Air pollution remains one of India’s biggest environmental challenges, especially in the capital, where AQI levels often reach alarming figures during the winter months. In this context, smart air purifiers have become more of a necessity than a luxury for maintaining cleaner indoor air. Among the leading brands in this space is Xiaomi, which launched its Smart Air Purifier 4 early last year. I have been using it for over six months now, and here’s how it performs in the long run.
Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4
Rs 14,999
What Is Good?
- LED screen makes it easier to navigate
- Runs quiet in low settings
- Helps in bringing down the AQI considerably
- Doesn’t take a lot of space in the room
- The boxy design is appealing, blends into the home decor
What Is Bad?
- The white finish tends to degrade over time because of dust
- Power cord could have been longer
Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Review: Pricing and Availability in India
The Smart Air Purifier 4 is priced at Rs 14,999 in India, as of writing this review. You also get a filter pre-installed, so you need not worry about spending extra for this. Xiaomi also offers an extended warranty for Rs 999, which could save you from hefty repair bills in the future.
The Smart Air Purifier 4 is exclusively available on the Xiaomi eStore.
| Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 | Rs 14,999 |
| Mi Extended Warranty | Rs 999 |
| Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Filter | Rs 2,999 |
Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Long-Term Review: Setup Process
The purifier arrives in a tall box, with the filter already installed inside the purifier. The packaging is secure, so there’s no need to worry about damage during transit. It’s easy to remove the purifier from the box since it’s not too heavy and features a hand grip at the back for one-handed portability needs.
To set up the purifier, plug it in, and it’s ready to use. Installing the Mi app on your smartphone allows you to personalise the purifier and use it from anywhere. The app setup is straightforward and requires either Google verification or an existing Xiaomi account. Once logged in, connecting the purifier to the phone was also very easy for me.
I simply had to press the button on the back panel for seven seconds, and the device connected to my phone within 20-30 seconds. The app asks basic questions like where the purifier is placed, what you would like to name it, and which model you use. Once set up, it displays details like indoor air quality, filter lifespan, scheduling, and automation options. It also allows you to turn the device on even if you are not at home. This proved quite useful for me, as I turned it on before leaving the office everyday.
Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Long-Term Review: Design and Build Quality
The Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 features a boxy design with a tall structure that easily blends in with the home decor. The curved edges around the top and bottom also add to the purifier’s character.
It features multiple dots around the unit, which gives it a minimalist and stylish look. These are not purely for show, but are vents for air intake. And, because of its 360-degree implementation, the purifier can intake air from all sides. That said, this perforated design did not work well for me, triggering my trypophobia. But, after about two or three months, I learned to live with it. My friends, on the other hand, actually did dig the design language.
| Design | Specifications |
| Colour | White |
| Weight | 5.6kg |
| Dimensions | 250 x 250 x 555 mm |
| Dust Sensor | Laser Particle Sensor |
| Material | ABS Body |
Xiaomi has also made the air purifier idiot proof by adding a grille on the top to avoid people or even children jamming their hands in the fan. The grille has to be removed during the cleaning process. It’s held in place by a single screw, so the cleaning part can be done by anyone. This area can collect a lot of dust, gunk, and hair — so make sure you clean it every now and then.
The air purifier comes in a single white colourway. This is susceptible to collecting dirt over a period of time. After using it and moving it between different rooms, the outer shell has acquired a bunch of scratches. That said, the overall build quality of the air purifier is durable, sustaining multiple accidental falls on the floor. So, that’s good.
On the front, the purifier features a circular touch panel for easy AQI reading. You can also adjust settings and turn the purifier on or off directly from this panel, which is handy if your phone isn’t nearby. I set the purifier to Auto mode, so it automatically switches the fan speed if the AQI level reaches new levels to improve air quality. When the indoor AQI is around 007 or 002, the LED screen shows a green line.
If the level rises slightly above 30 or 32, it changes to orange. If the AQI level reaches 100 or higher, the screen displays a red line, signalling that the air is unsafe to breathe for longer periods of time. This is a neat and simple way of displaying such information. The purifier is connected to a power cord at the back. It would be more convenient if the cord was longer.
Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Long-Term Review: Features and Performance
The Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 offers a triple-layer protection, and the brand claims it removes 99.99% of 0.1μm particles, including pet hair, pollen, dust, smoke, dander, and cotton fibres. The HEPA filter is complemented by an activated carbon filter.
The Smart Air Purifier 4 has a CADR rating of 400 m³/h for particles and 150 m³/h for formaldehyde. But what does this mean? CADR measures how effectively air purifiers remove smoke, dust, and pollen particles ranging from 0.1 to 11 microns from the air. For reference, a good CADR rating is 400 for dust and up to 450 for smoke and pollen. Xiaomi’s rating of 400 m³/h is the maximum for dust.
| Performance | Specifications |
| CADR Particle | 400 m³/h |
| CADR Formaldehyde | 150 m³/h |
| Effective Coverage | 301 sq.ft. – 516 sq.ft. |
| Noise Level | ≤64 dB(A) |
While all these numbers are a bit too technical, let me help you understand how the purifier worked in a city like Noida.
During winters, this region experiences severe pollution, which is noticeable when breathing; dust particles often get stuck in the nostrils, causing discomfort. I tested the purifier from January of this year, which is the peak winter season. The purifier was able to bring down the AQI numbers from concerning to breathable within a span of three to four hours after its first boot.
With the mode set to high, the purifier can get quite loud, as if it’s working really fast to clear the air. It works more efficiently when the doors are closed, but if you keep the balcony open, the purifier does double duty. When set to the highest setting, the noise can be quite disruptive, so using the low or medium settings is generally more comfortable.
As for maintenance, changing the filter is a simple process, easy enough for a teenager to handle. You just need to remove the bottom back panel to take out the old filter. After that, place the new filter in and close the panel—it’s magnetic, so it snaps back into place quickly and effortlessly. This will hardly take you five minutes.
Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Long-Term Review: Verdict
The Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier is priced at Rs 14,999 and includes a high-quality filter. It’s a reasonably affordable option; however, you will need to purchase replacement filters mostly after 9-10 months after using the included one. The duration of filter use can vary based on the level of pollution in the environment. The app regularly shows the percentage used,
All in all, the Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 stands out as it has a three-in-one filtration process. It also has an LED screen that’s interactive. Plus, it runs without noise in low settings and doesn’t take a lot of space in the room. As for alternatives in this price range, you can take a look at the Philips AC1711 Smart Air Purifier and the Coway Airmega 150 Professional Air Purifier.
