If you were to buy an air purifier, which brand would you get? Competition is intense, and there are so many brands to choose from, some are established brands, while many are new (and cheap). The air purifying technology is no longer rocket science: it’s all in the filter and the design of the fan that draws air to clean it.
So, PRISM+ has also launched air purifiers and are available in three sizes: the PRISM+ Aura covers small rooms up to 182 square feet (17 sqm), the Vortex covers living rooms up to 560 sq ft (52 sqm), and the largest Vortex Pro can take on 830 sq ft (77 sqm), most ideal for really large rooms or offices. For this review, I requested PRISM+ for the Vortex so that I can test in my home. The Vortex should be sufficient for HDB or condo apartments.
PRISM+ Vortex: Design and Operations
The product design is cylindrical, and if you do enough research, you will find that this design is quite common in the market. The body is largely made of plastic with a rough texture, which makes the Vortex lightweight and easy to move around the house.
Before you connect to the power socket and turn on, please open the bottom of the purifier and remove the plastic wrapper from the filter.
Once you power on the air purifier, install the PRISM+ Connect app and go through the setup so that the Vortex is connected to your home Wi-fi network, afterwhich you will be able to remotely control the Vortex wherever you are, even when you are outside your home. You can also just change the operation modes on the touch panel.
The PRISM+ Vortex offers the following air purifying features:
- Integrates with your Smart Home ecosystem, allowing voice control, complete app control, etc.
- Built-in UV-C inside the fan is highly effective in eliminating harmful viruses, bacterial etc. by targeting the cells of the organisms.
- 3-in-1 filter. First Pre-filter captures larger particles like hair, dust, lint and pet dander. Second HEPA H13 medical-grade filter eliminates 99.97% of airborne contaminants, bacteria, viruses, dust mites, pollen and other allergens. Third Activated Carbon filter neutralises airborne pollutants and odour, absorbs formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
There are three normal fan speeds to choose from, with maximum 42W output that can draw and filter more air effectively. The night mode is virtually silent and would be a great companion for light sleepers. From the app, you are able to monitor the indoor air quality in real time. The air quality light changes from green to orange to red according to the PM2.5 levels detected.
From the Insight menu, you can track your usage pattern and air quality chart, including outdoors, which PRISM+ takes from external source data. This is to provide a comparison to users on how the Vortex cleans the indoor air against the outdoor.
From the app, you can set routines and timers, like turning the air purifier on or off at preset times.
User Experience
Once the PRISM+ Vortex Smart Air Purifier is paired and connected to your home network, everything else is hassle-free. All I do is to turn on the power and let it run. Occasionally I will check the app to see my usage pattern presented in days, weeks, or months. I can also remotely control the speed, adjust settings, set timers, and even turn off, without touching the purifier. It will track the filter health so I know when you need to replace it. PRISM+ claims the filter can last for 12 months. I also move the purifier around the house, mostly in my study room and bedroom, sometimes in the living room.
Before having the PRISM+ Vortex, I have a few air purifiers for my daughter’s room without smart app feature. We just turn on the fan but over time, I could not recall how long the air filter had been used, whether the indoor air quality had improved. I was also confused with the buttons and icons, not sure what each function did.
So, having an app like PRISM+ Vortex provides the assurance that the product is monitoring and improving the air quality during use.
Verdict
Air purifiers have become as utilitarian as fans, so I think every household should get one as a standby. If you don’t use it, then the filter will not get dirty. Since it’s quite compact, it doesn’t occupy much space. Don’t wait until a crisis like haze then buy.
How it it different from other air purifiers? It’s the list of functions. Besides ensuring the air purifier uses HEPA H13 activated carbon filter, you might want the convenience to control via the smartphone app. If you just need a basic purifier, there are many models available at a lower price, but if I get a model without the smart app enabled, I would not get any reliable indicator if the air purifier is working. If there is an app, you can see what the air quality reading is, and you could also judge the accuracy of the sensors and the readings.
If you ask me which brand I should go for, I feel that if you want a smart home enabled air purifier, you should get a brand that is reliable with strong brand power. PRISM+ is definitely a brand that is proven to deliver good products. Its ever expanding smart home product line like air conditioners and TVs also means they have the commitment to develop products and software.
There are so many air purifiers in the market, some might even look similar, so it can be difficult to make a decision. For me, I have been using PRISM+ products for years – computer monitors, LED projectors – and now after trying their air purifiers, I find that the PRISM+ Vortex works with ease and offers smart monitoring and tracking of my usage which is useful as time goes by.
PRISM+ now comes with three models. The small Aura is available at S$149, the mid-size Vortex is offering at S$199, and the large Vortex Pro is going at S$279. Visit the PRISM+ website for more product comparison and order.