Most people looking for an air purifier need it for one of two reasons: The first is people concerned about the occasional threat to air quality from pollution or wildfires. The second category is people who use purifiers as an ongoing preventive health measure against viruses like pollen or coronavirus. What type of user you are will determine which purifier you end up buying - some purifiers are better at screening for viruses, others are easier to stash away for occasional use. Mila is one of a new generation of smart purifiers that tries to hedge its bets by offering a solution for everyone with different filters while abandoning the clinical look of most purifiers in favor of modern designs. There are a lot of things I like about Mila, including how large an area it covers (up to 950 square feet, depending on the filters you choose), and the reports available in the Mila app. Still, it's expensive compared to purifiers covering this size range (prices start at $399 and go up depending on the filters you choose). While the Mila works well, and many traditional purifier companies have added wifi capabilities to their existing purifier lines, I think the Mila is best suited for those who really value design and are willing to pay a premium for it.
Mira smart home air purifier
new design
Most home air purifiers are small white towers that can expand in size to cover a larger area. Levoit, Medify, and BlueAir have models that are suitable for any medical office. New players in the consumer purifier space are trying to move away from this clinical design, but sometimes the results aren't great, as was the case with the Dreo model I recently reviewed. But Mila opted for a modern, chunky design that mixes wood with the perforated white plastic you're used to, with some nice curves to make the purifier look more natural in your home. Without the "tower," the Mila has a larger footprint than other purifiers, measuring 12 inches square and 15 inches tall; it doubles as a footrest. The top of the purifier is where the interface is, and the great thing about Mila is that you don’t even need to install the Mila app to operate it. It's ready to take out of the box, unpack, plug in and turn it on. But if you think you’re going to pay top dollar for a smart purifier and not choose to use this feature, that’s unimaginable. Luckily, the Mila app works just fine. The purifier paired quickly without any issues and stayed paired throughout my time testing the Mila.
automatic magic mode
One aspect I really like about the Mila app is that by walking you through answering basic questions about your home and its occupants, it reveals features of your purifier that you might not be bothered to know about. This is the first way Mila truly allows you to customize your experience - through its "modes." Essentially, you can manually set the purification power level, or let Mila determine the power level needed for a contamination-free room. You might be wondering, like me, why you should choose the former over the latter, which boils down to the point I originally made: it depends on what kind of user you are. At some higher settings, like all purifiers, the Mila can get quite loud. It never rose to the level of getting in the way of phone calls - it was just background white noise. Still, I can see how people would find it annoying to only use this power level when necessary due to air quality issues. But if you're a new parent, or someone who uses a purifier to avoid COVID-19 or allergens, it's important to have a setting that can be re-adjusted to keep your room clean at all times, and it's unique to Mila.
Seven different filtering experiences
While most purifiers have a filter that needs to be replaced every six months, Mila offers seven different types of filters, all based on your type of user. Some examples include those suitable for parents, pet owners, allergy sufferers, or anyone looking for the highest level of air purification. I chose the last one, called the Overreactor. Each filter has different levels of HEPA or additional filters, but they also affect how much area the purifier really covers, which is a big variable. The "Mama to Be" filter only covers 540 square feet, while the "Big Sneeze" covers 950 square feet. Replacement filters are also expensive, with the Overreactor's filter costing as much as $115.
Intelligent advantages
Smart purifiers have some advantages worth considering. First of all, most purifiers recommend that you change the filter every six months, but this is just a general recommendation. If you go through a period of poor air quality, you may need to replace it sooner rather than later; if you only take it out occasionally, it may last longer and replacing it early is a waste of money. Smart purifiers tell you exactly when to change filters based on real-time usage. This is important considering the cost of these filters. The second advantage is that you can turn on the filter remotely or use it in automation, using air quality as a trigger. If you're a new parent, you don't need to turn on the purifier when you give birth in the hospital, but you will need to turn it on about an hour before you go home.
Mostly performed as promised
In terms of real-world performance, I used the Mila in a bedroom that was well below the 720 square feet covered by the Overreactor. I used two air quality sensors to measure pollutants in the room and kept the purifier in Bubble Boy mode to test the filter's mileage and whether the Mila was able to deliver on its promise of maintaining air quality. The room is 99.97% free of pollutants. My shedding dog has been in this space for the month I've had Mila. One time I was doing some light construction in a closet we had two days of very poor air quality index; over the next few days the pollen levels were at their highest. The AQI (air quality index) in the room dropped to 96% twice, but only for an hour, once after construction and once on a heavy pollen day. Otherwise, it remains at 99%.
Bottom line: Mila works, but it's still pricey
I love the Mila, especially the automatic mode that just keeps the space clean, and I really like knowing when the filter needs to be changed and being able to turn the whole thing on and off remotely. However, if you want to remove viruses, other filters can filter out smaller particles. Mila screens down to 0.03 microns, while Medify and others screen down to 0.01 microns. Additionally, the cost of the filter and purifier itself is a concern, especially when you choose a filter that limits coverage to 540 square feet. Other filters cover the same area for less than half the price, even smart filters like the Levoit . However, if you're looking for a highly personalized, highly stylized experience, I have no complaints about Mila. It would be a blast if it dropped the price significantly.
