Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact review: Simple, but effective

The Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact that we are taking a look at today is one of the three smart air-purifiers in Xiaomi's latest air purifier lineup in 2022, the other two being the full-sized, full-featured version and a 'lite' full-sized version.

As a disclaimer, I have not used the other two 'bigger brothers' of the Compact, so I am not going to compare the usability of the Compact to them.

However, I personally use a small Hitachi air purifier (EP-PZ30J) at home, so that will be one of the direct comparisons that I will offer.

To cut the story extremely short, the Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact really impresses as an air purifier, even outclassing the Hitachi that I own on so many levels.

Granted, the Hitachi is an old model, but even by today's standards, the Compact really stands out for its price point.

It only costs S$159 in Singapore, and RM459 in Malaysia at retail. I am pretty sure when it goes on sale, it would probably cost way less.

For those who are wondering, a lot of the other 'compact' or small air purifiers from other known brands, that are this small with comparable specs, generally cost more than S$250/RM700 at the very least. The Hitachi that I currently own still has a retail price of S$399.

So, what does the Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact do?

Well, it purifies air (duh). It is effective in eliminating odour and smells, while also filtering the air from dust and particles.

When there is a foreign smell in my room, the Compact automatically ramps up to eliminate the smell as soon as possible.

I have tested this with perfume, fragrance from soaps, food smells, and also by opening the windows to let some air in. The smell and odour disappear in minutes.

I also have two cats at home, and whenever they go near the purifier, it automatically ramps up to clean up the air. They either need a shower soon, or the purifier can simply detect their stray hairs flying whenever they get close to it.

Leaving the purifier in an enclosed room, I can actually feel the difference when I step into it a few hours later.

I have a room full of electronics and it occasionally smells of....well, electronics.

The purifier does its job in keeping the room's air clean and also pleasant smelling. This is the same air quality with the S$399 Hitachi purifier.

The controls on the Compact are pretty simple. The touch screen allows for manual adjustment of the airflow, or you can simply set it to an automatic mode to let the purifier do its job of sensing the environment.

The filter in the compact is easily replaceable as well, but it is not washable. You can occasionally vacuum it if you are planning to take it out to clean.

The filter is touted to last about six to twelve months of constant use, depending on your environment. For a more accurate reading, the Xiaomi app displays the filter's usage and lifetime, so you know exactly when to replace it.

Speaking of the Xiaomi app, it is extremely easy to pair it with the Compact, unlike the Xiaomi Pet Fountain and the Pet Feeder that we reviewed recently. The pairing for the purifier was straightforward and hassle-free.

The app allows you to control the Compact wirelessly, and even shows you the level of the air in your room.

You are also able to set schedules for the Compact on the app, and also use the 'Childlock' feature which disables all the controls on the physical air purifier so that you are only able to control the purifier through the app.

All in all, the Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact is an easy-to-use and effective small purifier for individual rooms.

It has all the controls you need for its wireless functionality on the app, and the filters are easily swapped out. It's a simple product, but very effective for what it is built for.

Once again, you can purchase one for S$159, and the replacement filters for S$39.90.

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Dominic loves tech and games. When he is not busy getting bodied in games or watercooling anything he sees, he does some pro wrestling.

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