Though pollution is bad news for everyone, it does bring a reason to cheer for companies dealing in air purifiers. Similar to water purifier becoming a necessity, air purifiers are also inching towards becoming a must-have gadget for every household. With multiple brands entering the Indian market and claiming their technology to be superior, there is a need for consumers to break through this marketing blitz and scout for themselves the best purifier according to individual needs.
While countries such as USA, China and Japan are working towards framing standards for air purifiers, India is behind and scores of purifiers that do not conform to even rudimentary standards of efficacy and safety are being dumped here. A star-based regulatory categorisation system for air purifiers measuring their efficiency in removal of various indoor pollutants would make it easier for Indian consumer to choose the right product and create expectations accordingly.
Nonetheless, there are some air purifiers that are worth the investment and have the necessary technology to take on the scourge of air pollution. Note that prices mentioned are taken from brand websites and you may find lower prices on various e-commerce portals.
Philips Purifiers: Philips purifiers come equipped with technologies such as VitaSheild IPS that remove ultrafine particles as small as 20 nanometers in size, including bacteria, dust, allergens and viruses. Their product range starts from Rs 16,000 and includes a combination of purifiers and humidifiers. Popular Air Purifier model include Philips 3000 series with a price range of Rs 23,000 to Rs 26,000 and is available on Amazon and Flipkart.
Sharp Purifiers: Sharp’s patented 'plasmacluster' technology is an inherent part of their entire range. Plasma discharge generates and emits the same positive and negative ions that occur in nature. It sanitizes the air by deactivating mould, viruses, dust mite and bacteria and neutralizing VOCs and toxic gases. Plasmacluster technology has been certified by 28 global labs for safety.
Equipped with true HEPA filter, Sharp Air Purifiers can capture 99.97 percent of air particles like smoke, dust and pollen which is as small as 0.03 microns. Their air purifiers range starts from Rs 12,000 and includes products such as Air purifier, air purifiers with mosquito catcher, humidifier and dehumidifiers. Popular Air Purifier model include Sharp FP-FM40E-B suitable for a room size of 300 square feet and is available on Amazon and Flipkart.
Airgle Purifiers: Airgle is touted as being the Rolls Royce of air purifiers. They come equipped with cHEPA filters that are proven to trap ultra-fine pollutants down to 0.3 microns in size. cHEPA delivers up to 60 percent cleaner air than typical HEPA technology, so harmful particles such as dust, pollen, tobacco smoke, mould spores, pet dander, and other irritating allergens are removed faster than ever. The range starts from Rs 95,000. Popular models include Airgle AG600 and Airgle AG900 and is available on nirvanabeing.com.
Mi Air Purifier 2: MI has just launched a single air purifier, MI Air Purifier 2 in the Indian market. Though priced at Rs 8,999, the high cost of filters that need to be replaced regularly may be a deterrent for Indian consumers looking for value. They come equipped with its triple-layer design that removes particles larger than 0.3μm with a high-density EPA filter from Japanese manufacturer Toray, while an activated coconut carbon filter removes formaldehyde, bad odour and other harmful substances.
The product model is available on Flipkart and Amazon.
