Skip to main content

The Natede is an Alexa-connected plant holder that is a serious air purifier

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Is it a plant? Is it a smart home hub? Is it Alexa in different clothing? The Natede, the latest product from air purifier maker Clairy may just be all of the above. Heralded as a “smart and natural air purifier,” the Natede promises to help circulate cleaner air within your home while doubling as a sleek plant holder. Plus, it’s constructed with sustainable biomaterial or ceramic to ensure that the device itself is clean, and has a self-watering system to cut down on water consumption.

While the simple design of the Natede may help it blend into any decor, its straightforward aesthetic belies the technology that powers the air purifier. Thanks to advanced sensors and a photocatalytic filter that does not need to be replaced, this air purifier claims to be able to eliminate 93 percent of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as well as 99 percent of bacteria, viruses, and fine particulate.

Recommended Videos

And as it turns out, the plant-holding aspect of the Natede isn’t just for show — it also helps with the air purification process. As Clairy CEO Paolo Ganis explained, “The core technology of Natede is phytoremediation, which means that it uses the natural power of common plants to clean toxins in the air.  Plants placed in Natede metabolize a significantly higher amount of pollutants compared to plants potted in regular vases, because of the combination of design and embedded technology, and Natede’s air flow system quickly and quietly recycles air from a plant’s soil.”

The monitors and sensors embedded within the air purifier claim to read temperature and humidity levels of a room, as well as detect VOCs and carbon dioxide. The LED interface quickly displays air quality levels, but you can also check out the Clairy app if you’re away from home (or just from the Natede) to check out air pollutants and control air flow in real time. Plus, Natede is compatible with Alexa, which means you can control it with your voice, or have your smart home assistant read out health tips as they relate to air quality.

While you should always exercise caution when backing a crowdfunding campaign, the Natede appears to have captured the imagination of Kickstarter enthusiasts. With just over two weeks to go, the air purifier has blown past its initial fundraising goal and has now racked up over $630,000 worth of support. Natede is currently offering early bird pricing of $173, with delivery anticipated for December 2018.

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Can you run an air purifier and essential oil diffuser at the same time?
URPOWER Essential Oil Diffuser.

At first glance, air purifiers and essential oil diffusers seem like they would be natural opponents. One is designed to take particles from the air in your home, and the other is designed to add (pleasant-smelling) particles instead. If you’re running them both in the same room, it’s understandable to wonder if they’re canceling each other out.

Fortunately, it’s easy to clear this confusion up. Let’s take a look at some FAQs about these two home air devices and what you should know about using them both at the same time.
What's the difference between an air purifier and an air diffuser?
An air purifier uses a filter or series of filters to remove unwanted particles from your home’s air. They are commonly used to get rid of airborne allergens, smoke, and dust, and they can also help remove bacteria and viruses from the air. The best air purifiers use true HEPA filters that can remove particles down to the size of 0.3 microns, and some newer models can remove particles as small as 0.1 microns.

Read more
How long do I run my air purifier?
The Coway Airmega purifier.

In previous guides, we’ve discussed how today’s smart air purifiers work and what specs to look at when getting the right size for your room or house -- like CADR, or Clean Air Delivery Rate. But air purifiers can only cycle through a room’s air when they are turned on … which leads us to another important question: Just how long should you run your air purifier? Can you run it for too long? Don’t worry, we have all the answers.
How long should I run my air purifier?
The air quality inside your home is always changing, and the impact of your air purifier will depend on its size -- especially whether you want to clear up a single room or the whole house. In general, you can run an air purifier for a few hours a day and expect it to give the air in its space a thorough cleaning. If you’re only looking at one smaller room, half an hour to an hour can have the same result. That schedule can give you all the benefits that an air purifier offers without requiring it to be on all the time -- but you’ll want to run it at least once a day for best effect.

Do air purifier settings make a difference when running it?
They do. Most air purifiers have several fan settings that affect how quickly they push air through, in exchange for using more power and making more noise. If you only have a few hours a day to clean the air in your home and would prefer not to leave the purifier on when you are away, turn it to its maximum setting and let it run. Just note that max settings on most air purifiers will be too loud to hold a meeting in the same room.
Is it safe to run an air purifier all the time?
Yes. Air purifiers are generally designed to be run all the time if you prefer to. You can put the purifier on its lowest setting to diminish noise and let it run throughout the day.

Read more
The new Wyze Air Purifier offers quiet, efficient filtration
The Wyze Air Purifier is quiet enough for use in any room.

Wyze has announced a new air purifier with three different filter options. You can choose which filter you want at purchase, but the other filters can be purchased at a later date and swapped out on the fly as needed.

The Wyze Air Purifier filter options include the Allergen (Standard) filter, the Formaldehyde (Premium) filter, and the Wildfire filter. It utilizes a true HEPA filter for 99.97% efficiency in eliminating harmful, airborne particles such as dander, pollen, and even smoke. The purifier has enough power to clean a 500-square-foot room up to three times an hour, and it's not too loud even on the highest setting. The sound ranges from 21 decibels in its sleep mode to 54 decibels on its highest level -- roughly the same volume as a refrigerator's hum.

Read more