What Air Purifier Do You Use?

Karens Hate Winners on 04/08/2026 - 22:25
Last edited 05/08/2026 - 11:48

I have four Xiaomi Air Purifier 4 around the house and the filters for this isn't really cheap, it's about $50 (with the PBTech membership discount) and I find it cheaper and easier to get it from PBTech. I usually get either of these 3 filters, depending on the situation:

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/HOMOEM03001/OEM-High-Effici…
https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/HOMMIX15918/Xiaomi-Mi-Home-…
https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/HOMMIX24738/Xiaomi-Mi-Home-…

That's roughly $200 every 8–12 months for replacement filters. It's not terrible, but I was hoping to find a cheaper option in the $20–$30 range instead. The air purifiers themselves do a great job and I'm happy with their performance, but I was wondering if there are any more economical filter alternatives available.

I also tried extending the lifespan of the filters by using my WOLFBOX MF200 compressed air duster to blow out the accumulated dust, and I even tried washing them. Unfortunately, neither method worked for very long, and the filters still needed replacing fairly quickly.

I do know you can get these for cheap from Taobao, but the problem is that it always takes around 2 months for delivery. I suppose if you buy in bulk it should be OK, but still annoying.

What do you guys use and how much does it cost you to replace the filters and where do you get them from?

UPDATE:
Screw it, I just placed an order for 20 filters from Taobao. Comes down to around $20 each, instead of the usual $50+.

Here's the link I used, you might find cheaper ones. I compared a few listings and couldn't be bothered checking for more, so I settled with this one. Some listings have coupons that can be applied and the shipping fee might be cheaper as well, so the comparison can take some time and effort and I just can't be bothered.

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=967075441785

General Discussion

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  • bot on 05/08/2026 - 09:11

    Whatever you do don't buy a Coway Airmega 250, I got one on a good deal, but new filters are hard to come by in NZ, and cost upwards of $100. I like the unit and it works well, but pricey.

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  • dealhunter on 04/08/2026 - 22:47

    What are you really trying to filter

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    • Karens Hate Winners on 04/08/2026 - 23:07

      Dust, pollen, whatever is in the air.

      My partner is allergic to pollen and she sneezes a lot, but ever since we got these air purifiers, she hasn't sneezed as much. If she used to sneeze say 50 times a day, now it's down to maybe once a day or none at all.

      I can tell the air is definitely better around the house. It makes a difference.

      Unrelated, but I also have a PPM monitor and having really clean air and low PPM really helps me focus when WFH.

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  • magicmarker on 05/08/2026 - 07:44

    We use the shark never Change compacts just for the bedrooms. Just under $150 on sale. Dont know if the filters will be available when the time comes, although it’s meant to last 5 years. Then it’s cheaper than buying filters each year. Old unit filters were almost $100/year.

    It’s got an onboard pm2/pm10 sensor and goes into standby when the air is clean. It gets going on cold winter smoggy Christchurch nights. Wish it had a timer function though. And it can be a tad noisy if it goes to medium and above fan speed

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    • Karens Hate Winners on 05/08/2026 - 10:32

      That's the thing I like about the Xiaomi purifier, it has a native timer function built in, supports Matter or whatever the protocol is, so I can use either Alexa or Google Home to schedule it as well, or use my voice to turn it on/off. Most importantly, it's very quiet even on the highest fan speed. I honestly can't hear anything and I'm quite sensitive to noise. We have it running in the bedroom 24/7 and I can't hear it at all during the night when it's dead quiet.

      If you really want a timer function, you can always get one of those smart wifi plugs. You plug the purifier to the smart plug and you can set a timer on the smart plug on/off. If the smart plug supports home devices automation protocol like Matter, you can do a lot more with it, like setup IFTTT to turn it on when you're in/out of the house, etc.

      Regarding the filters, I'd need to look into those. I'm a bit sceptical that a filter can last 5 years. The reason the Xiaomi ones need changing is that they're also carbon activated and you can only fit so much into a filter that is designed for commercial use. Not to mention that there are different layers to it, so depending on how "complex" the filter is, one might need replacing sooner than others. Every time I replace the filters, I always see a lot of junk collected in the layers.

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  • starker3 on 05/08/2026 - 09:04

    I've got the Xiaomi air purifier 4 pro which I think is the same as the 4?
    Does the "Xiaomi Mi Home Antibacterial Air Purifier Filter for 1 / 2H / 2S / 3 / 3H" fit the 4? I assumed it didn't so ordered an antibacterial filter off aliexpress instead that stated it did fit the 4 - but if its available locally the price is similar so I'd rather just order from pbtech instead.

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    • Karens Hate Winners on 05/08/2026 - 10:26

      don't know about the 4 Pro, but the filters for the 3 and the 4 are the same. Those filters all fit on my Air Purifier 4 model. Some of the products on PBTech have incorrect descriptions.

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      • starker3 on 05/08/2026 - 10:57

        Also forgot to mention - some people online buy cotton wraps that go around the air filter and just replace those. The cotton apparently catches most of the dust and particles and is cheaper to replace while the internal filter can last longer without getting clogged as quickly.
        I haven't tried that, but some people said they've managed to get 2-3x more use out of their filters using the cotton covers.

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        • Karens Hate Winners on 05/08/2026 - 11:15

          lol, that sound like a nice hack!

          And I think you're right, I saw a few listings on Taobao that sells some static sheets or whatever they're called, which surrounds the filter to "prolong" its lifespan.

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      • starker3 on 05/08/2026 - 10:51

        Looks like the 4 pro has a larger filter size :(
        360mm for the 4 pro vs 296mm for the 4, 3, etc.

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        • Karens Hate Winners on 05/08/2026 - 11:51

          I think as long as the height matches the filters for the other models, it's fine. I noticed it's usually the width that's different.

          For example, both Air Purifier 3/3H/3C and 4 have a filter height of 293mm, but the filter diameter on the 4 is 210mm whereas the 3/3H/3C is 200mm. The height is what matters, because if it's too tall, you can't fit it in the purifier.

          You can also check Taobao for filters for your model:
          https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=967075441785

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          • Matrixx on 01/09/2026 - 11:33

            @Karens Hate Winners: Ive noticed theres quiet high shipping costs associated, unless ive chosen wrong sellers?

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            • Karens Hate Winners on 01/09/2026 - 13:13

              @Matrixx: How much is the shipping?

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              • Matrixx on 01/09/2026 - 13:54

                @Karens Hate Winners: $12 something for the filter and shipping is $35 per item, if i add another one, shipping goes up by $20.

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                • Karens Hate Winners on 01/09/2026 - 14:45

                  @Matrixx: That doesn't sound right. Shouldn't be per item.

                  Are you using the link I sent in my previous comment? I just added some filters for the Air Purifier 4 model to my cart and went to checkout and it's about $39.94 NZD shipping for 6 filters. Total comes to 557.11 Yuan, or $140.27 NZD, which is $23.33 per filter.

                  See my screenshot below:
                  https://imgur.com/bvgSZPk

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                  • joshtnz on 02/09/2026 - 08:18

                    @Karens Hate Winners: I'm keen to buy some too but cannot get taobao to reliably show up in English at all. Any tips for how to navigate the site?

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                    • Karens Hate Winners on 02/09/2026 - 10:47

                      @joshtnz: Yeah, Taobao's site needs a lot of work in that area. There's a couple of things you can try:

                      • Browse to https://world.taobao.com/ instead of https://www.taobao.com. Then, change the language in the top left corner to English.
                      • Use Google Translate
                      • Install the Taobao app on your phone and then set the language to English. It's more reliable than the site. In fact, you might need to use the app on the phone for orders over $1000, as you'll get messages from Taobao Support regarding payment for customs clearance, etc. It's easier to check in the app than it is on the website, but sometimes it's easier to use the website for certain operations (yes it sucks I know).

                      In any case, you'll need a Taobao account (just like any other shopping site) and that process can be annoying to setup, but once you've got it setup, you're good to go. The savings you get from using Taobao instead of buying elsewhere is worth the effort, plus sometimes you can find stuff that is sold on Taobao but not other places.

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                      • ace310 on 02/09/2026 - 12:50

                        @Karens Hate Winners: Setting up the account is a headache. Does google sign in work? It doesn't do anything for me.

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                        • Matrixx on 03/09/2026 - 14:23

                          @ace310: The app is much better and easier. Just use phone to sign up and it texts you the code, enter and you in. Yeah i am struggling to sign in using the website.

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                        • Karens Hate Winners on 02/09/2026 - 13:50

                          @ace310: Not sure, I didn't even know they support Google sign-in. I created my account years ago and it's just a standard Taobao account. Maybe try the SMS login method, it might work better for you.

                          FYI, this is quite normal across most Chinese platforms. Aliexpress and Temu don't really count, as they're designed as a global platform for everyone outside of China. Whereas the platforms that are specifically designed for the people living in China, such as Taobao, Jingdong, Tmall etc, those involve a lot of security verifications because they care about that stuff massively. It's not great, but it is what it is.

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                  • Matrixx on 03/09/2026 - 14:24

                    @Karens Hate Winners: Thanks for sharing, i see theres different options under delivery, by Air is 3-4x expensive then Sea. Explains why i was getting such price.

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                    • Karens Hate Winners on 03/09/2026 - 18:16

                      @Matrixx: Yeah, air freight will almost always be more expensive, but you do get it sooner. When I say Taobao orders can take up to 2 months to deliver, I was referring to delivery via sea freight.

                      But one thing that's quite odd is that if you buy something over $1000 (which incurs custom tax), then you'll be contacted by a customs broker who will handle importing your parcel into NZ and deal with the customs on your behalf. They'll charge an additional fee depending on which freight option you chose. From memory, they charge more for sea freight for some reason. So basically, if you're ordering anything over $1000 NZD value, go with air freight, as the additional fees you'll need to pay on top will be less and that makes your overall total shipping cost less. Kinda confusing, but you'll see what I mean when you encounter that situation.

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  • joshtnz on 05/08/2026 - 09:32

    Do all those filters you linked fit your one model? They all seem to have different model numbers for compatibility?

    I have the air purifier 4 https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/HOMMIX33927/Xiaomi-Air-Puri…

    and buy this filter https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/HOMMIX34107/Xiaomi-Mi-Home-…

    • now wondering if I can also buy the others you've linked?

    I also bought one from mighty ape on a good deal but now both it and the filters are out of stock so I guess in a year or two that device will be a paperweight. Very frustrating.

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    • Karens Hate Winners on 05/08/2026 - 11:48

      Yes, they all fit. I checked them in person before buying and they're the same size. I think PBTech just didn't bother updating the description on those ones.

      You can also get filters from Taobao for cheap, but just note the delivery might take some time.
      https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=967075441785

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      • joshtnz on 05/08/2026 - 15:03

        Crazy, I had no idea. Thanks!

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        • Karens Hate Winners on 05/08/2026 - 15:57

          For clarity, check my comment here:
          https://www.cheapies.nz/comment/301682/redir

          I ended up biting the bullet and just bought like 20 of these from Taobao. They come down to $20 each. But you don't have to buy 20 to get it down to $20, I just prefer to buy in bulk since the shipping time needs to be accounted for.

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          • joshtnz on 18/08/2026 - 15:11

            @Karens Hate Winners: Any chance you're able to find this filter on AliExpress or anything? What would you recommend I look for to find the right product?

            Mighty ape has got it on clearance but they want 9 bucks shipping per item!

            https://www.mightyape.co.nz/mn/buy/mighty-ape-filter-for-sma…

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            • Karens Hate Winners on 24/08/2026 - 17:20

              @joshtnz: Hey, sorry for the late reply. Got banned for a while because some people on this site are really salty 😂

              They just couldn’t handle the fact that someone like me made a ton of money off something they completely missed out on themselves. Gotta love the jealousy :D

              Anyway, I tried looking up that filter but honestly couldn't find much about it. It's a generic brand and I think "Smart Ape" is owned by Kogan/Mighty Ape? The general rule of thumb is to buy branded items that are budget in price but good quality. Xiaomi typically makes good products and they are fairly priced, most of the time they're affordable as heck. Since Xiaomi is a big brand and they mass produce these things and tons of people buy their products, chances are you'll have more luck finding parts than if you were to go with a generic brand.

              Also, you could always signup for a free Primate trial and then cancel it afterwards. Your Primate trial gives you discount on the products and you get free shipping as well.

              Having said that, the Primate member price is $39.99 for the filter you're looking at. The Xiaomi filters I bought recently are around $20 from Taobao, that's pretty cheap. The only annoying thing is that I have to wait almost 1.5 months to get them, but I suppose you could just buy in bulk. I bought 20 this time around.

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  • stardust on 25/08/2026 - 13:18

    I am using Daikin MC40YPVM , it was given free with daikin acs and i got 2 of them new from market place for like 150 ish nzd each .
    they have 10 year filter you have to clean the external filters i think once a month i use them all the time . they are good . they do remove the odor and make the air sterile . as i live closer to main road i think i will have to change my hepa type paper filter . which is over 100 nzd or some thing but so far since 4 years it has been good

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  • Matrixx on 26/08/2026 - 22:00

    Whats thoughts on this?

    https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/winix-stage-4-compact-air-pur…

    Or should i get Xiaomi or Shark?

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    • Karens Hate Winners on 26/08/2026 - 22:45

      I had a quick look, and firstly, it’s cheaper at Noel Leeming for $214:
      https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/p/winix-compact-4-stage-air-pu…

      It’s a compact air purifier, so you could easily place it on a table or something similar. If that’s what you’re after, then it’s a perfectly reasonable option.

      That said, there are a few things worth considering. The Winix has a maximum power consumption of 55W, whereas the Xiaomi Air Purifier 4 uses 30W, so the Xiaomi is more power-efficient.

      The Xiaomi also has a CADR of around 400 m³/h, meaning it can move and clean air faster. That’s not particularly surprising given that the Xiaomi is physically larger. The Xiaomi is also rated at just 20 dB in sleep mode. To be honest, though, I don’t even use sleep mode because it’s so damn quiet that I barely notice it running.

      I’m not sure about the Shark air purifier, as I’ve never owned one. I do like their products, though. I own the Shark fan with the mist attachment and have been happy with it.

      I think the biggest thing to consider with the Winix is the filter availability and ongoing cost. I’ve never heard of Winix before and I’m not sure how easy it is to find replacement filters, particularly if you want to buy them in bulk at a reasonable price.

      If you’re like me and plan to run the air purifier 24/7, I’d definitely factor in both the power consumption and the ongoing cost of replacement filters, rather than just the initial purchase price.

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    • y2k on 28/08/2026 - 11:14

      I bought four of those Winix Stage 4 Compact Air Purifier's last time M10 had 15% off, along with a big one https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/winix-zero-360-stage-5-air-pu…

      I use the stage 4 in all my bedrooms, with the stage 5 in the living room (always on). I haven't owned any other air purifiers before so can't compare it to anything but the stage 4's have worked well for my use case. Family members that were always sniffly or blocked up every morning now wake up without issues. I'll turn the stage 4's on an hour before the kids go to bed, change them to sleep mode when its time to sleep, and then turn them off in the mornings. Sleep mode is quiet enough that no one in my household has had trouble sleeping with them on, or have been woken up from them. Something to note is the blue indicator light is fairly bright (sleep mode turns off lights).

      There's no app connectivity for the stage 4's, unlike the stage 5. However aside from looking at the air quality a few times when i first got them, I've never used the app for anything so that doesn't bother me.

      I haven't measured it but the stage 4's are probably like 35cm tall and fairly wide? I would probably look at other models if you are intending to use them on desks or something as they aren't the most compact thing in the world.

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  • ace310 on 29/08/2026 - 17:18

    Any thoughts on the ikea ones?
    https://www.ikea.com/nz/en/p/foernuftig-air-purifier-white-7…

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    • Karens Hate Winners on 30/08/2026 - 00:29

      Hmm, didn't know they sell air purifiers. Seems pretty decently priced and the air filter parts seem cheap as well, depending on if you're getting the gas filter or particle filter or both. Example here - https://www.ikea.com/nz/en/p/foernuftig-2-piece-filter-set-s…

      I haven't really looked at the wattage consumption, but I presume it's fairly standard, i.e low enough to be somewhat negligible. Not sure how well they perform, I guess can buy one to try it out.

      If it does work well enough, I think this could be a winner, as Ikea is unlikely to go down under and so getting filter parts from them would be fairly easy and affordable. Beats having to wait 1.5~2 months for Taobao orders at least.

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