Breathe Easy: A Review of the Dyson Purifier Cool and Purifier Hot+Cool Air Purifiers
Air pollution is a pressing concern in India, especially in urban areas. The festive season and winter months bring an alarming spike in pollutants, and even seemingly fresh air can harbor harmful particles. Keeping windows open for a few hours daily, while inviting in sunshine, also invites a deluge of harmful pollutants into your home. This can significantly impact your health and well-being. A good air purifier can counteract this, making your home’s air cleaner and your breathing easier.
While the market is flooded with air purifiers across various price ranges, the premium segment stands out for its advanced features and design. Dyson has carved a niche for itself in this segment, and their latest offering – the Dyson Purifier series – has landed in India. Priced starting at Rs. 39,015, the series comprises two models: the Dyson Purifier Cool and the more expensive Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool, priced at Rs. 50,310. This review dives deep into what these air purifiers offer and how they perform in real-world scenarios.
Sleek Design, Advanced Features: A Closer Look
Dyson’s new Purifier models are instantly recognizable, sharing the design language of the earlier Dyson Pure series launched in 2019. These devices employ the company’s signature bladeless fan system, featuring a hollow, capsule-shaped upper section and a cylindrical base housing the electrical components, air filters, and display.
The Rs. 39,015 Dyson Purifier Cool differs slightly from the Rs. 50,310 Purifier Hot+Cool in terms of its design. The capsule-shaped segment on the Cool model is taller, making the overall device stand at 1,050mm compared to the Hot+Cool’s 764mm. The Cool variant is also narrower and lighter than the Hot+Cool.
Both options are readily available across Dyson’s channels in India, including its website, offline stores, major multi-brand retailers, and online platforms. The review units provided were both White/Silver, although they are also offered in Black/Nickel in India.
A notable difference between the models is their power requirements. The Purifier Cool utilizes a standard 6A plug, whereas the Purifier Hot+Cool requires a larger 16A plug. This means the Hot+Cool needs to be connected to a 16A socket for operation, a point to consider during purchase as the positioning needs to accommodate the appropriate socket.
Beyond these distinctions, the models sport a strikingly similar aesthetic. Both feature a single power button for control and a hatch at the bottom to access and install the included air filters. Their 1.8m power cables provide ample flexibility for positioning within a room.
The HEPA + carbon filters require periodic replacement, and the remaining filter life can be tracked through the Dyson Link app, if set up. While the app offers a multitude of features, both air purifiers can be operated without it, relying on the included remote.
Each device comes equipped with a remote, powered by a pre-installed button cell battery. While similar, the remotes differ slightly between the two models, with the Purifier Hot+Cool’s remote featuring extra buttons to control the heating temperature and switch between heating and cooling modes. Both remotes are magnetised, allowing them to be securely placed on top of the air purifiers when not in use.
Just below the capsule-shaped fan component on each purifier is a small color screen displaying operational information. The fan speed is prominently displayed at the top, while the lower part of the screen showcases various statistics and data. This includes air quality graphs; PM2.5, PM10, volatile organic compound, and Nitrogen Dioxide levels; ambient temperature and humidity levels; the remaining life of the air filter; and whether the air purifier is connected to your Wi-Fi.
The Dyson Purifier Cool and Purifier Hot+Cool can be set to oscillate, delivering purified air across a wider area. Preset oscillation angle ranges include: 45 degrees, 90 degrees, 180 degrees, and 350 degrees. Alternatively, you can opt for static operation. Both devices also offer the ability to change the air vent direction, diverting air forward or from the sides. The forward mode proves to be more efficient when using the device as a fan.
Beyond the Basics: The Dyson Link App
The Dyson Purifier series boasts app compatibility through the Dyson Link app (available for iOS and Android), granting you remote control over the devices and access to detailed data on your smartphone, provided they are connected to your home Wi-Fi. It is also possible to manage multiple Dyson devices using the same app.
All the information visible on the air purifiers’ small screens is replicated in the app, presented as detailed data and graphs. In addition to quick controls, the app provides a virtual remote with the same functionalities as the physical one. Users can also set schedules, adjust settings, check filter life, and update device firmware via the app.
Voice control integration is made possible through the app, enabling the Dyson Purifier series to work with Google Assistant, Siri, and Amazon Alexa. During the review period, the units were set up with Alexa and Google Assistant, controlled using an Amazon Echo Show (3rd Gen) and Lenovo Smart Clock Essential. Both air purifiers appeared as linked devices in the Google Home and Amazon Alexa apps, simplifying home automation integration.
The Night Mode on the Dyson Purifier series dims the displays, reduces fan speed for silent operation, and allows you to set a timer for the device’s duration before entering standby mode, ranging from one to eight hours.
Performance: Putting the Purifiers to the Test
The effect of a working air purifier is often subtle and unnoticeable in its immediate surroundings. Cleaner air aims to improve your health; you might notice easier breathing or a reduction in allergic reactions to dust or pollen. An air purifier draws in air with its suspended particles, uses its filters to capture harmful elements, and then releases clean, filtered air.
The review primarily focused on the Dyson Purifier Cool, while the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool was utilized at a different location for occasional use. As the name suggests, the Hot+Cool model can also heat air before pushing it out, making it ideal for colder climates and providing a comfortable room temperature.
The heating mechanism naturally requires more power, hence the Hot+Cool’s larger 16A plug and the need for a high-load-bearing socket. While you can raise the room temperature beyond the ambient level, setting it lower does not offer cooling comparable to an air conditioner. The heating function can be turned off, allowing the unit to function as a fan, purifying and pushing out air at room temperature.
The Dyson Purifier Cool offers only ‘cooling’, which is not to be confused with air conditioning. The unit simply pushes out purified air at room temperature. Since its functionality is limited to drawing in air and passing it through an air filter, the Dyson Purifier Cool requires less power than the Hot+Cool and operates using a smaller 6A socket.
Air purification proved to be remarkably swift. According to the Dyson Purifier Cool’s own measurements, it was able to transform a sealed room with previously ‘poor’ air quality (PM2.5 and PM10 levels of around 70 micrograms per square metre) to ‘good’ levels (less than 30 micrograms per square metre) in a mere 25-30 minutes.
It functioned effectively even with a slightly open window on a less polluted day. However, high levels of outdoor pollution will naturally slow down the purifier’s effectiveness when windows are open, and utilizing the device in such situations might not be beneficial. It was noticeable that the air quality improved significantly after a few hours of operation. The fan also contributed to a more pleasant environment in the room.
Volatile organic compounds – released during activities such as cooking, or through cosmetics, paint, and adhesives – occasionally registered on the Dyson Purifier’s readings, but the device quickly brought those levels down to zero. Nitrogen Dioxide levels did not register during the review period, but the Purifier series is designed to effectively tackle and filter these pollutants as well.
The Dyson Purifier Cool and Hot+Cool are exceptionally quiet at fan speeds four or less (out of 10). With speeds five and six, a gentle hum can be heard from a few feet away. At levels seven and above, the fan gets noticeably louder, as expected with a table fan, but these levels contribute to more effective cooling or heating.
Having the front vents active is more efficient for cooling, while the side vents help distribute purified air more quickly around the room. They are also more efficient for heating a room using the Purifier Hot+Cool. Oscillation effectively spreads air, but you might prefer a direct airflow from the unit when using either model as a fan.
The Verdict: A Premium Investment
The Dyson Purifier range is far from budget-friendly. Starting at Rs. 39,000, these are premium air purifiers significantly more expensive than mainstream options offered by brands such as Xiaomi, Philips, and Realme. However, given the deteriorating air quality in urban areas, indoor air purifiers are increasingly in demand. The Dyson Purifier range excels in meeting this demand.
These two devices deliver quick, effective, and relatively quiet air purification. Operation is intuitive, with the included remote, the Dyson Link app, or a simple press of the power button. At this price point, the competition is minimal, and nothing matches the aesthetics and performance of the Dyson Purifier Cool and Purifier Hot+Cool. The more expensive Hot+Cool model offers the added advantage of functioning as an air heater, proving valuable in colder regions of India. If you are looking for a premium air purifier, the Dyson Purifier range is certainly worth considering.
Ratings (out of 10):
- Design: 9
- Performance: 9
- VFM: 6
- Overall: 8
Pros:
- Stunning Design
- Excellent Remote, easy to use
- Exceptional App, voice controls
- Hot+Cool model functions as a heater
- Quiet, rapid, and effective air purification
Cons:
- Expensive
- Hot+Cool model requires a 16A socket
