Prism+ Nexa Pro Review: A Breath of Fresh Air Amid the Haze
Jin Soh
Haze season is, unfortunately, upon us once again. Even though the skies have cleared up recently, who’s to say the winds won’t blow it right back in the coming days? With the Air Quality Index (AQI) climbing past 200 in recent weeks, stepping outside, or even leaving the windows open at home, could be detrimental to your health.
That made it almost a blessing that we were given the chance to review the Nexa Pro air purifier from Prism+. Aside from letting me breathe some fresh air at home, the current conditions were the perfect testing ground. So did it actually help purify the air in my home?
What Is It?
Prism+ offers a range of air purifiers, but the Nexa Pro is the highest-end model in its current Malaysian lineup. It retails at RM1,199, but can be found on sale for as low as RM429. It is mid-sized and relatively light at under 8KG, with a soft leather handle that makes it easy to lift and shift around the house, or into the bedroom for the night. It comes in Arctic White and Satin Black, and as far as aesthetics go, I’d say the decagonal ‘honeycomb’ shape is at least a tad more interesting than your standard rectangular box.
The Nexa Pro is rated for living and office spaces of 280 to 473 ft², which is just decent for an air purifier, but certainly not bad for a unit of this size. Prism+ claims it is effective against a plethora of pollutants, including PM2.5, pollen, dust mites, allergens and pet dander.
On paper, that should mean fewer respiratory infections, throat irritations and eye discomfort, which matters now more than ever. With the current weather, haze particles in the air of our homes can cause respiratory difficulties and even reduced lung function with long-term exposure.
Doing the heavy lifting is a 3-in-1 True HEPA H13 filter with three layers of defence. A pre-filter captures larger particles like hair, dust, lint and pet dander. The medical-grade HEPA H13 layer is rated to eliminate 99.97% of airborne contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, dust mites and pollen. Finally, an activated carbon layer neutralises odour-causing pollutants and absorbs formaldehyde, a carcinogen found in some flooring, wall paints and furniture.
A light indicator visible from afar shows the air quality at a glance. Blue is good at 0 to 75 µg/m³ of PM2.5, orange is average at 76 to 150 µg/m³, and red is, of course, poor at above 150 µg/m³. The fan speed automatically adjusts from 1 to 4 depending on the reading.
On paper, the filter should last 12 months at 8 hours of daily use, and an LED indicator on the unit lights up when it’s time for a replacement. Swapping it out is an easy task too. Just open the lid at the bottom of the unit, remove the used HEPA filter, pop the new one in and lock the lid back in place.
What’s Good?
The fan is near silent, barely audible even at medium speed. I had to double-check a few times whether it was even on as I walked past. The Prism+ Connect app is simple and easy to use, you’re able to remotely adjust modes, fan speed and check if it’s time for a filter replacement. That being said, I don’t appreciate the ads that occasionally pop up as notifications.
The Nexa Pro with its strap and being light and portable means the unit can be moved around the house as you see fit. So if you don’t want to commit to multiple units in separate rooms, you’re free to take the Nexa Pro into the bedroom in the nightime when no one is in the living room to benefit from it.
What’s Not-So-Good?
In less than a month of usage, the filter condition shown on the app is already at 75%, which is quite a bit quicker than the 12 month estimate. Granted, there were some days where I left the air purifier on throughout the day. The filters, at least, are a little cheaper than filter’s from competing brands at RM129 for one and RM387 for a bundle of 3.
Another thing worth pointing out is the fact that we have no professional equipment and no real way of testing whether the Nexa Pro does what it says it does. We simply have to take Prism+’s word for it, and trust that the numbers displayed on the unit accurately reflect the condition of the air in the room. I did notice less odours and haziness in the room when my windows are open, though I won’t deny the possibility of placebo at play.
Is It Worth It?
At RM1,199, the Nexa Pro is more affordable than competing brands like Xiaomi, and at the RM429 sale price it’s a downright bargain. It’s also a little more stylish, to me anyway, since it’s not just another big white box.
So, going back to the question I started with: did it actually purify the air in my home? Without professional equipment, I can’t give you lab-verified numbers.
But between the unit’s own readings, a home that felt noticeably more comfortable through the haze, and a fan so quiet I kept forgetting it was running, the Nexa Pro appears to do what it promises, at least as far as a regular household can tell. With the haze proving to be an intermittent headache, it will be particularly useful in the coming weeks, and possibly months.
Do note that due to high demand (this haze season, no doubt), the Nexa Pro is currently on pre-order, with an estimated shipment date of end November.