What is the best air purifier Malaysia (2020)? That depends on where and what you plan to use it for! And your budget, of course!
In this post, we’ll look at 11 from various brands and sizes! Read up on reviews for these air purifiers that available in Malaysia.
Along with some tips on how to shop for and maintain your air purifier!
Best Air Purifier Top Picks
For Small Coverage
Sharp Plasma Cluster Air Purifier FPJ30LA
Affordable, sleek and functional with a HEPA filter! For rooms under 23m².
Benefits:
- Don’t have to change the filter often
- Won’t disturb you at night (night mode)
- Targets haze (dedicated haze removal)
For Medium Coverage
Xiaomi Air Purifier PRO
Stylish and powerful HEPA (and activated carbon) filtering system that is value-for-money! As long as you change the filter every 3-6 months!
Benefits:
- Suitable for rooms up to 60m2
- Quiet enough for a bedroom
- You can monitor filter life or adjust the speed on your phone!
For Larger Coverage
Philips Air Purifier Series 3000i (AC3033/30)
When you want to cover your entire studio apartment! Or main living space!
Benefits:
- Covers up to 104m²
- Super smart with its own app
- Fast-acting!
Air Purifier Benefits
Health benefits range from reducing symptoms of asthma, allergies and even improving cardiovascular health!
These studies from around the world (i.e. Canada, USA, Taiwan) do have their limits.
Like the lack of long-term studies. Or other factors like changing pillow cases, using a vacuum, etc.
Alternatively, you can try an essential oil diffuser if you want your home to smell a certain way too!
What An Air Purifier Can Filter
Generally, air purifiers work best on airborne particles that have not settled on surfaces yet.
These include:
- Dust
- Smoke
- Pollen
What An Air Purifier Cannot Filter
- Mold (For mold, you’ll need the best dehumidifier instead)
- Mites
- Pollen on the ground
Types Of Air Purifiers (Technologies)
Some air purifiers work differently from others, having varied capabilities. So it’s important to take your needs into account when shopping for an air purifier!
The better air purifiers usually combine the use of multiple filters. For this post, we will cover 2 of the most common on the market!
1. Activated Carbon Filters
Like water filters and water dispensers, air purifiers use activated carbon filters to soak up odorous molecules present in the air.
However, carbon filters prove ineffective for certain gases like ammonia, formaldehyde or nitrogen oxide.
Another drawback is that they have a saturation point. And will need replacing once or a few times a year.
2. Mechanical Filters
As the name implies, these harness a physical screen in the form of a pleated filter to separate particles from the air.
The finest of these screens are HEPA filters. Which can filter smoke, dust, spores, and paint fume particles!
You have to replace these eventually too. And these can be pricier that the carbon filters!
What To Look Out For In An Air Purifier
To determine which the best air purifier in Malaysia for your home, keep the following in mind:
1. How Effective Is It?
Effectiveness for air purifiers is in percentage and in terms of particle pollution or PM. Which is how the experts measure air quality!
PM or Particulate Matter are solid or liquid droplets in the air. Numbers represent the diameter of these particles!
To put things into clear perspective, human hair measures 50-70µm:
- PM10 – mold, pollen and dust
- PM5 – particles of smoke, organic compounds, metals, etc
- PM3 – dust mites, some bacteria, haze, cigarette smoke
Anything smaller than PM2.5 can enter our bodies directly! By the way, viruses are ~0.01µm.
Surprisingly, the weak spot for most air purifiers is actually the 0.3µm particle size! And not the ones under (or above) 0.3µm!
2. Cost Of Maintenance
Depending on the model, you may have to change the filter every 3 months, 6 months or 12 months!
Some air purifiers come with an indicator to let you know when it’s time to change the filter!
Price range: RM40 up to RM800
3. Where Are You Using It?
Bigger is better when it comes to selecting an air purifier:
So even if you only have a small space to cover, aim to get an air purifier that can handle a larger space.
They are more effective at doing their job and usually have settings to accommodate a small room too!
Have the air cond on all the time? Get the best humidifier with air purification then!
4. How Noisy Is It?
Assuming you mean to have the air purifier on for long periods, it’s ideal to get one that makes as less noise as possible!
Look at the decibel ratings if you are buying one online!
For reference, a hum equal to a fridge would be ~50 decibels (dB). Ceiling fans can be lower than 54dB. The lower, the better.
5. Is It Certified?
- Energy Star – A guarantee that the air purifier is already more efficient than most models
- CADR – Clean air delivery rates. Naturally, a higher figure is better.
- AHAM – By the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. That means the filter has been tested successfully to its claimed room size.
6. What Features Does It Come With?
Good:
- Washable Pre-filters – more sustainable in the long run!
- Indicator Light (Filter Life) – convenient so you don’t have to track it yourself
- Air-Quality Sensors – Some filters will show you the air pollution level
- Handles and Wheels – Move it to wherever you need it easily!
- Remote Control – Nowadays, you can find filters that use apps instead!
Bad:
- Ionizing capability isn’t necessarily a good thing. This can produce unwanted ozone gases.
13 Best Air Purifiers In Malaysia 2020
To keep things simpler, we’ll list these filters according to their stated room size! Starting with smallest to largest!
Best Air Purifier For Room
Considering a typical room size of 10 to 18 square meters, these air purifiers will do well in small spaces!
1. Blueair Air Purifier Joy S
Resembling a small stylish trashcan, the Blueair’s Joy S puffs away quietly with a high CADR rating.
It claims to remove more than 99% of air contaminants up to 0.1µm in size with its HEPASilentTM technology! Including dust, pollen, spores, smoke, VOCs, bacteria, odors, gases, etc.
For all its advantages though, the Joy S does not have any way to show the user that it is working! Other than to wait for the results!
- Filter Type(s): Electrostatic, Carbon & Mechanical (HEPA)
- Filter Life: ~1 year
- Room Coverage (Max): 16m²
- Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): 200m³/hour
- Effectiveness: 99.97% (PM0.1)
- Noise Level: 17 – 46dB
- Energy Consumption: 1.5W – 10W
- Warranty: 1 year
Pros:
- Small with option to change the fabric pre-filter color
- Multiple filter technologies
- Quiet for the first 2 of the 3 fan settings available
- Has an indicator
- Washable pre-filter
- Remote control
- Easy to change filter
- 360 degree air intake
- Lightweight (1.5kg)
- Energy efficient
- Has a magnetic clip to keep the wire off the floor
Cons:
- No air quality monitoring
- Quite costly (~RM800)
- No handles
- Carbon filter costs ~RM100
- Not very effective for smoke
2. Blueair Air Purifier Sense+
This CPU-looking model from Blueair comes with a much heftier price tag (~RM2,000) than the previous model on this list.
Why? Because it can cover a larger room with its award-wining and superior filtering capabilities of up to 0.1µm. Plus, it is certified!
If you don’t like in black, it comes in jewel-tone hues as well as grey or white.
- Filter Type(s): Ionizing chamber, mechanical (HEPA) & activated carbon filters
- Filter Life: ~6 months for 24h/day
- Room Coverage (Max): 18m²
- Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): 238m³/hour
- Effectiveness: 99.97% (PM0.1)
- Noise Level: 29 – 50dB
- Energy Consumption: 7W – 35W
- Warranty: 3 years
Pros:
- AHAM and Energy Star certified
- WiFi enabled remote control with 3 fan settings
- Has an app (Blueair Friend) to monitor the air quality
- Extra features like child lock and night mode
- Filter life indicator
Cons:
- Expensive
- Need to vacuum the outlets occasionally
- Replacement filter is costly (~RM400)
- Very heavy for a purifier (~11kg)
3. Panasonic Air Purifier FPXJ30A
Panasonic’s FPXJ30A stands 21 inches tall and has 10-minute turbo function that will come in handy for emergencies!
Its filtering capability includes particles smaller than 2µm. Like cigarette smoke, cooking odors, pet dandruff and pollen!
- Filter Type(s): Composite filter and deodorization filter
- Filter Life: 2 years each for the composite filter and deodorization filter
- Room Coverage (Max): 20m²
- Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): 210m³/hour
- Effectiveness: 99% (PM2.5)
- Noise Level: 18 – 44dB
- Energy Consumption: 6 – 20W
- Warranty: 1 year
Pros:
- Affordable at ~RM400
- Night mode, sleep mode and child-lock
- Has filter life indicator
- Long filter life
- Effective for dust and odors
- Value for money
- Low noise levels
Cons:
- Bright panel lights
- No wheels, weighs 4.3kg
- Have to buy 2 replacement filters – each around RM100
4. Sharp Plasma Cluster Air Purifier FPJ30LA
Stronger suction power of the 16-inch tall FPJ30LA will result in higher noise and power usage compared to other models.
You’ll still be able to sleep while it’s on night mode though! Something else to note is that you will not be able to monitor the air quality with this air purifier!
- Filter Type(s): HEPA filter and plasmacluster ionizer
- Filter Life: ~2 years
- Room Coverage (Max): 16 – 23m²
- Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): 180m³/hour
- Effectiveness: 99% (PM2.5)
- Noise Level: 23 – 44dB
- Energy Consumption: 13W – 50W
- Warranty: 1 year
Pros:
- Very affordable at ~RM330
- Has a timer for 4 or 8 hours
- Long filter life
- Compact design
- Comes in a few colors – grey, pink, blue
- Haze removal mode
- Does not emit ozone gases
Cons:
- No display for air quality
- Noisy at highest setting
- Filter costs ~RM140
- No wheels
- Moderately heavy (4kg)
5. Dyson Pure Cool Me Personal Air Purifier
How about an air purifier that can fit on your desk? This air purifier in a neat portable package costs a whopping ~RM1,700!
Special features include the ability to control the airflow through a touch interface directly on the purifier! Besides being able to filter particles as small as 0.1µm!
- Filter Type(s): Mechanical (HEPA) and activated carbon filter
- Filter Life: 4,300 hours of use (~1 year)
- Room Coverage (Max): 27m²
- Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): n/a
- Effectiveness: 99.95% (PM0.1)
- Noise Level: 37 – 63.5dB
- Energy Consumption: 32 – 40W
- Warranty: 2 years
Pros:
- Sleep timer
- 70 degrees oscillation
- Easy to maintain
- Indicates filter life
- Light (~2.8kg)
- 10 different speed settings
- Comes with a remote
- Different colors: Gunmetal/Copper and White/Silver
Cons:
- Expensive
- Uses more power than other models
- Expensive filter (~RM290)
Best Air Purifier For Living Room
It may be worthwhile to place an air purifier at this central space where the family relaxes and spends time together!
6. Sharp Plasma Cluster Air Purifier FPF40LW
FPF40LW is the larger brother of the FPJ30LA and twice the price too! But the FPF40LW is able to cater to a bigger room!
Utilizing the same plasmacluster ion technology that FPJ30LA does, it can remove allergen, microbes and viruses from the air too!
And has additional features other than the haze mode which the smaller FPJ30LA carries!
- Filter Type(s): Mechanical (HEPA), humidifying, active carbon and deodorizing filters
- Filter Life: 2 years for the HEPA filter
- Room Coverage (Max): 23 – 30m²
- Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): 240m³/hour
- Effectiveness: 99% (PM2.5)
- Noise Level: 21 – 49 dB
- Energy Consumption: 3.7-31W
- Warranty: 1 year
Pros:
- Long filter life
- Low power consumption
- Quiet operation
- Medium weight (4.7kg)
- Under RM1,000 (Price is around RM600)
- Haze mode, anti-dust mode and a ion shower mode
- Simple elegant design
- Can remove odors (e.g. cigarette smoke or pet odors)
- Ionizing technology without producing harmful ozone gases
Cons:
- Still not suitable for large houses
- Replacement filter costs ~RM200
- No air quality monitoring feature
7. Samsung Air Purifier AX34R3020WW/ME
Family-friendly AX34R3020WW/ME showcases a rounded design that is safe for kids to be around. There is a child-lock feature as well.
Colors are used to indicate and represent different levels of air quality!
A combination of filters in the 3-step purification system combats ultra fine and PM2.5 particles (e.g. haze) besides larger ones like pollen.
- Filter Type(s): 2-in-1 PM2.5 and deodorization filters
- Filter Life: 3-6 months
- Room Coverage (Max): 34m²
- Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): n/a
- Effectiveness: 99% (PM2.5)
- Noise Level: 45dB
- Energy Consumption: 30W
- Warranty: 2 years
Pros:
- Washable pre-filter
- Sleep mode and auto mode available
- Easy to change out the filter
- 4-colour indicator
- Under RM1,000 (~RM900)
Cons:
- Heavy to move (8.2kg)
- Replacement filter costs ~RM200
- Frequent change of filter
Best Air Purifier For Bigger Areas
8. Philips Air Purifier Series 800 AC0820/30
This appealing air purifier price falls in the mid-range around RM600. It’s around the same size as a table lamp too.
And with the maximum room coverage close to 50m²:
It’s pretty good value when you compare it to more expensive models with similar coverage! You can feel how effective it is for yourself when your asthma stops acting up when it normally would!
- Filter Type(s): VitaShield HEPA Filter
- Filter Life: 12 months
- Room Coverage (Max): Up to 49m²
- Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): 190m³/h
- Effectiveness: 99.5% (0.3µm); 99.9% (H1N1 Virus); 99% (Bacteria)
- Noise Level: 35-61 dB(A)
- Energy Consumption: Up to 22W
- Warranty: 2 years
- Price: ~RM599
Pros:
- Lightweight and not bulky
- Easy operation and installation
- Quiet (especially in sleep mode)
- Indicates air quality with different colors
- Filter replacement is affordable (less than RM80)
Cons:
- Power button is not conveniently location
- Not effective for large rooms
9. Samsung Air Purifier AX50K5050WD/ME
3 clean air outlets enable this air purifier to cover a larger room. With a speed mode that can filter your room in just 30 minutes!
And the 4-step system can take on the usual allergens and even gases like formaldehyde!
- Filter Type(s): pre-filter, deodorizing filter, a PM2.5 filter
- Filter Life: 6-12 mouths
- Room Coverage (Max): 50m²
- Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): 450m³/hour
- Effectiveness: 99% (PM2.5)
- Noise Level: <46dB
- Energy Consumption: 35W
- Warranty: 2 years
Pros:
- Display shows filter life and real-time PM2.5 sensor reading
- Child-lock
- Has wheels
- Easy maintenance
Cons:
- Expensive (RM1,200+)
- Heavy (11.6kg)
- Expensive replacement filter (CFX-D100/SG) costs ~RM300
10. Philips Air Purifier Series 1000 AC1215/30
Certified/ tested by both ECARF and Airmid:
The Philips Air Purifier Series 1000 AC1215/30 will clear rooms up to 63m². The sound it makes is quite audible during auto mode. But in sleep mode, it’s near silent!
Concerning that auto-mode, it really does boost the power according to what its air quality sensor detects! Including cooking fumes that waft out from your kitchen!
- Filter Type(s): Advanced NanoProtect HEPA Filter
- Filter Life: 12 months
- Room Coverage (Max): Up to 63m²
- Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): 270m³/h
- Effectiveness: 99.97% (PM2.5); 99.9% (Virus); 99.9% (Bacteria)
- Noise Level: 33-66 dB(A)
- Energy Consumption: n/a
- Warranty: 2 years
- Price: ~RM942
Pros:
- Value for money (room coverage vs price)
- Light enough to move around the house
- Easy to install
- Fantastic performance against dust (and pet fur)
- Inconspicuous appearance (can blend into any room interior)
- Color indication for air quality
Cons:
- Performance reduces significantly with thick haze
Philips AC2887/30 Air Purifier
Capable of filtering out particles in the nanometer range with its NanoProtect HEPA filter:
This attractive air purifier with a gentle hum will noticeably improve the air quality in your home!
- Filter Type(s): Activated carbon and mechanical (HEPA)
- Filter Life: 3-6 months
- Room Coverage (Max): 25 – 79m²
- Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): 344m³/hour
- Effectiveness: 99% (PM2.5)
- Noise Level: 20.5dB (Sleep mode) -51dB
- Energy Consumption: 0.5 – 56W
- Warranty: 2 years
Pros:
- Real-time indoor air quality monitoring
- Certified (ECARF – European standard)
- Relatively higher power consumption
- 7.7kg – light for its size
- Reduces odor, formaldehyde and some viruses and bacteria
- 3 settings including allergen and bacteria/ virus
- 4-colour indicator
Cons:
- Costs ~RM1,400
- Filter replacement part (FY2422/FY2420) is ~RM200
- Filter must be replaced quite often
11. Xiaomi Mi Air Purifier Pro
When it first came out from their Mi Home Ecosystem range, the attractive tower-style Mi Air Purifier Pro was originally at a price of ~RM1,000.
It is capable of filtering out dust and even some volatile compounds (e.g. formaldehyde) via its HEPA filtering system. Which includes activated carbon too!
- Filter Type(s): 3-layered filter
- Filter Life: 3 – 6 months
- Room Coverage (Max): Up to 60m²
- Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): 500m³/h
- Effectiveness: 99.3% (PM0.3)
- Noise Level: 34.1 – 57.5dB
- Energy Consumption: Up to 66W
- Warranty: 1 year
- Price: RM399.9
Pros:
- Main button serves as status and PM indicator too
- Able to save “favorite” mode
- Low hum on average, and night mode is quiet
- Can use the mobile app to adjust the speed
- See estimated filter replacement time via mobile app
Cons:
- Have to replace the filter (easy process) every 3 - 6 months
12. Honeywell HAP 18200 Air Purifier
Honeywell’s HAP 18200 Air Purifier is a medical-grade air purifier that is popular among those with allergies, asthma and other respiratory illnesses! It has quite the reputation in Singapore!
Expensive at ~RM2,000 and big but it works well with a filtering capability under 0.3µm and a powerful fan for maximum air intake.
- Filter Type(s): Carbon pre-filter and HEPA filter
- Filter Life: 2-3 months (Pre-filter), 1-1.5 years (HEPA filter)
- Room Coverage (Max): 40 – 63m²
- Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): ~288 m³/hour
- Effectiveness: 99.97% (PM0.3)
- Noise Level: n/a
- Energy Consumption: <95W
- Warranty: 3-5 years
Pros:
- Does not create ozone gases
- 3 settings available
- Washable pre-filter contains activated carbon
- Long life HEPA filter
- Filter life indicator
- Long warranty
Cons:
- Expensive at ~RM2,000
- Pre-filter costs RM150, HEPA filter costs RM400-500
- No wheels
- Uses at lot of power at the highest setting
- Net weight of ~7.8kg
13. Philips Air Purifier Series 3000i (AC3033/30)
Fancy having app control over your home air purifier? So you can turn it on and off remotely when you’re not at home?
You can also leave the premium Philips Air Purifier Series 3000i (AC3033/30) to manage the potential allergens in your home! As it has an intelligent auto purification system!
Switching to faster Turbo mode to clean the air in the room as fast as 10 minutes! Or less!
- Filter Type(s): Advanced NanoProtect 3-Layer HEPA Filter
- Filter Life: 36 months
- Room Coverage (Max): Up to 104m²
- Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): 400m³/h
- Effectiveness: 99.97% (PM2.5); 99.9% (Virus); 99.9% (Bacteria)
- Noise Level: 33-66 dB(A)
- Energy Consumption: Up to 55W
- Warranty: 2 years
- Price: ~RM1,999
Pros:
- Air quality is indicated by color
- Huge area coverage
- Easy-to-use touchpad on top
- Stylish
- Dedicated app will even notify you of changes in the air quality
- Practically silent on Sleep mode, without any glaring lights
- Not difficult to set up
- Compatible with Siri
- Will notify you when it’s time to change the filter
Cons:
- Expensive
- Quite large
- Turbo and auto mode produces some noise
- No wheels or handles
Travel-friendly Air Purifiers
Most purifiers need a fixed power supply to keep going. For asthma sufferers who travel a lot, there are personal air purifiers that are portable!
Bonus: IQAir Atem Desk Personal Air Purifier
Boasting Swiss design and made in Germany:
The black or white IQAir Atem Desk Personal Air Purifier sits perfectly on a desk. And targets allergens like pollen, pet dander, dust and particles under 0.003µm small! Including viruses!
With that kind of capability, it’s not surprising that this air purifier won the international 2019 Global Innovations award!
It’s tiny enough to be carried on-the-go too or be used in the car! The only setback is the astounding price tag!
- Filter Type(s): HyperHEPA filter technology
- Filter Life: 1 year
- Room Coverage (Max): 0.3 sqm
- Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): 30m³/h
- Effectiveness: 99.5% (PM0.003)
- Noise Level: 20dB – 44dB
- Energy Consumption: 1.5W – 3.4W
- Warranty: 2 years
Pros:
- High effectiveness for miniscule particles
- Dedicated app (Atem app) to control the purifier remotely
- Very low power consumption
- 3 fan settings
- Weighs under 3kg with the stand and power supply
- Has a powerbank that lasts for 12 hours
- Filter life indicator
Cons:
- Very expensive (~RM2,000)
- Limited room coverage
Best Budget Air Purifiers
- Midea Map-20BD Air Purifier (RM350+)
- Sharp Plasma Cluster Air Purifier FPJ30LA (~RM315) – Check Price
- Panasonic Air Purifier FPXJ30A (~RM500) – Check Price
- Xiaomi Mi Air Purifier 3H (~RM
690399.9 Now) – Xiaomi filter is not washable, filter lifespan: ~6 months – Check Price
Best Premium Air Purifiers
- Blueair Air Purifier Classic (~RM2,500) – Check Price
- Dyson Pure Cool TP04 Air Purifying Tower Fan (~RM2,600) – Check Price
- IQAir Healthpro 250 (RM6,000) – Check Price
How To Take Care Of Your Air Purifier
- Replace those filters at the recommended times
- Optimize the air flow by limiting obstructions
- Run it all the time (low speed) with closed windows/ doors
- Clean the pre-filter (if any) periodically
Conclusion
That wraps up our line-up of best air purifiers in Malaysia! For tight spaces and budgets, get the Sharp FPJ30LA (Item 4) or Xiaomi’s Mi Air Purifier Pro (Item 11).
But for larger spaces and budgets, the Philips 3000i comes highly recommended!
