Air filter under test: Xiaomi Smart Mi Air Purifier

There are quite a few air filters for the apartment, and the Xiaomi Smart Mi Air Purifier comes from the Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi. The device not only draws air through a filter, but can also be controlled with the Mi Home app. In addition to the running time, the strength of the blower and other filter data, it also shows the fine dust pollution, the temperature and the humidity in the room. The air purifier is an all-rounder, and below you will find a review of the short air filter test.

Are air filters useful against fine dust in the home?

Before I get to my impressions and test results and explain my experiences with the Xiaomi Smart Mi Air Purifier air filter, I would like to address the topic in general. Because the device comes from the technology giant from China, which is more or less significant; Especially in the metropolises of East and Southeast Asia, there is always smog and high levels of fine dust. But air filters are also part of the home furnishings in large cities in the USA, Canada, England and other countries. From where I know this? Out this interesting report from stern.de.

This also poses the question of whether and how useful air filters in the home are to protect against fine dust, house dust, pollen and the like. With reference to scientific surveys, Bernhard Albrecht, science editor, writes that modern air filters can filter around 95% of fine dust particles from the air. Especially in the city, near a street, near agriculture and related businesses, but also against pollen, house dust and fine hair and dust from animals, you can clean the air in the apartment and make it much healthier.

Xiaomi air filter in the test

First of all, I would like to say that I have not (yet) subjected the device to a hardcore long-term test. I have already had some experience and gained relevant knowledge, but at this point I will give an update during and after the pollen season on how the air filter affects the room climate. In addition, he will soon move from his current location to an apartment that is on the street and near a major construction site - so optimal test conditions;)

Xiaomi Smart Mi Air Purifier: unboxing

The Xiaomi Smart Mi Air Purifier arrives well packaged and already has a filter and the cable for the power connection ready in its housing. A note about the plug: If you don't explicitly order an EU or Euro version of the device, consider buying a socket adapter. As a precautionary measure, I bought a universal “World to EU” adapter from Hama for further tests of foreign technology - it works quite well. As with the previously tested vacuum cleaners, the instructions are completely in Chinese. You can easily translate them with the Google photo translator.

WLAN integration and Mi Home app

To download and set up the Mi Home app for the smart devices from Xiaomi, I have already read the test report for the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Robot Vacuum Cleaner lost some words, tips and hints. Once the application has been set up on your smartphone or tablet, you can use new devices from the manufacturer such as the Roborock Sweep One S50 Easily integrate vacuum and floor mopping robots or the air filter described here.

After connecting to the mains and switching on the air filter device, you will see the same in the app. If you tap on it, you will be asked for the WiFi password. Enter it and you can use the Xiaomi Smart Mi Air Purifier with all its functions via app. I think this option is very good, especially since it allows me to measure values ​​in the corresponding room or switch the filter on or off while on the move.

Technical data

Now you have already been able to find information and pictures about unboxing and app integration. But what do you actually buy when you order the Xiaomi air filter? I would like to answer that by giving the most important technical data from the data sheet of the air purifier:

• Model Name: Original Xiaomi Smart Mi Air Purifier Mini Second Generation
• Dimensions (H x W x D): 52 cm x 24 cm x 24 cm
• Weight: 5 kg
• Air purification according to the manufacturer: 99,99% of PM2,5 particles (fine dust)
• For room size: up to approx. 47 m²
• Cubic meters per hour: up to approx. 380 m³
• Fresh air per minute: 10.000 l
• Modes: automatic, schedule, quiet mode, turbo mode, sleep mode, etc.
• Sensors: fine dust (PM2,5), temperature, humidity
• Data in the app: Estimated fine dust pollution, temperature, humidity, comfort display (shows whether the room climate is good, too warm or too cold), filter service life, total running time, clean air supplied in total in m³
• Functions in the app: automatic, sleep, favorite (select your own fan speed), schedule, light control (the LED lights on the device), turbo mode, firmware update, etc.

Air filter test

In my humble opinion, the air filter test turned out very well. I find the operation of the air purifier device intuitively easy, it is not too loud up to a certain speed and the data in the app can be read clearly. On the device itself you will find various elements for operation and monitoring. On top of the device, an LED (when the device lighting is switched on) shows the connection to the WLAN. Next to it is the button for the automatic mode (quite low-noise).

On the front of the device there are three LEDs in the upper right corner - these indicate which mode the Xiaomi Smart Mi Air Purifier air filter is in. At the bottom of the front there is also an LED that gives you information about the air quality at a glance. Green means “good” and orange means “bad”. So far, only green was displayed for me - with orange I would ventilate well once (against high humidity) and switch on the turbo mode (for quick air purification).

There are also interesting elements and components on the back of the device. The button on the back is used to signal the device that a filter is being or has been replaced. The smart air filter also notices when you remove the cover of the filter unit - it then beeps accordingly. Once you have removed the cover, you can use your finger or a screwdriver to open the smaller cover over it and expose the dust sensor. However, this is only necessary when cleaning the device.

Effectiveness of the air filter

According to the display in the Mi Home app, the fine dust pollution in the room could be continuously reduced. As a test, I also let the Xiaomi air filter run while it was being ventilated, which not only led to a lower temperature display, but also a higher PM2,5 value. After closing the doors and windows and running the filter, the fine dust value was again in a much better range. For me, proof of the effectiveness of the device.

What do the PM2,5 values ​​mean?

On Website of the Federal Environment Agency there is this understandable explanation on the subject of fine dust and especially on the designation as PM2,5:

The dust fraction known as fine dust (PM2,5) contains 50% of the particles with a diameter of 2,5 µm, a higher proportion of smaller particles and a lower proportion of larger particles. PM2,5 is a subset of PM10 - particles of this size can get into the alveoli. They are no more than the size of bacteria and can therefore not be seen with the naked eye. The highly visible dust that occurs on construction sites or from gravel consists largely of coarse dust.

Incidentally, the letter combination of P and M stands for the English term "Particulate Matter", as you can find in the fine dust article from Wikipedia can read. It also contains further information on sources, exposure, maximum values, health effects and the like. Very interesting; check it out.

Air filter against fine and house dust, pollen and Co.

Based on the good filter properties of the Xiaomi Smart Mi Air Purifier in the test, I would like to say that it is well suited for all areas of application. No matter whether construction dust, road dirt, agricultural air pollution, pollen, house dust or other particles in the air - you should be good with this air filter, which in a quiet mode can even filter air at night and in acute cases supplies a turbo fan be equipped.

The filter

As I have read, the air filter consists not only of plastic nets and lamellas, but also and above all of activated carbon, which is made from coconut shells. The structure is from the outside to the inside: plastic mesh -> filter lamellas -> activated carbon in its own mesh -> plastic mesh. As you can see on the third of the following pictures (inside view of the filter body), you can see through the individual layers; I have no doubts about the filter capability.

Buy the "Xiaomi Smart Mi Air Purifier" air filter

You can buy the air filter at Gearbest, among others. The girls and boys of the Chinese online trading platform even provided me with voucher codes so that you as a reader of the Sir Apfelot Blogs can order the air filter cheaper. I last received the first voucher code with a promotional link and should mean that the air purifier costs only EUR 20 by March 2018, 107,77. The second Gearbest voucher code was received earlier; so it may be that it is no longer valid - but it is intended for the EU warehouse, i.e. for fast shipping or fast delivery of the order.

• Buy cheap air filters 1: Click this link, give the code when ordering via GW-4 Warehouse MarchXMAir2 a
• Buy cheap air filters 2: Click the link, uses the code when ordering from the EU warehouse MarchXMAir

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Summary

In my opinion, the Xiaomi Smart Mi Air Purifier air filter is a very useful device that was able to show some advantages in the test. I couldn't find any disadvantages. I will fill this review of the air purifier with new findings and observations once the spring has delivered enough pollen, road dirt and the like;) Until then, I wish you all clean air and healthy lungs!

Johannes Domke

After graduating from high school, Johannes completed an apprenticeship as a business assistant specializing in foreign languages. But then he decided to research and write, which resulted in his independence. For several years he has been working for Sir Apfelot, among others. His articles include product introductions, news, manuals, video games, consoles, and more. He follows Apple keynotes live via stream.

The page contains affiliate links / images: Amazon.de