determines how powerful the appliance is. Around 24% of users also consider the air purifier’s cooling and heating functions. Other deciding factors include design, noise, and IoT connectivity.
Online vs Offline purchase
Driven by the convenience of doorstep delivery and the ability to compare multiple models online, nearly half of respondents expressed a preference for purchasing air purifiers through e-commerce platforms. Online shopping allows buyers to access detailed product information, reviews, and specifications, helping them make well-informed choices without needing to visit physical stores. For these purchases, UPI, credit cards, and cash are the top preferred payment modes.
14% of users prefer offline buying, with cash, UPI, and debit cards being the preferred modes of payment. And 36.6% said the channel doesn’t matter as long as they are getting a good deal.
How Consumers Choose an Air Purifier?
When asked how they choose their next air purifier, most users—around 70%—responded that they research for at least two weeks before buying. Gadget websites like MySmartPrice and YouTube reviews are the primary sources of information for over 50% of respondents.
A whopping 95% of respondents mentioned that they rely on expert reviews and videos to select an air purifier. More than 50% of respondents compare at least three air purifiers before making their purchase.
This survey revealed that air purifiers are now a necessity for most Indian households instead of a luxury. Considering the growing air pollution and resulting health concerns, people are willing to research and spend big on powerful and modern air purifiers. Stay tuned to the MySmartPrice blog for more insightful surveys on consumer behaviour in the tech space in India.
