Choosing the Right Air Purifier: Key Features that Matter Most
Air purifiers are becoming an essential part of households as air quality continues to decline, particularly in urban areas of northern India. India is home to many of the world's most polluted cities, and with AQI levels hitting dangerous peaks due to topographical challenges and wind convergence, health risks are rising. As per the State of Global Air 2025 report, death rates in India from air pollution are almost ten times higher than in high-income countries. Given that we spend over 90% of our time indoors, it’s crucial to understand how air purifiers can help combat rising AQI levels.
Dr Ken Armstrong, Research Director at Dyson, suggests how to choose the right air purifier to suit your needs. Here are a few important things to note before you buy an air purifier.
- Ability to remove fine and ultra-fine particles: While seemingly fundamental, it is important to be aware of the invisible enemies that we are dealing with in our homes. PM0.1 particles, also known as ultra-fine particles, tend to penetrate the fine sacs in our lungs and may even enter our bloodstream easily.
The recently launched Dyson Purifier Cool™ PC1 – TP11 is equipped with advanced filtration technology that captures 99.95% of ultrafine particles as small as 0.1 microns and an activated carbon filter to capture odours, gases, VOCs, and NO2. Additionally, it has fully sealed filtration, ensuring the blocking of any potential leak points through which dirty air might enter the machines.
- Area of coverage and ability to circulate air: Select the air purifier depending on the area of your room and the ability to distribute clean air evenly across the room. Many air purifiers only release air in a singular or upward direction. Dyson’s latest Purifier Big+Quiet is designed to purify air in spaces up to 1,000 sq. ft. It uses Cone Aerodynamics to deliver a 10-meter projection to deliver purified air to every corner and operates quietly at just 56 decibels.
- Size and weight: While for smaller rooms such as bedrooms, light-weight purifiers are ideal but for larger rooms, one may need purifiers that can be bulky and heavy, making them difficult to transfer across rooms. That’s why Dyson’s biggest purifier, the Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet, is equipped with discreet wheels, so one can move the purifier around easily.
- Noise Level: Air purifiers are most effective when they’re running 24/7, and since they’re running 24/7, you’re going to want one that’s quiet yet effective. Noisy fans when trying to sleep or do things around the house aren’t very pleasant, after all. For instance, Dyson Purifier Cool™ PC1 – TP11, records just 44dBA at night mode, supporting a peaceful sleeping environment while effectively capturing pollutants in the air. Additionally, a sleep timer is programmed to automatically turn off the purifiers after pre-set intervals of 1, 2, 4, and 8 hours.
- Smart Features: Many air purifiers include intelligent functionalities like auto mode, which adapts purification levels according to air quality. This guarantees uninterrupted protection without manual intervention. The redesigned MyDyson™ app offers enhanced features and support, ensuring an unparalleled Dyson experience accessible via your smartphone or tablet. The app gives you autonomy over your air quality. You can view which particles have been captured, set schedules, browse reports, and more.