Delhi-NCR has become a gas chamber these days. With air pollution rising to 1,000 AQI in winter, the city leaves its residents gasping for fresh air. I am one of those residents. Like everyone else, every year, I prepare myself to face the nasty winter air of Delhi. Being an asthma patient, my preparation also includes some extra help from equipment like air purifiers. So, when Eureka Forbes recently contacted me about their latest air purifier – the Forbes Air Purifier 500 – I was curious to see if this purifier, despite its relatively low price, could help me breathe easier. Will do.

You see I’ve got used to the Dyson, which is very effective but one of the most expensive options. The Forbes Air Purifier 500 seems to be a product that can be equally effective but at a lower price, something that could benefit a lot of consumers in a place like Delhi-NCR. So, I took the risk. And emerged impressed.

Forbes Air Purifier 500 price in India is Rs 28,000. However, during the discount you can get it for as low as Rs 19,999. This air purifier at this price highlights its 360-degree air intake technology and it comes with a 4-stage purification system, which consists of a pre-filter, activated carbon filter, genuine HEPA H13 filter and more to clean the indoor air. Plasma filtration is included for. It is also WiFi enabled which means users can connect and operate it with a dedicated smartphone app called Smart Life.

The air purifier also offers features like PM2.5 digital display, VOC color indicator, and AI mode for automatic adjustment based on air quality. These are features you typically find on more expensive air purifiers. Then there are functionalities like child lock, sleep mode, adjustable fan speed and timer setting. According to Forbes the air purifier is ideal for homes up to 500 670 square feet. This air purifier does this with the help of 500 m3/hr airflow and with a low noise level of 66 dB or less.

Looking at the features, the Air Purifier 500 definitely looks smart and fancy. But the question is, does it really help you breathe easier while cleaning indoors from pollutants like dust, allergens, bacteria and odors? But before I answer this question, let me tell you a little about its design.

Boring design, great performance

The Forbes Air Purifier 500 comes divided into two large cubes, which you have to assemble by placing one on top of the other. It is easy, lightweight and quick to install. Once assembled it looks like a small tower. However, to me it’s boring. I understand that aesthetics are a matter of personal preference, but at least to my eyes the Air Purifier 500 doesn’t look fancy at all. It’s all utility and no pleasure. However, looks should not define the performance of a machine and that is not the case with the Air Purifier 500.

The Air Purifier 500 has a black grille on top with a circular digital display in the middle. The display shows AQI, features touch control buttons to operate the device, and also includes a light indicator to indicate PM2.5 levels. This display comes in handy to take a quick look at the pollution level in the room. Additionally, the top panel adds some uniqueness to the otherwise boring design.

Using the Forbes Air Purifier 500

I have been using the Forbes Air Purifier 500 since mid-December, when pollution levels are at their peak in Delhi and winters are in full swing. This is definitely the right time to test what an air purifier is really capable of doing. I was surprised that the Air Purifier 500 holds its own even in the cold.

Often as soon as I turned on the device, the Air Purifier 500 immediately reduced the AQI in the room. For reference, within 10 minutes, it reduced pollution from 537 to 35. Too fast! To verify this, I cross-checked the readings with the Dyson Cool Gen 1 — which, by the way, is a little more expensive — and the readings were the same. The Air Purifier 500 also managed to clear kitchen smoke – it’s winter and parathas never come off the stove – and filter out pollen effectively.

But – yes, there is a but – as someone who struggles with asthma, I noticed that the Air Purifier 500 has difficulty detecting certain things. For example, my landlord recently had the walls in my condo painted. During that time, I was having trouble breathing due to the paint smoke, so I switched on the air purifier 500. In this, the AQI of the room was shown between 45-55. However, Dyson showed an AQI of around 200. And with these different readings I was able to understand that while the Air Purifier 500 is capable of handling common pollutants, its filters and sensors were not as effective for all types of pollutants, such as paint smoke.

The Air Purifier 500 uses a silent motor, although at higher fan speeds, say levels 6 to 12, it is not completely quiet. You can clearly hear the sound of the fan running. When set to Auto or Sleep mode, the fan manages noise levels quite well, at least well enough that you won’t have to worry about it in the dark when you’re trying to sleep and want a quiet room. Don’t keep me awake. But cold air is a different matter. Unlike some other air purifiers nowadays, which can also put out hot air, the Air Purifier 500 only puts out cool air. In a few hours, in winter, it can actually cool the room, which is not desirable.

In short, the Air Purifier 500 has good performance. Considering its price I would say the performance is really good. If you are looking for an affordable air purifier to clean your indoor air of gases, pollutants, and pollens, the Air Purifier 500 is very capable.

Easy control with app

Quick access to your gadgets through your phone is always a good idea. In fact, during my review period, I controlled the Forbes Air Purifier 500 using the Smart Life app, which I downloaded from the App Store on my iPhone.

The app is easy to access and, once set up with details like your location, it displays the weather as well as the indoor AQI as well as the outdoor AQI. The app also allows you to connect your device and control all its settings with just a few taps. Adding to its convenience, you can also control the timer through the app.

Apart from app control, the purifier can also be connected to smart assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant, making it even easier and smarter to manage the device.

Should you buy the Forbes Air Purifier 500?

So, is the Forbes Air Purifier 500 worth Rs 20,000, the price at which it often sells? Definitely. The machine is able to filter out pollutants and pollen, helping to keep the air inside your home clean. It is lightweight, easy to clean, portable and easy to install.

App control and smart display make it convenient to track AQI and control the machine. Although it blows cool air, it is not directed directly at your face. Additionally, once the AQI in the room improves, the fan – if it is set to AI mode – can slow down, making it quieter for the night. Overall, it effectively cleans indoor air to make it breathable.

In terms of performance, it matches the performance offered by more expensive air purifiers. However, when it comes to feature set – like warm air – or jazzier design, more expensive air purifiers still have the edge over them. But I believe that for the price, you can’t do anything wrong with the Forbes Air Purifier 500. It’s totally worth it when it’s on sale.