Air purifiers get Matter

Air purifiers are joining Matter, the smart-home standard that lets one device show up in Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and other platforms without a brand-specific workaround. How-To Geek’s latest roundup points to SwitchBot’s air purifier as one of the first consumer models to do that natively. (howtogeek.com) SwitchBot says its Air Purifier supports Matter over Wi-Fi and does not need a separate hub for basic Matter pairing. The company’s support page says direct Matter compatibility for the Air Purifier requires firmware version V2.2-2.2 and SwitchBot app version 9.7 or newer. (switch-bot.com) (support.switch-bot.com) That changes the setup math for a category that usually lives inside its maker’s app. A purifier with Matter can be added like a light bulb or plug, then folded into routines with sensors, speakers, and thermostats across multiple ecosystems. (switch-bot.com) (howtogeek.com) Xiaomi is taking a different route with the Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact. Xiaomi’s product page says the model supports remote control in the Mi Home or Xiaomi Home app and voice control through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, rather than listing Matter support. (mi.com) The appeal there is reach and price. How-To Geek lists the Xiaomi Mi Air Purifier 4 Compact at about $120 and the SwitchBot Air Purifier at about $90, putting app-connected and Matter-ready options into the lower end of the purifier market. (howtogeek.com) Both products are still air purifiers first, not just smart-home accessories. Xiaomi says the 4 Compact is designed for spaces up to 48 square meters, runs as low as 20 decibels, uses a 3-in-1 filter, and captures 99.97 percent of particles as small as 0.3 microns. (mi.com) SwitchBot makes similar filtration claims, saying its purifier uses 360-degree intake and 99.97 percent HEPA filtration, with 20-decibel quiet operation. Those specs matter because smart features only help if the machine can still run quietly enough for bedrooms and small living spaces. (us.switch-bot.com) Home Assistant users have a separate reason to watch Xiaomi’s model. Home Assistant’s Xiaomi integration supports Xiaomi air purifiers broadly, and community posts show owners of the 4 Compact using Xiaomi Miot Auto to surface controls for model xiaomi.airp.cpa4, though some users reported limited fan-speed controls. (home-assistant.io) (community.home-assistant.io 1) (community.home-assistant.io 2) The split is becoming clearer: Xiaomi offers broad app and voice integration, while SwitchBot is pushing direct Matter support as a way to skip brand silos. For buyers who want a purifier to behave like any other shared smart-home device, that is the line to watch. (mi.com) (switch-bot.com)