Zigma Smart Aerio 300 air purifier review: For smaller spaces

This pint-sized cleaner includes an ultraviolet bulb, but it's not the most powerful or attractive product in its class.

Zigma's Smart Aerio 300 comes with talk of an AI algorithm and an air quality forecast, but let's get down to brass tacks: This is a relatively basic, lower-cost air purifier with simple smart features and a straightforward design, built with smaller rooms in mind.

The unit is small, 13 pounds in weight and measuring just 20 x 12 x 8 inches (HxWxD). Air is pulled in through the entire front face of the device, which is covered by a plastic, patterned grille, passed through a HEPA H13 filter, and emitted through the top of the device. Basic controls are available here, including a power button that cycles through four speed settings (the last is an unlabeled auto mode), a sleep and child lock button, and a button that turns on both negative ion and UV-C filtration (together).

This lattermost feature activates both an ionizer and an internal ultraviolet bulb; they cannot be activated individually. A light ring surrounding the power button illuminates in accordance with air quality, with four levels of PM2.5 concentration indicated.

One feature that immediately turned me off was the fact that the Smart Aerio 300 chimes every time you push a button, any button—even when turning on sleep mode. It's an unnecessary feature on an air purifier where visual cues indicate every setting change, and it can't be disabled.

The Zigma Aerio features three filters—one to trap large contaminants, an H13 HEPA for smaller particles, and a carbon filter for odors—plus a UVC-C light.

Filters are specified to last for 6 to 9 months; replacements run $38 at present (on sale), or you can upgrade to an H14 filter for $56. It's also worth noting that Zigma suggests cleaning the UV-C bulb every 6 months, but it's not clear where this bulb is located internally or how you’re supposed to clean it. Clearer instructions on this front are in order.

The Zigma app includes a color-coded indication of PM2.5 pollution, but no historical data.

Zigma states a single CADR rate of 194 cubic feet per minute, which is low but probably fine for a smaller room. Maximum coverage capability is specified at 430 square feet, but Zigma also suggests it can clean 1,580 square feet in an hour—which is probably true only if you’re counting multiple scrubbings of the same space. The unit isn't particularly loud even at its highest settings, emitting 48 dBA per Zigma. At its quietest modes, the unit is virtually silent—at least as long as you aren't pressing any buttons.

Getting the unit onto my Wi-Fi network (it's compatible only with 2.4GHz networks) went quickly, with the process involving scanning a QR code on the back of the unit and walking through a few basic configuration steps. Wireless stability was fine, with no disconnects encountered. Zigma's mobile app is fairly primitive, although it offers a look at local outdoor weather conditions (metric only) as well as a numerical measure of indoor PM2.5 levels and a filter life rating.

Manual controls are recreated here—the unit still chimes when you change a setting even in the app—as is a scheduling system. Scheduling with Zigma is quite an unintuitive operation, built around a sort of if-then structure which will take even seasoned pros some time to get used to.

On the whole, there's nothing particularly unique about this purifier, and if it were at least marginally more attractive it might be worth considering by those looking for a basic unit to clean a bedroom or kitchen environment. As it stands, it will probably fit in best in more industrial settings.