Air purifiers are one of my favorite HomeKit accessories. Even though I live in an area with pretty decent air quality, I keep them running in our home to help clean the air for my family, especially in the spring. The problem is that most of them look like medical equipment. I love the Smartmi E1, and it effectively ends the era of ugly appliances. It is hands-down the best-looking HomeKit/Apple Home air purifier on the market.
HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything to do with Apple’s smart home framework.
TL;DR on the Smartmi E1
The Smartmi E1 Air Purifier is designed to provide clean, allergen-free air with its H13 HEPA filtration system. It’s built to capture pollen, dust, and pet hair, making it ideal for allergy season. Unlike the giant towers that take up a ton floor space, the E1 is compact and customizable. It covers areas up to 194 sq. ft., operates at 48dB, and offers smart control via HomeKit. You can mount it on the wall like a piece of art if you like.
Apple Home support
The Smartmi app is a fairly easy way to get the device on your network. I appreciate that it supports ‘Sign In with Apple,’ which saves me from creating yet another username and password for a random vendor. My method was to check for firmware updates in the Smartmi app first, then manually add it to Apple Home using the code hidden behind the filter cover. It paired immediately. Once it is in Apple Home, you never have to open the manufacturer’s app again. You can control fan speed, power state, and check the status directly from the Home app.
This unlocks the device’s real power: automations. Since air purifiers can get loud at high speeds, I created an automation to run the E1 at 100% speed when the last person leaves home. This cleans the air while we are gone. Then, I have a second scene that drops it to “Silent” mode when the first person arrives home. It keeps the air clean without the noise pollution.
Hardware quality
What sets the Smartmi E1 apart isn’t its software features but its design. Most purifiers are white boxes that sit in the corner and get in the way. Smartmi has done a nice job of creating something unique here. It comes with a floor stand and hardware for mounting on the wall.
Because it is so thin, it doesn’t protrude into the room. You can also swap out the front decorative panel for a different pattern to match your decor. It feels less like an appliance and more like a piece of furniture.
Although it works great with HomeKit, I really appreciate that they kept the physical buttons on the unit. Sometimes you just want to walk by and turn it off without shouting at Siri or digging for your phone.
Wrap up on Smartmi E1
If you are tired of bulky, ugly air purifiers, the Smartmi E1 is a great option. I’ve had this unit for a while, and I’ve been very happy with it for its looks, smart home integration, and overall functionality.
It can be purchased directly from Amazon.
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