Xiaomi launches Mi Air Purifier 2 and Mi Band at ₹9,999 and ₹1,999

Chinese handset-maker Xiaomi on Wednesday launched its Mi Air Purifier 2 priced at ₹9,999 thereby entering the consumer-durables market in India, which is badly affected by pollution.

According to the World Health Organization, 22 of the world's 50 most polluted cities are in India, contributed significantly by industrial and vehicular exhaust. Particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) — air pollutants with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less — are small enough to enter even the smallest airways and could result in respiratory and cardiovascular illness.

The newly launched Mi Air Purifier 2 connects to the cloud via Wi-Fi, enabled by the Mi Home app (Android and iOS), which acts as the central hub for a range of smart home products from Mi Ecosystem and other third-party companies.

The Mi Home app transforms the smartphone into a remote for users to control Mi Air Purifier 2. When in Auto mode, the speed of the air purifier's motor is automatically adjusted according to the air quality — measured using built-in sensors. The Mi Home app also monitors the filter's lifespan and sends a reminder when it needs to be replaced.

According to the company, the purifier can remove PM2.5 particles, dust, indoor plant pollen, pet fur and other foreign particles. "With its high 310m3/h CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate), Mi Air Purifier 2 takes just 10 minutes to circulate purified air in a 21m2 room. Even so, the motor is extremely energy efficient with a low power consumption of 4.8W, while advanced aerodynamics reduce noise and wind resistance, resulting in a noise level as low as 30dB in Night mode," Hugo Barra, Vice President, Xiaomi, said adding that the product will be available on Mi.com starting 26 September at 12 PM. It will also be available on Flipkart (exclusive partner) from 2 October.

The company also launched its next generation of wearables, the Mi Band 2, at a price of ₹1,999 - a hike of ₹1,000 from the first band which was launched at ₹999. The company justified the price rise with the addition of OLED display, clock feature along with notifications, heart rate monitor and a water resistant form factor. The company also claims that the Band 2, which uses the Mi Fit app to track fitness goals for users, lasts over 20 days on a single charge.

As per IDC's Q2 2016 Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker, Mi Bands ranked number two by shipments in the worldwide wearables market. The Mi Band 2 will be available on Mi.com from 27 September for ₹1,999. It will also be available on Amazon (exclusive partner) from 30 September.