1 min readThe Smart Air Purifier available from Aldi next Wednesday would be a solid buy, if you could buy replacement filters. Equipped with four stage HEPA 13 filtering, 40m2 coverage, multiple timers, and an additional UVC light for better bacterial protection, the $149 device ticks all the important boxes we look for in an air purifier. In spite of promising key specs, without a replacement filter it will only last for six months.
HEPA filters are not washable, and can only run for a certain period of time before they lose efficacy. For most filters this best-before date sits at about six months of continuous run time, after which you need to buy a new filter for it to work properly. Currently there are no Stirling compatible replacement filters available to purchase on the Replacement Parts page, for this, or any other air purifier the company sells.
In fact, this product is no longer featured on the Stirling website at all, and only comes with a one year warranty from Aldi. Short warranty periods like this are usually reserved for Aldi’s no-name products, while branded Special Buys like those from DeLonghi, or even Stirling itself tend to have at least two years of coverage. Combined these imply that Stirling no longer supports its Smart Air Purifier and it may ultimately be bricked once the HEPA filter has run its course.
