Ikea’s new smart air purifier is camouflaged as a side table

Ikea continues to take the invisible approach to its smart home gadgets by camouflage them like other things. It’s new Starkvind smart air purifier comes in two versions, but the best of the pair is skillfully disguised as a small end table, So besides removing unwanted particles from the air, you can also use it as a storage space for unwanted coffee table books and knickknacks.

As the wildfires raging on the West Coast continue to affect air quality across the country, to New York, an air purifier appears to be a solid investment for the future. Companies like Dyson sell some of the most complete products smart air purifiers which can be controlled remotely through a smartphone app, but aesthetically they look like props from a sci-fi movie. No one wants their home to look like a Best Buy showroom as it slowly fills up with smart home devices, so Ikea’s approach is welcome.

When paired with Ikea’s $ 35 Trådfri smart home hub, the $ 129 standalone version and $ 189 side table version of the Starkvind air purifier can be operated and programmed using of the accompanying smart chip from Ikea. home, but both also have a manual control dial to toggle between five different fan speeds or an automatic mode. In the latter mode, an included air quality sensor will automatically turn on the air purifier based on the levels of unwanted particles in the air. So if you accidentally burn dinner down and send a cloud of smoke out of the kitchen, the Starkvind will automatically roar to life.

Both models come in two color options and both include a three-filter system that Ikea promises will capture everything from larger particles like hair to microscopic things you can’t see but don’t want to breathe. . in.

“The pre-filter captures large particles such as hair and dust,” says Ikea. “The particulate removal filter is optimized to filter approximately 99.5% of small airborne particles such as PM2.5 particles, dust and pollen. The gas cleaning filter absorbs various gaseous pollutants such as formaldehyde and other VOCs and reduces unpleasant odorsrs such as smoking and cooking.

Both versions of the Starkvind air purifier are expected to be available from October, but for continued effectiveness air purifiers require more than just the occasional cleaning of their filters.they should also be replaced regularly. Whether or not the Starkvind uses the same replacement filters that Ikea uses for its existing Sensitive air purifier or a different shape and design remains to be seen.